
Fight The Bite!
Mopsy was a 4-pound Yorkshire Terrier and one of the sweetest (although not the brightest) dogs I’ve ever known.
“Don’t worry, she won’t bite,” said my mother, as the UPS man arrived at our home. And at that very moment, Mopsy latched onto his pant leg.
Let’s be clear: any dog can (and will) bite, given the right (or rather, wrong) circumstances. That could be anything from fear, aggression, the need to express dominance, or simply being startled. And whether it’s a 4-pound Yorkie, a 30-pound Beagle, or a 125-pound German Shepherd, biting puts both the owner and the victim at risk.
My husband has been a utility repairman for years. His job involves everything from meter reading to fixing nearly any appliance you might have in your home. And your home is your dog’s “space.”
With that in mind, it’s not surprising that most dogs take great offense at the arrival of letter carriers, parcel deliveries and service technicians. That individual is intruding on what our pets rightly perceive as “their” territory, and your dog may exhibit any number of behaviors. Extremely shy dogs may run and hide under a bed or in another room. Most dogs will provide a verbal warning for you and the “intruder.” And some dogs may become overly aggressive and even try to nip or bite.
“Not MY dog!” was certainly my mother’s thought. You might think the same about your Pomeranian, Puli, Pug or Poodle.
It’s a serious issue. The Insurance Information Institute reports that, in 2011 a total of 16,292 claims were made on homeowners’ insurance policies for dog bites, an increase of 3.3 percent over 2010. The value of those insurance claims was more than $478 million, up 16.1 percent over 2010.
To narrow the field even more, the United States Postal Service reports that in 2011, 5,577 postal workers were attacked. The USPS goes so far as to rank the “Top 25” cities each year, based on number of attacks reported. Last year’s dubious No. 1 ranking went to Los Angeles, with 83 attacks on USPS employees, followed by San Diego (68), Houston (47), Cleveland (44) and Dallas (41) rounding out the “top five.”
A few things to keep in mind: If you have asked for home service repair or are expecting a delivery, that repair or delivery person is, in essence, a guest in your home. They deserve a safe atmosphere in which to work.
Should your darling dog (or cat) attack, you could be held liable. While laws vary by state, the Insurance Information Institute notes the incident could fall under “negligence” for failing to properly control your animal, and you and your insurance carrier could be responsible for medical bills, lost wages, “pain and suffering” and other costs.
What’s the answer?
- Work to properly socialize your animal. Obedience training can greatly assist in helping your four-legged friend feel more comfortable around strangers. Lessons are often available at local pet retail stores, or check for private lessons with a dog trainer or behavioral specialist.
- Consider spaying or neutering your pet. According to the Humane Society of the United States, unaltered dogs are three times more likely to be involved in a biting incident.
- Keep your pets completely out of the way. Lock your pets in another room, put them outdoors in the backyard, or keep them on a leash by your side.
- A whole line of scientifically proven pheromone behavior products from Sentry are another option to fight the bite. The calming collars (for both dogs and cats) provide a soothing influence during a stressful situation, such as a repair person in your home. And if your dog’s barking, jumping or growling (“Just doing my job, mom!”) won’t cease, consider the Sentry “Stop That!” spray, which can help immediately deter inappropriate behavior and help you redirect the focus of your calmer dog.
No one is happy when the washer goes on the fritz, or the air conditioner sputters out during the heat of summer. Keep your cool, keep your dog calm, and make the job easier for your technician, repair person or delivery person by keeping your dog (or cat) under control.
-Photo Credit: from flickr by Lucy Boynon
Great tips! I love the article. Good work, Melissa! ~Nichole
So true. All dogs have teeth – all dogs can bite. Many homeowner’s insurance policies won’t cover dogs anymore. So use caution and follow the guidelines shown in the article. SUPER information!!!
Great article Melissa! I can’t imagine Peanut chomping on someone’s leg but whenever the maintenance guy is scheduled to come, I baby gate her in the kitchen…just in case 😀
Great article for dog owners! http://t.co/00HdBFgt via @sergeantspet #dogs #pets
Thanks, Melissa! Great reminders.
Our latest blog post Fight The Bite! – Mopsy was a 4-pound Yorkshire Terrier and one of the sweetest (although not t… http://t.co/YGbOl4fx
Fight The Bite! #phcblogs #dog #behavior http://t.co/ShVBgSX4 via @sergeantspet
I agree with this – it is ALWAYS better safe than sorry when it comes to pets and biting issues. I am fairly confident that my dog wouldn’t bite, but he does bark and he is a scaredy cat, so if I know someone is coming, I will put him in his crate. My biggest challenge is my 5 year old, who loves to open the door but isn’t able to prevent the dog running out.
Thankfully, the cats just hide. I don’t have an aggressive one that would come out and bite a stranger.
I have used the pheromone products, but only for my cats. I should look into it for my dog, too.
RT @sergeantspet: Our latest blog post Fight The Bite! – Mopsy was a 4-pound Yorkshire Terrier and one of the sweetest (although not t.. …
Very good advice here. I have two Huskies and I don’t think they’d bite anyone, but you never can tell given the “wrong” circumstances so I try to be careful. After reading this, I’ll be even more careful in the future. Thanks Sergeants!
Melissa,
Thanks for sharing this. One of our dogs recently began biting, which really caught us off guard. I appreciate the advice.
Great article. I would ike to add though if you keep your dog in the yard while the person is there make sure the gates stay closed. Maintenance guys are notorious for not closing gates! I go outside with them everytime they go to their truck and guard the gate to make sure they close it behind them, or yell from the door, please close the gate behind you (and I make sure they do)! I have a beagle who would be in the next county in a flash if the gate was left open.
I cannot believe this! I own a 115 lbs GSD who is the nicest (and probably best socialized) guy around. He adores our mail carrier (who returns the love), knows our regular service people (AC, plumber, etc.), and the worst he has ever done is to get a bit enthusiastic with his greetings. Service people or contractors who came only once love my dog and call sometimes months after the work was completed to see how “the big guy” is doing. Just ask our roofers, or the guys who poured our patio in the back yard. My bet is that as long as Culloden lives (he’s 4 years old now), there will not be any claims made on our homeowners insurance. Is Culloden the “miracle”, or are other dogs just not properly socialized?
When my mom lived with us we often had medical people coming to take care of her. We taught our dog to sit on the sofa and watch from there. It gave the dog a “job to do” and the visitor was more relaxed.
as a mail carrier and a dog lover , it is not the dogs fault that he doing what he should do,, protect his home and family, please take time to protect your dog from being inpounded should he just happen to bite.. I’ve had people tell me that their dog wouldn’t bite .. but some dogs are friendly when the owners are home , and agressive and protective when they are not.. take time to teach them , or protect your animal . great article .
It’s common sense pratice. Also… what isn’t mentioned is that dogs can SMELL fear. If you walk yup to a door, and the dog senses your fear, they will think you are up to no good. I’m a mail carrier, and my first practice it to always carry dog treats, and walk up to the door smile, and give the dog a chance to greet/smell me properly. I’ll talk to the dog in a low but happy sounding voice, and if the owner says it’s OK, offer a treat. I’ve never yet been bitten in 14 years as a mail carrier.