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Dogs that bite
Dog attack! It's usually front page news if a dog bites someone and there have been many ghastly and tragic cases. Even if a dog has a quick nip at someone there's a shock, horror outcry. No one wants to get bitten or for their pet to bite a child or adult. Dogs are routinely destroyed if they bite anyone. Yet, is it so surprising? Have you ever looked in a dog's mouth? Even at birth our canine friends have 28 little baby teeth and by 6 months of age these are replaced by 42 sharp, strong gnashers. What is the genetic purpose of these canine incisors and molars? Why are they so sharp and pointed? Yes, our friendly pet was originally designed to be a killer. He survived as a species because he was so good at hunting and catching his prey, which he then tore limb from limb and ate. But he's a pet now and we don't want him to do that. Is there a lingering vestige of aggression in every dog and if so, how do we get rid of it?
First we need to understand why dogs do bite. They don't need to hunt for food anymore, we bring it to them in cans and bags and put it down on a plate for them. A slave species? You could say that. But we humans are becoming that too and society has already developed in a way that discourages most people from providing food for themselves. There is little opportunity and children grow up thinking that the supermarket is where food comes from. It's very sad.
But back to our friend the dog. He is never allowed to indulge his natural instincts and catch his supper. Indeed, it is banned now. All dogs in this country are 'owned'. They are someone's property, although I do not think humans have any right to 'own' an animal. Being their friend is a better viewpoint and hoping they will be our friend too.
Dogs are rarely allowed to live in a wild state - we are a small and overpopulated island and only the shepherd dogs on isolated farms come close to a natural life. So we have enslaved the dog because we like him so much. In the past we needed him to guard us and protect our property, now we need him for our emotional support. We have him live in our centrally heated houses, we keep him on a lead, we have medical procedures carried out on him whether he likes it or not. We are pet lovers. How the wild dogs would hate that!
But today's dog is generally an easy going, tolerant and forgiving creature. He settles for an easy life. But we are big and powerful humans, he is relatively small and totally powerless in our regimented society. We like him to fuss us and do tricks and behave well. So many of the people who adopt dogs from us have a totally unrealistic idea of what a dog is about. They actually want a robot dog that is programmed never to make a mess and who will be 100% predictable.
Every dog is an individual though breed traits do affect personality to a large extent. Everyone makes such a fuss about breeds and pedigree dogs. It's as well to remember that dogs didn't come ready packaged in breeds. They're a completely man made arrangement. Some people wanted big fierce dogs to guard them - so they selectively bred them. Others needed little quick dogs to catch rats and keep the vermin down - and terriers became a recognised breed. Sheep collies for racing around the moors and rounding up sheep. Lap dogs for the house, hunting dogs, tracking dogs, fighting dogs even. The dog breeds originated because of human demand and interference.
Some breeds are more prone to biting than others. Our Jack Russell friends have been programmed for the sharp chase and quick kill over thousands of years. Now we hate it when he chases a cat or nips a leg. He thinks he's doing good. He can't always stop himself! We have several resident terriers in the sanctuary who would bite if the occasion presented itself. They see nothing wrong with that. If they managed to make a 'kill' they would expect praise. 'Haven't I done good, Mum!' It's all down to the point of view. The hunter wants to hunt.
We humans stifle the dog's natural instinct because it's not acceptable behaviour anymore. Even a few decades ago we were still delighted when the dogs kept the yards free of rats and when they chased the foxes off and stopped them killing the chickens. Before mobile phones and instant communication, it was often down to the dog to protect us and what could be better than a big, growling guard dog to keep burglars away.
Now, it's all changed. And the role of the dog in our society is that of a pet. A bit demeaning isn't it? But the dog is our friend, he likes humans and he mostly doesn't seem to mind. Any dog with a bit of spirit or instinctive behaviour or who can't help himself yearning for the 'wild thing days' will soon be destroyed.
Coming next: So how do we train dogs not to bite?
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