One-on-One Assistance

Bite History
If your pet has a history of aggression or biting, please describe it in the form below. Start with the earliest known incident, end with the latest known. Be very specific.
Bites are categorized as follows:*
Level 1:
Posturing, growling, lunging, or snarling behavior occurred without teeth touching skin. Note: These behaviors may be completely normal.

Level 2:
Teeth touched skin, but no puncture wounds greater than 1/10 inch were inflicted. Marks or minor scratches from paws and nails (minor surface abrasions) may have been incurred. Abrasions more likely to be horizontal than vertical. Note: These may be normal behaviors, and no to minor injury may be normal. The extent of injury is often associated with the amount of movement of the individuals involved and their relative masses.

Level 3:
Punctures were half the length of a canine tooth and resulted in 1-4 holes from a single bite. No tears or slashes were incurred, and the recipient was not shaken side to side. Lacerations are in a single direction. Note: Movement and mass matter here because force = mass x acceleration. This consideration should factor into all interactions with dogs, including those involving play (dog-dog and human-dog).

Level 4:
A single bite resulted in 1-4 holes, with one or more holes deeper than half the length of a canine tooth. Deep bruising from prolonged pressure and contact results. Contact and punctures were incurred from more than the canine teeth. Tears and/or slash wounds resulted, and shaking – as evidenced by lacerations in multiple directions – was involved. Note: The extent of damage alone in this circumstance not only may be affected by mass and movement but also by dog morphology. Jaw size and mass and distribution of jaw muscles matter and should be a consideration when evaluating to what extent any inhibition could have been involved.

Level 5:
Multiple bites at severity level greater than or equal to Level 4 incurred in a concerted, repeated attack. Note: The context in which this type of bite can occur matters, and dogs who are defending people have been known to exhibit these behaviors. In the absence of any justified context, these dogs are extremely dangerous.

Level 6:
Any bite that resulted in death of any individual (dog, human, cat, etc.). Note: It is important to realize that dogs will hunt if hungry and that accidental bites can have fatal consequences. This is the best justification for evaluating the appropriateness of the behavior given the context in which it occurs.

*Overall, KL (2013). Manual of clinical behavioral medicine for dogs and cats. St. Louis MO: Elsevier Mosby.
Adapted from Assocation of Professional Dog Trainers website (www.apdt.com): Dr. Ian Dunbar’s dog bite scale. An assessment of the severity of biting problems based on an objective evaluation of wound pathology.
www.apdt.com/veterinary/assets/pdf/Ian Dunbar Dog Bite Scale.pdf; and Wrubel KM, Moon-Fanelli A, Maranda LS, Dodman, NH. Interdog household aggression: 38 cases (2006-2007). J Am Vet Med Assoc 2011:238:731-740.

For each incident please answer the following:

Date of incident.
Whom did the dog threaten or bite?
What was going on at the time of the incident?
Where did the threatening behavior or bite happen?
What part of the victim's body was bitten?
Level of bite (1-6)

What you can expect during your consultation:

A pet’s behavior is a response to its environment. Our behavior programs seek to change the environment, and thus the pet’s response to it, by helping the pet and his or her family meet each other’s needs in non-destructive ways. We strive to do this my using the least invasive and most minimally aversive (LIMA)* techniques and methods possible to accomplish your goals for your pet’s behavior. We work closely with your veterinarian if physical health issues are suspected, or if we believe behavioral medication or nutritional support may be helpful. Our goal is to help you create a lifelong partnership with your pet.

You'll be asked lots of questions about your pet’s behavior and history, and how he or she is a part of your family. You'll receive a systematic and detailed management program, and counseling about safety and risk management if appropriate. You'll be encouraged to do follow-up sessions to make sure the program is meeting your goals for your pet’s behavior. We’ll teach you the techniques you need to learn, and coach and support you while you work with your pet. The ultimate responsibility for making decisions about what's best for you and your pet lies with you, and we will support you to the extent legally possible.

*Friedman, SG (2018). Hierarchy of behavior-change procedures: Most positive, least intrusive effective intervention. Accessed 11/10/18 from https://m.iaabc.org/about/position-statements/lima/.