Re: my dog bit me

In Reply to: my dog bit me
Category:   Aggression
Posted by:  roberta
Posted on:  September 24, 2002 at 16:13:54

: Hi, my 9 month JRT actually bit me the other night and broke skin for the first time. She had grabbed a potted plant and left a trail of dirt from the dining room to the living room - behing the sofa (her favorite spot to sleep). I called her name and moved the sofa while she was behind it and I *think* it startled her so much that she lunged at my hand and bit me.

: I don't know if she meant for that to happen because he was completely terrified and I know she felt bad afterwards because she was shaking and ran away as soon as I reacher over to touch her. I put her in her crate for a time-out period because I think it was an accident.

: She is a mouthy dog and usually play bites when she is excited - I just don't know what came over her last night. She has been through obedience school when she was a younger and has been spayed.
:
: Is the time out a correct punishment? My boyfriend said I should have ignored her for an entire day. I'm wondering what to do if there is a next time, but hopefully there won't be a next time.

: thanks so much.

Response:

Hi Roberta,

Well I can say these terriers can get very defense if startled and the chance of getting nipped or bitten can increase in these situations, especially if you made a grab for her.

A time out was fine, but I don't agree with your boyfriend about ignoring her for an entire day. Dogs don't think like us, therefore she would have no idea after awhile why you were ignoring her.

My suggestion is to get back into obedience school with her. She is at a prime age for it and it would be of benefit for both of you to get her proficient in basic commands.

How much easier would the situation have been if you could have given her the "LEAVE IT" command? You would still have a potted plant in its pot, and you wouldn't have been bitten.

Seems impossible for a dog to "LEAVE IT?" Well with training and practice it's actually pretty easy to achieve. My Brody LOVES, ADORES doggy toys, he thinks that every dog toy that was ever made was made expressly for him. He can also destroy a toy in just about a nano-second so in order to stay solvent around here, he's only allowed a certain amount of time to play with certain toys and then they are put away. Now taking away a toy from a dog with this attitude could be tricky and a prime source of a dog bite, with the "LEAVE IT" command we are able to safely remove a toy from him. He immediately backs off of whatever he has.

Please remember too, that obedience school only really works if you keep the dog proficient in the skills it learned. It's like the old saying "use it or lose it."

Regards,
Marie