Whether they’re in the form of a nip, bite or full-on offensive, dog bites are a serious problem.  Even the cutest, furriest and most lovable puppy can – and will – bite if provoked.

Biting problems can happen any time and be caused by a number of issues your dog may have. Address the situation immediately,

Don't let this happen!

do not let it become a full-blown crisis. While there’s no guarantee your dog will never bite, there are things you can do to significantly reduce the risk.

Choose Carefully
Know the needs and characteristics of various breeds before taking a new dog home. Your veterinarian, along with numerous books and websites, are all good sources of information. When adopting (good for you!) try to get the dog’s background if possible so you know what behaviors to watch for. For example, if you know a dog’s been chained up most of the time, expect it to be very territorial.

Back to Basics
Train your dog in the basic commands: Sit, Stay, Come, No*. Make training fun for your dog with a small treat (from www.YourDogsTreats.com of course!) as a reward. Warning: do not use games such as tug-on-the rope for training as this encourages aggressiveness.

Get Your Dog Fixed
It’s a fact: neutered dogs are less likely to bite.

Calm dogs rule!

Be Sociable
Make sure your dog’s properly socialized. Expose him to different scenarios under controlled circumstances. The more people,  animals and situations your dog encounters, the more confident and at ease he’ll be.

Dogs and Children
It’s best to wait to get a dog until children are older – around 7 or 8 years old. That way, the children are mature enough to treat dogs properly and can also help take care of the dog. Whatever their age, children should always be closely monitored when around dogs.

Teach Your Children Well

Teach them to be very gentle and calm around dogs. Have them throw treats (rather than hand them) and refrain from petting your dog or playing with her toys until the dog becomes familiar with and learns to trust the child. It may be best to muzzle your dog or crate her when unfamiliar children are present. Praise your dog when she behaves well around children.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Like humans, dogs should be treated with respect. Make them feel like a member of the family. Dogs that are properly supervised and socialized rarely bite or nip. On the other hand, dogs that are banished to the backyard or chained up often turn dangerous. Dogs need to connect with their owners.

With proper treatment, training and exercise, even a biting dog can change its ways.

* YourDogTreats recommends the Secrets to Dog Training course (formerly known as SitStayFetch): http://bit.ly/bQIpNu