THE BITING DOG
There are many reasons why dogs gradually or sometimes suddenly become aggressive. It is always frustrating and sad because it usually means the demise of the dog. A dog that is repeatedly biting, leaving bite marks or drawing blood, must, for the safety of others, be confined, be muzzled, or be put down. How do dogs get this way, and what, if anything, can we do about it?

One cause of aggressive biting is pain. For example, a dog may bite if touched where there is a growing tumor. He may bite if he has a severe case of indigestion or a bladder blockage. If you suspect pain as the cause, see your veterinarian immediately.

There are at least two normal causes of aggressive biting. One is maternal protection of pups by the mom, and another is interfemale or intermale rivalry. Here, the best advice is to properly socialize your dog at a very early age, to people as well as to other dogs. Sometimes, hormonal medication will effectively treat the aggression in these dogs.

Some dogs bite because of in-born neurological problems. A genetically excitable or aggressive dog can have this behavior accentuated by an environment that overstimulates him. The solution is to place him in a calm, quiet, low-key, non-punitive environment, and then get him obedience trained.

There are dogs that have a greater predisposition for asserting themselves as predators. A wolf mix, for example, has a greater imprinting for a chase reflex. Therefore, he may become aggressively dangerous around rapidly moving, screaming animals, including people. This dog would be a poor risk as a pet.

Male dogs and certain breeds have a greater tendency toward asserting their dominance over their territory, other dogs, and people. The solution for this kind of dog is to get control quickly and establish your leadership through training.

A dog may be territorially aggressive over certain objects such as his bed, his home, and his food bowl. Establishing your leadership and counter-conditioning this dog are essential. It is important to begin this training at a very early age.

A dog may become aggressive around certain visual stimuli such as a hand raised over his head, especially if he has been hit before. The best way to approach this dog is by getting down to his level and rubbing his chest. Avoid patting him on the head. Some dogs will become aggressive because they misread a gesture, due to hair hanging down over their eyes. Keep the hair over his eyes trimmed. Note which visual stimuli produce aggression, and be careful to avoid these signals.

A dog that is teased (for example, by a child pulling his tail, or by a neighbor throwing rocks at him), may someday react aggressively.

Dogs that are physically punished will build fear of that person and may react with defensive aggression one day. The stress built by persistent physical punishment can, for some dogs, be released in the form of aggression toward the person or persons resembling the one administering the punishment. This dog will be difficult to rehabilitate. Once he has bitten, he may not ever be trustworthy.

Finally, aggressive biting may result from a psychosis brought on by a variety of factors. A very small percentage of dogs are genetically defective and, therefore, may be predisposed to aggression as adults. Other factors inducing psychosis are drug and alcohol abuse, poisoning by paint, anti-freeze, pesticides, and other dangerous chemicals. An illness or an accident can cause brain damage which may result in aggression. Usually, these dogs must be euthanized.

If you are in doubt about your dog’s aggressive behavior, consult veterinarians or animal behaviorists for their opinions about whether your dog can be rehabilitated or should be euthanized.

One last word of warning! A dog that has bitten one time may bite again given a similar set of circumstances. The best insurance against a second occurrence is a muzzle, or confinement, whenever he is around people. This is such a serious problem that you may have to resort to euthanasia.