Most Dogs Don’t Really Want To Bite, So Why Do They?

In the world of canine communication, every growl, whimper, and tense posture tells a story.

Dogs, by nature, prefer to seek social harmony and avoid conflict, usually resorting to biting only as a last-ditch effort when they’re out of options.

But what if you could understand the whispers of warning before they turn into cries of conflict?

Typically, a dog bite is preceded by a series of warning signals dogs use to communicate their growing discomfort.

That’s the good news.

On the flip side, many of these signals can be subtle and easily overlooked by the untrained eye.

By learning to recognize your dog’s signs of discomfort, you will gain invaluable insights into how she is feeling.

As a result, you will be better placed to defuse triggers before they escalate into potential biting incidents while ensuring a safer, more harmonious environment—both for your dog and your family.

Fear Overrides All Other Motivations

One of the primary causes of unprovoked aggression in dogs is fear or anxiety.

When dogs feel threatened or insecure, they may resort to biting as a defense mechanism.

This can happen in various situations, such as when meeting unfamiliar people or animals, facing a stressful or intimidating challenge (like a veterinary examination), or being in a noisy, crowded, or chaotic environment (like the dog park or the local farmers’ market).

According to the National Canine Research Council, “fear trumps everything.”

“Fear of any intensity is more powerful than hunger or thirst, or the need for shelter or social contact, or affection. Any animal, whether homo sapiens or canis familiaris is subject to panic if they find themselves in a scary situation with no avenue for escape.”

Understanding this fundamental truth is crucial for owners to properly address their dog’s behavior.

Fearful Dogs And Their Triggers

Depending on their genetics or background, some dogs are naturally more anxious or fearful, which can make them more prone to aggressive behavior.

There may be specific triggers, like loud noises, unfamiliar people or animals, or stressful situations, that activate their fear response.

When confronted with their feared triggers, they may bite as a defensive mechanism to protect themselves at all costs.

Case Study: Louis – Fearful Dog

Our nervous Saluki-cross rescue dog Louis spent the first two years of his life chained up and being poorly treated.

When we first brought him home, he would get anxious whenever I clipped on his leash.

He was particularly sensitive to any activity behind or around his head and neck, areas he couldn’t easily see.

Unfortunately, I learned this the hard way when he reacted by snapping at me, which resulted in a few painful bites early on.

Luckily, Louis had a degree of bite inhibition, so the bites were only surface level—although he did break the skin.

Ouch!

I quickly realized that my task was threefold:

1. To understand why he was biting.
2. To learn to read his signals (more on that later).
3. To make sure he never felt the need to bite again.

So that’s exactly what I did.

Bite Inhibition

Bite inhibition refers to a dog’s ability to control the force of her mouth when biting.

Puppies usually learn bite inhibition while playing with their littermates.

If one puppy bites too hard, the other will yelp and stop playing, teaching the biter that such force is not acceptable.

This learning process is crucial, as it helps prevent serious injury in situations in later life where the dog might feel compelled to bite (due to fear or pain, for example).

Effective bite inhibition means a dog will be less likely to cause harm if she ever bites in adulthood. 

Impact Of Past Experiences

Previous instances of abuse, neglect, or traumatic events can greatly impact a dog’s behavior.

Dogs that have been mistreated may have learned that aggression is a necessary defense mechanism.

Similarly, dogs that have had negative experiences with certain types of people or dogs, or specific situations may adopt a negative response when faced with similar circumstances in the future.

Rooted in fear, this can manifest as aggression, including biting, in an attempt to protect themselves from perceived threats or harm.

Unmet Socialization Needs

When dogs lack early socialization with other dogs, people, and various environments, they may become fearful or reactive.

This fear can lead to biting without warning as their way of protecting themselves in unfamiliar situations, as in our case with Louis.

Separation Anxiety

The discomfort experienced by a dog with separation anxiety is profound and should not be underestimated.

Unfortunately, separation anxiety is quite common among dogs and is characterized by an intense bond with the dog’s owner.

Affected dogs may experience a state of panic when left alone or even at the slightest indication of their owner’s departure, exhibiting behaviors such as mouthing at them to try to keep them from leaving. 

Case Study: Maggie – Separation Anxiety

When we adopted our Labrador-Pit Bull cross Maggie, she had already been rehomed several times and had landed up, once again, in a noisy, stressful shelter.

In the early weeks of living with us, she couldn’t bear to be left home alone and would grab onto your clothes, shoes, bag, hands with her mouth to try to stop you from leaving.

While not technically biting, this behavior is concerning nevertheless and needed to be addressed before it got any worse.

Redirected Aggression

Redirected aggression occurs when a dog becomes agitated or aroused by something in the environment, but cannot act on it.

For example, if your dog is watching from the window and sees another dog walking past, she may get agitated.

Because she can’t get to the dog, she may lash out at whatever is closest to her, including her owner or another pet.

This type of aggression can be unpredictable, making it important for dog parents to learn how to pre-empt, interrupt, and manage it.

Maternal Aggression

Female dogs can become fiercely protective when it comes to their offspring.

This maternal aggression can manifest in the form of growling, barking, and biting if anyone gets too close to their puppies.

This behavior is entirely natural and serves as a way for mother dogs to keep their young safe from potential harm.

Resource Guarding

It’s common for dogs to be possessive over resources they value highly, like food, toys, or even their favorite spot on the couch.

If someone or another pet gets too close for their liking, they may become defensive and resort to biting as a means of protecting what they perceive as theirs.

Territorial Aggression

In the same way, dogs often have a strong instinct to protect their space.

When a person or another animal encroaches on their territory, whether it’s their home, yard, or even their favorite resting spot in the driveway, they may respond aggressively to defend it.

Some dogs also display protective aggression if they feel their family is in danger, and will do whatever it takes to safeguard them.

If they sense a potential threat or perceive someone as a danger to one of their family members, they may lash out defensively, using biting as a way to keep the threat at bay.

Influence Of Owner Behavior

Perhaps not surprisingly, the way you treat your dog really matters.

If you use physical or verbal punishment or scary tools like choke/prong collars, shock collars or startle devices like spray bottles and anti-bark collars, your dog might get scared or hurt.

Next time around, she may become aggressive in an effort to protect herself or make the unpleasant situation stop.

Pain-Related Aggression

When dogs are experiencing discomfort, they may react defensively if someone touches them in a way that exacerbates their pain.

Even if they think a person or another dog is getting too close for comfort, they may still bite as a preemptive measure to avoid any chance of contact.

Health Issues Affecting Behavior

Several health issues can contribute to pain-related aggression in dogs.

These include musculoskeletal problems like arthritis, injuries, dental issues, urinary tract infections, and ear infections.

When a dog is in pain, she may become irritable, easily agitated, and more prone to aggression.

Recognizing Signs Of Pain

Some common signs of pain include vocalizing, such as whining or growling, decreased appetite, changes in sleep patterns, reluctance to participate in regular activities, excessive licking or biting at a specific body part, and changes in posture or movement.

Predatory Aggression

Some dogs have a natural instinct to chase and capture prey.

This can be traced back to their ancestors, who relied on hunting for survival.

Even though our domesticated dogs are far removed from their wild ancestors, these instincts can still manifest themselves.

When dogs see smaller animals, such as squirrels or birds, they may feel compelled to chase after them.

In some cases, this chasing behavior can escalate into aggression, especially if the dog catches her target.

This scenario occurs more commonly in certain breeds with a high prey drive, such as terriers or hounds.

Most Dogs Don’t Want To Bite

“Most dogs don’t want to bite or fight,” says dog trainer and behavior expert Pat Miller.

“The behaviors that signal pending aggression are intended first and foremost to warn away a threat.

“The dog who doesn’t want to bite or fight tries his hardest to make you go away.”

This is where the need to be able to read our dogs’ body language becomes paramount.

Understanding Your Dog’s Warning Signals

By observing and understanding your dog’s body language, you can better identify her triggers and avoid situations where she is likely to become fearful or aggressive.

Early Signs of Aggression

It’s uncommon for dogs to bite without showing any signs of discomfort or stress beforehand.

Often, it’s a case of people not recognizing or noticing these signals, or a dog feeling compelled to act defensively due to past negative experiences.

Reports of dogs biting ‘without warning’ are often due to human misunderstanding rather than the absence of warning signals from the dog.

Dogs Communicate Fear Clearly

Dogs show fear through their body language.

The signals can be subtle but if not addressed, the fear can escalate to panic.

Panicky behavior in dogs is unpredictable, intense, and irrational, highlighting the importance of recognizing and respecting a dog’s signals when she feels scared.

When dogs are scared, you may see signals like a hunched posture, the tail lowered or tucked between the back legs, ears pinned back, lip licking/tongue flicking, panting (when not thirsty or hot), yawning (when not tired), and averting or lowering the gaze.

If you notice your dog exhibiting any of these behaviors, it’s important to intervene before she feels the need to escalate her behavior.

Dogs use these and other signals “that another dog would immediately translate to, ‘please don’t hurt me,'” says the National Canine Research Council.

These behaviors are genuine ways for dogs to communicate.

But if they keep trying to communicate and no one listens—especially if they feel trapped—some dogs might give more obvious warnings, while others might bite right away.

When Warning Signals Are Ignored

If a person ignores or doesn’t understand a dog’s signals, then the dog might resort to more obviously aggressive behavior, like a hard, fixed stare, growling, snarling, snapping, or biting.

The National Canine Research Council refers to these as ‘please don’t make me bite you’ signals: “They use all of these [signals]—up to and including inhibited biting—in an effort to…persuade whoever they see as a threat at that moment to go away.”   

Essentially, the dog is asking for space, and this should be respected.

Devised by canine behavior expert Dr. Kendal Shepherd, The Canine Ladder of Aggression shows us the progression from subtle warnings to all-out aggressive behavior in the face of a threat.

Note that not all dogs will display all the signals, and some will be quick to escalate up the ladder, while others may be marginally more tolerant.

Consequences Of Punishing Warning Signals

Punishing a dog for giving warning signals or not respecting their distress signals can have high-risk consequences.

First, it can teach the dog that her attempts to communicate are useless.

Second, it may result in warnings being bypassed next time, with the dog going straight to biting—because she has learned her warnings are ignored (or punished).

This behavior is known as learned aggression, where dogs might skip the warning stages and resort directly to biting as an instant defense mechanism.

Importance Of Consistent Training

It is always beneficial for dog parents to invest time and effort into training their pets no matter what their age.

This includes basic manners and life skills training, socialization with other dogs and people, and teaching appropriate behaviors.

By providing consistent training, dogs can learn how to communicate effectively, understand cues, and respond appropriately in various situations.

The Power Of Positive Reinforcement

When it comes to training your dog, positive reinforcement is key.

Using rewards such as treats, praise, and playtime can help shape desired behaviors in dogs while strengthening

The most effective approach to training is positive reinforcement, where good behaviors are rewarded (with treats, praise, toys, or whatever else the dog considers valuable) and undesirable behaviors are ignored.

This method sets the dog up for success, helps build confidence and trust, and strengthens the bond between dog and owner, leading to a respectful and cooperative relationship with clear mutual communication.

Environmental Enrichment

Environmental enrichment plays a key role in reducing stress and anxiety levels in dogs, thus mitigating the likelihood of aggressive behavior.

This includes mental stimulation through interactive toys, regular exercise, and play.

By providing a stimulating and enriching environment, dogs can release excess energy and remain mentally stimulated, leading to calmer and more relaxed behavior overall.

Seeking Professional Help

It can be disconcerting and concerning when a dog bites.

If it ever happens, understanding why is essential.

If you are concerned about your dog’s aggressive behavior, seeking professional advice from a certified dog trainer or veterinary behaviorist can help identify the root causes of the biting behavior.

A professional trainer or behavior specialist will assess your dog’s temperament, emotional state, triggers, and environment and provide the necessary customized training and structure to help overcome her aggressive tendencies.

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Resources

• Are Dogs Attacking Without Warning Or Are We Misinterpreting Key Signals? – National Canine Research Council
• Understand Why Your Dog Growls – Pat Miller

NEED A DOG TRAINER OR BEHAVIOR EXPERT?

If you need more help dealing with a training or behavior issue, please find professional help from a force-free dog trainer who can consult with you either in person or remotely.

GOOD PLACES TO START ARE:
- COAPE Association of Pet Behaviourists and Trainers
- Pet Dog Trainers of Europe
- International Companion Animal Network
- Institute of Modern Dog Trainers
- Pet Professional Guild 

All dog owners deserve to have successful relationships with their canine companions!