Dogs and Children: Why Do Some Dogs Bite?

By Barbara Lombardi

Recently I spent some time visiting my sisters and their families. My youngest sister has two dogs, a yellow lab and a lhaso apso. My other sister has two children, my one niece, who is seven years old and their youngest, who just turned one. Putting this group together for a holiday is a recipe for certain disaster.

Duke, her yellow lab is very content to play with the children. They pull on his ears, tug on his tail and ride him all around the house. He is pleasant and easy by nature. The smaller dog, Dakota, is not as pleasant, and it would be fair to say (hopefully without insulting my sister), somewhat tempermental.

The baby, unable to distinguish between which dog would be friendly and which would not, mistakenly pulled on Dakota's ear and came within a fraction of an inch from getting her face bitten. Who's to blame? The adults of course!

Why do I say this...well because basically, dogs bite children because they are unable to communicate with each other. Dakota probably exhibited some warning signs, which the baby did not understand; subsequently he snapped.

Dogs have pack mentality. This means that everyone in the family has a position in the pack. To the dog, small children are considered subordinate. So when he issues a warning, such as a growl, an aggressive stance or even begins to snarl, he is telling the child to stop its behavior. If the child does not stop, he snaps to assert his dominance.

This is why adults must be watchful of pets with small children. You can tell an older child to stay away from the dog, but babies do not understand, and the dog doesn't understand why the baby is not listening to him.

So parents beware and do not punish your pet or your child should a dog snap; after all, they are each just acting naturally.

About the Author:

After moving to Florida I decided to combine my love for writing with my knowledge of pets. For ten years I owned and operated a local pet sitting service and gained a wealth of information regarding pet care. In addition I have been an English teacher for several years as well as an aspiring writer. I recently completed a Masters Degree in Educational technology and I am looking forward to teaching college classes online. I am freelance writing and living happily in Florida with my husband and our Nikki, the most lovable golden retriever I know.

Article courtesy of Suite101.com.