Why do dogs bite their owners

During the time spent with dogs, they are mostly warm and loyal companions, surrounding us with unconditional love. However, when one day the dog suddenly bared its teeth at its owner, the shock and sadness in its heart were indescribable. Why would a dog make such a move towards its owner who is always by its side and trusted? There are actually many reasons behind this that are worth exploring in depth.

Dog teething is an important form of body language expression, like a window into a dog's inner world, revealing their complex emotions and needs. From a behavioral perspective, this may stem from the instinctive reactions of dogs. When the ancestor of dogs, wolves, lived in the wild, bareteeth were a signal of defense and intimidation. When faced with threats or feeling unsafe, they will show their aggressiveness to the other party by baring their sharp teeth to protect themselves or defend their territory. Although modern dogs have been domesticated, this instinct can still be triggered in certain situations.

Fear is one of the common reasons why dogs bite their owners. When dogs are in unfamiliar and noisy environments, or suddenly encounter loud noises such as thunder or firecrackers, they may lose their sense of security due to fear. In this extremely uneasy state, even the owner's approach may be seen as a threat by them. There used to be a timid dog, during the New Year period, the sound of firecrackers outside kept coming and going, and it was so scared that it hid in a corner and trembled. When the owner wanted to comfort it with heartache, it suddenly bared its teeth and its eyes were filled with fear and vigilance. It's not that dogs don't trust their owners, but rather that fear gives their instincts the upper hand and they try to protect themselves by gritting their teeth.

Pain and physical discomfort can also make dogs exceptionally sensitive and prone to scratching their owners' teeth. When dogs get sick, injured, or suffer from oral diseases, physical pain can make their emotions restless. For example, if a dog accidentally breaks a bone and its owner touches the injured area without its knowledge, it will grit its teeth and warn due to unbearable pain. Alternatively, if a dog suffers from periodontitis, the pain in its teeth may cause it to mistakenly believe that it will bring more pain when its owner approaches their mouth, leading to tooth decay and resistance. Watching the dog bared its teeth due to physical discomfort, the owner's heart was filled with worry and heartache, hoping to help it relieve its pain as soon as possible.

Resource conservation awareness is also a factor contributing to dog teething. Dogs have a strong protective instinct towards resources they consider important, such as food, toys, and a place to sleep. If the owner suddenly approaches the food bowl or tries to take away their beloved toy while the dog is eating, the dog may grit its teeth out of instinct to protect resources. In the dog's cognition, these resources are related to its survival and comfort, so it will spare no effort to defend them. There is a dog who loves its plush toys very much and always keeps them close by every time it plays. Once the owner wanted to help him clean the toy, and as soon as he reached out, the dog immediately bared its teeth and let out a low growl, expressing its possession and protection of the toy.

In addition, dogs' social and behavioral habits can also affect whether they bite their owners. If dogs do not receive proper socialization training during their puppy years and do not know how to properly interact with humans and other animals, they may react incorrectly to certain behaviors of their owners. For example, some intimate actions of the owner, such as excessive caressing and hugging, may be understood as aggression for dogs that have not been properly trained, leading to them gritting their teeth and resisting.

When a dog bares its teeth at its owner, we cannot simply assume that it is rebellious or disloyal. Instead, we should calm down, carefully observe its other behavior, and analyze the reasons behind it. If it's because of fear, we need to give it enough sense of security, gently soothe it, communicate with it in a gentle tone, and let it gradually relax. If you feel unwell, take it to a pet hospital as soon as possible for a comprehensive examination and treatment. For the teeth loss caused by resource conservation awareness, we can train dogs to understand that their owners will not steal their belongings, gradually eliminating their guard mentality.

Dogs baring their owners' teeth is a complex behavioral phenomenon, which contains the emotions, needs, and instinctive reactions of dogs. As the closest person to dogs, we need to understand their behavior with care, guide them with love and patience, and solve problems. When we truly enter the inner world of dogs, dispel their anxiety and fear, and regain their unconditional trust and love, the warmth and happiness cannot be described in words. Let us use our professional knowledge and endless care to accompany dogs through every wonderful time, allowing them to grow up healthy and happy under our care, and become the warmest and most loyal companions in our lives.