Nip This Nasty Habit in the Bud to Avoid Costly Legal Liability and Lawsuits From Kansas City Dog Bite Victims
Dogs may be known as man’s best friend, but dog bites can be traumatic for victims and costly for pet owners. As Kansas City dog bite lawyers, we’ve seen the impact these incidents can have on all parties involved. Proper training is essential to prevent dog bites and the potential legal consequences that could follow. With effective training techniques, responsible dog owners can protect their furry friends and their neighbors from the distressing ordeal of a dog bite claim.
Good Dog Training to Stop Bad Biting Habits
It is completely natural for puppies to engage in nipping behavior, especially while teething or playing with their littermates. Even so, it is a habit that you need to address if you don’t want it to escalate into biting problems as the pup grows up. Cater your training techniques to your dog’s personality to put a stop to unacceptable biting early.
Teach Bite Inhibition to Your Puppy
One of the first tips the American Kennel Club offers for stopping a puppy from biting is bite inhibition training. This teaches the puppy to moderate the force of their bite. Puppies naturally nip at one another while playing. When one of them bites too hard, the bite victim usually lets out a loud yelp to let them know. Engage in a similar response with a loud, high-pitched “ow!” if your puppy nips too hard at you. This snaps them out of it. Over time, they’ll learn what is and isn’t acceptable. Some dogs may get more riled up from a yelp, though, so adjust your training accordingly.
Stop Playing With Biting Puppies
Some dogs can get even more riled up from a yelp. Rather than reducing the likelihood of another bite, a loud yelp can increase the chances. Especially in these cases, one puppy training technique is to stop playing with them if they bite. Punishing a bite by yelling can reinforce the behavior, paradoxically, because they’re still getting your attention.
By moving away, you’re teaching the puppies that you won’t want to play with them if they continue biting. You can even simply face away from them and tuck your hands into your armpits. A gentle time-out in a crate can also be an effective way to help them calm down and prevent biting.
Keep Acceptable Chew Toys Close at Hand
Dogs of all ages, but especially puppies, enjoy biting and chewing on things. This is a perfectly natural behavior. The key is teaching them what is acceptable to bite and what isn’t. If they nip at your arms and legs, offer a chew toy as an acceptable alternative.
Discourage Playful Pouncing Behavior
Just as you can face away from a puppy who has bitten you, discouraging unacceptable pouncing behavior can reduce nipping and biting behaviors too. Puppies will playfully pounce on your legs and feet. This feeds into an energetic excitement where they may lose control of themselves and bite you. Discourage pouncing when it is not acceptable.
Identify Your Dog’s Body Language and Warning Signs
Your dog may be unable to articulate his or her feelings to you, but this doesn’t mean they are incapable of communicating. Study your dog’s warning signs, paying close attention to their body language and vocalizations. A dog bite may be preceded by dilated pupils, raised hairs on the back of the neck, growling, lunging, lip licking, and ears going back.
If you’re able to recognize these warning signs, you can remove your dog from the stressful situation or trigger. Disciplining a dog for growling could be counterproductive, as it could be training the dog not to communicate with you. In these cases, a dog may lash out, seemingly without warning.
Introduce Increasingly Escalating Levels of Stimulation
A common reason for dog bites is overstimulation. Also called trigger stacking, it’s when a dog experiences too many stress triggers in short succession. Unfamiliar noises, smells, and sights can combine with overactive children and playful pups at the dog park. It becomes too much. All it takes is one more trigger to set them off.
To help train your dog to handle these types of situations better, gently introduce them to controlled circumstances where this may happen. This is similar to the training that seeing-eye and other assistance dogs undergo. They learn to downplay the triggers and are less likely to act out.
Help Them Expend Their Boundless Energy
On the other hand, an understimulated dog can be equally prone to biting too. Dogs who are bored can engage in destructive behaviors, destroying furniture and lunging at strangers. This is especially true for more active breeds where higher levels of activity are needed to burn up their physical and mental energy.
Consider Using a Basket Muzzle
Some dog owners may be reluctant to muzzle their dogs, partly because of public perception. The reality is that dogs can often sense how their owners feel, including if they feel anxious. A dog owner who is overly anxious because they’re afraid their dog may bite someone could inadvertently trigger them into biting someone.
A muzzled dog can help you calm down, which in turn will relax your dog as well. As an added plus, a basket muzzle makes it easy to offer treats as a reward for good behavior.
Sign Up for a Dog Obedience Class
Don’t assume you need to take on all the dog training yourself. In fact, it may be beneficial to turn to the dog behavior experts at a local obedience class. Experienced dog trainers can help you identify warning signals and teach your dog it is unacceptable to bite people.
You’ll learn helpful strategies to reinforce what you learn in class. Obedience training classes also help to socialize your pups with other dogs (and dog owners).
Why It’s Important to Teach Your Dog Not to Bite
Teaching your dog not to bite helps ensure the safety of your family, friends, and strangers who may visit your home or interact with your pet, including delivery drivers. A well-trained dog is less likely to cause injuries or lash out, even if they perceive a delivery driver as an intruder. A warning bark is better than a severe dog bite.
A common misconception about dog bites is that the victim must prove the dog is dangerous to press charges and file a personal injury claim against the owner. This is not true. Even if a dog is normally friendly and well-behaved, the owner could still be held liable in a dog bite claim.
The Missouri Revisor of Statutes (RSMo) Section 273.036 states that the dog’s owner is “strictly liable for damages suffered by persons bitten, regardless of the former viciousness of the dog or the owner’s or possessor’s knowledge of such viciousness.”
Potentially Serious Consequences of Dog Bites
From a legal standpoint, dog bite injuries could result in a fine of up to $1,000 under Missouri law. Even more substantially, victims could file a personal injury lawsuit for dog bite damages. In extreme cases, the courts may even order your dog to be impounded or put down.
If the dog bite incident happened on your own property, either inside your house or in the yard, for instance, your home insurance policy may offer some coverage for personal liability. The role of insurance in dog bite cases can vary. Claimed damages could exceed policy limits, which could open you up for even greater liability.
Every case is different. A minor nip is quite different from a vicious dog attack that results in traumatic brain injuries and permanent disability. The average settlement for dog bite cases in Missouri is about $35,000.
Hire an Experienced Kansas City Dog Bite Lawyer
Whether you are a dog bite victim or you are the dog’s owner, it’s crucial to seek the legal advice of an experienced lawyer in your area. The Kansas City attorneys at Foster Wallace can assess your specific case and help develop viable strategies for how best to proceed. We approach every case with compassion and ensure you’re informed every step of the way.
"Michael assisted me with a dog bite claim. He always kept me up to date throughout the process and made sure I was on the same page,” writes Foster Wallace client Thatcher Murdock about his experience with attorney Michael Foster. He notes that Mr. Foster “gave good advice” and he “would recommend [him] to anyone."
