My dog has bitten someone. What now?

If your dog has bitten someone, you are probably scared, embarrassed and wondering whether it can be fixed. You are not alone. Many of the families I work with come to me after a bite, and several came after other trainers turned their dogs away.

Keep everyone safe first. Until you have a plan, avoid the situations that led to the bite. That might mean keeping visitors and your dog apart, walking at quieter times, or using a leash and gates at home. If the bite needed medical care, follow your doctor’s advice and any instructions from county animal services.

Think about pain and health. A sudden change in behavior, or a bite out of nowhere, can have a medical cause. If that is possible, talk to your vet. I will talk it through with you, and I can take your dog to their regular vet.

Consider a muzzle. For dogs with a bite history, I introduce a basket muzzle slowly and positively, so it becomes a normal part of going out. It keeps everyone safe while we train, and it is not a punishment.

Get an honest evaluation. At my free in-home evaluation we go through the bite in detail: who, where, what happened just before, and whether it has happened before. I’ll tell you what I think training can achieve, what it will ask of you at home, and whether your dog is a good fit for my program.

A bite history is not the end of the road. Dogs with bites are a large part of what I do.