What do you do when a rescue dog bites you? A Step-by-Step Guide

Manage his behavior to prevent him from ever having the opportunity to bite again.

While difficult, this is possible. It means greatly restricting his movements so he has no access to humans, other than adult family members. If company comes over, the dog is crated in a closed room. If the grandkids visit, he is crated or sent to a kennel that is equipped to safely handle a biting dog. Even if he adores the grandkids, the fact that he has bitten puts them at unacceptable risk. Unless you are 100 percent confident that you know what his stressors are and can prevent them from occurring during the kids’ visit, you cannot take the chance.

Of course, selecting this option means a reduced quality of life – no more walks in the park, on or off leash; no more rides in the car; and no more spending hours on his own in the fresh air and sunshine in the fenced backyard.

What to Do If Your Dog Bites Someone

If your dog bites, you have at least four options:

  • Manage his behavior to prevent him from ever biting again
  • Implement a comprehensive behavior modification program
  • Rehome the dog
  • Have the dog euthanized
  • Try to Determine the Reason Your Dog Bit You

    Begin your investigation by replaying the event in your head.

    Because our memories often fail us, you may want to write down the incident in as much detail as possible.

    Think about:

  • What was happening in the environment at the time of the bite?
  • What was your dog was doing at the time?
  • Did she give you any warnings such as growling, freezing, or air snapping?
  • Was she suddenly startled?
  • Was she fighting with another dog?
  • Did you touch her near her sore paw?
  • Also, think about your behavior. What were you doing right before the bite occurred? How did you react? And how did your dog respond to your reaction?

    Determining why your dog bit you will help you decide if you need to seek professional help.

    What do you do when a rescue dog bites you?

    Dog BITES Its Owner! How I Fix It Quickly!

    There are few things quite as disconcerting as having your own dog bite you. I can recall with crystal clarity the time our Scottie nailed me in a classic case of redirected aggression. He had taken an intense dislike to a Labrador Retriever who had entered the room, and when I touched him on his back to try to distract him, he whirled around and redirected his aroused state, and his substantial Scottish Terrier teeth, at my hand.

    Despite the horror stories of free-roaming Pitbulls mauling children as they walk to school, the majority of dog bites occur in the owner’s home. The majority of dog bite victims are friends or members of the owner’s family. Sixty-one percent of dog bites occur in the home or a familiar place, and 77 percent of bite victims are family members or friends, according to attorney Kenneth Phillips, who specializes in dog bite cases. A relatively small percentage of bites are inflicted by errant stray dogs. This means that most bites leave a shocked owner feeling betrayed by his loyal canine, and wondering whether he can ever trust his four-footed friend again.