Just got done with my first appointment of the day. It was an evaluation of a dog that I had previously worked with that bit their son on the face on two different occasions. Both “bites” were a nip, in which it appeared that one canine tooth made contact with the boy’s face. The first one left a small scar on the lip and the other a small wound on the eye lid. The first one was observed while the boy was “being mean to the dog”. The second was not observed, but the boy admitted he had pinched the dog. Now this dog, that I would actually have in my pack, has to be rehomed again, and this time comes with a free session from us.
As soon as I got home, Lisa tells me that I need to call a client from 2021. Apparently, their German Shepherd that I worked with twice when their baby was just an infant, bit the child that is now two.
In the big picture, canines have only been living with humans for a short time. By natural design, they were created to communicate with other canines, and we were designed to communicate with other humans. We all know how well interpersonal communications go. We brought canines to live with us. They did not bring us to live with them. This requires that we understand their communications and customs. To be blunt, humans suck at this. So, many people think a dog is friendly based on the fact that their tail is wagging, then I remind them that a police dog’s tail is wagging when they are on a bite. As with so many things, we can’t see the forest through the trees.
A very small number of humans can consistently read dogs and communicate with them. You have heard me say before that most people’s communication with dogs means the exact opposite to the dog. If adults don’t know, how are they supposed to teach their kids. From birth to about 5 or 6, kids should not be allowed to be alone with dogs that have not been shown to be predicable with other kids.
Just like humans, dogs have personal space, and for dogs that are not socialized they decide what that space is and anything or anyone coming into that space is seen as a challenge. Kids make dogs nervous because of their unpredictable patterns of movements and sounds. These things can both scare the dog and remind them of that of small animals that can elicit prey drive. If a dog gets tripped over or has their tail stepped on by a toddler, they will remember what happened when little humans get too close.
Dogs have one question when they meet another dog or human, are you higher or lower than me? They figure this out pretty quick with adults when they let them rush in or outdoors or up or downstairs in front of them. Another challenge that people don’t see it the dog laying in where you need to be or running in and out between your feet. When you walk around them, you are losing the challenge. So then when kids come into the mix and run right into them making them move instead of moving around them, they are challenged and may escalate to a nip as they would another dog. The problem is we are not protected by fur and loose skin so whenever teeth meet skin, skin loses.
Children also love to chase the dog around and we laugh and laugh. The problem is that in the canine world whoever is getting chased is in charge. Then the child attempts to take something from the dog and the dog sees it as a challenge and corrects them as they would another dog.
Probably the biggest threat is height. So many kids get nipped in the face because of their height putting them eye level with the dog. When they are a little taller, they will bend down and lead in with their face. Direct eye contact is the most common way dogs communicate to challenge each other. Just their physical position puts them in direct eye contact with the dog. How many of those reading this have a dog who loves to lay in a particular spot on the couch? This is his space and all of a sudden, a child learning to walk pulls themself up in front of them and is face to face. You can see the problem here. This is why it is important that dogs be frequently made to get up and move even from their most preferred spaces. As soon as they see a space as theirs, anything entering that space may be seen as a challenge, then add direct eye contact, and bad things can happen. People always say bites just happen out of nowhere because they are not in a position to see body language, even on the outside chance that they understand it. A stable socialized canine will not make any decisions without looking at their higher-ranking dog first. If you cannot get your dog to focus on you instead of running out an open door, they are not going to look to you before protecting their space. Several years ago, locally, a small child was killed by the beloved family dog. Information was hard to come by. All I really know is that the toddler had a cookie and was attacked. We all know that little ones walk around holding food around chest level. This puts it between their eyes and the dogs. A dog putting food between them and another dog and staring at them is a challenge. It’s easy to see how bad things could happen.
Let’s be completely honest and admit when we walk up and introduce our dog or kid to a dog on a leash, the adults on both sides are putting a lot of unearned trust into the dogs and the kid. How many times have you seen a toddler approach a dog and smack the dog in the face and the parents say something along the lines of “nice touch please.” When you let people, especially kids, approach and touch your dog you are taking a huge chance. No matter what the kid does to provoke a corrective nip, it will be the dog’s fault, thus your fault. Also keep in mind that when people allow kids to approach their dog, they are usually out in front of them on a tight leash connected to a collar or harness. When the lead is tight, the dog knows exactly where the handler is by touch with no need to look at them. They are also pushed into a decision as to how to react since their handler has place them between them and an unknown threat. The tension on the lead stacks, the dog is pulling towards the “unknown thing” and then they get direct eye contact and a hand reaching over their head. What could possibly go wrong?
If the dog does not consistently see you protecting the space they share with you, you are leaving it up to them. Dogs need to be socialized to kids and vice versa.
As a kid growing up, we had all kinds of animals including dogs that were inside and outside. Those dogs taught me some lessons. Whenever I came in crying about a dog correcting me, my grandmother would always say, “What were you told about pestering the animals?” There was never a time, had I heeded that message that I would have had anything to cry about.
Even though I say it lightheartedly, the honest answer when someone asks if your dog bites is, “Well, he has teeth.” Every human has the capability to punch if need be, right?
Teaching respect for all things including other humans and animals goes a long way in helping your child live a long and happy life.