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Dog bites are a serious concern for pet owners. In fact, nearly 5 million Americans have a dog or another pet as a primary caregiver. With that so-called care comes responsibility. How do you keep your dog safe and friendly around visitors if they come over? Dogs can be territorial, which means they may be more prone to biting when someone comes onto their property. However, most of the time dogs are just acting on instinct. These unique circumstances can lead to your dog biting someone without ever realizing it was an unsafe action or that it wasn’t an ideal situation for them to act on. Keeping these five things in mind will help prevent your pup from biting and keep everyone in the house safe at the same time.
Be attentive
Dogs have a heightened sense of smell, and they can detect the scent of other dogs and people at very close distances. If your dog is prone to unprovoked aggression, it’s important to keep visitors in sight at all times, especially if your dog is allowed to roam. You may want to keep a leash and collar in the house for this situation and be sure to use them if a guest comes over. Even if your dog doesn’t get the opportunity to wander off, it may simply be checking out the new smell.
When people first arrive, be sure to pay close attention to your dog. If you know he’s territorial, keep him leashed and in sight. Don’t be afraid to put your guest in charge of your dog for a few minutes if there is a specific reason for it, like facilitating an all-important walk. When your dog isn’t in a dangerous mood, don’t hesitate to let your guest interact with your dog while you are paying attention to them.
Teach your pup a new trick
If your dog is getting into trouble with visitors because of his territorial instincts, you can help him avoid the problem. Use your dog’s desire to learn something new to teach him not to get aggressive with other dogs. Get your pup a book about dogs. Teach him how to politely greet and invite other dogs for a social check-in. Or, teach him to check in with other canines and people. This will allow you to safely introduce your pup to new folks while helping to keep your dog focused on something other than the threat of other dogs.
Play it safe with strangers
If your dog has the potential to be territorial, it’s a good idea to be cautious when welcoming new guests. Whenever your dog is allowed to roam, keep an eye on him at all times and keep him leashed if you know he’s likely to wander off. If a stranger comes to your door, keep your dog in the house and out of sight. If your dog is inside and you know he is likely to wander off, keep the door closed. This may mean that you need to adjust your plans. If the person at your door is someone who you know well, you may need to put them off. If they are a stranger, you may need to ask them to come back at a time when your dog will be safe inside.
Watch how you react to your pup’s cues to help curb dog bites
Many dogs seem to become territorial when someone comes onto their property. It is up to the owner to learn how to read their dog’s signals. If your dog is in a territorial state, he is more likely to nip at a stranger’s ankles or scruff. He may also be more likely to touse and try to repel a person who attempts to pet him. Reading your dog’s cues will help you to determine when your dog is in a territorial state and when he is just being protective. If your dog is more likely to nip at people while they are approaching, learn to read his cues. If you notice that he is more likely to touse when people attempt to touch him, learn to ignore his cues.
Dogs are pack animals, so discuss safety with your household members: dog bites
Though dogs are sometimes stereotyped as unfriendly, territorial creatures who will attack anyone who comes near their space, most dogs are not territorial or aggressive. There is no easy formula for reading your dog’s cues. While some dogs are more territorial than others, it’s not something that can simply be learned from reading a book. It’s a skill that can only be learned through experience.
If you want your dog out of trouble, you need to be aware when he is in a territorial state. You can only do this if you are willing to learn. Your dog may not like being indoors while guests are over. Also, he may be out of luck if you don’t do anything to keep him safe. If you want to keep your dog safe, you need to be willing to learn.
Offer treats and praise if the bites stop
If your dog gets into trouble with visitors, don’t quickly decide that he is a bad dog to be corrected. Instead, try the dog-training method of offering treats and praise if the biting stops. This method works because it shows your dog that his instincts are safe and acceptable. If your dog is in a territorial state, you may need to keep guests inside for a while until he cools off. If this happens, don’t immediately decide that your dog is a bad dog and needs correction. Instead, try the “if the biting stops” method.
Bottom line
Dog bites happen for a number of reasons. If your dog is in a territorial state, keep him safe by alerting visitors and leashing if he is free. Additionally, if your dog is in a territorial state and a new person comes onto your property, try to read your dog’s cues and ignore the cues if you are able to. With these tips, you can help prevent your dog from biting someone, while keeping everyone safe.