For dog bite prevention week, recognized the second full week of April each year, we asked our dog behavior consultant, Debbie Sheridan, for her insight on dog bites and how to prevent them. Here are her thoughts:
“In applied behavior analysis we talk about behavior being anything we can observe that can be measured.
Communication is social behavior.
All behavior is designed to access something, avoid or escape something.
As a certified dog bite prevention educator I can tell you that dog bites do not just happen out of the blue as many seem to believe.
The problem is a lack of human comprehension. Our understanding is limited and we miss the details and the communication signals. Dogs try desperately to say that they are uncomfortable with an approach, a hug, or a stranger. They try to say please don’t, stay away, I am not comfortable with this.
They are ignored. Dogs are labeled as unpredictable, alpha, dominant, and aggressive when in reality they were telling us over and over how they were feeling. No one was listening from their perspective.
The consequences of this scenario is misery for the dog, a bite as a last resort, and a label, possibly the loss of life for the dog.
If humans could ask WHY a behavior was happening and look below the iceberg they would see that the behavior of a dog shows us how the dog is feeling inside.
A bark and lunge need to be heard. A whale eye is not as obvious but also needs to be listened to. If your dog is not feeling ok and safe in a place or situation, get him out of it. Reach out to learn how to help your dog feel better about their world. We can always put management into place as a first line of safety and happiness for all.
Learn about dog appeasement behaviors. Guess what? Not all dogs who roll onto their backs are asking for a belly rub. Some are saying that they mean you no harm and please let them be. How can you tell? You must look at the whole picture, the rest of their body language and the situation.
How many of us would be ok with a stranger coming over to scratch our head? I may become reactive if you did that to me.
Never let a child run over to a dog who does not know them. Never let a child run over to a dog unless you can guarantee that this dog is absolutely ok with it. Guess what? There are no guarantees.
Humans should always have respect for the dog in front of them. The dogs’ feelings should always be considered. He should not be put into a situation that is not comfortable for him.
We as humans need to better learn and decipher what our 4 legged loved ones are saying.
Trying to teach a dog a lesson using pain teaches the dog that they were right to be afraid in the first place and violates trust. Many dogs who are treated in an unethical manner may feel like they have to get the person causing the pain first. Many learn that triggers (scary things) are indeed scary and awful as they suspected because now when they try to say stay away, they are shocked or have pain from the jerk of a prong collar. This causes terrible fallout.
No one can learn and move forward in a good way if they do not trust that they are safe and heard.
Never be afraid to be your dog’s advocate. You are all they have.
If we listen, if they feel heard, we can make our world a better place for them. There will be far fewer bites and more happy dogs.”
Debbie Sheridan FDM, UW-AAB
