10/24/2024
I've been seeing a fair amount of TikTok videos of dog trainers breaking down dog bites and how they could have been avoided. The comment section is full of people pointing out the fact that these videos have been slowed down to super slow motion, and the whole interaction happened in less than half a second before the bite. How are they possibly supposed to have seen those signals before the bite happened, right?!
Pro Tip: the dog trainer never would have reacted in time either.
The way that dog trainers are avoiding bites and fights isn't those split seconds before the bite, it's the whole situation. All the things leading up to those moments, we are acknowledging the potential conflict in those situations and avoiding those situations.
Examples:
- Ahead on the sidewalk you see a dog on leash staring very hard in your direction. Its mouth is closed, body is tense, very high, stiff, fast wagging tail, and it's not responding to the owner who is trying to get their attention.
- Your dog is chewing a bone and your small toddler is making their way over to them with outstretched arms.
- You pull up to the dog park and there are a couple large dogs playing very physically and a couple of owners sitting on the bench with their heads buried in their phones.
All those situations might actually not be a problem at all. That being said, when the potential for conflict is there, the way that dog trainers are avoiding bites and fights is by being PROACTIVE.
So don't feel bad when you see those videos and think "there's no way I could have ever avoided that bite because I never would have seen that". Start considering all of the common variables that lead up to those situations and you're going to be way better off in staying safe for both you and your dog.
