People Share Ways To Outsmart Your Pup And Prevent Pawtential Bite Attacks While Steering Their Jaws Away From Forbidden Treasures

Doggy diplomacy 101.

Jesse

• Published in Interesting
• March 1, 2024

Are you constantly caught in a tug-of-war with your furry friend over things they shouldn't have? Well, welcome to the doggy dilemma club. 

Today's journey was sparked by none other than a thought-provoking query on Quora—“Why does my dog bite me when I try to take something he knows he can't have?”

First off, let's set the record straight: dogs aren't plotting to defy you. They simply operate on a different wavelength. It's like trying to explain quantum physics to a goldfish – it just doesn't compute. 

So, when you reach for that forbidden treasure, your pup isn't thinking, "Ah, another opportunity to outfox the hooman." Nope, it's more like, "Hey, this is mine, back off!"

Don’t be like the unfortunate brother of our Quoran friend who was forced to learn the hard way. Their parents did warn them—never snatch anything from a dog’s snout, yet the brother didn’t listen. 

An unscheduled trip to the ER soon cleared that right up. I doubt he’d be making a similar mistake anytime soon.

Interestingly, one dog parent unveiled a tactical approach straight out of a canine combat manual. 

Step one: channel your inner linebacker. It’s a dance of dominance where only the strongest prevail after all. You’ve got to assert your alpha status and show that canine who’s boss.

Step two: unleash your inner puppeteer. This involves a bit of puppet-hand persuasion that’ll apparently have Fido surrendering that treasure faster than you can say "fetch!"

Netizens offered their valuable insights on this topic

This user explained that from birth, dogs understand the concept of hierarchy, possession and territory

If your dog guards his possessions from you, or tries to steal from you (dives on a piece of food that you dropped on the floor), then he sees you as only his equal and not as his leader. 

The user further explained that OP might not be acting like a leader around the dog

Something you are doing is making him think you are not his leader. Maybe you allow him to drag you on the leash, maybe you allow him to claim a spot on the couch or the bed and you go to a different spot, deferring to him.

Maybe you allow him to be cheeky or pushy in some other way, All these things diminish you in his eyes.

In conclusion, this user has advised OP to take their place as the ‘Alpha’ if they want to gain respect from the dog

In any case, it’s your place in hierarchy that is causing him to reprimand you when you try to take from him.

Once a dog has considered something its property, it will protect it

First off, dogs protect things they have considered their own. Secondly, do not reach into the mouth of a dog to grab something.

For dogs that are not trained, a good way to get something from its mouth is to distract it

If you want to grab something, be smart & give them a larger bone to distract them. Far away they might go to chew their new item.

From this user’s perspective, when you try to snatch something from a dog, you activate its hunting instincts

When you pull the object away from them it brings out the natural pray drive, so they think it's game time!

Once you succeed in taking something away from the dog, stand tall and guard it

One thing you have to do when you want to take it away from them, is claim it. Stand tall and guard it like a line backer or a goalie.

According to this Netizen, dogs have no idea that they cannot have something. This is beautiful they don’t have the ability to make reasoned decisions

Dogs do not make reasoned decisions therefore do not “know” that they cannot have something.

For your dog to give up ‘it’s property’, you will have to overpower it

Your dog is merely strong-willed and fighting for what it wants. The way the dog sees it is that if you want your will met then you’ll have to overpower them.

Dogs are like babies, they believe they can get whatever they want. And if you take something away, they throw a tantrum as a way of expressing their displeasure

It’s pretty clear that taking items from a dog’s mouth is no mean feat. Dogs are territorial and you best believe that anything in their mouth is automatically their property.

So, your best bet is playing the game of doggy diplomacy, or like some Netizens have advised, enforcing your will at the leader of the home. Respect the teeth, assert your alpha status, and maybe invest in some extra chew toys.

And hey, if all else fails, just remember that behind those sharp teeth and wagging tails lies a heart of gold.

Do you have any insight to add to this post? Don’t hesitate to share it in the comment section.

Jesse