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What to do when a Dog Bites You

When a dog bites you, it’s important to know what to do. Not only should you take care of the wounds medically, but, to prevent harm to others, you need to file an official report if your dog bite injuries are serious.

Each year in the U.S., there are close to 5 million dog bite incidents.  Sadly, most of the victims are under the age of 10, with the highest number in the 5-9 year old group.

Boys are bitten by dogs more often than girls.

Unfortunately, most of the dog bites are preventable.

When a dog bites you, you should not run from him.
When an aggressive dog bites you, he can jump high and do real damage.

This article will discuss:

  • Who is most likely to be bitten by a dog?
  • Situations where dogs are likely to bite someone
  • How Serious are Dog Bites?
  • Signs a dog is about to attack
  • What to do when a dog bites you
  • Taking care of a dog bite wound

Who is most likely to be bitten by a dog?

There are several groups of people most likely to get a dog bite.

Children and Babies

Children come to mind first.  They are perceived as weak, and they are not strong.  Children are generally uninhibited, and they run to dogs, flapping their arms and yelling with excitement.

While they are having fun, a dog may not view a child’s behavior in the same way.

From 2005 to 2020, 26% of all dog bite fatalities were children and infants younger than 2 years old.  During the same period, when you include children up to 10 years old, the number increases to 64%.

Dog Owners

Most of us cannot even imagine our dog attacking us, let alone killing a member of our family.  However, from 2015 to 2019, there were 74 deaths of dog owners, killed by their own dogs.

To keep this in perspective, we should note that, 53% of the family dogs who killed a family member, were pit bulls, the breed most likely to cause a fatality.

In addition, because of the pack mentality, pet parents with 2 or more dogs are 5 times more likely to suffer a dog bite than those with just one dog.

Pet parents in the way

dog baring teeth before a dog biteattack
When a dog bites you, he will usually warn you with signs like baring his teeth before attacking.

Another group that sometimes suffers from dog bites is pet parents who interfere in a dog fight.

Dog owners who try to stop a fight between dogs can become the object of one or both of the dog’s aggression!

Never, ever try to stop a dog fight.  Dog owners who reach for their dog’s collar, a natural thing to do, put themselves at risk, right in the middle of the fight.

If you must try to remove your dog, a safer way is to grab a dog by its back legs instead of reaching near its mouth.  You still run the risk of being bitten, as dogs are quite agile and reach around to bite you.

This, of course, is still risky business!

Other People in Danger

Anyone who has frequent contact with a variety of dogs can also be in danger.  This includes professionals like your veterinarian, the groomer, the mailman or letter carrier and your dog’s trainer.

Of course the best solution is prevention.  Better to be aware of your surroundings, keep your dog on a leash when there could be trouble and be familiar with the other dogs in your neighborhood.

And make sure that your dog is under control at all times.  Training and control of your dog go a long way toward preventing injuries.

Also, it’s important to note that, if your dog shows signs of being aggressive, the sooner you take action to correct his behavior, the more likely you will be successful.  Don’t ignore a problem and let your dog’s behavior get worse!

Situations where dogs are likely to bite someone

Of course there are times when a dog is more likely to bite, than others.  Here are some that come to mind:

  • When someone takes a toy or food from the dog. This is always a bad idea, but especially bad for children.  Dogs are naturally territorial about their possessions and especially, their food.
  • A dog has not been socialized properly. For example, he has not been around children.  You have visitors, and the kids are excited to see your dog.  They rush toward him, squealing with delight and waving their hands.  This new behavior makes your dog nervous.  The situation could easily and quickly escalate into a dog bite incident.
  • Your dog has an injury or illness that causes pain. When someone touches him at that spot on his body, he reacts to protect himself.
  • A dog with predatory instincts goes after a quick moving object. This can be a bicycle, car, running person or a ball.  Fast movement attracts the dog’s attention.  If you are riding a bike past the dog’s house, and he starts chasing your bike tires, you can be bitten because your leg is in the way.
  • Chained or tethered dogs. From 1979 through 1988, the Journal of the Veterinary Medical Association reports that 26-28% of fatal attacks by dogs were by dogs who were chained at the time of the attack.  Most of the victims were children who approached the dogs.

Signs a Dog is About to Attack

When you pay attention to your dog, you will be able to tell whether he’s really stressed and about to take action, or he is just warning you or someone else.

Growling

Bichon Frise in playful pose
This cute Bichon Frise is using the universal dog body language that means “Let’s play.” This is different from the warning posture used by dogs when threatening someone.

If you listen closely, you’ll see that your dog has different voices.  Growling can be threatening someone or something, or it can be playful growling.

If your dog simply wants to play, he will probably lower his front end onto his elbows, while his back end remains up.  This is universal dog language for “Let’s play.”

Body Position

If a dog is warning you, he will stiffen his body and sometimes “freeze”.  If he does this, he will stare at you with a threatening look.

A dog who is about to attack will raise the hackles on his back and his hair will stand up.  His lip will be raised to show his teeth.  And his ears will be laid back or stand out from his body.

You will also see this dog get into a guarded position, where his neck is a bit lower than shoulder level and his head is reaching forward.

Watch the tail.  It will be wagging nervously and quickly or it could be wagging just at the tip.  In this case, a wagging tail does not indicate a relaxed and happy dog.

If he is getting closer to attacking, the dog may actually lunge or try to get closer to the victim and he may start nipping at the person.

How Serious are Dog Bites?

Dog bites vary in degree.  And, based on the severity of a dog’s biting problem, we can evaluate how dangerous a dog is.  Ian Dunbar, a veterinarian and animal behaviorist even developed a Dog Bite Scale to make this evaluation objective.

Level 1

The dog snaps at you and bares his teeth.  The dog did not miss you.  His near miss was intentional.  If a dog did this, he probably gave you other warnings like growling or freezing, and you ignored them.  The dog was feeling stressed or fearful and so went directly to the “air bite”.

Level 1 behavior is obnoxious and aggressive behavior that threatens, but there is no teeth contact, no actual bite.

Level 2

This is a more serious warning.  The dog purposefully did not break the skin.  But he intends to make sure that you understand his warning.

At Level 2, there might be slight nicks on the skin and a little bleeding, caused by teeth moving forward or side to side on the skin.  There are no deep penetrating punctures.

Over 90% of all dog bite incidents are at Levels 1 and 2.  Dogs who are aggressive at these levels are not really dangerous.  They are more likely to be fearful, rambunctious and out of control.  This type of dog responds well to training, and the prognosis going forward is good.

Level 3

This is a real bite and it punctures the skin.  However, the punctures are few and shallow.  There is no bruising with this bite.

With this bite, there are usually 1-4 punctures from a single bite, and they are no deeper than half the depth of the dog’s teeth.  There may be some deeper lacerations caused by the person pulling their hand away or by the dog’s owner pulling the dog away from the victim.

At this level, you cannot ignore training.  Treatment can be time consuming and it could also be dangerous, so you should take appropriate precautions, like using a muzzle, if necessary.

Prognosis for this dog is still fair to good, with good training.

Level 4

The dog’s biting is now more ferocious, there are at least 1-4 punctures, and they are deeper.  At least one puncture is deeper than half the length of the dog’s canine teeth.

Level 4 dog bite with deep puncture and bruising
This is an example of a Level 4 dog bite. There is a deep puncture and we see bruising around the wound.

With a Level 4 bite, you may see deep bruising around the wound.  When biting, this dog will hold on for a few seconds and he will bare down.

In addition, there are slashes from the dog biting and shaking his head.  This is very serious biting, and the dog must not be allowed to continue attacking without intervention.  This is a very dangerous dog!

Prognosis for this dog is poor.  When a dog has bitten at this level, it’s really hard to break the habit.  He should be confined to his home at all times, except for visits to the vet, with a muzzle.

Only adults should be near this dog, never children or even guests to the home.  When outside, the dog should be confined to a roofed, chain-link run.

File a report when a dog bites you this hard

If you have had a Level 4 dog bite, you need to file a dog bite report with animal control or the police.  No matter how serious the bite, you should still do this.  The report is filed with local city or county authorities.

Filing this report documents your case and actually helps anyone else who is bitten by the same dog.  This gives the authorities a paper trail and a history.

You’ll want to ask for a history on this dog.  Has it bitten someone before you?

There is a legal category, “potentially dangerous” or “dangerous” that a dog law officer may use.  If the dog has been designated in one of these categories, you’ll want to know that.

Level 5

To be classified as Level 5, a dog must have bitten at least twice at Level 4, and he may have multiple dog bite incidents at other levels.

Because he must be isolated, this dog’s life is very difficult.  His prognosis is very poor, because of the difficulty and danger of trying to rehabilitate an adult hard-biting dog.

One of the problems with this type dog is that owners are seldom wholly compliant, and they tend to make excuses for the dog or defend its actions.

This dog’s life is so difficult in solitary confinement that euthanasia is recommended.

Level 6

This level is horrific, and the victim dies.  This dog is extremely dangerous.  It is not safe to have him around anyone, including his owner.

What to do when a dog bites you

So, even if you have socialized your dog well and trained him to obey you, you or a family member may still be attacked by your dog or another person’s dog.

What should you do?  Well, there are some actions that you should take immediately.  If the injury is serious enough, you may well end up in court over the attack.

Here’s what one dog bite lawyer recommends:

Identify the dog and the owner and get contact information.

Ask for proof of the dog’s rabies vaccination.  If the dog has not been vaccinated, or you can’t prove that he was, you will be forced to undergo a series of painful and expensive shots.  This generally costs over $3000.

Get medical help.  Depending on the extent of the injuries, call 911, see your physician, or go to the emergency room of a hospital.

Even if the injury doesn’t seem that bad, you should do this anyway.  The risk of an infection with a dog bite is very high.

Photograph your injuries

Have someone take photos of your injuries.  Even if the bite did not break the skin but left only bruises.

Include photos of your torn or blood-soaked clothing and make sure you document where the attack occurred.

Get a Lawyer

Legal issues surrounding dog attacks are very complicated.  Part of the problem is sorting out who was at fault.

You will want to be represented, whether your dog bit someone or you were attacked by someone else’s dog.

Start a Journal

You need to do this if you anticipate filing an insurance claim or a claim against the dog owner.  Legal proceedings can take several years.  You need to keep records of your physical changes and your thoughts and feelings.

A good website to check out is https://dogbitelaw.com

Taking Care of the Wound when a Dog Bites You

If you are bitten by a dog, you need to take care of the wound right away.  Depending on how serious the bite is, you should seek medical attention.

The CDC (Centers for Disease Control) estimates that there are 4.5 million dog bites each year, and nearly one of five bites becomes infected.

Here’s what you need to do, right away:

  • Wash the wound with mild soap and warm water.  Let the water run for 5-10 minutes.  There will be a lot of bacteria in the wound from the dog’s mouth.
  • Slow down the bleeding.  You can use a clean cloth or gauze held tightly on the wound.
  • Apply a cream like Neosporin to the wound.
  • Wrap the wound in a sterile bandage.
  • Change the bandage several times a day.
  • Watch for signs of infection, like swelling, redness, increased pain, fever and pus.

So, of course, the most important approach is prevention.  When you commit to having a dog like a Bichon Frise, it’s important to understand that there are responsibilities that go along with dog ownership.

Training and socializing your dog is critical, for your family’s safety and for the safety of others.

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Why Do Dogs Bite People?

Knowing why dogs bite people will help you prevent aggression issues with your Bichon Frise.  While dog bites are not always predictable, with a carefully chosen dog and good training, most incidents can be avoided.

Every year in the U.S., dog bites put 14,025 people in the hospital.  The average cost for a dog bite hospitalization is $18,200, which is about 50% higher than the average accident related hospitalization.  With dog bites, there are often complications, like serious infections.

Sadly, some people require reconstructive surgery, some have extensive stays in the hospital, and a few never make it home.  In 2020, homeowners’ insurance companies paid out $854 million in liability claims made against owners of the dogs who bit the victims.

Fortunately, not every dog bite requires hospitalization.

However, most of the dog bites that do not require emergency care, are never reported.  So the issue is far more common than most people believe.

Because of all this, as pet parents, we simply cannot ignore the problem.

Tethered dogs like this one often attack people
Dogs who are tethered become frustrated and often attack people who approach them.

This article will discuss:

  • Which dogs are most likely to bite a person
  • Why dogs bite us
  • Breeds most likely to kill
  • What you do to prevent your dog from biting
  • Do you have an aggressive dog?  A downloadable checklist for you

Dogs most likely to bite a person

Over the years, insurance companies and veterinary organizations have gathered data to help us all understand the extent of dog aggression and how we can prevent attacks.

Certain dogs are more likely to attack a person than others:

  • Frustrated dogs that are tethered or on a leash
  • Male dogs that have not been neutered
  • Dogs that have not been properly socialized
  • Cat or small animal chasers – Every dog loves a good chase.  However, when a cat stops, turns around and hisses at the dog, most dogs simply retreat.  The game is over.  On the other hand, if a dog continues to go after the cat, he is overly aggressive and is threatening to both you and the cat.
  • Dogs that were harshly trained or trained to attack.
  • Predator dogs whose instinct is to chase and attack.  The sudden movements of children or a child who is  running can cause a predator to chase the person.  However, keep in mind that, any dog can become a predator when instinct kicks in.

The American Veterinary Medical Association Task Force on Canine Aggression and Human Interactions cites 5 factors that increase the chances of a dog biting.

I’ve added a few additional factors to the group.  Each factor gives us some insight into why dogs bite other dogs or people.

Why Dogs Bite

Breed and parents of the attacking dog

Some breeds are more likely to be aggressive than others.  For example, pit bulls were bred to fight. They are vicious fighters and they often attack other dogs, without provocation.

When pit bulls get into a fight with another dog, pet parents instinctively try to separate the dogs in order to protect their own dog.

Getting into the middle of a dog fight is dangerous business.  A dog who is intent upon fighting with another can easily bite a person by mistake.  This is often how a person is injured by a pit bull or another dog in a dog fight.

However, breed is not everything.  Parental history of the sire and bitch also plays a part.  Not every single pit bull or Rottweiler is  dangerous, so we really can’t say that it’s always a certain breed that attacks.

And any breed dog, including Bichon Frises, will attack if the circumstances are right.  The size of the dog is not an indicator of whether or not the dog will attack!

Socialization of the dog

One reason why dogs bite is that they are not socialized
When your dog is still young, take her everywhere to socialize her.

A dog who has been exposed to all kinds of people, young and old, will be less likely to be stressed, especially around children.

Your puppy also needs to become comfortable in a number of different settings, quiet or noisy and busy.  When your puppy is still young, you need to take the time to take him places with you.

Your puppy needs to be socialized before she is 14 weeks old.  Just like with children, the best time for learning is when your puppy is still very young.

If poorly socialized, a dog reverts to instinct, and he is more likely to be territorial or stressed in new situations and with people he doesn’t know.

A Dog’s Training

Obviously a dog who was trained to protect or attack could be a problem in a social situation.

On the other hand, if a family pet has been poorly trained or not trained at all, he can also become dangerous.

Inadequate training and discipline can lead to a dominant dog becoming aggressive.  This is true, even for a small dog like a Bichon.

Health of the Dog

A dog who is sick or was injured, or old, tired and stiff, can get snarly.  This is especially true if the dog is startled or touched where he hurts.

A dog with a brain tumor, thyroid issue or an old dog with arthritis can show aggression towards people  or other dogs.

Fearful Dogs

In addition to pain, fear can lead to aggression.  A dog who is fearful of everything becomes defensive and then aggressive.

This is simply a form of canine self-defense.  But, even though we know that a dog is protecting himself, we need to change the scenario so he is more comfortable and doesn’t attack others.

Behavior of the Victim

We usually don’t think of the victim as causing an attack.  However, a baby rolling over on a bed or a young child hitting a dog can cause a dog to attack.

If a person approaches a dog quickly and startles it, or if a child pats a dog near the face, the dog can behave defensively.

While we don’t view these simple acts as provocation, your dog may view it differently.

Late Vaccinations

When a dog doesn’t get his first vaccination until after 8 weeks of life, he is more likely to be aggressive.

Un-neutered Males

Statistically, males who are not neutered are more aggressive than neutered ones.  If you are not going to breed your male dog, consider having him neutered.

Males dogs are more aggressive by nature than females.  In fact, of all recorded attack incidents, 70-87% of the attacks were by male dogs.

Multiple Dog Homes

This is where the pack mentality comes in.  More than one dog in a home increases the chances of a dog attack on a person.

The more dogs you have, the greater the chances that one of your dogs will attack someone.

The interactions between dogs are complex, and sometimes instinct wins out over training.

New Dog or Person

A new dog in a home is dangerous for the first 60 days, and a person new to the home (say, a grandchild, mother, or mother-in-law who is visiting) is in danger of attack for the first 60 days.

Approximately 1/3 of all dog bite fatality victims were people who were living temporarily with the dog’s owner when they were attacked.

Fully 75% of these victims were children, 8 years old or younger.

Breeds most likely to kill

You may have seen information on the internet, proclaiming the “myth” of pit bulls being aggressive.

The actual fact is that, statistically, pit bulls are the most likely dog breed to attack and kill another dog or a person.

Second in line are Rottweilers.

Pit bulls, Rottweilers and Presa Canarios were responsible for 65% of canine homicides between 1982 and 2006.

Other breeds that were vicious enough to kill people include:

dog ready to attack or bite
A dog who is getting ready to attack or bite someone, usually gives warnings through his body language.
  • German shepherds
  • Huskies
  • Alaskan malamutes
  • Doberman pinschers
  • Chows
  • Great Danes
  • St. Bernards
  • Akitas.

Fortunately Bichon Frises are not included in this “most aggressive” group.  However, we still need to work with our dogs to keep them from being aggressive.

Given the right circumstances, any breed, including small breeds, can attack and bite.

Although they were pretty far down on the list, Bichon Frises were listed as dogs who have become aggressive and attacked.  We need to socialize and keep our dogs in check.

What can you do to prevent your dog from biting?

Of course, if you already have a dog, some of the following suggestions are not going to help you.  However, if you are like most dog owners, you will have more than one dog in your lifetime.

Going forward, here are a few ways that pet owners can prevent their own dog from biting:

Choice of a Breed

When choosing a dog or puppy, pick a breed that is known to be more relaxed and not aggressive.  This is especially important if you have children or grandchildren in your home.

Choose a Good Breeder

A good breeder will be aware of the puppies’ blood line and any problems with dogs in the line.

If you are getting a new Bichon Frise puppy, ask to see the puppy’s parents.  This is a good time to observe how they interact with you, a stranger.

Socialization

This is critical to having your dog behave appropriately with family members, friends and with strangers.  Start socializing your new puppy as soon as he comes into your home.

Training

When you walk your dog, maintain control of him and practice appropriate behavior when approaching other dogs or people.

Never let your dog run loose at a dog park or the beach until she has been trained properly.

If you are unsure that your dog has been trained properly to avoid aggression, you should check out the Doggie Dan system of training dogs.  It’s very effective and has videos that demonstrate how to work with dog aggression.

Remember that, for most dogs, there is hope.  With proper training, most dogs can become rehabilitated and less aggressive.

Children and Your Dog

Supervise any interaction with children and your dog, especially if your dog does not know the children.  Do not leave an infant or young child in a room alone with any dog.  Big or small, whether the dog has a history of aggression, or not.

Know your dog.  If you see a situation developing where your dog may defend his territory, protect his toy, or fight for his dinner, you need to intervene before someone gets hurt.

Teach children how to approach your dog, and educate them on what they should or should not do, around your  dog.

If your dog is not good with children, make sure that no child approaches your dog unless you are with them, making sure your dog behaves well.

As you can see, there are many reasons why dog bite.

Do You have an Aggressive Dog?

You may be wondering if your dog could be aggressive.  I’ve developed a downloadable checklist that you can use to see if you might have an issue with your Bichon Frise.

If you say yes to any of the questions on the checklist you might have an aggressive dog.  Keep in mind that any breed can be aggressive, and dogs all have different personalities.

You can download my FREE  aggressive dog checklist here.

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Dog Barking Training that Works

We all love those cute little barks that welcome us when we come home. But, if your dog does not learn when to bark or not to bark, you may find yourself initiating dog barking training.

All dogs bark.  This is the way that they communicate with you and with each other.  And, just as we don’t want our children to be totally quiet all the time, we want our dogs to be able to “talk” sometimes, too.

Dogs bark for many different reasons, and if you listen carefully, you will notice that your dog’s tone changes when she is trying to tell you something.

Your Bichon Frise may have a playful tone, a tone for needing to go outside and a tone to warn you about strangers.

Bichon Frise in red jacket, barking and very much in need of dog barking training.
Cute little Bichon Frises can quickly develop a barking problem that requires a bit of dog barking training.

Of course your dog’s barking needs to be kept under control, and we do need some rules for appropriate barking.

In this article, you will find:

  • Why is My Dog Barking?
  • When Barking is a Good Thing
  • Importance of Being the Pack Leader
  • Types of Barking
  • Do Bark Control Devices Work?

Why is My Dog Barking?

There are tons of reasons that dogs bark.  As you have probably learned, some barking is manipulative, designed to get your attention or to get you to do something.

Other barks are trying to communicate something to you.  Here are some common reasons that dogs bark:

  • Needs to go out
  • Hears a noise, something that seems unusual or threatening. This can be a person or a thing (like a garbage can being moved)
  • Someone is outside (walking or in a car) – Your dog barks because of fear or to protect the other pack members.
  • Boredom or loneliness – Dogs who have separation anxiety may bark. This can be for a short time after you leave, or for the entire time that you are gone.
  • Begging for a treat
  • Reminder that it is time for a meal
  • Your dog was playing with a toy and it went under a chair, where she cannot reach it.
  • Excited about going for a walk or a ride in the car
  • Your dog wants you or another dog to play with her.
  • Confusion – this happens with senior dogs that have dementia or Canine Cognitive Dysfunction.

When Barking is a Good Thing

All dog barking is not bad.  In fact, there are times when you do want your dog to bark:

  • Intruder on your property or in the house – Of course this is really remote for most neighborhoods, but if it does happen, you want to know. However, depending on where you live, your dog may mistakenly bark at a non-intruder:  neighbors down the hall in an apartment, people walking in front of your house, dogs barking down the street.
  • Your dog needs to potty outside – When you dog needs to go, you need to take him out. The consequences of ignoring his request are not fun!
  • Play barking – When you or other dogs are playing with your dog, barking is just your dog’s way of talking to you and having fun.

Sometimes people create a problem for themselves when they want their dog to serve as a watchdog.  Instead of just barking at strangers or intruders, your dog now barks at anything and everything.  This can be corrected if it has become a problem.

Importance of Being the Pack Leader

I’ll talk about this even before I discuss the different types of barking that dogs do.  If you don’t get this right, you will never be able to correct your dog’s behavior problems.

When training a dog, there is nothing more important than your becoming the pack leader.  This is the foundation for all obedience training and for a healthy interaction with your dog.

Dogs are social animals with a very defined social structure or hierarchy.  In a dog’s world, the alpha male and female are leaders.  The others are followers and have a position lower than the alphas.

Someone needs to take the leadership position in your pack or family, and that needs to be you.  That is, if you expect your dog to obey your commands.

If you do not assume the alpha role, your dog will.  And that is when your behavioral issues will start!  If you don’t become the pack leader, your dog will move in and take over.  Someone needs to be in charge!

However, this is not difficult to do.  Follow trainer Doggy Dan’s 5 Golden Rules and you will start to see changes in how your dog interacts with you in no time.

Types of Barking

While some dogs do communicate by making some “talking noises”, all dogs communicate with you and each other by barking.  Your dog is trying to tell you something, using the only language that she knows.

Some dog training “experts” talk about stopping all barking, but that is really not a good idea.

Let’s look at the different types of dog barking:

Territorial Barking

  • Barking at the door – When someone rings the doorbell or parks in your driveway, your dog may bark to alert you to the fact that you have company. To your dog, this is a potential intruder and the situation needs to be assessed.  Is this person OK or not?  If you don’t take charge and make the decision, your dog will assume the responsibility.
  • Barking in the yard – This is often the same kind of situation. Your dog may feel that he has to protect the other pack or family members.  This kind of barking can be a little more complicated though, because your dog could be talking to another dog, trying to get someone to come over to see him or even telling you that the neighbors have a new wheel barrow in their yard (possibly a threat to you).

Take a look at this video where Doggy Dan demonstrates how to get this little Bichon Frise to stop barking when its owner leaves the house.  Notice that putting on shoes is a signal that someone will be leaving soon.  The “going to leave” signal could be getting your pocketbook or putting on a jacket or sweater.

While this video was an actual consulting call and it makes the training seem quite easy.  But, in order to make this work, you still need to show your dog that you are in charge.  To do that, you have to follow the 5 Golden Rules.

You can access all of Dan’s 129 training videos for just $1 now.

Barking on  a Walk

If your dog walks while on a walk, there are a number of possible reasons for the barking.  Certainly there are lots of distractions on a walk.

If your dog is aggressive toward other dogs, you might want to see the article on aggressive behavior.  However, barking is not always being aggressive.  Your dog can simply be excited and over stimulated!

The basic idea is to treat your dog as if there is not danger.  You just walk right past the threat without making a fuss or getting excited.

Another way to calm a dog is to gently take hold of the front of your dog’s collar.  Stoop and turn your back to the other dog, the person upsetting your dog, or whatever the perceived danger is.

This signals to your dog that there is nothing to be concerned about.  You are in charge and you are not worried.  You will be surprised how quickly your dog will calm down.

The video below shows you how to get an aggressive dog to spend time near another dog calmly.  If you have trouble taking your dog on walks or to the park, watch how this is done!

Access the Doggy Dan videos here for just $1 for 3 full days.

Barking Because of Boredom or Loneliness

Most dogs don’t like to be left alone.  Remember that they are social creatures who like being with their other pack members.

Dogs who are lonely or bored can get into trouble, including barking.

Consider getting a couple of toys that challenge your dog’s mental abilities or a Kong toy stuffed with a couple of treats or peanut butter to entertain your dog.

Play Barking

Just like children and sometimes adults, dogs get excited when they play.  As long as they don’t become a nuisance or a danger because of rough housing, this is fun and OK.

When your dog barks during play, she is expressing happiness.  And she is talking to you or the other dogs.

You’ll see your dog do this when she is chasing balls in the yard, swimming for an object that was thrown into the water or running and playing with another dog.

Barking for Attention

Barking for attention is common and it is very easy for a dog owner to reinforce this behavior and make it worse.

If you do any of these things when you dog barks, you are causing a problem:

  • Give your dog a treat when she is barking – You think that a distraction will stop the barking. But, you just gave your dog another reason to bark.  Here’s how your dog sees it.  She just got a treat because she did something that you liked—bark!
  • Speak to your dog – She is speaking to you when barking and when you respond, she thinks you are answering her. And you are!  She just got you to speak to her, and she will do it again.
  • Touch your dog – When you touch a barking dog, you are giving positive reinforcement. Your dog likes to be touched and so will bark again to get patted.
  • Give your dog what she wants – If you just give in and give your dog what she wants, you can be sure that your dog will bark again to get what she wants.

I think you get the idea.  The point is that you, as the head of the household (pack) are in charge and you make the decisions.  Your dog should not be telling you what to do and when to do it!

When your dog makes demands, the best thing to do is ignore him.  It may take him a little while to get the message, but he will get the idea.

Make sure you do reinforce positive behavior so your dog learns what you expect and how to get what she wants by appropriate behavior instead of barking.

Do Bark Control Devices Work?

People do use different approaches when working with their dogs.  There are some devices on the market that many people like.

  • Ultrasonic Anti-barking Device – This device is shaped like a little house. You can place it inside or outside and it will work for a radius of 50 feet.  When your dog starts barking, it emits a sound that your dog can hear, but you can’t hear it.  It works for barking in the yard and for people at the door, two very common barking problems.
  • Anti-Bark Vibrating Collar – The collar has 5 sensitivity levels, so you can use it on puppies or small dogs. The collar does give off a stronger vibration as you increase the level, but it does not shock your dog.
  • Citronella Anti-barking Collar – When your dog barks, the collar sprays some citronella into the air. Dogs don’t like it.  If you prefer, you can also get an odorless spray for the collar.

Still frustrated with your dog?  Why not give the Doggy Dan dog training videos a shot?  You can watch them for 3 days for just $1.  If you decide not to continue, just email Doggy Dan to tell him.  It’s easy to stop the program, and it really is hassle-free!

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Stop Submissive Urination in its Tracks

Submissive urination or submissive peeing is not a potty training issue. Both male and female dogs urinate submissively and some dogs even have a genetic tendency to do so.

We see submissive urination in both puppies and older dogs, as well.  Puppies have an undeveloped bladder and most will eventually grow out of the problem.  But some won’t.

To understand how to fix this behavior problem, we need to look at why your dog is peeing submissively in the first place.

When you correct a dog with submissive urination, you just make the problem worse!
When you correct a dog with submissive urination, you just make the problem worse!

In this article we will look at:

  • Why Does My Dog Pee Submissively?
  • From A Dog’s Point of View
  • Is it Really Submissive Urination?
  • Solving the Submissive Urination Problem

Why Does My Dog Pee Submissively?

There are a number of reasons that this could be happening in your home.  And, if you adopted a dog from a rescue or shelter, the chances that your dog urinates submissively are much greater.

Shelter dogs tend to be more insecure, at least when you first get them.  Their insecurity leads to behavior issues that you will need to address.  Primarily, it is important to build your rescue dog’s confidence.

Dogs urinate submissively when:

  • They have been abused or punished severely – If you have a shelter dog, the owner before you may have abused your dog.
  • A dog has been hit – Dogs really don’t need to be hit or yelled at. Discipline should be firm and gentle at the same time.  You want to correct the dog’s behavior, not break his spirit.
  • When scolded – Dogs who are very submissive, urinate when they are disciplined.
  • Excitement – Some dogs pee when they get excited and happy.
  • When company comes or when you come home
  • Inheritance – Some dogs actually inherit the tendency to urinate submissively. American Cocker Spaniels are an example.

From a Dog’s Point of View

If we look at this issue from a dog’s point of view, the way to handle the peeing becomes more clear.

Dogs who pee submissively generally lack self-confidence.  They can be shy dogs who are communicating to you that they are submissive to the alpha or leader, which is you.

In the dog’s world, when the alpha dog comes home from a “hunt” (in your case, it could be from the store or after work), the underlings greet the leader submissively.  They are communicating that the alpha remains in the top position in the pack.  The leader has returned safely.

An alpha male or female dog will simply ignore the submissive dogs, reinforcing that the alphas are still in the leadership position.  This is normal behavior in the pack.

No offense is taken, and no one is vying for the leadership position.  The underlings are quite happy where they are.  The alpha leader guards and protects them and keeps other pack members in their place.  It makes everyone feel secure and happy.

Getting back to your dog’s submissive urination, your dog is showing you that she is submissive to you.  We’ll talk about that a little later.

Your dog is not peeing on the floor on purpose.  It is involuntary and she is not even conscious that she is doing it.

How you handle this, determines whether the situation gets better or worse.

Is it Really Submissive Urination?

There are a few instances where your dog might be peeing because of something else.  If your dog is house trained and suddenly starts to have accidents inside, it may not be submissive peeing.

Sometimes a medical condition is to blame.  Some rescue organizations estimate that as much as 15-20% of rescue animals have house training problems that are health related.  If your dog is a rescue dog, you might consider consulting with your vet about your dog’s accidents in your home.

If your dog suddenly develops urinary issues, consider whether she might have:

If you suspect a medical problem is causing the urinary control accidents, your vet can help you sort this out.

Above all, keep in mind that your dog should never be punished for having a medical condition.  Simply clean up the mess without reprimanding him.

Solving the Submissive Urination Problem

One way to tell if you are really dealing with submissive urination is to observe when the accidents occur.

Vet patting a white dog under its chin.
Patting a dog under her chin is non-threatening, even to a submissive dog.

True submissive peeing happens when:

  • You come home after being away for a while – Your dog does not have accidents when you are at home.
  • Company comes into your home – Interestingly, most friends will greet your dog before greeting you. This puts your dog at the top of the pack hierarchy.  That is very uncomfortable for a dog who feels that his place is lower in the pack.
  • A person who is loud or excited approaches your dog – This is frightening to a submissive dog.
  • Your dog is patted on top of her head – This can be interpreted by a dog as an aggressive move, especially if the person does not know the dog.
  • Someone in your family intimidates your dog

What Usually Happens

Unfortunately too many people have tried to solve this issue by correcting their dog verbally or, worse, by hitting a dog who pees on the floor when they come home.

Giving your dog ANY attention (positive or negative) makes the problem worse.

Here’s why.  Remember that your dog is communicating with you.  When she acts submissively upon your arrival home, she is saying, “Welcome back.  I know that you are the alpha in our family.  I am submitting to you.”

Let’s go through the usual scenarios…

  • Verbal corrections – When your dog pees and you correct him verbally, you become more threatening.  A frightened dog may pee.
  • Bending over – When you bend over to pick up your dog or to discipline your dog, you are using a dominant or intimidating gesture. You are a lot bigger than your puppy!  This may cause her to pee again.
  • Getting excited – Dogs pick up on our emotions. If you get excited when your dog pees on the floor, she will become more excited, as well.  A submissive dog who is excited may pee.
  • Consoling the dog – Some people understand that the dog has not peed on purpose and so they pat the dog and console him. Your dog doesn’t understand this.  Her interpretation is that you like the submissive behavior.  So if you console your dog, you are reinforcing the submissive urination problem.  Not what you want to do!

Simple Solutions

I understand how frustrating this can be.  It is no fun to have a dog that piddles on the floor when you come home.  And less fun to clean it up!   But you must be patient with your puppy or dog.

If you step back and think about this for a moment from your dog’s point of view, you will understand how to approach this.

  • As simple as it seems, you need to ignore your dog when you first come home.  That means that you don’t talk to your dog, you don’t look at your dog, you don’t bend down and you don’t touch your dog.  As hard as it will be, do this for 10 minutes, or until your dog has completely calmed down.
  • Then, call your dog over to you, and you can show affection.  Scratch your dog’s chest or pet him under his chin.  Pats on the head are sometimes perceived as a threat.
  • When you do this, you are communicating to your dog that you are the pack leader and everything is in order.  Nothing to get excited about.  Everything is normal.

Do not punish or correct your dog’s peeing, as this will make the situation worse.  If she thinks you were not happy with her, she will decide that she needs to be more submissive to please you.  And the problem will get worse.

Practical Considerations

Since this may take a few weeks to resolve, enter your home where there is a floor that can be washed easily—not on your best carpet.

Do speak with guests, so that they help reinforce your training.  Guests should greet you, not the dog, first.  If your dog is really excited, guests should ignore him until he settles down.  Then they can call your dog over for pats.

When a dog lies on its side, it is assuming a submissive position.  No one should pet the dog unless he is sitting or standing.  This is so that you don’t encourage a submissive dog without confidence to become more submissive.

Petting the dog in the lying down position communicates that you approve of his submission and want more submissive acts.

To learn more about how to handle dog behavior problems, consider taking advantage of the huge library of dog training videos by Doggy Dan in New Zealand.  His approach to dog training is simple, and it really works!

Gain access to Doggy Dan’s video course for 3 days for just $1 now.

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Alpha Dog Training

How to Become the Pack Leader

Alpha dog training is important for every dog, not just an alpha male or female dog because you need to establish yourself as the leader of the pack in your home.

Most dog behavior problems start when there is confusion about who is actually in charge.  Or, worse yet, when the dog is in charge!

3 gray wolves demonstrate alpha dog training
Believe it or not, your dog’s ancestors were wolves. And they still have a lot in common when you consider their pack mentality.

Fortunately, this is easily remedied.  When you have made it clear to your dog that you are the alpha male or female in the pack, dog behavior problems are easy to resolve.

This article will discuss:

  • The Dog-Wolf Connection
  • Alpha Dog Training and Pack Rules
  • How Dog Packs Work
  • Signs That Your Dog is in Charge
  • How to Become the Pack Leader
  • The 5 Golden Rules You Need to Follow

The Dog-Wolf Connection

Wolf pack
Your dog is most comfortable in a pack, just like his wolf ancestors.

Dogs are direct descendants of wolves and, even though we have tamed them and domesticated them, they still have wolf instincts.

In fact, all dogs originated with a single species of wolf that lived more than 10,000 years ago in Europe.

Even though dog breeds look very different from each other, the evidence indicates that they all do come from the same ancestor.

Wolves live in a pack and they have a strong social structure and very strict rules within the pack.  Dogs have developed the wolf instincts for social structure and pack rules.

That makes it very easy for them to fit into a human family.  That’s also why it is really important to make sure that the leadership of the pack is clear.

Alpha Dog Training and Pack Rules

Your dog still thinks and acts like a wolf even though she is hundreds of generations away from her wolf ancestors.  She does not think like you, a human.  This is important to keep in mind when training your dog.

Wolves fighting for position in the pack
Wolves fight for position in the pack. If your dog thinks she is the leader, she will fight to maintain her position.

Dogs are comfortable in a pack.  The rules are well defined.  Each member knows its position in the hierarchy of the pack, and he is fine with it.

Knowing where he fits in the pack pecking order helps a dog to feel safe and comfortable.  It helps him feel secure.

Dogs do not have a pressing need to be the alpha dog in a pack.  But they do need to know who the leader is.  Once in a while, someone will challenge the leader, but a strong alpha always comes out on top.

How Dog Packs Work

angry wolf snarling
If your dog is the pack leader, she may defend her position, like this wolf. This leads to major behavior problems like aggression.

While all pack members defer to the dominant male or alpha, it is very important that you, as a human member of the pack, take that role.

Dogs in a pack respect, obey and follow those above them.  They want to please the leader.

From your dog’s point of view, someone needs to be in charge.  That needs to be you and your family members!

Leaders have certain privileges.  In your home, those privileges include food, toys and the most comfortable bed.

If a lower ranking dog tries to usurp one of those privileges from the leader, he will be disciplined by the alpha.

 Signs That Your Dog is in Charge

Dog behavior problems often stem from your dog’s understanding that she is in charge of your family.  Without knowing it, we often reinforce that idea.

How can you know if you have a dominance problem?  Your little Bichon dog will show you by:

  • Guarding toys – When you get close, your dog growls, snaps or shows her teeth.
  • Guarding foods – You see the same kind of behavior when you are near your dog when she is eating.
  • Furniture guarding – Your dog decides that he likes a certain piece of furniture. When told to get off, the dog refuses.
  • Demanding attention – Your dog whines, barks or pokes her paw at you and doesn’t stop until you do what she wants. So often we think this is cute, but it is a sign of dominance.
  • Interrupting dinner – This can be rather annoying. Never feed your dog at the table and remove him from the room if he continues to disturb your dinner.

If you find that you do have a dominance issue, then alpha dog training to establish that you are the pack leader, is in order.

How to Become the Pack Leader

Becoming the pack leader is really quite simple if you know how.  Doggy Dan’s Online Dog Trainer system illustrates the principles that he calls the 5 Golden Rules.

I’ll list the rules for you below.  But first, take a look at this video.  The lady who is talking was having all kinds of behavior problems with her dogs.  After a consultation with Dan, she and her husband started using the rules.  I’ll let you see how it worked for them.


The 5 Golden Rules

If you follow these rules in your home, your job of dog training will become quite easy.  These rules are Doggy Dan’s and you can see 129 dog training videos and get tons of information for 3 days, for just $1.

  1. Food – Never feed your dog at the table.  You always eat first.  Use gesture eating when feeding your dog.  To do this, you pretend to sample or eat your dog’s food before giving it to him.  This shows that you are the leader or the top dog.  Your dog eats after you are through.
  2. Danger – The pack leader protects the underlings.  So, in the face of danger (postman, oil delivery truck in the driveway, neighbor knocking at the door), you remain calm and handle the situation.  To calm your dog you may have to use the Doggy Dan “calm freeze”, where you hold the front of your dog’s collar loosely, while turning your back to the perceived danger.
  3. Arriving home – When the alpha male and female arrive back at the den, they ignore the lower ranking dogs.  This signals to the others that everything is OK and that they are still in charge.  When you arrive home after being away, do not touch, speak to your dog or give him eye contact.  After a few minutes, when your dog is relaxed, call your dog and give him affection.  Simple, but your dog will understand the significance.
  4. Everything on your terms – Pack leaders make the decisions.  You should initiate everything.  Do not allow attention seeking behavior.  Call your dog to you and then give him affection.
  5. Taking a walk – Train your dog to walk off leash and on a leash without pulling.  Dan shows how to do this in his video course.

Because dogs think like dogs, not humans, we need to step in and establish that we are in charge of our dog/human family. This is done gently, without harsh punishment or words.

Taking this simple step will make training your dog a breeze and will avoid most behavior problems.

There may be links in this post that are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I may receive an affiliate commission, which does not affect the price you pay for the product. Regardless, I only recommend products or services that I use personally or believe to be the best value for my readers.

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