Aggression is a survival skill required by all canines. Dogs bite for many reasons. In the last two decades it has become fashionable among dog trainers and behaviorists to try to resolve and eliminate canine aggression. A typical definition of “bite” is “to grab with the teeth so that they enter, seize, or hurt.”
To quantify the degree of severity, Dr. Ian Dunbar has created the following table/guide on bite ‘levels’.
Level 1: This bite does not touch the skin. The dog is biting or biting the air.
Level 2: This bite makes contact with the skin, but does not break it. There may be pain and bruising, but no abrasions will be seen.
Level 3 – This bite ranges from one to three punctures in a single bite with a puncture less than half the depth of the tusk (tusk) with or without any tearing.
Level 4: The dog is putting a lot of pressure on the bite. 1 to 4 puncture wounds with or without lacerations, more than half the depth of the eye tooth. This is often accompanied by bruising and is likely to require medical attention. These injuries suggest that the dog grabbed and shook what was in its mouth.
Level 5: Multiple level 4 roosters. This dog is generally beyond the ability to reason and can feel his
life is threatened.
Level 6: The dog has killed.
Bites can also occur when the dog is highly excited/excited when chasing people along a fence or along a chain/leash. This is called “barrier frustration” and it can (and does) happen frequently, even though most dogs won’t bite. Bites usually occur when the dog’s owner/handler attempts to physically control the dog. The dog is so excited that he indiscriminately bites the person. This is called “displacement aggression” and it is quite common.
Most large, powerful breeds can cause more serious injuries than small dogs. Keep in mind that mixed breeds and not purebred dogs are the type of dog most often involved in inflicting bites on people.
Some warning signs of aggression and biting may be possible:
o Any health changes or long-term health problems
o Anxious or hyperactive behavior (fear of new or certain people or places)
o Biting or a history of biting (past behavior is a predictor of future behavior)
or growling
o New behavior changes (sudden stubbornness)
o Obsessively running/chasing fences/kennels
o Severe separation problems
o Uncontrollable lunge at people or dogs on a leash
Most dogs that inflict level 6 and level 5 bites are euthanized. Level 3 and 4 biters need serious behavior modification to eliminate any additional risk. Level 1 and 2 biters should also receive relatively easy help and guidance from a behavior counselor.
However, if your dog is obedience trained, maintains a social life (gets out of the house and yard regularly), is neutered or spayed, is healthy, and is female, your dog is less likely to bite. But, that doesn’t mean he won’t. After all, anything with teeth can bite!
