Understanding the Milo Case-What Happened and What Could Have Been Done
For those who are not familiar with the case, articles about the case can be found below and on line.
Analysis of any injury event is for the purpose of prevention. Actions are identified that can be changed to prevent further injuries. Until said time that all involved were fully knowledgeable we are said to be unconsciously unconscious or we don't know, what we don't know. Fault and blame get in the way of ensuring no one else is hurt in a similar fashion.
What happened: When Heather Bailey and Christian Herbert entered the home Milo was on the couch sleeping. Christian was left petting the dog while Heather left to retrieve a game. Milo bit Christian in the face.
Facts about dog behavior
Fact: Dogs have superior/subordinate relationships, they bite for purposeful reasons and defer to the most dominant in the room. One demonstration I give during my safety classes to prove superior/subordinate relationships is to walk over to my sleeping dog. As soon as I get near enough my dog gets up and quickly moves out of the way. Soon he will go back to his cot and I advise my studenst to watch what happens when their pup goes over to my dog. Invariably the pup gets too close. My dog does not move out of the way but growls or even may go after the pup giving it a nip.
Fact: Dogs never hug to show love, affection and support. It is strictly a dominating gesture. The only thing similar to a hug that dogs do is mount each other. Males and females do it to either sex to show superiority. If someone (animal or person) outranks the dog and holds it around the neck, the dog is only deferring to the hugger's superior rank. If someone hugging is inferior the dog stiffens to thwart the challenge and if ignored will bite to maintain its position.
PUTTING THE INCIDENT INTO PROPER CONTEXT
Christian went over to a sleeping Milo and plopped down on the couch. Heather was still there and often dogs defer to who is most dominant in the room. Once that person leaves, the dog can see itself as the next dominant. It is completely within dog behavior to admonish inferiors for insubordination. This is normal behavior for a dog that views itself as superior to who it is interacting with. It was reported that Christian was exuberant and happy and left to disturb a sleeping dog. He doesn't know any better but for a dog to ensure that he isn't harassed by a pup they can't ask them to stop. Anyone with a pup knows full well that pups often won't quit its harassment. The adult dog has to go to the length of often biting to ensure the pups respect. It is encouraged for children to wish to convey their love for a dog by hugging. Holding the dog by the neck to hug insures that a bite is to the child's face. Faces are delicate and to ensure scaring is minimal many tiny stitches are used. 400 stitches to the face is easily far more required than if he had been bitten anywhere else on his body. I'm not sure if Christian was ever asked what he was doing and if a 6 year old is able to state this after being traumatized. In reality, it doesn't matter. Milo felt an inferior, Christian needed to be reprimanded for his actions.
What Could Have Been Done
The Bailey Family
1) All members increase their dog handling and safety abilities through the PTFGD program
Apparently Milo has bitten before. This is a red flag for the family to improve not only their skills and abilities but their need to focus attention on their safety and liability protection.
2) Rule: Never leave anyone alone with the dog.
3) Rule: Before the PTFGD safety program-always use a muzzle or keep the dog in another area when interacting with people. After the program: Assign a skilled adult handler to supervise the dog during encounters at all times. The muzzle is still encouraged.
The Herbert-Millers
4) Teach children to avoid hugging and disturbing dogs. Sudden outbursts of pretend and other games can stimulate a dog to admonish them as well.
5) Never allow children to visit homes with dogs unless safety has been discussed with the dog's owner. If unsure, it is best to avoid going to the home.
6) Teach children the ASK the Dog method of interaction. Like we teach children that strangers should not touch them, so too should they ASK both the owner and then the dog if they can pat the dog. To ASK the Dog simply tap the side of a leg like a wagging tail and allow the dog to solicit interaction. Talk happily and relax.
Lastly Christian has been traumatized and if not addressed any fears he projects about dogs can put him at risk for additional bites. Dogs react to the actions of the people they encounter. Fear sends a strong signal to a predator that something is vulnerable. The instinct to target something compromised is hard wired. Always pretend to be a dogs friend never its prey or its foe to avoid problems. Phobias to dogs can be easily eliminated through re-conditioning and EFT (emotional freedom technique) which is tapping on acupressure points to release the emotion from the traumatic event. More about EFT can be found at www.eftuniverse.com
Analysis of any injury event is for the purpose of prevention. Actions are identified that can be changed to prevent further injuries. Until said time that all involved were fully knowledgeable we are said to be unconsciously unconscious or we don't know, what we don't know. Fault and blame get in the way of ensuring no one else is hurt in a similar fashion.
What happened: When Heather Bailey and Christian Herbert entered the home Milo was on the couch sleeping. Christian was left petting the dog while Heather left to retrieve a game. Milo bit Christian in the face.
Facts about dog behavior
Fact: Dogs have superior/subordinate relationships, they bite for purposeful reasons and defer to the most dominant in the room. One demonstration I give during my safety classes to prove superior/subordinate relationships is to walk over to my sleeping dog. As soon as I get near enough my dog gets up and quickly moves out of the way. Soon he will go back to his cot and I advise my studenst to watch what happens when their pup goes over to my dog. Invariably the pup gets too close. My dog does not move out of the way but growls or even may go after the pup giving it a nip.
Fact: Dogs never hug to show love, affection and support. It is strictly a dominating gesture. The only thing similar to a hug that dogs do is mount each other. Males and females do it to either sex to show superiority. If someone (animal or person) outranks the dog and holds it around the neck, the dog is only deferring to the hugger's superior rank. If someone hugging is inferior the dog stiffens to thwart the challenge and if ignored will bite to maintain its position.
PUTTING THE INCIDENT INTO PROPER CONTEXT
Christian went over to a sleeping Milo and plopped down on the couch. Heather was still there and often dogs defer to who is most dominant in the room. Once that person leaves, the dog can see itself as the next dominant. It is completely within dog behavior to admonish inferiors for insubordination. This is normal behavior for a dog that views itself as superior to who it is interacting with. It was reported that Christian was exuberant and happy and left to disturb a sleeping dog. He doesn't know any better but for a dog to ensure that he isn't harassed by a pup they can't ask them to stop. Anyone with a pup knows full well that pups often won't quit its harassment. The adult dog has to go to the length of often biting to ensure the pups respect. It is encouraged for children to wish to convey their love for a dog by hugging. Holding the dog by the neck to hug insures that a bite is to the child's face. Faces are delicate and to ensure scaring is minimal many tiny stitches are used. 400 stitches to the face is easily far more required than if he had been bitten anywhere else on his body. I'm not sure if Christian was ever asked what he was doing and if a 6 year old is able to state this after being traumatized. In reality, it doesn't matter. Milo felt an inferior, Christian needed to be reprimanded for his actions.
What Could Have Been Done
The Bailey Family
1) All members increase their dog handling and safety abilities through the PTFGD program
Apparently Milo has bitten before. This is a red flag for the family to improve not only their skills and abilities but their need to focus attention on their safety and liability protection.
2) Rule: Never leave anyone alone with the dog.
3) Rule: Before the PTFGD safety program-always use a muzzle or keep the dog in another area when interacting with people. After the program: Assign a skilled adult handler to supervise the dog during encounters at all times. The muzzle is still encouraged.
The Herbert-Millers
4) Teach children to avoid hugging and disturbing dogs. Sudden outbursts of pretend and other games can stimulate a dog to admonish them as well.
5) Never allow children to visit homes with dogs unless safety has been discussed with the dog's owner. If unsure, it is best to avoid going to the home.
6) Teach children the ASK the Dog method of interaction. Like we teach children that strangers should not touch them, so too should they ASK both the owner and then the dog if they can pat the dog. To ASK the Dog simply tap the side of a leg like a wagging tail and allow the dog to solicit interaction. Talk happily and relax.
Lastly Christian has been traumatized and if not addressed any fears he projects about dogs can put him at risk for additional bites. Dogs react to the actions of the people they encounter. Fear sends a strong signal to a predator that something is vulnerable. The instinct to target something compromised is hard wired. Always pretend to be a dogs friend never its prey or its foe to avoid problems. Phobias to dogs can be easily eliminated through re-conditioning and EFT (emotional freedom technique) which is tapping on acupressure points to release the emotion from the traumatic event. More about EFT can be found at www.eftuniverse.com