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A new program has been started in the canine world to address the alarming increase in bite incidents. Called O.U.C.H.! (Only U Can Help!), the program will cover the underlying factors of biting, training issues, and attempt to correct misconceptions about this frequent behavior. Two systematic studies on the epidemiology of biting are cited. The first, by Garrard et al., involved 224 test subjects who sustained 347 same-species bite incidents in one year. The subjects ranged in age from 16 to 30 months. Another study by Solomons and Elardo followed 133 subjects ranging in age from 13 to 24 months and reported 224 bites over 3.5 years. The incidence rate varied with age but not with sex, with a higher incidence of bites occurring in the month of September, and many occurring mid-morning. A high incidence of bites has been reported with adults of the species as well, often without provocation. In January 2002, an adult female entered a man's house in Bethesda, Maryland, and bit him severely on the hand. Later that month, a young adult male bit an employee of a Wal-Mart store north of Pittsburgh, injuring him on the cheek and hand. Total bite incidents reported to police per year number in the thousands. Males have a biting force of between 45 and 68 kg., although forces as high as 159 kg. have been measured. Bite pressure has been measured as 15 tons per square inch, or 83% as strong as the greatest pressure recorded thus far for any shark. The bite incidents were attributed to numerous factors including distress and irritability, fear, assertion of dominance, and breaching of a territorial imperative; food and hunger were also cited as factors. Behavior in the biting subjects was highly variable and not predictable. One curious statistic of the studies was that in no case was a biter euthanized or relinquished to a shelter. In fact, the biting incidents were usually accepted as being normal, albeit unacceptable, behavior. Training, mild corrections, proper precautions, and increased attention were usually applied by supervising humans in order to deal with the problem. Equally unusual was the fact that no particular bloodline or breed was blamed for being a contributing factor, and no laws were enacted based on the incidents. One possible reason for the broad acceptance and understanding applied in these incidents is that all of the biters in the Garrard et al. and Solomons and Elardo studies were human children enrolled in daycare centers. The middle-aged female biter was a State Department Foreign Service officer, and the young adult male who bit the Wal Mart clerk was a teenager caught while trying to steal merchandise. O.U.C.H.! is warning all dogs to keep a watchful eye on this problem and to be alert when in the company of human children. Human bites can be particularly injurious since humans have blunt, chisel shaped incisors and a very high oral bacterial count. Puppies may be especially at risk and close supervision of all young dogs is recommended. O.U.C.H.!
recommends that all humans learn something about canine behavior, positive
reinforcement training, and dealing with behavior problems. Your favorite
bookseller or library will have a selection of books on the subject. Further
information is available from your veterinarian, breed club, breed rescue,
local humane organization or shelter. Remember: Dogs almost always bite
for a reason. Humans do not.
Copyright Jim Willis 2002 - Used With Permission Click here for other works by Jim Willis featured on this site Back to Viewer Viewpoint Table of Contents Do
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