Understanding Canine Behavior

[Rene Allegrini]

Here's an interesting article on canine behavior and how teaching dogs the rules early on in life can make a difference.


Defend yourself against an aggressive dog by understanding canine behavior - Nashville, Tennessee - Friday, 06/30/06 - Tennessean.com

Defend yourself against an aggressive dog by understanding canine behavior

By JOHN BOWMAN
Staff Writer


We've all been there — walking down the street, minding our own business, when suddenly we're confronted by a menacing, snarling dog.

Harrison Forbes spent 10 years as owner and operator of the National Canine Law Enforcement Training Center in Jackson and has been a professional dog trainer for 20 years. He advises anyone faced with a threatening dog to stop, and then slowly back away while facing the dog.

"Don't run; keep the dog in front of you, stay on your feet, don't get on the ground. If people can just remember that, it would diffuse a lot of the situations," Forbes said.
Often a walker or jogger has simply wandered onto a dog's territory, according to Forbes.
"A lot of times, you have natural barriers that tell you what the line is. If you're walking on a sidewalk and a dog comes running out of his yard, if you back out onto the street, a lot of times the dog knows that, hey, 'a lot of things go on in the street, that really isn't my place to defend,' so use the terrain to tell you the story of what's probably going on."
Forbes, who hosts "Pet Talk" on Supertalk 99.7 in Nashville, says if a dog doesn't pose an immediate threat, try to act like it's not even there.
"One of the most important things for people to remember is when they're walking or jogging and a dog walks out and starts barking, go on about your business, unless it gets to a point where a confrontation is inevitable," he said.
Children at highest risk
Being faced with a strange dog on an isolated road can be terrifying, but the fact is, most attacks happen at home or in a familiar place, and the vast majority of dogs involved belong to the victim's family or a friend, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Children are especially at risk. The CDC reports the rate of dog-bite related injuries is highest among children from 5 to 9 years old.
"The No. 1 rule is, a child and dog should never be left alone unsupervised," said Dr. Bonnie Beaver, executive director of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists.
Beaver said a common danger is when parents take young children to visit friends or relatives who own a dog that's not used to children running, jumping and screaming.
Young children also like to hug and kiss dogs, getting directly in their face, which dogs perceive as a threat. Beaver thinks it's best to put the dog someplace where it can be left alone in these situations.
Forbes agrees.
"I don't think people need to have big adult dogs around kids under 4 unless it's a puppy growing up with kids pulling on it and stepping on it and doing all the things kids do," he said.
A particularly dangerous scenario with babies is when a dog comes over to check out a baby that's playing on a carpet, the parent panics and snatches the baby away, which only makes the dog want it more.
"Try not to panic. Cover the baby up so the dog can't get at it and diffuse the 'keep-away' game," Forbes said. "It's an escalating event. Ninety-nine percent of the time, the dog is just investigating. 'What did you bring here? What is that crying, squealing thing?' Then, when you snatch it away, it's like 'whoa, I need that.' "
Young children account for the highest number of dog-related deaths, according to Karen Delise, author of "Fatal Dog Attacks," a study of all lethal dog attacks that occurred in the United States between 1965 and 2001.
Delise found that 19 percent of the fatal attacks involved children less than a year old, with over 95 percent of those fatalities occurring when the infant was left unsupervised with a dog or dogs. Children under 2 accounted for 11 percent of the fatal attacks, with over 87 percent unsupervised.
Toddlers are often oblivious to the growling, stiffened posture and raised hair that serve as danger signs to older children and adults.
"They're old enough to approach a dog and play with a dog, but they're not old enough to read the signs," she explained.
Delise said attacks on young children are so dangerous because they can't defend themselves, and the first bite is often in the face because they're at eye level with dogs.
Warning signs
Common threads in the attacks Delise studied include dogs running loose, a lack of supervision and owners allowing aggressive behavior from their dogs. She also found that chained, injured and unneutered male dogs were among the most dangerous.
"Almost in all cases, there were red flags all over the place," Delise said.
Forbes said any time a dog snaps at a child, for whatever reason, parents should immediately let the dog know that any show of aggression or dominance toward a family member will not be tolerated. He said a common problem is when dogs are over-protective of their food.
"You have to diffuse that when you have kids. Even though you may be able to take food away from them, that's you — dogs have individual relationships with every person in the family. They have to be told, 'you are the lowest rung on the ladder in this place. Anybody in this house can walk up and take food out from under you, and I better not hear of it.' "
Forbes also advises parents to be prepared for the commitment required to be a responsible dog owner and to realize that once a puppy or dog is brought home, it will need to be consistently taught proper behavior throughout its life.
"A lot of those dogs, they're genetically bred and born to have certain protective instincts," Forbes said. "The difference in having one that's very good and manageable and one that maybe is out of control and dangerous is teaching that dog early on the rules of life." •

[JoJo]

"I don't think people need to have big adult dogs around kids under 4 unless it's a puppy growing up with kids pulling on it and stepping on it and doing all the things kids do,"

I find that to be the most irresponsible, stupid statement anyone could say and from one who is a "trainer"! Anyone with a brain, (course common sense is a gift) would never let a child do that to an animal. No one in this article ever says "one must also teach the child" how to interact with a dog and have manners too.

I understand what this article is trying to say, but there are a lot of people out there who just don't "get it" when it comes to dog behavior and body language. Heck, they don't even "see and understand" their own kids behavior! But some words are better then none, so maybe the article will wakeup a few and they will see the light.

JoJo

[Gunsey'sMom]

I don't leave my 9 and 14 (soon to be 15 year old alone around GUnner) It is because I know GUnner is a dog. THe older on e is allowed to take GUnner in and out and walk him. That is it. And I really dont even prefer that. It is because the kids do not understand dog behaviour thoroughly enough yet, and until they do, they will not be around him alone.

And I take special precautions when the kids have friends over-escpecially after a situation that could've had a different outcome.

The younger ones friend climbed over GUnner's dog run and into it with him. I was watchin gout the window. HE was holding up one of GUnner's toys and waving it-so Gunner was jumping up to get it DUH. I have yelled at this kid many times to NOT TOUCH OR INTERACT with the dog, because he cant do it appropriately.

Fortunately I got out there and put GUner in a sit. I think I acually cussed the boy I was so furious. I sent him home. He was told he would not be welcome back to our house if he did not follow directions and rules.

Can you imagine If I had not been there? Gunner was secured even. So when all of these statistics come up, it does not surprise me a bit sadly. This child was a fourth grader!

I agree with JoJO, people dont get it, especially when teaching there children!