28/05/2026
A week ago I never thought I’d be sat here writing this, but after experiencing a serious dog bite incident myself, it’s really opened my eyes even more to how quickly situations can change, even around dogs you know well.
Dog bites are not always caused by “bad dogs”. Fear, stress, pain, lack of structure, poor handling, genetics, environment and even handler error can all play a part. Sometimes people miss the warning signs, push dogs too far, or make decisions in the moment that unintentionally escalate a situation. Unfortunately though, the damage dog bites can do is very real, both physically and mentally.
As trainers we spend so much time telling people to advocate for their dogs, learn body language, stop putting dogs in situations they can’t cope with, and take behaviour seriously before it escalates. This is exactly why.
I’m okay, healing up slowly, but it’s definitely been a reminder of how important management, training, structure and respecting boundaries really are. I don’t blame the dog, nor am I scared to be around dogs. I only respect them even more than I did before.
We will not be disclosing what breed or what the outcome is, we’re not here to start debates on stereotypes or anything like that. Main factor that played a role was frustration due to not working for 4-5 days, handling errors and maybe being complacent or possibly even slow thinking myself due to the heat.
If your dog is showing signs of aggression, reactivity, possessiveness, anxiety or instability, please don’t ignore it and hope it goes away on its own. Early intervention matters. Asking for help is not failure.
And equally, stop shaming owners who are struggling. Most people are trying their best and many are dealing with situations they were never prepared for. Education helps more than judgement ever will.