Show 75: Fear Biters and Fear Aggression: How to Help Dogs Who Bite

When you deal with a fear biter, you have to understand that this dog’s tendency to bite is not fueled by the desire to simply bite. These fear biters are fierce protectors. When dog owners come to me and ask about aggression due to fear, I tell them when they deal with a fear biter, they have to halt the training until they solve the problem on a deeper level. Because most of the time, fear-based aggression that causes biting is not a matter of lack of training but a lack of tactic. In this blog, I’m going to talk about the number one reason why dogs bite due to fear, and how you — their dog owner — can actually change fear biters. Key Takeaways Fear biters don’t bite out of habit. They use biting as a way to protect you and the property from danger. The number one reason why fear biters continue to bite is because they feel that they are in charge, so they have to do all the protecting. The Dog Calming Code teaches the 5 Golden Rules, a set of rules that can help establish YOUR leadership in your fearful dog’s eyes. UNDERSTAND FEAR BITERS BETTER WITH THE DOG CALMING CODE Table of Contents How to Deal with a Fear Biter: The #1 Reason a Fear Biter Bites How to Deal With a Fear Biter: Change Dog Biting Aggression By Being the Pack Leader So… How Do You Become the Pack Leader That Stops Fear Biting Aggression? How to Deal with a Fear Biter: How Being a Pack Leader Changes Biting Due to Fear Aggression How to Deal With Biting Due to Fear Aggression: Other Reasons Why Dogs Become Fear Biters Fear Biting Dogs: What Are The Signs to Look Out For? How to Change the Fear Biting Aggression in Dogs How to Deal with a Fear Biter: Let the Dog Calming Code Help You! How to Deal with a Fear Biter: The #1 Reason a Fear Biter Bites So why do fearful dogs bite? Like what I always mention in my previous blogs, dogs fueled by fear are driven by their primal responsibility to protect. This issue puzzles dog owners: they usually have a pretty well-mannered dog, until a perceived danger or threat comes near. They immediately show their fangs, and they don’t hesitate biting anything or anyone who they think disrupts safety. I want to emphasize again: fear biters don’t just bite out of habit — they perceive themselves as the one in charge of their owners and their property so… they bite to protect. Here’s a scenario that can explain it better. As parents, we’re actually pretty chill when we’re alone. It’s a different story when we have kids that are under our care. We become more wary about things around us — even anxious! — and always on the edge to protect our kids from the danger of strangers and threatening circumstances. Why? Because we know that when it comes to our kids, we are the ones in charge. And it’s the same with our dogs. Of course they will be scared. Of course they will be protective! TEACH YOUR DOG HOW TO SWITCH OFF BY BEING THE PACK LEADER WITH THE HELP OF THE DOG CALMING CODE The fearful biter is a dog that sees themselves as the pack leader and they want the source of danger to know that. They bite to make the danger stay away. So how do you let the fear biter know that there’s nothing they should be worried — or biting — about? How to Deal With a Fear Biter: Change Dog Biting Aggression By Being the Pack Leader Dealing with a fear biter requires both understanding and proactive steps. Becoming the pack leader is a powerful way to effectively address your dog's fear aggression. Here's a detailed guide on how to do it: Our Dogs Have to Know That They Are Not the Leader, It’s Us Dogs often have a natural tendency to assume leadership, which can lead to constant anxiety, vigilance, and eventually fear-based aggression. The best remedy is to assert ourselves as the leaders. Here's how: #1: Stay Calm in the Face of Danger Dogs pick up on our reactions. When they sense danger, try to remain composed. Even if their barking or biting tendencies can get into you, demonstrate that you are unfazed. Let them see that you