Little Dog Aggression

Little Dogs Bite Too

And while the “damage” may be minor in comparison, the stress and risk of getting reported to AC by your neighbor or handyman is the same. The frustration and embarrassment with your neighbors and visitors is real. The risk of biting a kid or elderly is real.

Of course the risks of instigating drama with a big dog is also real, and needs to be resolved.

A little dog, 12 pounds ringing wet bit a visiting contractor. We often measure it by... did it break skin? Did it draw blood? Did you get reported?

But that’s not the only measure nor the best one. Yes, there are degrees of bites, but even a snapping, lunging dog needs to be addressed -- because they will escalate if we keep setting them up to fail.

In the case of my client the contractor was wearing shorts and was bitten on the leg and on the hands. But that wasn’t the dog's first effort, just the one that led to a change.

When I went in, technically the dog “bit” me, but I was wearing jeans and had my hands in my pocket, and heavy leather boots ... knowing what would happen. I wanted to see his reality ... once.

Exact same scenario and bite issue between me and the handyman ... one broke skin, one didn’t. But the fundamental issue is the same.

The little guy is insecure but not fearful He’s willing to stand his ground and go back in with attitude. He charges his fence when people walk along the greenway. He blows up on his leash when he sees people on walks. He's a hot mess. He runs the house and his people.

When challenged by me not reacting to him or leaving he had to rethink his approach. I took away his power... all 12 pounds of it.

We got right to work and started training his owners and new skills to relieve him of duty claiming the house, the yard, and his people. When I left, they had much better skills and expectations for the dog. They had homework and a plan. Work to do yes, but a different dog was present when I left vs the one that wanted to bite me when I entered.

Can I do this with a big dog? Yep, Great Dane size .... just better safety measures in place

(Not actual image of dog... no need for the neighbors to be involved)