Dog bites
and how to keep your dog safe
Dogs bite for many reasons, many of which have nothing to do with aggression. If you think of a dog bite as comparable to a human throwing a punch, it’s easier to understand how and why it happens. We humans raise our fists when our emotions are high, like when we’re afraid, angry, defensive, or even jubilant like after winning a football game. Dogs experience all the same emotions, but are limited in how they can express it.
Dog bites are scary. There’s the physical harm, but there’s the fear and sadness as well. When Shelby and I were attacked by my neighbor’s dog, I panicked (screamed, which didn’t help) but later on, I felt betrayed. I’d been kind to this neighbor dog and I love dogs. The dog’s attack felt scary and so unfair.
It was unfair. The dog showed signs of becoming increasingly territorial, but the owner insisted the dog would never attack anyone. This stubborn assumption is common and it gets good dogs into trouble. Even a super…
