Aggression and biting
If your dog has bitten someone, you are probably frightened, embarrassed, and getting a lot of advice you did not ask for. Start here instead.
This is what the CBCC-KA is for
Aggression is the reason the Certified Behavior Consultant Canine credential exists. It requires documented hours specifically in aggression, fear and anxiety cases, and a proctored examination. It is not a weekend course.
I will be straight with you about what I see. Some cases resolve well. Some need veterinary involvement, because pain and medical problems cause more aggression than most people realise. And a small number of cases are about safety and management rather than cure. You will hear my honest read either way.
What I need to know first
- Who was bitten, and where on the body
- Whether the skin was broken, and how badly
- What was happening in the ten seconds before
- Whether there were warnings, and whether they had been punished before
- Whether your veterinarian has ruled out pain
Please do not punish the growl
A growl is information. A dog who has been corrected for growling often stops growling and goes straight to the bite instead, with no warning left. If you take one thing from this page, take that.
If someone is in danger right now
Separate the dog from whoever is at risk, use gates, crates and doors rather than confrontation, and call your veterinarian. Then call me.
Tell me what happened
No judgement. I have heard it before, and the people who call early get better outcomes than the people who wait.