Dear Tiffani,

I have a puppy that has begun to bite, not just in play, but aggressively. She hurt me the other day when I took away some food from her that she wasn’t supposed to have. The bite bled, but doesn’t seem too serious. What should I do if she bites again? 

Signed, Worried Pup Wrangler

Dear Wrangler,

Thank you for asking this very important question. Dog bits are extremely serious and should never be taken lightly. State of Montana law require that when a human being is bitten by any mammal whose species can be infected by rabies, such as a dog, (rabbits and rodent are excluded) that bite must be reported to the local health officer. It is strongly recommended that you see a doctor to get the bite checked since the skin was broken. Rabies is transferred through saliva and is a concern especially if your puppy has not been vaccinated against this disease yet. Rabies is preventable through a series of vaccinations after exposure, but it is fatal once symptoms appear – in both humans and animals. The doctor will be required to report the bite.

Addressing your pup’s aggressive biting goes further than just your bite. The consequences increase if your puppy bites someone else. If the person decides to press charges, your dog is required by State law to be quarantined for ten days at your expense to screen for rabies. You are legally and financially responsible for your dog’s actions and may be sued, fined, or charged with a crime if your pup hurts someone. Each community has its own laws; investigate those of your area. In Livingston, for instance, if your dog is deemed “vicious and dangerous” by the court because it has displayed signs of being potentially dangerous and complaints have been made to the Animal Control Officer, you are required to take precautions including providing an enclosure that small children can not enter but that is suitable to humanely confine the dog, provide adequate exercise, travel with the dog securely muzzled and restrained, provide two color photographs of the dog, and have them tattooed or microchipped for ID. Your dog must be registered with the city within ten days of the legal finding and pay a $75 fee to have them post a Dangerous Dog sign. Sale or giving the dog to another owner is prohibited.

Because your dog is still a puppy, there is hope that you may prevent her from biting again, but this serious issue must be addressed immediately. Your next step should be consulting an animal behavior specialist; aggressive biting is such a grave matter that I do no consultations about it – the liability implications are too great. You can check the phonebook, Internet, library, or your veterinarian for referrals. Whomever you work with should review the details of your living environment, training methods, dog’s breed, and anything else you think may be relevant. Identifying the type of aggression will help. Is it possession aggression, fear biting, protection, or food aggression? You may be able to avoid situations that trigger this aggressive behavior, in addition to supervising, confining and/or restricting your dog’s activities, especially when children or other pets are present, using a muzzle when outdoors, and controlling indoor access by keeping your pup behind a baby gate or in a crate. Your consultant can help determine if you have the resources, time, patience, and ability to control this situation.

Do not be ashamed if your pup’s biting tendency is more than you can handle. However, it is rarely recommended that you try and find another home for your pet and it would be illegal if your dog is determined to be “vicious and dangerous.” You certainly don’t want someone else to inherit this liability. Difficult decisions must be made; taking into account what is best for the animal, yourself, and your community. Often euthanasia is the responsible choice. If a dog has to be isolated and confined long term in order to not hurt anyone, this is an inhumane life for a genetically social animal. There are worse fates than euthanasia, and a life of confinement most often creates an increasingly aggressive, unhappy, and lonely dog.

I trust that you will take this matter seriously and get help as soon as you can. With proper training, time, and vigilance, you may be able to prevent your puppy from biting again or becoming a danger to the community.

Best of luck, Tiffani

Tiffani Zimmerman is the Behavior Specialist at the Stafford Animal Shelter. Email questions to her at behavioradvice@imt.net, call 406/222-1312, or read archived columns at www.staffordanimalshelter.org.