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| Copyright © 2005 - 2009 Durham Working Dogs - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED |
Puppy And Dog Biting
As a puppy matures it goes through what is called the
puppy teething stage. The teething stage for a puppy
starts at four months and lasts up to five months of age. A
puppy will chew on plastic, leather and some wood during
this teething stage. The stage of chewing does pass, but
sometimes it may continue into later years. Now is the
time you would begin to teach your puppy on what is
acceptable behavior. Mouthing and biting are two different
actions. Mouthing is a way for your puppy/dog to show
devotion to you or to just hold something in place.
For Example:
When a child grabs your hand, he/she will use their hand
to hold it. But a puppy/dog will use its mouth in the same
manner as a child would use its hand. This mouthing
doesn’t break the skin, but may leave two K-9 teeth
scratch mark if you quickly remove your hand or item from
the puppy/dog’s mouth.
Biting is a serious offense. Biting causes puncturing or
tearing damage to the skin. After 5 months of age, a
puppy normally would learn to control its biting from its’
mother or its’ littermates. By taking the puppy away from
the mother at an early age, the puppy doesn’t learn to curb
this behavior. That’s when you must decide to start its
obedience training.
Allowing your puppy to socialize with the new pack
members (family) helps your puppy fill in the blanks where
he/she has left off. The puppy will start learning from each
member in the household where he/she belongs in the
pack.
Biting sometime is an easy process to stop. Other times
you may need professional help (dog training). Allowing
your puppy to continue with this behavior will grow into
aggressive behavior to others.
One of the major causes for biting is fear (fear biting).
Fear biting isn’t aggressive behavior; it’s when a
puppy/dog attempts to get away from someone or
something, causing it to bite. Fear biting frequently occurs
with young children not realizing the puppy/dog doesn’t
want to be bothered, and the child gets bitten.
Another reason a dog bites is because it has been
abused or has been taught to. Never try to teach your
puppy/dog to be aggressive; leave it to the professional
trainer. Never allow anyone (family members also) to
strike or kick your puppy. This will make your puppy/dog
lose trust in people. As an owner, it’s your responsibly to
ensure no harm comes to your puppy/dog.
For Example:
If we placed a 3-year child in a room with another 3 year
old child, and they both wanted the same toy, what do you
think would happen? A fight for power would occur. Two
things might happen. One child will run off crying ,or one
child will strike the other child causing a fight for power.
When a child strikes a puppy/dog, one of two things is
going to happen. The dog will back away from the child,
but if this child continues to abuse the dog, it will lose trust
and respect for children, and bite the child. So never let a
child strike or kick your puppy/dog. Always control your
children around an animal whether you know the animal or
not. This is highly important because puppy/dogs will bite.
So always manage both your child and dog, keeping them
safe from harm.
By Darryl Durham Sr.
Owner/Trainer
Of Durham Working Dogs
As a puppy matures it goes through what is called the
puppy teething stage. The teething stage for a puppy
starts at four months and lasts up to five months of age. A
puppy will chew on plastic, leather and some wood during
this teething stage. The stage of chewing does pass, but
sometimes it may continue into later years. Now is the
time you would begin to teach your puppy on what is
acceptable behavior. Mouthing and biting are two different
actions. Mouthing is a way for your puppy/dog to show
devotion to you or to just hold something in place.
For Example:
When a child grabs your hand, he/she will use their hand
to hold it. But a puppy/dog will use its mouth in the same
manner as a child would use its hand. This mouthing
doesn’t break the skin, but may leave two K-9 teeth
scratch mark if you quickly remove your hand or item from
the puppy/dog’s mouth.
Biting is a serious offense. Biting causes puncturing or
tearing damage to the skin. After 5 months of age, a
puppy normally would learn to control its biting from its’
mother or its’ littermates. By taking the puppy away from
the mother at an early age, the puppy doesn’t learn to curb
this behavior. That’s when you must decide to start its
obedience training.
Allowing your puppy to socialize with the new pack
members (family) helps your puppy fill in the blanks where
he/she has left off. The puppy will start learning from each
member in the household where he/she belongs in the
pack.
Biting sometime is an easy process to stop. Other times
you may need professional help (dog training). Allowing
your puppy to continue with this behavior will grow into
aggressive behavior to others.
One of the major causes for biting is fear (fear biting).
Fear biting isn’t aggressive behavior; it’s when a
puppy/dog attempts to get away from someone or
something, causing it to bite. Fear biting frequently occurs
with young children not realizing the puppy/dog doesn’t
want to be bothered, and the child gets bitten.
Another reason a dog bites is because it has been
abused or has been taught to. Never try to teach your
puppy/dog to be aggressive; leave it to the professional
trainer. Never allow anyone (family members also) to
strike or kick your puppy. This will make your puppy/dog
lose trust in people. As an owner, it’s your responsibly to
ensure no harm comes to your puppy/dog.
For Example:
If we placed a 3-year child in a room with another 3 year
old child, and they both wanted the same toy, what do you
think would happen? A fight for power would occur. Two
things might happen. One child will run off crying ,or one
child will strike the other child causing a fight for power.
When a child strikes a puppy/dog, one of two things is
going to happen. The dog will back away from the child,
but if this child continues to abuse the dog, it will lose trust
and respect for children, and bite the child. So never let a
child strike or kick your puppy/dog. Always control your
children around an animal whether you know the animal or
not. This is highly important because puppy/dogs will bite.
So always manage both your child and dog, keeping them
safe from harm.
By Darryl Durham Sr.
Owner/Trainer
Of Durham Working Dogs
| Golden Rule: Durham Working Dogs will not train or board any dogs that have bitten or will bite or attack a child! |