Identifying the Signs Your Dog is Ready to Bite

Identifying the signs that your dog is ready to bite can be helpful in preventing any incidents with your canine and other people or animals. Most dog owners believe their pet is friendly and would never bite someone, especially anyone they know or care about. Unfortunately, this is not the case. All dogs can bite, regardless of breed, size, strength, and general temperament. Your dog may bite someone they know or someone from the neighborhood. Additionally, it means the victim usually knows the dog. Dog owners should always use caution when their animals are around new people or in stressful situations. Canine liability insurance is also a good idea to ensure maximum protection. To help spot early signs of a potentially dangerous situation. Additionally, it can help you identify the warning signs that your dog is about to bite.  Here is how to identify biting behavior in dogs.

Signs Your Dog May Bite

Even though your canine companion cannot talk to you, he can still communicate in various ways. The better you get at interpreting your dog’s body language, the better you will be to calm down unwanted aggressive behavior. Leading dog behavior expert Kendal Shepherd developed the “ladder of communication” that illustrates the steps dogs go through as they become stressed to biting levels. Here are the steps to look for:

• Blinking, yawning, and licking their own nose are initial methods dogs use to self-soothe.
• When dogs avert their eyes, they are letting you know they need space and do not want to be there. 
• By turning the body away or pawing at you, your dog is signaling a need for relief.
• A dog walking away is similar to a human walking away; let him go.
• Ears tucked back or creeping low to the ground are signs of nervousness or discomfort. 
• A crouching dog, one with a tucked tail or a dog exposing his belly, demonstrates nervousness and looks smaller to show there is no threat.
• Staring, stiffening up, growling, and snapping are all actions of a stressed dog and precursors to the bite.

Steps to Prevent Biting Behavior

Responsible dog owners recognize the situations that can lead to aggression. They also utilize canine liability insurance for additional protection. Here are steps to keep your doc docile. 

• Build a safe haven for your dog, like a bed, away from children, noise, and stressful stimuli.
• Establish rules for humans and canines and ensure everyone follows them.
• Provide proper supervision, especially when children are present.
• Recognize signs of anxiety and take steps to alleviate them.
• Start early to provide appropriate opportunities for supervised socialization.
• Seek professional help if you are concerned about your dog’s behavior. 

While most dogs are not aggressive by nature, all dogs can feel stress to the point of biting. Consequently, knowing the signs and situations combined with canine liability insurance can help protect you and your dog in an unexpected biting incident.

About Dog Bite Quote

At Dean Insurance Agency, we’ve been providing protection to dog owners since 2012, with more than 10,000 policies issued. Our underwriting criteria and years of experience providing this coverage enables us to offer competitive and fair policy premiums. Our policies are available in every state except Alaska & Kentucky. The quote is free and there is NO obligation to purchase!