Biting dogs-breaking the habit

All dogs are pre-dispositioned to bite. When adult dogs bite, it is much more likely that an injury will occur rather than one who is bitten when a puppy bites. So how do you get a dog to stop bitting? With careful observation, patience and lots of training your dog will stop.
The first thing you must do to stop your dog from bitting is to identify what makes your dog uncomfortable. To know what is causing the problem makes it possible. Then, you need to figure out exactly what kind of aggression  your dog shows. Yes, he bites, but is it fear or dominance?
If your dog bite is of fear, he does it as a last ditch effort to make sure he can manage the situation. Learn to recognize the signs of his panic. Urgent dogs all display the same character. a tucked tail, a crouched position, ears lie flat against the head, and even urination. When you see these signs, immediately remove your dog from the situation until he calms. Do not attempt to cuddle and comfort him. It only enhances the intimidation and fear is the correct answer.
When he calms down, go forward and slowly bring him closer to what scared him. Pressuring him not to do something he is not comfortable with. When he shows no signs of unrest, reward him with praise, lots of cuddles and also a treatment. Over time, fear and anxiety will subside.
If your dog bite is of aggression, he shows that he is top dog. It can be a very risky situation if it is not checked immediately. The best way to handle the dominant aggression is steady, regular obedience work, which will stress your authority over your dog. It takes just two minutes at fifteen sessions a day to make it clear to your dog that you are the boss, and that it is worthwhile to do what you say. You can make this clear to him through to reward him (with gourmet treats and generous praise) to follow a command and isolate him (putting him in the "timeout", either outside the house or in a room by himself) in the case of problems.
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Stop dog biting your dog immediately before any serious damage

Dog Biting can be a serious problem for many dog owners. Most owners have often asked. "What is the best way to stop your dog from biting?" at least once by her dog's lifetime. A dog that bites is disgusting at first, but as they age, they become dangerous, both strangers and your family. If your dog bites, despite how old they are, act promptly to prevent it.
Techniques to stop your dog bite from while they are puppies
The easiest and preferred time to stop this behavior is when the dog is still a PUP. It is more effective to stop your dog bite from which a puppy is less than six months, since it is fairly simple to re-qualify because it is still in his teens, his life, when puppies usually learn to bite into the wild.
The larger problem here is that many individuals think their puppies are only teething and try to play or are unlikely to hurt them, what is really happening is that, unfortunately puppy is your learning to assert its place inside the pack. with the help of the teeth pointing out who is in charge. That is why it is a really effective time to stop biting dog. If you want to put an end to your puppy biting, start it right at this moment, when they are still very open to learning.
There are many ways to stop the dog biting before it becomes free. Almost all of them will simulate how a puppy would be treated with litter mates and mother. A light NIP on the neck, a whining noise when you are bitten and replacement therapy where you leave your dog a toy instead of the hand, these are all excellent ways to display to your dog biting  other people will not be tolerated. If you have difficulty learning puppy to stop, it's best to go to an obedience school or hire a trainer.
How to stop Biting dog when they're one year old
If puppy is allowed to bite and show that it is in command of the household, it will turn to play when it is a teenager in about a year. Any number of things can develop this behaviour. In order to completely stop biting dog behaviour, then you must stop playing games with your dog physically immediately. No wrestling, tug of war or other power-related games. In addition, stop leaving your pet run of the House. Give them the limits, cutting them down to a unique range of movement and also crate training them if necessary. A perfect obedience training programs can be very effective with a teenage dog that bites.
How to stop bite dog as they age
If you do not stop dog bite habits, your pet will continue to get away with their biting behaviour and in the long term, it will eventually develop into a huge dilemma as an adult. The dog can turn on their owners, but most importantly of all, the dog will remain always himself as leader of the pack.
If your dog bites the person who, after a year, it is advisable to find an expert immediately because there are certainly serious threat here and the dog can choose to assert their superiority at any time by using an attack. When learning to stop biting dog, you need to start at that early age as possible. With only a few exceptions for illness or mental disorder had a dog that bites as adult issues such as young puppies that could have been resolved.
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Stop dog biting-urgent action needed!

Our cute little Oooh-6 week puppy old mouth always but it doesn't hurt at all. 12 weeks later, and these needle-sharp teeth really begins to sting ... but Hey it's okay, you can take it. 6 months down the track your puppy and play too hard and leapt on your face. Now there's blood and you do not want to play anymore. Keep it and your puppy cute can be a potential danger to you and your children.
Dog aggression is something that you can't afford to promote-so many people are bitten by dogs each year it is ridiculous. Everyone has a dog story about an aggressive dog they know or have heard of.
Domestic dogs are not wild animals. They have been bred pets and companions, and they really want to please you. It is good news because it means that they can be trained (most of them) bite of bad habit.
It all starts with your puppy little, and how you interact with him. If you stay in control of your play and puppy show that you are the Alpha Dog (boss)--and stop when he bites or NIPs or if you make a loud noise when it hurts, puppy soon learns that the problem is not acceptable. It's not just you as he has to learn this from. Each Member of your House must be a higher position than the dog-you're all alphas and he is in the bottom of the pack.
For effective dog training for team content, you must start by not having your dog bite you when you're playing together. Puppies associate biting with play and when the sharp teeth penetrate the skin, you may respond poorly and chastise the dog physically. This just confuses him when you and he play. You have always played with him this way, so what happened? Play without having to use your hand as a toy. Play tug of war with a soft cloth, but don't allow him to mouth you and shout "no!" and stop playback. Your puppy will be torn up and back down. Do it every time you play until he understands the message.
Puppies are also willing to grasp your ankles when you pass by. Please use a spray bottle filled with water and lemon juice. Spray with the bottle if he nips at you. Citrus fruits are very offensive for dogs and puppies reaction will be to backup directly. Very quickly solves the problem as it's not fun for him.
Now comes the really important stuff-protecting children from getting bit from dogs. Don't let your children EVER play at eye level with puppy. This is where many eye injuries occur from a puppy when he lunged in face and caught the eye or cheek with his teeth. If puppy lunging up means it usually they are trying  to dominate, and it is never safe. Your children need to be more dominant than the dog at all times.
Older aggressive dogs pose a more serious problem.
Is it bite aggression and domination or anxious playing? Aggression is obviously much more serious and if behavior is too dangerous, you need to reconsider the dog. You cannot afford a dog that can maim or kill anyone--especially children. If you believe your seriously aggressive dog can be retrained, a professional manager may be the answer.
The rule is again to assume dominance so your dog knows you're the boss.
You stop a dog from biting through obedience training. An obedient dog is a check on you. If you're in control, you can then move to the next step in socializing your dog with other dogs and people.
Dogs need training and loves attention. Aggression in dogs cannot be accepted even if it is a small dog.
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How to Avoid Dog Biting Problems

Small puppies usually undergo the teething stage, that's why they bite a lot. So, if you have chosen to acquire a young dog, you better prepare yourself for frequent biting. Ready yourself for the dog biting problems that you have to face. However, you do not really have to worry because even if puppy bites may be a little painful, they don't cause any serious injury. Nevertheless, it is best to start training a puppy. Puppies are easier to train compared to older dogs. But it is more preferable not to take the puppy away from its mother until it is ten weeks old. At this age, it is only beginning to learn painful and non-painful biting. So, you better let it play-fight with its siblings first.

Then, once your puppy is old enough for training, you have to tour it around your house and your neighborhood. It needs to become familiar with its surroundings so it will know that it is secured. As you know, unfamiliar surroundings can prompt aggressive behaviors in dogs such as biting, gnawing, and barking. And you and your neighbors will not be pleased if it develops dog biting problems. So, you really have to introduce it to people and places around. You must also allow it to be touched and patted by your family and friends so it will know that these people are allies. Dogs have this predator kind of mentality, and it sees you as its ally. But you must also let it know that you are, in fact, the leader of the pack. So, it must listen and obey you at all times.

Then, you must prevent your dog from being stressed as stress can cause dog biting problems. You have to avoid leaving it alone in your house often, or leaving it in an unfamiliar place. However, leaving for work or travel is inevitable. So, be sure that you train your dog to become used being left in the house. You must also make sure that it does not get into fights with your neighbors' dogs because this might also cause it to become stressed. In addition, you have to show that you love and care for it. You must give it enough attention everyday. It will appreciate even just a simple pat on its head or a rub on its tummy. But you must also walk it regularly and play with it often. You must talk to it and praise it, as well.

Moreover, you have to feed it everyday with nutritious foods. You can buy dog foods in supermarkets. These goods are especially formulated with the necessary nutrients that dogs need. But you can also feed it with cooked meat. Then, you must also not forget to reward it with delicious treats. Hot dogs or cooked pieces of chicken are recommended. So, if you follow these suggestions, you and your dog will have a harmonious relationship. And you will be able to avoid dog biting problems in general, as well.

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How To Stop Dog Biting

Dogs and puppies 'nip' as a natural exploration and method of play. Whilst in their litter the puppy will learn the limits of when and how hard to bite or nip as his littler mates will squeal sharply if he bites too hard. He will then be ostracized for a short period. However, if the puppy is removed from the litter too early he may not learn this and it may be up to you to teach him. Teaching your puppy or dog to stop biting is important for both you and your dog. If you are out with your dog and he decides to 'nip' a stranger you may be subject to a fine or worse. Of course it could be even worse for your dog.

Understanding what dogs are doing when they are 'mouthing' or 'nipping' is fundamentally to understanding how to reduce it and make sure he does not continue in an inappropriate way.

Dogs use their mouths much as a human toddler. They explore their environment with their mouths. This is part of how they communicate. However your puppy needs to be trained to not continue with this behavior. You as the owner need to understand how to stop dog biting when it is inappropriate or too aggressive.

Depending on your dogs breed they may enjoy boisterous play and nip more frequently. Some owners will not accept any form of 'mouthing' from their dogs but it is up to you how much is acceptable in your household, especially if you have young children who may be rough with the puppy. In this case you must supervise the child and the puppy until both understand just how to treat each other. Of course your puppy has to learn his place in the pack which is below all the other humans in the house. If he does not then you may have some problems with your dog in later life. You can achieve this with positive reinforcement. Never use any form of punishment with your dog. This will often have a counter effect. Always praise good behavior and ignore bad.

This technique will work successfully with any age of dog but if your dog is older it may take a little longer. When your puppy or dog 'nips' you make a loud squeal like his litter mates would do. Turn away from your puppy for a bout 30 seconds or so, not too long or he will move on to play with something else. Then praise him for not continuing this 'nipping' behavior. Always praise good behavior. If your puppy is continuing to be overly excited and you are unable to control him, put him in his crate or a room on his own for a few minutes until he has calmed down. Then when he returns to you praise him again for not 'nipping'.

Being consistent is the key to all dog training. If you want to be successful and stop dog biting you must firstly understand why he is doing it and work with the dogs' natural instincts.

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How to Stop Dog Biting - Simple Training Techniques to Stop Biting Problems Easily & Fast

Many dog owners want to know how to stop dog biting. A dog biting or nipping may start off as being cute or fun, but this can easily develop into a continuous problem. For most dogs, biting is a natural and essential part of their life, and this is especially true for puppies who are teething.

Fortunately, stopping these biting problems can be done easily. One thing you should never do is slap or hit your dog in the face, as this can make your dog develop even bigger problems. Moreover, your dog may think you're playing or could become scared of you.

To stop dog biting problems one of the first things you must do is teach your dog how to control the force of his biting. This will make sure that any biting your dog does, the damage done will not be as bad.

To teach your dog how to control the pressure of his biting you must practice a technique known as play biting. The idea is to get your dog to know when he is biting too hard. Start playing with him and allow him to bite your hands.

When you feel his bite is too hard say "ouch", which will stop the biting. When he lets go you should leave the room to give your dog some time to reflect on what he did, and then return to the room and continue playing with him. Repeat this technique until your dog's biting pressure has dramatically reduced or stopped.

Another technique to stop dog biting problems is effective when you catch the problem early. This technique involves giving your dog a toy or chew bone to redirect the biting. As soon as your dog begins to bite yell "leave it" and replace the inappropriate item he's biting with the chew toy.

Another way to stop dog biting problems is to put a choke collar on your dog and every time he bites you give the collar a sharp tug. This action will make your dog have an unpleasant association with biting you, thus making him stop.

When you're trying to stop dog biting problems it will take consistency with whatever training technique you decide to use for the best results. If you feel you're dealing with a very aggressive dog you should get the help of an experienced dog trainer.

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Stop Dog Biting Before It Becomes A Possible Lawsuit

Are you having trouble with your dog biting? If you are looking for a way to stop dog biting, then you will need to carefully read over this article. In this article, I will take you through three stages of dog growth and how to stop dog biting at each stage.

The first stage is the puppy biting stage. The second stage is the teenage biting stage and finally the last stage is the adult biting stage. By the end of this article, you will learn how to manage your dog biting problems regardless of the biting stage.

Puppy Biting Stage:

In the first eight weeks of a puppy, puppies normally go through socialization training with other litter mates and their mother. At that time period, they learn not to bite at others. if your puppy is home earlier before the time period, that could be the reason why your puppy is biting. Some of the things you can do to prevent this, is give stern correction, provide an alternative for chewing and learn to ignore your puppy immediately after biting you. These methods are usually effective for puppies under six months.

Teenage Biting Stage:

If your teenage puppy is still biting at this stage, then it means that your dog didn't get the required training during the puppy stage. Canine's at this stage are usually around a year old. This behavior can be corrected with obedience training which you can do from home. Changing the location of where your dog feeds, sleeps and plays are some of the important steps you can take to stop your dog's biting behavior. Obedience training is by far the easiest method to use if you want to know how to stop dog biting. Teaching your dog to come at command, not allowing your dog to roam the house unattended are some of the obedience training techniques you can use.

Adult Biting Stage:

At this stage, a dog bite could spell medical costs and lawsuits. Nobody wants to spend unnecessary money or time in a court room. Though it is difficult to train dog's at this stage, it can be done. The best way to stop your dog biting is to attend an obedience training school. There, you will find qualified dog trainers who can give your dog the training required. Even after a dog returns home from an obedience school, you are still required to adopt a certain behavior towards your dog that would reinforce the training learned while at school.

If you carefully apply the steps on how to stop dog biting, you will be able to successfully stop your dog from biting regardless of biting stage.

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Train Your Canine Right Away To Stop Dog Biting

Train your dog to have good and consistent behavior to stop dog biting. You can show in the life-style of your dog that you are its master and that you must be obeyed. This can be helped in part by taking the dog to an obedience school. In the sessions at the school, the leader will educate both you and your dog on proper behavior and the suggested way to discipline the dog to encourage better dog manners.

Puppies can be taught good manners because they have not learned bad behaviors as a way of making their needs known. They do this to get their own way, much as small children do. This doggie education should keep the pet from behaving badly in a new environment or around others. Allowing the bad behavior to continue will stop dog biting. Young dog behavior is excited and active, which lets the puppy live at full steam during most of his/her time awake. The young dog must be shown at an early age to channel that surplus energy without first ruining the house or practicing habits such as biting and chewing.

While larger breeds, are considered dangerous because of the size, studies of many dogs have shown that many types of dogs can be successfully raised in loving homes. The known breeds should be handled with extra care and gentle understanding while they are being trained to be obedient.

Many larger dogs have a reputation for being aggressive or dangerous. This is not always the case. When the dogs are treated with love and care, their propensity to end up behaving inappropriately will be reduced.

It is critical to teach your dog properly and to show the dog the behavior you expect to see. Thousands of injuries are the result of dog bites. Correct training will encourage the pet to form good habits and disregard bad ones. It does not matter what type of dog you have, love and trust is important. This reinforcement of love and gentleness at an early age can reduce the likelihood that they will unexpectedly bite a stranger!

Dogs that feel threatened are more apt to bite. Helping your dog avoid threatening situations is one good way to avoid behavior in which the dog might bite. For example, do not go near other dogs during training.

A dog might attack when they are defending their master. In addition, a mother dog may bite to protect her puppies if she feels they are in danger. Training the dog and making it feel secure and protected is one thing that will help in winning its trust. Showing a desire to work with your dog can create a close relationship between you two.

You can begin to reinforce good behavior in your dog in a number of ways. Start off using a system of rewards in the form of treats to reinforce for your dog that his/her actions are desirable and should be repeated. Watch your pet's food intake to preserve the good health of your pet and avoid over-feeding your him if you are using treats during training.

Stop dog biting while your dog is little because they are easy to teach at that age. Show your dog love and loyalty so they will do the same. You will gain an affectionate and loyal friend for life!

Wilhelm Schnell
http://www.germanshepherdsale.org/
Want to have a well behaved dog? Visit our website for more information about how to stop dog biting. Be sure to check out our other FREE dog training articles.

The Pack Theory of Dog Biting

The Pack Theory of Dog Biting

I once owned a sweet natured Beagle. One day when he was about 9 years old, I saw he was chewing on something that was dangerous for him to have. When he saw me approach him, he started to run under a bed.

I made the mistake of trying to grab what he was chewing. He swung his head around and bit me for the first time ever. He tried to stop himself when he realized his action, so his teeth did not go deep. He looked at me with those big brown apologetic Beagle eyes and cowered.

I was not angry with him, but I started thinking about why does a dog bite anyone, especially the human that has cared for him for almost a decade. In this case my Beagle knew he had broken a rule. But what about those news stories where dogs do bite people with no remorse? Did no one teach those dogs the rules?

PUPPY BITING

If a puppy under six months old, the biting is very correctable. Puppies this young usually don't break the skin when they bite and people think they are just playing. The puppy is biting to try and determine his status in his new pack (your family). Refrain from this toothy playfulness or your new puppy may start to think he is the leader of the pack. Train your pup that biting is not acceptable. There is no reason to allow puppies to playfully use their teeth on human skin.

Older Puppies

By this stage, the biting no longer looks like a cute puppy game. Even if the dog is not breaking the skin, the problem is becoming serious. Now the dog is letting the owner know he think the owner is stepping out of line. It is now time for obedience training to end the biting. A dog that has been taught to respond to human commands starts to understand that the human is in charge.

Adult Dogs (about one year old)

The news story headline "dog turned on his master" catches our attention. Actually, the owner was never the master. The dog that is allowed to continue his biting behavior becomes to think of himself as the leader of the pack. The house is his and the humans are subordinate pack members. Dogs who achieve pack leadership will bite a human that they perceive to be out of line because the alpha dog protects the pack. These are the dogs that can be dangerous. Often they end up euthanized or given away to an unsuspecting new owner. But even now, this behavior can be corrected if the owner finds a qualified obedience trainer.

Dogs bite for dog reasons. A responsible pet owner must understand that a dog will instinctively follow the rules of the pack, even if he is the only dog in the house. His humans become his pack. But no matter how much we love our animal, we still must retain pack leadership.

Dog are our companions and friends. However, we must remember that they can be faster and stronger than we are, not mention their awesome set of teeth. Part of loving our animal is to teach him the rules that will help him survive in a world full of humans. If not, the consequences can be disastrous for our pet.

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Stop Your Puppy Biting in Several Easy Steps

Many puppies have a problem with biting. Gentle biting is normal in the animal world, often as a sign of affection, so it is only natural for a puppy to bite like this. The most important thing is to teach the puppy from an early age not to bite, and the best way to do this is to be firm with the canine immediately after the bite has happened. You can't explain to your dog that what it did five minutes ago was wrong, and trying to tell a dog off even a short period after the event can cause confusion and won't help train the puppy.

You should start trying to deter your dog from biting by using a keyword. Most people use no, said firmly and quickly after the bite. If this does not work you may have to try tapping your dog on the nose with a short stick, not hard enough to hurt, but enough to let it know it was wrong. Try not to tap your dog on the face with your hand as it may end up thinking it is being told off whenever you go to stroke it in the future. If the dog still does not respond to these methods, firmer techniques may have to be used. You should never try and scare your puppy though, as yo don't want a nervous dog later in life.

Make sure your dog always knows who is leader of the pack. Remember that dogs are social animals, and must be taught what is socially acceptable from a young age.

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Fear Process

A fear-bite is a bite that occurs out of sheer panic. It’s not to be confused with dominance-aggression, which is a sign of deep-set personality problems; a fear-biter isn’t necessarily a ‘fierce’ dog. He’s just scared. Why does fear-biting happen? A fear-biter bites because it’s his only way of expressing his extreme fear or panic, and his only way of telling his owner that he can’t handle the situation. Almost all cases of fear-biting are actually caused by well-meaning, but ill-advised, humans: they see what’s clearly a scared dog, and – intending to either comfort the dog or to show him that there’s ‘nothing to be afraid of’ – they approach too close, and push an already-anxious dog over the edge. Dogs can’t ask us to please leave them alone. They can’t tell us that something’s bothering them, or that they need some space: all they can do is sign the message to us through their body-language. It’s easy to tell when a dog’s feeling scared or panicky once you know what to look for. Fear-biting never just happens ‘out of the blue’: it only occurs when people ignore the signs. Fear-biting: the warning signs Fear-biters are submissive dogs. When faced with a new situation or unfamiliar people, they do not react with the customary effortless confidence of a well-socialized, well-adjusted dog: instead, they become nervy and on edge. A scared dog, when faced with the unfamiliar, will assume a distinctively submissive posture, and will display several marked behaviors. The more common of these are listed below. Posture - Tail tucked (or, if docked, the back legs will crouch down and the haunches will ‘tuck’) - Hunched, lowered back - Ears flat against the head - Elbows bent in a slight crouch Behaviors Excessive panting (hyperventilating) Yawning (an attempt to reduce tension) Avoidance of eye contact In extreme cases, a dog may also urinate or defecate out of fear What makes some dogs into fear-biters? All dogs undergo what’s called a fear-imprint stage when they’re about eight weeks old, and another one at about fourteen weeks. During this period of a dog’s formative puppyhood, he’s significantly more prone to ‘spookiness’: being excessively startled by new experiences and situations. If a dog has a scare during this time which isn’t properly dealt with by the owner (ie, after receiving a scare, he isn’t then taught not to be frightened of that thing), he may develop a life-long phobia towards that object. For example, if he’s been frightened by a repairman arriving at the door unexpectedly, and isn’t then acclimatized to that person, he may develop a long-standing phobia of men who resemble that repairman (men with beards, men in overalls, men holding toolboxes, etc). Some dogs are also just highly-strung and more prone to anxiety because of their breeding. Certain breeds – typically, the more intelligent ones, and the ones emotionally dependent on close, regular interaction with humans – have proven themselves more likely to develop phobias and excessive shyness than other, more emotionally stable breeds. A few of these ‘anxious’ breeds include Weimaraners, Great Danes, and Border Collies. A history of trauma or abuse is another major cause of fear-biting: many abandoned or abused dogs develop anxiety problems, which, without proper treatment, may progress into fear-biting. The difference between shyness and fear-biting It’s quite natural for some dogs to exhibit signs of shyness towards unfamiliar situations. It doesn’t mean that that dog is a ‘difficult dog’, or that he will grow up to be a fear-biter – some shyness is to be expected in almost all dogs at one point or another. Shyness only becomes a problem when it begins to interfere with the course of daily life: when a dog can no longer be trusted around strangers, for example, or if his behavior is endangering his own safety (scared dogs often bolt, sometimes across busy roads), or when your own life becomes significantly restricted by your dog’s fear. How to cope with fear-biting First of all, make sure your own attitude to the problem is realistic. While the behavior of a fearful dog can often be significantly ameliorated by careful training and acclimatization, on other occasions – and sometimes, despite your best efforts – a dog will remain fearful to the end of his days. You cannot force your dog to overcome his fear. Treatment requires patience, persistence, and consistency: rough treatment (anger, frustration, shouting, a take-no-prisoners approach) usually worsens the problem, because it increases the dog’s anxiety levels instead of decreasing them. You cannot train a scared dog not to bite: he’s responding to a powerful blend of instinct and sheer panic. No training in the world can counteract these two things – as motivators, they’re just too strong. What you can do is, firstly, build up your dog’s confidence, to reduce his overall anxiety and tension levels; and, secondly, pay close attention the cause of his fear, and work to desensitize him to it. Building up his confidence Obedience training is a great vehicle for doling out praise and rewards: simply dispensing treats at random won’t do any good, since the issue here is drawing attention to achievement and good behavior (your dog can tell the difference between an earned and an un-earned reward!). Start small, with basic obedience classes, and practice the commands for five to ten minutes every day. Remember to set him up for success: start off with the easy commands, and make sure he’s thoroughly comfortable with them before progressing to the next level. Always treat and praise liberally for good behavior. Desensitizing him to the fear-object Desensitizing your dog is all about slowly accustoming him to whatever it is that’s eliciting the fear response, at a pace that’s comfortable for him. The emphasis is on maintaining comfort levels: your aim here is to keep your dog happy and serene (as much as possible), so that he learns through direct experience that the cause of the fear isn’t actually scary after all. So if he’s afraid of, say, the vacuum cleaner, start integrating it into daily life. Remember to move slowly and not to push him too far, too fast: start by simply leaving it out in a prominent position, where he’ll have lots of incidental contact with it (for example, in the middle of the lounge carpet). Allow him plenty of opportunity to sniff it and walk around it, Play with him near it; feed him near it. Integrate the object or the situation (whether it’s the garbage truck, strangers approaching the door, small children, driving in the car) into normal, everyday life as much as possible. Counterconditioning Once he’s become desensitized enough to the fear-object that he’s reasonably calm around it (so, he might be exhibiting signs of fear, but isn’t panic-stricken to the point of wetting himself or hiding), you can start counterconditioning: teaching him to associate good things with the fear-object. You can do this by dispensing treats liberally, and doling out lavish praise for any improvements in his fear-levels. Do’s and Don’ts Do: Cue your dog. He takes his emotional and psychological cues from you, so make sure you’re a good role model. Adopt a straightforward, no-nonsense attitude, and stick to it. When he’s frightened, talk to him in a relaxed, don’t-be-silly manner, keeping your tone matter of fact and direct. Socialize him frequently and thoroughly. Even though the most critical socialization period is from eight to sixteen weeks, it should still be an ongoing process throughout your dog’s life. The more opportunity he has to accustom himself to the ways of the world, the easier it will be for him to see that, really, there’s not much to be scared of. Be patient and move slowly. Don’t try to rush your dog, or force him to confront objects, people, or situations that he’s scared of – you’re trying to countercondition his learned fear-reflex, and you’re not going to do that by teaching him to associate feelings of anxiety with the fear-object. Pay attention to his body language at all times. Some whining and trembling are OK, but if he’s wetting himself, hyperventilating, and showing the whites of his eyes, he probably needs some space. Even though a fear-bite isn’t inflicted out of a direct desire to cause harm, it’s still a bite, so give him what he needs! Don’t: Crowd him. Scared dogs need space, more than anything else – you won’t make things easier for him by entering his ‘personal bubble’. If he’s really scared, 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: that he’s not comfortable enough to proceed yet. Forcing him outside his comfort zone is when bites happen. Don’t coddle him or reward his fearful behavior with special attention. It’s great to praise, pet, and cuddle him for good behavior, increased calmness, and being brave enough to approach/sniff/explore the object of fear – it’s not good to reward him for fearful behavior. Save the special attention for when he deserves it: remember to reward the behavior you wish to see repeated; ignore the behavior you don’t. For further information For more information on problem behavior in dogs, check out Secrets to Dog Training. It’s a comprehensive training manual for dog-owners, and covers just about everything you could ever want to know about raising a happy, healthy, well-adjusted dog: from canine psychology to dog whispering to preventing and handling problem behaviors to obedience training, Secrets to Dog Training has it all covered. You can visit the Secrets to Dog Training website by clicking on the link for biting dog.