Doggone Etiquette —

Bark Or Bite?

By Bardi McLennan

A Word to the Dog:           

Can you even remember when you learned to bark? Did you always know how, or did your VIPeople teach you? What about now when you put on a good show of barking, do you get praised, or scolded? Then there’s biting which you probably learned to do with your littermates or even your very own mother. You are still allowed to bite, but only on your very own toys — right? Holding a toy or treat in your mouth doesn’t count as biting. Trying to catch the kids’ legs as they run, or their hands as they throw something, is called “nipping” and you’ll be taught not to do it because it can hurt. Hurt the person, not you. Real biting is what you dogs do if you are threatened, or just think you are. You’ll be taught which is which and in the meantime, watch your mouth!

A Word to the Dog’s Owner:            

Barking and biting are just two things dogs do, so it is up to the dog’s owner to keep both in moderation. Excessive barking invariably begins when the little puppy comes into your life and you shower him with smiles, admiration and praise every time he opens his mouth. “Oh, isn’t that cute? Puppy is learning to speak!” It’s possibly one of the biggest mistakes made by new puppy owners. It may be cute at 8 or 10 weeks of age, but as the volume and frequency increase with age, it becomes a sonic nightmare! And your approval taught the puppy to do it. Dogs are sometimes turned back to the breeder, or over to the local shelter, due to barking that is out of control. That true reason for the “return” is not always forthcoming. We don’t like to admit our mistakes.                              

A good watchdog is not a barker. The key here is “watch” and the bark is a signal only when something warrants it, such as a car coming in your driveway or person walking up to your door. That kind of barking is a job well done. It earns the dog a very quiet, “Good dog” which signals to the dog that you are taking over. If Rufus doesn’t get it and stop the barking immediately, you have some training to do!     

Puppies (somewhat like our children) almost always go through a teenage period sometime between five and ten months of age. This stage can last a couple of days or weeks. Either they tend to forget everything they have learned, or show signs of feeling threatened by people. The latter is often misconstrued as shyness. Don’t try to sweet-talk him out of it. Maintain your normal friendly interaction with the dog and he’ll come around.  

As for biting, it’s once again a matter of teaching — from the day you get the dog — that mouthing is only allowed in connection with the dog’s very own possessions. Let him mouth on your hands and at some point, without the dog meaning to do so, those teeth will get you! It may not be what we think of as dog biting, but that’s where aggressive biting and/or fear-biting can begin.

These are all reasons why playing tug-o-war with a puppy is a no-no. Growling noises are part of the game, not a sign of viciousness. A dog will growl when playing by itself with a toy it can hold in its mouth and shake. Think of it as play noise for play attack. The game of tug-o-war itself won’t lead to viciousness or aggression, so long as you are the one to stop the game, not the dog. How? Teach the puppy (or your new adult dog) to “Give it” when he has anything at all in his mouth. It’s a one-word command, no conversation. A small treat to reward a quick response is okay for starters along with a happy-face “Good dog!”  

End tug-o-war on your terms before it becomes a battle royal. Try using distraction. Show the dog a ball or other toy you’re holding in one hand as you put out the other hand and say, “Give it.” As (that’s AS, not a second later) he drops the tug toy, get in a quick “Good dog” and toss the ball. Timing is everything in a dog’s life!

Until next time – BE GOOD!

- Bardi

Bardi McLennan bred, trained and showed Welsh Terriers for 30 years, during which time she wrote a monthly column on canine behavior in Dog Fancy Magazine. In addition to contributing to numerous dog publications, she has written 15 books on dogs, the latest being Rescue Me!, which received the ASPCA Humane Issues Award in 2008.