Dog bite scale

This was posted else where on a very heated topic about a dog bite. It's a rather interesting read IMO to see what a dog bite is classed as.

Well as it turns out Chance is a level 4 biter, according to this scale for the bite he gave me, but he has enough bite inhibition to play bite gently with us at the same time, so a bit of a contradiction in that respect but hey, still a different way of looking at dog bites

http://www.apdt.com/veterinary/assets/pdf/Ian%20Dunbar%20Dog%20Bite%20Scale.pdf

Interesting read

bit harsh isnt it lol
but does point out the handler/handlers are 100%commited which i dont think anyone will deny in your case ella but the locked up and no acsess to other people apart from muzzled vets visits only going to make matters worse imo

Levels 4:
The dog has insufficient bite inhibition and is very dangerous. Prognosis is poor because of the difficulty and danger of trying to teach bite inhibition to an adult hard
-
biting dog and because absolute owner
-
compliance is rare. Only work with the dog in exceptional circumstances, e.g., the owner is a dog professional and has sworn 100% compliance.
Make sure the owner signs a form in triplicate stating that they understand and take full responsibility that:
1.The dog is a Level 4 biter and is likely to cause an equivalent
amount of damage WHEN it bites again (which it most probably will) and should therefore, be confined to the home at all times and only allowed contact with adult owners.
2.Whenever, children or guests visit the house, the dog should be confined to a single locked -
room or roofed, chain -link run with the only
keys kept on a chain around the neck of each adult owner (to prevent children or guests entering the dog's confinement area.)
3.
The dog is muzzled before leaving the house and only leaves the house for visits to a
veterinary clinic.
4.
The incidents have all been reported to the relevant authorities
—
animal control or police. Give the owners one
copy, keep one copy for your files and give one copy to the dog's veterinarian.

oh i agree wazza it is very harsh IMO but did find it an interesting read

Very interesting Ella, thanks for sharing

Interesting but yes a little harsh:D 

interesting read all the same
but level 6 victim dead   not very tactfull

Warren wrote:interesting read all the same
but level 6 victim dead   not very tactfull

haha i said the same thing!

Interesting, but far too generalistic.

Dogs bite for so many reasons & some of those bites can be very nasty indeed, but the dog may not be to blame - fear, pain, shock etc.

Dempsey bit me when he was only about 4 or 5 months old (I was trying to get something out of his mouth that had got stuck & he clamped down in panic) and one of his canines went right through to the bone in my finger. So that could either be level 3 or 4 on that list, but he's nothing like the description of either!

Oh i agree it is far to general, and certainly wouldn't apply to the majority of dogs.

Chance's bite to me fits the description perfectly of level 4, it was a deep bite, that was held combined with the shaking of his head.

But i still think the advice is very counter productive

I know a biter has to be taken seriously and the owner must be responsible, but imo the following would more than likely drive the dog insane, therefore causing more problems!

"1. The dog is a Level 4 biter and is likely to cause an equivalent amount of damage WHEN it bites again (which it most probably will) and should therefore, be confined to the home at all times and only allowed contact with adult owners. 2. Whenever, children or guests visit the house, the dog should be confined to a single locked-room or roofed, chain-link run with the only keys kept on a chain around the neck of each adult owner (to prevent children or guests entering the dog's confinement area.) 3. The dog is muzzled before leaving the house and only leaves the house for visits to a veterinary clinic."

Caryll wrote:I know a biter has to be taken seriously and the owner must be responsible, but imo the following would more than likely drive the dog insane, therefore causing more problems!

"1. The dog is a Level 4 biter and is likely to cause an equivalent amount of damage WHEN it bites again (which it most probably will) and should therefore, be confined to the home at all times and only allowed contact with adult owners. 2. Whenever, children or guests visit the house, the dog should be confined to a single locked-room or roofed, chain-link run with the only keys kept on a chain around the neck of each adult owner (to prevent children or guests entering the dog's confinement area.) 3. The dog is muzzled before leaving the house and only leaves the house for visits to a veterinary clinic."

been there before you caryll:P  

Definitely, it's very bad advice

So you have, Wazza - sorry, I didn't see your post! 

Caryll wrote:So you have, Wazza - sorry, I didn't see your post! 

no worries caryll it just proves if we think the same way we must be right in are thoughts on the matter:D  

oooooooohhhhhh and caryll im 40 now i think its time i dropped the wazza and have to go by warren      

The jump from level 5 to 6 is a bit silly. Very harsh there!

Interesting read. Ouch it must have hurt when Chance bit you  

Generic, but I agree that it's interesting!

Chiara wrote:Interesting read. Ouch it must have hurt when Chance bit you  

Alot!

Harsh, but still an interesting read.

Interesting read, my girls have never bitten intentionally but when they have had scraps between them or my hand has been on a toy they have tried to snatch I've had some nasty nicks. Can't complain though after working with dogs for more than 12 years I have only been intentionally bitten once. Poor Chance its so sad to think that whoever had him before screwed him up that much and made him so scared he thinks its his only option to bite.

Nosipho wrote:Interesting read, my girls have never bitten intentionally but when they have had scraps between them or my hand has been on a toy they have tried to snatch I've had some nasty nicks. Can't complain though after working with dogs for more than 12 years I have only been intentionally bitten once. Poor Chance its so sad to think that whoever had him before screwed him up that much and made him so scared he thinks its his only option to bite.

It is sad, I will add his bite wasn't actually aimed at me, but at some kids trying to break into my garden and throwing things at him. I grabbed him as he launched himself at them and he grabbed my forearm, but still ouch!

ella wrote:

Nosipho wrote:Interesting read, my girls have never bitten intentionally but when they have had scraps between them or my hand has been on a toy they have tried to snatch I've had some nasty nicks. Can't complain though after working with dogs for more than 12 years I have only been intentionally bitten once. Poor Chance its so sad to think that whoever had him before screwed him up that much and made him so scared he thinks its his only option to bite.

It is sad, I will add his bite wasn't actually aimed at me, but at some kids trying to break into my garden and throwing things at him. I grabbed him as he launched himself at them and he grabbed my forearm, but still ouch!

Oh yeah of course I remember you saying. Poor pup. Still he is coming on in leaps and bounds!