Canine Aggression
By Michelle Posge, DVM
Friday, August 25, 2005
Published in the "Your Pet" column of The Nashua Telegraph.
The column runs on the second and fourth Fridays of each month.
Having recently returned from an international meeting on animal behavior, I have been giving thought to the cultural differences in the management of canine aggression.
In between lectures, I met an English colleague who told me that the British are never shocked or surprised when a dog bites a human. Biting is an anticipated part of dog behavior in England . The behavior, however, is often not tolerated and euthanasia is the widely accepted method of handling the offense.
It seems the reverse in true in my experience with Americans. As fanatical dog-lovers, we never expect a dog to bite. It is as if we imagine the potential for aggressive behavior can be overcome by merely allowing these furry creatures into our homes and our lives.
I listen to dog owners struggle with the decision to euthanize their pet when a bite occurs. Less often, but still common, I meet people that are willing to risk their own health or the health of their family and friends even when a pet repeatedly bites or snaps.
Which is right? Should we adopt a zero tolerance policy when it comes to canine aggression? Or do we honor the bond we have with our dogs, respecting the life of the animal and assuming the responsibility as care taker to rehabilitate a pet that bites? If we do set limits, where should we draw the line? Is snapping or nipping OK? What if a dog “nips” a child?
As a veterinary behaviorist, these are the types of issues I help dog owners struggle through every day. To me, each situation is different and the decision is based on a number of factors, starting with the cause of the bite and the likelihood of repeated behavior.
Too often, the true problem stems from unrealistic expectations of our pets. Many of my clients think of their dogs as small, furry people. The dog lives as a member of the family and fills a special place in daily life of their owner. It seems the close relationships we have with our pets allow us to forget that dogs are, indeed, dogs and not humans. They are aliens that live in a world of our own making and for the most part play by our rules.
What makes dealing with an aggressive pet easier, is understanding the behavior from the dog's perspective. I spend a great deal of time listening to my clients' perspective of the problems, but I devote just as much time to teaching my clients about why their pet uses aggression and how to change it.
Dogs bite. Any dog can bite, even if you give it more love than you do your own blood relatives. When dogs bite, it does not make them vicious or mean. It makes them dogs.
I am as true an animal lover as there has ever been and I am firm believer in benefits of the human-animal bond. It is because of this that I believe it is our responsibility to recognize aggression as a normal canine behavior and to do what we can to prevent it. It starts with responsible breeding, as well as proper training and socialization. But it continues with the way we behave around animals.
So although we have to accept that dogs come with teeth and generally know how to use them, we can gain some perspective from Andy Rooney. He once said, “The average dog is a nicer person than the average person.”
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