Can a Dog Trainer Help Prevent Dog Bites?

Dogs can bite or attack for many different reasons, such as not feeling well, feeling afraid, or because they’re taking care of puppies, just to name a few. Regardless of why a dog might bite, there’s one underlying fact that all dog owners need to be aware of: they’re the ones with the most power to prevent dog bites or attacks from happening in the first place. Sometimes, this can mean removing their dog from an unfamiliar situation or making sure they’re placed in a separate room while letting a visitor into the house. But it also means working with the dog to teach them appropriate behavior so that they won’t bite anyone or do anything else that could injure others, like jumping on them.

Michigan has a strict liability dog bite law which states that dog owners are almost always legally liable for dog bite injuries, even if the dog doesn’t have a history of biting or aggressive behavior. This makes it particularly important for dog owners to do everything they can to train their pets to not bite in the first place. While there is much that can be done to help train dogs at home to learn bite inhibition and control their mouthing behaviors, can working with a dog trainer help prevent biting?

If you’re training a dog, there’s certainly no harm in looking into some local obedience classes. Training classes are an excellent way to help socialize a pet. Since dogs often bite because they’re afraid of an unfamiliar environment or they feel uncomfortable around new people and other dogs, training classes give them an opportunity to get used to those sorts of things. The benefits of these kinds of socialization opportunities can last for years to come. That’s not even including the behavioral training benefits that come from the class itself, like learning basic commands like “sit,” “stay,” and “leave it.”

Working with a professional trainer can be particularly beneficial if you’ve been having a difficult time teaching your dog bite inhibition or if your dog shows signs of having aggressive tendencies. Professional dog trainers are likely to have experience working with many different types of dogs who have a wide range of temperaments, or may even specialize in working with dogs like yours. They’ll best be able to work with your dog to get them trained so that they can safely live with you and be around others.

Contact a Michigan Dog Bite Lawyer

Taking the time to make sure a dog is properly trained so that they don’t bite or attack anyone is the act of a responsible pet owner. But, unfortunately, not everyone is as responsible when it comes to your pets. If you’ve been injured by a dog bite, or have sustained another type of injury after being attacked or knocked over by a dog, contact a dog bite lawyer for help. It’s very important to have someone on your side who knows the law and has experience getting results. At Goodwin & Scieszka, we’ve helped many Michigan dog bite victims and are ready to help you, too. Contact us today to get started.

Image: iStock / andresr