Canine good citizenship starts at home. That's where a dog learns to be a well-adjusted companion and acquires the basic skills to behave in public.
Many of the reports we hear about dog bites involve an attack by an unfamiliar dog, and it's true that dogs often have problems with strangers. But according to at least one study, the majority of bites are inflicted by a dog that belongs to the victim's family or neighbor.
When a dog threatens or bites a family member, it usually means one of two things. The dog may be guarding something--his food, bone or toy, for example. Or he may not like to be handled. A lot of dogs have problems when people touch them in certain spots or certain ways.
Like most types of aggressive behavior, guarding and handling problems are easier to prevent than to cure. Start when your dog is young. Gradually get him used to being handled. Touch him all over, including his feet, mouth and tail. Make it a rewarding experience, with lots of treats and praise.
Go slowly, moving from patting to hugging and grabbing. Touch your dog the way you might expect a two-year-old child to touch him. Relaxed tolerance of handling doesn't come naturally to most dogs, but with patient conditioning, even a reluctant dog can learn to enjoy being touched.
There are also exercises to prevent your dog from being possessive about things he views as "his," from his food bowl or toy to a favorite sleeping place or a family member. Some dogs even guard stuff that seems worthless to us, like Kleenex, socks from the laundry basket or trash picked up off the ground.
Food, of course, is an extremely valuable thing in a dog's life, and food guarding is a common problem. To prevent it, hang around while your dog is eating. Sit on the floor and pat him. Put your hands on his bowl. He needs to learn that your presence near his food isn't a threat. Practice taking his bowl in mid-meal and adding a special tasty treat. That way he learns your contact with his bowl means something good is about to happen.
These guarding and handling exercises are aimed at prevention. If your dog is already acting aggressively, you have to proceed with much greater caution. Consult a trainer or behaviorist who can help you work safely to correct the problem. Call the San Francisco SPCA Behavior Help Line, 415-554-3075.
Another important defense against dangerous aggression is what we call bite inhibition. It means a dog should use his mouth gently and control the strength of his jaws.
Puppies often acquire bite inhibition while playing with their litter mates. But you may to have to teach it or reinforce it. If your dog nips too hard when he's taking a treat or playing a game, screech "ouch" and give him a time-out for a minute or two. The message is: If you're not gentle, you won't get good things like attention, treats and play.
Some dogs are fine with family members, but don't like unfamiliar people on their turf. Dogs may act aggressively because they feel threatened by a visitor in their home.
You can head off the problem by exposing your dog to positive experiences with a wide variety of people. That includes toddlers, teenagers, men, women, people in uniform, and people carrying packages or pushing delivery carts. A well socialized dog is a relaxed, confident dog that is much less likely to spook and bite.
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