When we first adopted our two dogs and I was new to handling them, I put my hand in the wrong place at the wrong time and managed to get a cut from a tooth from each dog. Once. Each. After that I was a lot more savvy about when and where my hands were, and what state of mind the dogs were in. Neither dog intended to bite me, they were intent on something else and I let my fingers get in the way. Lesson learned.

Did you dog intend to bite you to get the bone back? Or were you putting yourself in harm's way by inciting the dog and letting your arm get in the way. I have heard it is very bad to let your dog have the experience of biting and then getting what it wanted. I imagine that is because the dog learns how powerful its jaws and teeth actually are, and that the only reason they don't turn against us is we don't allow that to happen. Ever.

I've been working with Jethro to let my fingers in and near his mouth without him hurting me (Gentle). I have grandchildren, and when, or if, it happens (despite all precautions to prevent it) those little fingers end up near his mouth, I want him to lick them, not bite.

Er, some of us actually teach our dogs how powerful they are that is if they don't know already.
They don't 'turn' against us......hmmmmmmmm

Me thinks it's time you reorient your thinking Jenny.

Bob, I saw this not so much as a bragging as "I did a stupid...don't be like me and forget you have dogs with teeth"


I don't think this is "turn against you" thing, I think it's a "you maaaaay want to work on that" think. My dog has drawn blood on me (especially before I mastered delivering the tug reward)...but it's NEVER been intentional or in defense of something that was "his"

 Quote: jamie craig

My dog has drawn blood on me (especially before I mastered delivering the tug reward)...but it's NEVER been intentional or in defense of something that was "his"

Gloves (heavy gloves) were a saving grace when Falcon was a pup and I didn't know how to deliver, etc... But, what happened here was not accidental and was completely avoidable/preventable, nor is it the same category of working dogs biting a sleeve, etc... just to be clear for someone new who might be reading this thread.