What's a FIGHT? How bad is 'Bad'? Ranking conflicts

What's a FIGHT? how bad is 'Bad'? ranking conflicts

Lower-level conflicts -

Grade 1 - snarks are short-lived snaps with a snarl and
light tooth-contact, or an air-snap with no teeth/growl, etc.

Grade 2 - spats are very-short fights with lots of barks, snarls,
growls, many air-snaps or light mouthing -- but leave NO bruises
under the haircoat, NO punctures or scratches from teeth or claws,
etc - noises and threats and swearing - LOTS of swearing.
they generally last 5 to 20-secs at most, but seem longer.

After-effects:
24 to 48-hours later, bruising, swelling, heat or inflammation are
detectable - if in doubt, see a vet for a careful exam.

Resisting handling, flinching, guarding body-parts are all signs of
pain and possible injury. tiny punctures can become big-problems,
depending on where they are; a puncture between toes, close to
a joint, near an eye, etc, are potentially very serious [lose digit,
bone infects, eye-injury or abscess, corneal ulcer, etc].
dogs who practice snarks and move-on to spat, need help -
to prevent a fight and to prevent bad-feeling.

Fights -

Grade 3 - low-intensity fights include growls AND
maybe - punctures, but definitely scratches and bruises -
the combatant[s] 'mean it' - things will not improve spontaneously -
blood was shed, or pain was inflicted.

Spats + snarks are THREATS - fights leave HURTs.

Low-intensity fights will escalate - 'get bigger + worse' -
if nothing is done to not only prevent a fight,
but Change the feelings that start the fights.

Grade 4 - moderate-intensity = multiple punctures,
some torn skin; rips are bites with pulling.

Grade 5 - serious intensity = add tears with bruising
and small crush-areas to punctures;

Grade 6 - severe-intensity = pieces of skin or muscle
missing, crush-injuries / necrotic tissue; one to 3 drains;

Grade 7 - mauling = multiple crush-injuries, multiple
serious-trauma, 2 or more drains, skin-grafts;

Grade 8 - the only step left is 'kill' - one or the other,
or both, die of injuries or blood-loss.
the worse the fights... the worse the prognosis for
improvement.

Generally, the quieter the fight, the worse
the emotions and the damage are - the dogs
do not waste energy swearing, but aim to
inflict maximum injury.
This is a very-bad sign, and poor prognosis.

terry pride, APDT-Aus, apdt#1827, CVA, TDF

Stressed Brains Rely on Habit

http://www.the-scientist.com/blog/display/55873/

Targeting for Shy Dogs

Hand Targeting for Shy Dogs - The best bloopers are a click away


Targeting Exercise For Fearful Dogs - Amazing videos are here

Dog Greeting Gone Wrong

Dog Bite Laws

If you have a reactive dog, it is very important that you know and understand the dog bit laws.

This website, Dog Bite Laws, is a great place to start.

Dr. Ian Dunbar's bite assessment criteria

Dr. Ian Dunbar's bite assessment criteria when assessing a dog bite.

1.. Level 1- Dog growls, lunges, snarls-no teeth touch skin. Mostly intimidation behavior.

2.. Level 2- Teeth touch skin but no puncture. May have red mark/minor bruise from dog's head or snout, may have minor scratches from paws/nails. Minor surface abrasions acceptable.

3.. Level 3- Punctures ½ the length of a canine tooth, one to four holes, single bite.No tearing or slashes.Victim not shaken side to side. Bruising.

4.. Level 4- One to four holes from a single bite, one hole deeper than ½ the length of a canine tooth, typically contact/punctures from more than canines only. Black bruising, tears and/or slashing wounds. Dog clamped down and shook or slashed victim.

5.. Level 5- Multiple bites at Level 4 or above. A concerted, repeated attack.

6.. Level 6- Any bite resulting in death of a human.

Did the dog grab the reporter without warning?

Watch this video a few times and observe the dog before the bite. Watch for:
1) The dog licks his nose.
2) The dog's ears go back.
3) The dog's body stiffens.
4) The dog stars directly at the reporter.

Holly's Tara Guards Her Kibble

Holly wrote: "I don't like to set my dogs up to fail so I rarely allow her to get overfaced, but lots of people don't recognize the signs of an unhappy dog and would yell at her by the time she got to step 3. "

To see the progression, click here ----> Tara Stressed

Holly added:

"People will often tell me that their dogs don't give any warnings. Unless the humans in the equation have suppressed the pre-cursors, warning signs listed above, the dogs DO give warnings. Warning is priceless. It lets you abort the chain that ends in violence and it allows the human to intervene on behalf of the stressed dog.

"I try really really hard to never suppress the warning signs. Many people tell me they want NO aggression shown by their dogs, but aggression is never eliminated. It's just that the dog will go from nothing to explosion quicker without all the in between steps.

"I repeat, I never ever ever want that. I want the opportunity to stop the behavior before it gets to the point of no return. It gives me the opportunity to protect both dogs, and it gives me a chance to teach the anxious dog she can count on me to take care of her."