Dog Behavior Problem:
Fear Biting
Dogs bite out of fear not because they are necessarily a bad or aggressive dog, but simply because they are scared.
Biting is the way a dog expresses panic or extreme fear when it is approached.
Ironically, fear biting occurs when a dog's owner means well. An owner will see their dog is scared and approach with the intention of either comforting their dog or trying to show there's nothing to be scared about. By approaching too close to the dog, it's pushed too far and it bites.
Fear biting doesn't just happen. There are warning signs that indicate a dog is frightened or anxious.
Scared dogs are nervous, on edge, and will adopt a submissive posture. The posture can be a tucked tail, a hunched and lowered back, ears flat against the head, shivering body, or elbows bent in a slight crouch.
The dog will also hyperventilate with excessive panting, avoid eye contact, and even yawn frequently in an attempt to reduce tension.
What makes some dogs into fear biters
Many dogs have anxiety or fear issues. Some dog breeds - including Border Collies, Great Danes, and Weimaraners - are high-strung which make them more prone to anxiety.
Abused, abandoned, injured, or traumatized dogs can also develop anxiety problems which - without proper treatment - may progress to fear biting.
How to curtail fear biting
As a dog owner, you cannot force your dog to overcome his fear and you cannot train a scared dog not to bite.
Treatment requires patience, persistence, and consistency.
Anger, frustration, and shouting will only make the problem worse because it increases the dog’s anxiety.
Your treatment starts by determining the cause of your dog's fear and building up its confidence.
Building up your dog's confidence with dog behavior training
Dog behavior training is an effective way to build a dog's confidence.
Start with basic obedience training and practice easy commands for several minutes every day.
Starting with easy commands will ensure greater success with the behavior.
Always praise and reward liberally for good behavior.
And only progress to the next training level when your dog is thoroughly comfortable with the commands he's learned.
Desensitizing a dog to a fear object
Some dogs are scared of new situations and experiences which create anxiety.
In order to desensitize your dog, it has to be slowly introduced to whatever is causing the fear response.
The key to desensitization is to introduce your dog to the fearful sitation within the dog's comfort level. In this way, he learns through direct experience that there's nothing to be afraid of.
For example, if your dog is afraid of the vacuum cleaner, you would introduce it slowly into your dog's daily life. Start by leaving it out in a prominent place where he’ll have lots of contact with it. He'll then have plenty of opportunity to sniff it, walk around it, and become accustomed to it. Play with your dog and feed him near the vacuum cleaner so that it becomes part of his normal life.
Counterconditioning
Once your dog is reasonably calm around the object it's afraid of, teach him to associate good things with the object.
Praise your dog lavishly and give it treats whenever it shows less fear of the object.
Fear Biting: Dog Behavior Training Do's and Don'ts
Adopt a firm, straightforward, no-nonsense attitude.
Dogs take their emotional and psychological cues from their owners. So make sure you're a good role model - keep your tone matter-of-fact and talk to your dog in a relaxed manner when he's frightened.
Socialize your dog frequently and give him lots of opportunity to accustom himself to the wider world.
Be patient. Don’t try to rush your dog or force him to confront objects, people, or situations that he’s afraid of.
Pay attention to his body language. If he’s hyperventilating and showing the whites of his eyes, there's a good chance he needs his own space. Even though a fear bite isn’t inflicted maliciously, it’s still a bite.
Don't crowd your dog. Scared dogs need space so back off and wait for him to approach you.
If he’s hiding or strenuously resisting your direction, pay attention to what he’s trying to tell you: He's not yet comfortable enough to proceed. Forcing him outside his comfort zone will result in biting.
Reward the behavior you wish to see repeated. Praise him and pet him for showing increased calmness and being brave enough to approach/sniff/explore the object that he's afraid of.
Ignore the behavior you don't want to see repeated. Be careful not to reward his fearful behavior with special attention.
Click on this link for more information on dog behavior training to build a dog's confidence to reduce the liklihood of a dog biting.
