Your dog might be your best friend, and you might share a closeness and fondness for each other that’s lovable. However, what do you do when the unexpected happens and your dog bites you?
If you are currently thinking ‘my dog bit me and now I’m scared of him’ you don’t have to be. You also shouldn’t worry that your dog has become out of control and your relationship must end. Instead, you should try to understand why your dog bit you and what to do after the bite occurs.
This post I will discuss some of the reasons your dog bit you, what to do in the meantime, and how to repair your relationship with your pet.
Read also: Why Is My Dog Making Choking Sounds? Understanding the Causes and Solutions
Shortcut To Useful Tips
Understand the Reasons behind the Bite
It is important to find out why your dog bit you in the first place, as it is the key to avoid a reoccurrence of such a situation. Here are some of the reasons your dog bit you.
- Fear
Your dog might have bitten you because you did something that scared him. Perhaps you acted angrily toward it, moved toward it too quickly, or startled it while eating or sleeping. Such scares can make your dog get into attack mode without thinking.
- Protective behavior
This behavior is common with dogs that have puppies to look after. If your dog thinks you are getting in between her and her puppies or is scared you might hurt them, she could become violent.
- Pain or illness
If your dog is in pain and you touch the spot that hurts, it could instinctively bite you. Illness and neurological conditions can also cause such reactions, so speak to a vet if you suspect such.
- Territorial behavior
If your dog is used to territorial behavior, he could bite you when you try to take something from him, and this is often spontaneous. This also happens when you haven’t asserted yourself as the pack leader and taught your pet to understand that you set all the rules and it should be submissive.
- Other causes
Beyond the things we have listed above, some other things can cause your dog to bite you, most of which might be accidental. For instance, during a game, your pet might aim for whatever you’re holding and end up biting your hand.
Prey drive is one of the common causes, and this is the case with high-energy dogs that might not know how to wait patiently while playing with you, but rushes towards you because he is eager to get the toy instead of waiting patiently.
Summary
Understanding the reasons behind a dog’s aggressive behavior is crucial for pet owners to ensure their safety and prevent future incidents. Neglecting such behavior can cause severe harm to both – the pet and its owner.
It is understandable that your dog’s aggression has made you fearful of him – but with patience, consistent training, and positive reinforcement – it will be possible to rehabilitate an aggressive dog and ensure a happy and safe life for both of you.
Seek Medical Attention
The first thing you should do immediately after the dog bites you is to attend to your injury. You could do this yourself or visit the hospital.
- Clean the wound
Examine your injury point and find out if the bite broke your skin. If it did, then you should clean it with soap and water, and then wrap it with a bandage. You can also choose to apply antiseptic cream before covering it with the bandage.
If the injury is a serious one, you might need to get it stitched. Similarly, if your dog’s vaccination and health check aren’t up to date, then you need medical assistance.
- Get professional medical help
Your wound might be infected because no matter how clean your dog’s mouth is, there’s always a chance of an infection happening.
Seek medical help if you think there’s a chance of an infection developing or if the wound doesn’t heal quickly, or if it begins to look inflamed or feel weird.
- Possible complications
When your dog bites you, you need to consider possible complications and handle them immediately to prevent issues. A lot of things can happen as a result of dog bites. Severe wounds could get infected by germs, you could suffer an injury to the bone or muscles, or in the worst cases, you could get infected with rabies.
If you notice symptoms of dog bite infections such as redness and swelling, severe pain that lasts for more than a day, difficulty in moving the affected area, or drainage from the wound, you need to see a doctor.
You could also suffer a fever if the infection has spread to other body parts.
- Why seeking medical attention is important
It is important to seek medical attention within 24 hours after a dog bite, especially when it breaks the skin, especially if you can’t vouch for the dog’s health status. A doctor will run some tests and observe you for signs of complications, even before you’re able to notice any by yourself.
Summary
It is important for you to prioritize your health and safety first after being bitten by your own dog – addressing the physical consequences of the bite can help alleviate some of the fear and anxiety associated with the incident.
When you say, “my dog’s bite has left me feeling scared of him,” it highlights the emotional impact the bite has had on you. Focusing on your health ensures that you receive proper medical attention to prevent infections and complications.
It can also provide you with the peace of mind that you are taking the necessary steps to safeguard your well-being.
Addressing your health and safety first allows you to build a foundation for regaining trust in your dog and overcoming your fear.
Assess the Situation and Take Precautions
Once you have settled down after the sad incident of your dog biting you, the next thing to do is take time to assess the situation and decide what to do next.
- Identify triggers for aggressive behavior
The first thing to do is to replay the incident and try to identify things that could have triggered that behavior from your pet. What did you do before your pet attacked? What was the environment like, and what was your dog doing? Were you warned and did you ignore it?
- Implement measures to prevent bites
When you have understood the triggers, or even while you’re still trying to understand them, you can begin implementing measures to prevent another occurrence of a bite.
One way to do this is to train your dog – to understand the right behavior and understand right and wrong. Your dog should learn to respect you, respond to your commands, and never respond aggressively.
If your dog is a possessive biter, it is important to establish rules and boundaries and enforce them. If you need to give your dog some more space or change its games to become less aggressive, you should do so.
- Follow safety protocols
There are safety protocols surrounding dog handling, especially when you live in a house with other people or go out with your dog. Always ensure that your dog is in a fenced area or on a leash when necessary.
Always follow the leash laws in your state and inform people who interact with your dog about the things they should or shouldn’t do.
Summary
Dealing with the emotional impact of being bitten by your own dog can be very challenging; but it is essential for you to prioritize understanding the incident and to take the necessary precautions to prevent future occurrences.
First Identify the triggers for your dog’s aggressive behavior, which has obviously made you scared of him – this involves understanding the incident and taking necessary precautions.
By addressing the root causes of the aggressive behavior in your Dog and taking necesarry proactive steps, you can work towards rebuilding trust again with your dog and overcoming the fear that has developed as a result of the dog bite.
Rebuild Trust
Don’t let your fear and emotions get in between your relationship with your dog. Instead, work hard to rebuild trust, especially if it is a one-time occurrence.
- Spend time with your dog
Spending time with your dog is one sure way to rebuild trust. You can play games and take walks together. During these activities, get comfortable with each other again, and then you can slowly and calmly assert yourself as the pack leader.
- Use positive reinforcement training
One sure way to train your dog to avoid biting or any other aggressive behavior is to use positive reinforcement. This entails showing them the kind of behavior you expect of them, and then giving them rewards, such as toys, treats, and even verbal praise when they do well. They are more likely to repeat only positive behavior after this.
- Gradually introduce your dog to new situations
If your dog acted aggressively because it was exposed to unfamiliar situations without warning, then take them to carefully introduce your pet to new situations, people, locations, activities, and even other dogs.
- Seek professional help if necessary
If you have tried to figure it out and handle the situation yourself without positive results, you might need professional advice to help you figure out what made your dog bite you and how to correct it.
If your dog bites you more than once within a short time, or you can’t figure out why the bite occurred after assessing the entire situation, you should see a professional. Also, if you have found out the cause and you think your pet needs professional help, you should do likewise.
You should also consider getting the help of a behavior consultant if you are dealing with fear following a bite by your dog.
Summary
Rebuilding trust after your dog has bitten you and left you scared requires patience and commitment. Spend quality time with your dog, utilize positive reinforcement training, and gradually introduce them to new situations.
If necessary, seek professional help to address both the aggressive behavior and any lingering fear you may have. By following these steps, you can work towards restoring the bond between you and your dog and create a safer, more harmonious relationship.
VI. Conclusion
I hope I was able to get them to understand in this blog post what might cause your dog to bite you, such as fear, pain, and owner grabbing behavior.
It is also important that you seek medical attention if the wounds are serious.
In addition, it is imperative that you work to rebuild your relationship with your dog, which sometimes means seeking professional help.
If your dog’s bite has left you feeling scared of him, you can overcome the fear and build trust with your dog again, if you do it right, provided you follow the right steps, especially if your dog doesn’t have any underlying aggressive issues. Your bestie will be back in no time!
Read also: Will an Older Dog Hurt or Even Kill a Puppy? – How to Safely Introduce a Puppy to an Older Dog
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