Often dogs lash out when reprimanded for doing something wrong. This is because the dog does not know what it is doing wrong. It only knows you are being aggressive. Remember a dog should not be punished for anything more than three seconds after the act occurred; it simply will not understand why you are reprimanding them.
Any punishment after that time can result in the dog fearing you and can often cause aggression. Smack a puppy which nips you and you will just teach it to nip and run. A better tactic is to shout, “ouch” and ignore it. Teach it that nipping is not rewarding by ignoring. Biting by dogs is a serious problem. According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, dog bites are responsible for 4.5 million injuries every year in the U.S.A., 750,000 people requiring medical attention and 334,000 ending in a hospital emergency room. The Insurance Information Institute reported that insurance companies pay an average estimated $250 million in dog bite liability claims each year.
More than half of all dog bites come from familiar dogs, those of friends, neighbors and even the owner’s own dog. While some breeds may have more aggressive tendencies, all dogs are potential biters so don’t be misled by size. However, the Humane Society of the United States reports that five breeds, the Pit Bull, Rottweiler, German Shepherd, Husky and the Alaskan Malamute, are responsible for two-thirds of fatal dog attacks. The American Veterinary Medical Association reports that dog attacks in the U.S. are the No. 1 public health problem for children, with more than half of all children bitten by age 12, most before the age of nine years. The leading reason for dog euthanasia is aggressive tendencies.
Provided by David The Dogman.
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