Tight spaces can cause dogs to growl. Just ask Ginger. The other night she was resting in the darkened, narrow hallway just outside her human mom’s closed bedroom door. During the day when she is resting in the open, first floor living space and her young human brother approaches, her body language clearly shows she wants his attention but not on this occasion. When her brother approached, she growled and air snapped at him when he came closer.
What was the difference and how did that affect her hallway behavior?
That is an important question to ask when it comes to solving a problem, because there is always a reason. What was going on in the environment that caused Ginger to growl and air snap?
Well, for one it was evening and the family already knows that she is more sensitive to movement and sounds after dark.
The other factor is that she was in a tight space surrounded by barriers which gave her no room for escape. She was, in essence, cornered. One of her non-aggressive defensive options (flight) was removed which caused her to escalate her response quickly. Her behavior quickly changed to soft body muscles when she realized who was approaching.
Had she been startled or approached in an open space, instead of growling and air snapping, she more than likely would have moved away instead.
Knowing this, some possible solutions for dog bite prevention can include:
having family members turn on lights and announce their coming when they see her in a darkened space (especially in a tight spot)
having family members call her to them rather than them approaching her when she is in a tight space
watching her body language to give her distance or change their body posture when they see signs of stress
Be aware of tight spaces
This brings up another point. Tight spaces in general can cause dogs to respond defensively. Think about how you would feel in an enclosed elevator or a long, narrow hallway when you see someone approach in a way that makes you feel uncomfortable. Remember, that takes away the option of escape.
It is important to be aware of this, especially in a home with children. To prevent dog bites, I encourage you to create more open spaces and not allow children to be in those tight spaces with your dog.
This, by the way, includes crates. When your dog is in a crate, he is fully surrounded. That puts your dog in a very vulnerable position.
