By: Eileen Koval, CDBC, CBCC-KA, CPDT-KA, MSc
When families bring home a new baby, they often envision a seamless blending of their pets, existing children, and their newborn baby into a happy family. They want their pets to love the new baby as much as they do, and sometimes to be a best friend to their young child as they grow. Obviously, some pets are more relaxed around children than others. This can be a product of socialization and thoughtful training, but it is also strongly influence by genetics and breeding. Parents can do a lot in the months BEFORE bringing home a new baby to prepare dogs for the family expansion, but few people actually do so, in my experience. We can reduce the dog’s stress and anxiety of a new baby through gradual desensitization and by teaching new skills and routines, which are done in the months before the baby arrives. Lack of preparation can increase stress levels and result in unwanted behaviors as the dog attempts to resolve social situations inappropriately, including with aggression.
When most people think of dogs biting children, they think about dogs guarding resting spots, food or toys from the child. Or perhaps they think of the dog being jealous of competing with the new child for attention. Guarding and social competition for attention are common problems, but they are not the exclusive causes of serious newborn/child-directed aggression by family dogs. Genetics only gives us so much room to work with when it comes to altering behavior. Not everything can be fixed by training.
What am I talking about? I am talking about unprovoked attacks on young children and infants caused by inappropriately triggered predatory behaviors.
These are rare, but they can result in life-altering injuries and fatalities. We have all seen these in the news, and unfortunately, with increasing frequency over the last couple decades. One of the problems with preventing this behavior is that owners may fail to recognize early warning signs beforehand in their dog’s body language and behavior to indicate that their dog will likely be unsafe with children.
It is not unusual for dogs to become stressed or concerned when they hear a baby cry -- which is why I encourage gradual desensitization to the sounds before the baby is born. Nevertheless, it can trigger an entirely different set of emotions and behaviors in dogs with the genetics of an extreme and strongly intact predatory sequence. Some dogs can be incredible dogs, but still are never going to be safe enough to live in the home or neighborhood with young children and babies present. They may be dangerous due to unpredictability. They may be around children or small dogs 100+ times with success, but in only one instance there is some noise, context, or specific child’s movement that somehow resembles prey behavior that inadvertently triggers that behavior pattern. In my experience, this can lead owners to question if the dog truly was engaging in predatory behavior. Many of us have heard in the news how parents of mauled children claim their dog was never vicious, and that they never saw it coming. Then people jump on the bandwagon to vilify the owners as “bad owners” who probably mistreated the dog, which likely is not always the case. It has not been true whatsoever in the cases that I have worked. While we may never know the specifics of these individual cases in the news, some of the news reports describe dogs grabbing and shaking newborn babies who were crying in their crib, or they have bitten and killed children who were rambunctiously playing in the street. These stories appear on the surface to be very consistent with predatory behavior. Vilifying the owners is extremely unhelpful, since predatory behaviors are not going to be caused by poor training or abusive conditions, although stress can exacerbate the likelihood of modal action patterns being displayed. Predatory behavior is not created by how someone raises the dog, not does it reflect the dog’s worth as a “good dog” or “bad dog”. Genetics are powerful, shaping how we perceive and react to our environments – both voluntarily and involuntarily at a biochemical level. Modern living environments can be incompatible with the jobs and environments for which dogs were originally bred (e.g. some herding breed dogs stressed by noises, cars, bicycles). Some parents mistake their dog jumping and grabbing at the baby-in-arms as play behavior (if it does not lead to an actual bite). Sometimes, they mistake the dog’s stalking behavior as their dog protectively watching their child and his/her friends. Parents frequently think a dog will instantly be accepting of a newborn because it is THEIR baby – a member of their “pack” (although domesticated dogs are not pack animals…but could be a whole other blog post). Side note: Protective behavior does happen in pet dogs, but the body language and behavior manifest differently. However, it is NOT the dog’s job to “nanny”, babysit or protect the child!!! This is a recipe for tragedy!
Guarding is the most common cause of attacks on children. Guarding toys, resting spots, access to the parent/owner, their personal space, etc. The aggression is functional -- with the goal of getting distance away from the child, or getting the child to move away from a resource. Often, many other (unsuccessful) attempts were already made before escalating to a bite. That could include: the dog pulling away or trying to move away from the child, tense body with hard stare, growling, body blocking access to a resource, etc. Due to the specific goal of obtaining more space/distance, the bites that occur are often (but not always) more inhibited -- the situation is only escalated to the least amount needed to achieve a need for space. Examples of very inhibited bites include air snaps, nipping without breaking skin, or bite that barely scratches the surface of the skin. Less inhibition (where the bite is deep, lacerations of flesh, the bite is held, or there are multiple bites) can be seen in cases where emotions are running very high – particularly if the dog is frustrated. This can be caused by earlier warning signs having been unsuccessful, warning signs communicating stress were ignored, or were perhaps were punished. In some cases with less bite inhibition, there is already a history of numerous bites. If biting proves effective at achieving the desired end result, then it is more likely to occur again in the future. If early stress/communication signs have repeatedly been ignored, dogs may skip offering them altogether since they do not work. They may skip to the behaviors that actually work – displaying outright aggression. Mostly commonly, I see dogs who have never actually been taught how to negotiate access to resources with other dogs or young children housemates. These are dogs who usually have a strong history of being socially pushy when it comes to resources, winning access to resources over other dogs who were more submissive. They may never have been taught value in NOT being the individual who obtained the resource. They may not have not been taught sharing, social boundaries, and have not practiced using subtle, but rich, conversations via body language to negotiate access. In their estimation, resources may actually be something worth fighting for. But the bottom line is that they also may never have been taught better ways of handling these situations.
On the other hand, predation is very different. Bites are often NOT inhibited when going after 'prey". This form of "aggression" is involuntary. The function in nature is originally obtaining food, but humans have taken (and twisted) that to extremes. This has brought us dogs that herd, point at birds, flush prey (but do not kill it), pull wagons and sleds, retrieve, kill small rodents on the farm, kill big game, and even kill each other in fighting rings. Predatory responses do not only occur when an animal is hungry. According to the organization Living With Wolves, it is estimated that only 15% of wild wolf hunts, on average, are actually successful in producing food (via a kill). That is possibly why animals are hardwired into performing hunting behaviors triggered by movements and contexts, whether or not they are actually hungry. This is very natural behavior – think of all the birds killed by stray cats -- but it is very scary when misfired by the movements of children, joggers, pets, etc. We have all seen headlines of devastating attacks where bystanders and/or police tried to fight off dogs who would not stop attacking. Dogs attacking children at play, grabbing a man off a bicycle, attacking a jogger, or attacking a baby who cried in the bassinet. Each case is unique and it is entirely speculation without all the details, which we do not have access to. These movements and contexts would not be inconsistent with potentially triggering predatory aggression.
I typically end up working 1-2 newborn-specific predation cases per year, and a few more per year of stalking/predation toward young children, usually during play. Owners often state that they suspect their dog is trying to “play” with the baby, is “jealous” of the attention given to the new baby, or that the dog was trying to “protect” their kids when they charged after one (or more) of them during the kids’ playtime. In the most terrifying of events, owners described what they saw in a way that is much closer to the reality: they described their dogs as being hyper-fixated on the infant or child in the same way they had seen their dog fixate on a bunny, cat, or other small creature. This is very rare, but it does happen.
Dogs are born with very specific-hardwired behavior patterns, which vary both by breed and also as an individual dog. This is NOT the dog’s fault. These behaviors are a product of human-selected pressures for exaggerated manifestations of certain pieces (or the whole) of the predatory sequence. These are INVOLUNTARY responses to environmental stimuli – the key word being “involuntary”. The dog is not actively “choosing” to perform these behaviors but driven by instinctive mechanisms in the brain. This is why animals, such as cats, will hunt and kill creatures such as birds even when they are not hungry. This is involuntary and instinct driven responses to their environment, which normally would be important for survival in a non-domesticated animal. Less than 10% of hunts in wolves or coyotes actually result in a kill, so it is important to be hunting long before an animal is at a critical point of hunger. There is a biological basis to all of this. However, some humans have created massive problems by breeding for extreme behaviors that are incompatible with everyday life and functioning as a pet in a home environment. With strongly intact predatory sequences or exaggerated manifestations, everyday environmental stimuli can result in a misfire of the predatory sequence. For example, border collies are bred for an exaggeration of the “stalking” and “chasing” part of the sequence in order to herd sheep (but not to grab/bite/kill them). Dogs may only perform part of the sequence, or all of it, and it may take differing levels of environmental triggers to prompt the display of the predatory sequence in unique individual animals.
Predatory Sequence:
Orient > Eye > Stalk > Chase > Grab-Bite > Kill-Bite > Dissect > Consume
In some cases, the everyday movement of cars, bicycles, or children can trigger herding breeds (such as Australian shepherds or border collies) into chasing and/or nipping modal action patterns. This is obviously undesirable and incompatible with living in a modern suburban environment, but it is involuntarily triggered. Still, it is potentially dangerous behavior. The heavy, repeated triggering of this modal action pattern also frequently causes significant psychological stress to the individual animal who is consistently triggered. In dogs with a strongly and fully intact predatory sequence, there are everyday sounds, movements and contexts that can inadvertently mimic those of prey animals. For example: the behavior of infants (crying sounds, flailing movements); certain environmental contexts (picking them up from the bassinet, holding in parents’ arms); the running, tumbling and squealing of toddlers or young children. In more unusual cases, these triggers and/or contexts may misfire a FULL predatory response in those dogs with highly intact and extreme, exaggerated manifestations for certain sections of the predatory sequences. In these cases, the behavior can end up being more than just chasing, and instead, it can potentially end up with severe or fatal injuries to the child.
Training is NOT going to erase a dog’s propensity for this natural behavior!!
No amount of training (regardless of the methods used) is going to make a dog reliable and consistent enough to be in a home with young children if they are triggered into predatory responses by babies or children's cries, squeals or movements. When it comes to natural biological and behavior processes, some things are beyond human control. Predatory behavior may be REDUCED but will never be reliably eliminated. There has been a study showing temporary suppression of predatory behavior with an electronic/shock collar, and I have successfully trained substitution behaviors via positive reinforcement. But again, this is not going to permanently un-do genetics. Furthermore, punishment-based methods like an electronic/shock collar are going to likely increase the animal’s stress levels. Elevated stress resulting in highly aroused emotional states are also known to increase the manifestation of natural behavior patterns, such as predatory behavior, scavenging, etc. This is something that I stress significantly in my rattlesnake avoidance and environmental hazard avoidance training for those dogs who are going after snakes, livestock, or wildlife due to predation (that is only one of many causes of pets approaching snakes). We can significantly reduce predatory behavior, but never guarantee an elimination of that behavior. If the exposure is frequent and there is high risk to either the dog or to the wildlife, then management should be used -- such as a leash, fencing, or even re-homing if necessary and appropriate. My goal is to limit the dog’s exposure to the problematic stimuli and train other behavioral substitutions. That way, if a dog happens to accidentally come into contact with the triggering stimuli, they will be more likely to perform a different behavioral response. But we do not want to push how often that is tested. Because statistically, they WILL LIKELY fail at some point since this is fighting with their biologically hard-wired behavior patterns.
Example: A spaniel-type farm dog had killed a couple of small bunny rabbits on a semi-rural property. There were numerous bunnies living in the area that they would encounter both on property and on walks. We rewarded stalking instead of actually chasing rabbits. Then after the bunny would hop away, we taught him via positive reinforcement to look to the owner for a reward of throwing a ball, so he could perform a behavioral substitution that releases dopamine and endorphins -- the “chase and grab” of a ball --in a different direction. Before letting the dog outside, the owners would make noise to signal any bunnies to return to their homes and they would visually scan the open area for any bunnies. The dog still encountered bunnies both through scent and occasionally visually, but he actually did not chase them for a few years. The training appeared very successful. He continued to perform the “stalk and then chase-a-ball” behavior (or the owner would run and he would chase the owner if no ball was present). However, the owners had an outdoor barbeque with numerous visitors to the home. As the sun started to set, bunnies came outside into the grass. The dog was already highly aroused from the stress and excitement of the visitors’ presence. Seemingly out of nowhere, he quickly charged after one of the bunnies when it appeared in the grass. He did not grab the bunny and actually stopped when the bunny ran under a bush that was easily accessible to him. Nevertheless since then, he has gone back to performing the “stalk and then chase-a-ball” behavior during his normal day-to-day life. I believe high emotional arousal from the excitement and stress was a big factor in triggering him back into the hardwired behavior on that particularly day. However, this highlights that predatory behavior patterns are never truly eliminated.
In adults, bites are normally directed at hands, leg or other extremity, especially when triggered by fear, anxiety, territorial behavior, or resource guarding. Bite locations to children are frequently to the face and neck, which may be the closest body part to the dog. However, predatory bites are also frequently directed at the head and neck, or the centerline of the person,…but they are typically not inhibited. They are designed by nature (and sometimes human pressures on genetics via selective breeding) to execute serious, deadly damage. Bites from fear and/or resource-guarding are more likely to be (but are not always) inhibited and more likely to be targeted at an extremity -- like a hand, arm, or leg. Bites to the face and neck may signal a very different intention on the part of the dog, although sometimes the face is the closest body part to the dog if a child is in the dog’s face.
Why (and where) a dog bites matters.
All dogs can bite, but are they going to do everything possible to avoid that?
If they do bite, will it likely be inhibited?
Will there be lots of warning signs before a bite happens, given adults a chance to step in and resolve the situation?
There is never any way to know for certain if a dog will, in fact, display inhibition in a future scenario. This can also change throughout a dog’s life due to trauma, fear, pain, and changes in health status. Behavior practiced is more likely to be repeated, so past episodes of biting are also more likely to be repeated without significant steps taken to address the underlying causes of the behavior. Still, these are questions I think any parent should heavily ponder before allowing a strange dog into their home or in close access to their child. We become so accustomed to the presence of pets that sometimes we forget that dogs have strong biological and genetic mechanisms underlying their unique perceptions of the world and their behavior. Most of all, we become so comfortable that we sometimes forget that they have teeth!
In ALL of the cases I have worked, there were strong warning signs about the dogs’ abnormal predatory behavior before the dog went after the baby or young children. Still, those warning signs usually went unrecognized by the owners at the time. Most commonly, the dogs had shown past predatory behaviors when small pets were picked up off the ground by a human. If a small dog or cat was picked up into a person’s arms, they would repeatedly spring up and try to grab it out of the people’s arms. Every newborn-specific predatory case I have previously worked shared this history. The owners did not see those behaviors as a problem at the time. In other cases, the dog stared and hyper-fixated on the newborn or toddler…in a way that felt abnormal enough for the parents to contact me. There was a case I worked a few years ago where the baby was not yet there at the home and the owner seemed to have some level of concern about the dog's behavior. The middle-aged, neutered male dog also had previously snatched small dogs from other people's arms before. The dog had also jumped and grabbed at a baby in someone else’s arms when the baby started crying. They reportedly thought the behavior was due to jealousy or possibly play. The dog also would also scream and lunge at stray cats and small dogs while walking on leash in the neighborhood, but she continued to allow the dog close access to small dogs where he could stalk and lunge at them. There had been no previous socialization around babies or small children. Hearing the history, I had huge concerns. I tried to explain to the owner that predatory behavior is hardwired and can be reduced but never eliminated. The more it has been practiced, the more likely it is to happen again in the future.
Behavior practiced is behavior that is likely to be repeated.
In my opinion, while every case is unique, there can sometimes be far too much risk in keeping dogs in the home or neighborhood with children if they are already displaying similar misfires of these extreme genetically hardwired behaviors. In this specific case, the owner initially refused to accept that this was not merely a training issue. Sometimes, owners need a moment to process information that is new and overwhelming. We attempted gradual desensitization to baby crying sounds and what I saw was concerning. The dog seemed to have conflicted affective states – some signs of stress, but also triggered into “seeking” and action upon hearing the crying sounds. The owner was not open to hearing about predation and just said that her dog was “concerned” about the baby sounds, which was playing over a speaker at a very low volume. Owners need to grasp the seriousness of these situations, and the potential consequences. To help convey the seriousness, I asked the owner to pick up a baby doll that played crying sounds. She had purchased the doll before contacting me for help, hoping to use it for noise desensitization. Unsurprisingly, the dog quickly sprung into the air, grabbed the doll from the woman's arms and shook it like a prey animal. That is a very different reaction from concern and exactly what I feared would happen. Even then, the owner still had a hard time grasping that her dog was NEVER going to be reliably safe with the child, no matter the amount of training. I described what a life is like with extreme management – involving multiple layers of safety at all times – which can significantly reduce the quality of life for the dog and humans, and still does not fully eliminate the risk. Statistically, management WILL fail at some point. Sometimes, outcomes are just not what we hoped they would be. Dogs are NOT a blank slate to be molded to our desires. Some environments are never going to be appropriate for particular dogs, and putting them in those situations is a recipe for tragedy.
Several recent studies that have shown that dogs with brachycephalic head shapes (wider head, shorter muzzle) have a much higher rate of unprovoked bites that send children to the hospital with severe bites to the head and neck (Coren; Khan; “Dog bite study”; “Dog bite injury”, and other referenced studies below). All of the dogs in my past cases who displayed this behavior were bully breeds or bully breed mixes, but it is important to stress that this behavior is not limited to any specific breed or type. It is very important to remember that these are extreme and abnormal expressions of these behavior patterns. Not every dog of a particular breed is going to exhibit this kind of extreme behavioral expression – the majority will not. In my past behavior cases, some of the dogs were recently adopted from rescues and others had lived happily with their human families for many years prior to the incidents. The risk may possibly be better predicted by examining how intact that predatory sequence appears in that dog as an individual. Modal action patterns, like a strongly intact predatory sequence, tend to be somewhat predictable by breed/type. This is unsurprising since humans specifically bred them for these functions to perform specific tasks, but they still can vary drastically in intensity between individuals even in a particular breed. Predatory behavior toward children has also been anecdotally reported by behavior consultant colleagues – and in the news reports whose details appear consistent with predatory behavior -- in other breeds including Siberian Huskies, German Shepherds, and Belgian Malinois. It is even possible that smaller breeds with highly intact sequences could potentially be triggered into these behaviors by everyday stimuli such as children, joggers, babies, or bicycles. In my opinion, any cases resulting from smaller dogs could be underreported since the consequences are far more serious with larger dogs when combined with a lack of bite inhibition directed at face/neck/centerline. One study from The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center found the greatest frequency of life-altering injuries resulting from brachycephalic dogs weighing 66 to 100 pounds (“Dog bite injury”). Again, breed is not a final predictor. It is not that simple. One must look at breed-specific behaviors, lineage, and ultimately, the specific behavior patterns and drives of the dog as an individual.
Dogs who may have a strong possibility of mis-directed predatory sequences frequently fit the following criteria:
· they have an exceedingly high prey drive
· they have a strongly intact predatory sequence to chase and also grab/bite/kill,
· it is frequently and easily triggered by other domestic animals and/or everyday environmental happenings
Each specific situation needs to be evaluated individually by a qualified professional to determine suitable environments, safety considerations, and best ways forward for the particular dogs and human families in question. These situations are not cookie-cutter.
Anyone who has worked with me or read my blogs is probably very familiar with my discussions of all the Kooikerhondje dogs I have had in my home. Despite all being the same breed, there have been significant differences in their drives, behavior patterns, and also their breeding/lineages. Some lines of Kooikerhondje dogs have more drive for territorial guarding, more wariness with dogs/humans, and more noise sensitivities. While these were originally useful for the jobs they performed, there are variations in the intensities that we see in modern offspring. Human-selective pressures are very powerful in shaping the perceptions and behaviors we see in our pet dogs and working dogs. This is why thoughtful breeding choices are incredibly important. Some dogs are bred for a soft mouth, which is prioritized above all else (not all Labrador Retrievers have a soft mouth anymore, unless from specific bloodlines!). Some are bred for companionship and friendliness. Some are bred for a specific type of coat without any thought to the behaviors or temperaments that will result. Sometimes being a “popular” breed can lead to some people breeding for looks…or just money…instead of specific intensities of behavior patterns (not extreme), good health, and good temperament. It is also important to give careful thought about what pets we bring into our households looking at our life trajectories and how this will correspond with the likely perceptions and behaviors of that particular animal. Getting proper information from breeders or rescue groups about dogs’ backgrounds is essential. This also includes accurate information about any dog's expected behaviors and drives, which can sometimes be lacking with shelter or rescue dogs who may come to owners with an unknown history. It is not good welfare for dogs (or humans) when they are bred with such intact or exaggerated predatory sequences that they are triggered by moving cars, bicycles, children playing, babies crying, etc. Pets should be bred to suit the modern environments in which they will be living. It is not just about how it affects us. This strongly affects their overall welfare, too, when they are constantly being triggered inappropriately into a specific motor pattern, or if they are deemed unsafe to continue living in their current home. All of this starts with thoughtful breeding choices.
I highly encourage anyone getting a pet, regardless of their plans for children, to explore their possible life trajectories. Devote significant planning into their choice of specific animal. In these cases, everything did not end up as they dreamed it would be when envisioning their next life step -- bringing their baby home to expand the family. We need to make sure that what we are expecting of dogs is reasonable and the environments we are placing them in are suitable for their well-being and success. This is best accomplished with careful and thoughtful breeding for behaviors, temperaments and perceptions that fit into our modern environments, long before the puppies are even brought into this world.
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For Further Information, please see these References below:
Brand, Lucas. "A Critical Analysis of the Canine Predatory Sequence.". The DoGenius Institute. Dec 2022. https://www.thedogenius.com/blog/canine-predatory-sequence
Chen, H., et al. "Analysis of Pediatric Facial Dog Bites". Craniomaxillofacial Trauma Reconstruction. Dec 2013. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3820741/#:~:text=not%20statistically%20significant.-,The%20majority%20of%20dog%20bites%20occurred%20in%20children%205%20years,1).&text=Distribution%20of%20facial%20dog%20bite%20injuries%20by%20age%20and%20gender.
D’Ingeo, S. et al. "Emotions and Dog Bites: Could Predatory Attacks Be Triggered by Emotional States?". Animals (Basel). Oct 2021. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8532738/
Coren, Stanley, "The Breeds of Dog With the Highest Risk of Harming Children. Head shape and weight may be crucial factors.". Psychology Today. June 2019. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/canine-corner/201906/the-breeds-dog-the-highest-risk-harming-children
“Dog bite study shows youngest kids most at risk, which breeds inflict the most severe injuries”. CHOC Pediatrics. March 3, 2022. https://care.choc.org/dog-bite-study-shows-youngest-kids-most-at-risk-which-breeds-inflict-the-most-severe-injuries/
Dutcher, Garrick. “Did You Know? Predators Hunt in Different Ways.” Mar 10, 2021. Living With Wolves. https://www.livingwithwolves.org/hunting-style/#:~:text=Despite%20these%20coordinated%20efforts%2C%20wolves,third%20of%20their%20time%20hunting.
Essig, Garth, et al. “Dog bite injuries to the face: Is there risk with breed ownership? A systematic review with meta-analysis”. International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology. 2019. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165587618305950
Khan, Khurram, etc al. “Dog-Bite Injuries to the Craniofacial Region: An Epidemiologic and Pattern-of-Injury Review at a Level 1Â Trauma Center”. Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. Mar 2020. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0278239119312595
Pillonel, Colette. "Prevention of Dog Bite Injuries: Epidemiological Study, Prevention Concept". World Small Animal Veterinary Association World Congress Proceedings. 2010. https://www.vin.com/apputil/content/defaultadv1.aspx?pId=11310&meta=generic&catId=33755&id=4516344&ind=83&objTypeID=17
Masson, Sylvia, et al. “Electronic training devices: Discussion on the pros and cons of their use in dogs as a basis for the position statement of the European Society of Veterinary Clinical Ethology”. Journal of Veterinary Behavior. 2018. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1558787818300108
McLennan, Tracey. “Review of literature on interventions aimed at resolving problems caused by predatory behaviour in dogs (Canis familiaris)”. Applied Animal Behaviour Science,
Volume 266. 2023. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168159123002095
Messam, Locksley, et al. "Factors Associated With Bites to a Child From a Dog Living in the Same Home: A Bi-National Comparison". Frontiers in Veterinary Science. Vol. 5. 2018. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2018.00066
Morrill, Kathleen, et al. “Ancestry-inclusive dog genomics challenges popular breed stereotypes”. Science. Apr 22, 2022. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abk0639?adobe_mc=MCMID%3D54792231558172228463803551381161598670%7CMCORGID%3D242B6472541199F70A4C98A6%2540AdobeOrg%7CTS%3D1723063270
"Study identifies dog breeds, physical traits that pose highest risk of biting children". The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. May 22, 2019. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/05/190522141825.htm
Zheng-Dong, Z., et al. "Neurocircuitry of Predatory Hunting". Neuroscience Bulletin. May 2023. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10170020/
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Eileen Koval, CDBC, CBCC-KA, CPDT-KA, MSc (in Operations Management) is a fully certified dog behavior consultant with the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC). She believes the foundation of a good cross-species relationship is understanding the needs and normal behavior patterns of each dog as an individual, as he/she was bred to be. She enjoys helping humans and dogs communicate more effectively to create brilliant relationships with joy, purpose, and fulfillment for all species involved. She offers private consulting for serious dog behavior issues, obedience/manners, and agility training. Eileen developed a unique online course to help pet parents and trainers develop reliable snake avoidance behavior off-leash through positive reinforcement techniques. These techniques have been applied by trainers worldwide to teach dogs reliable avoidance of dangerous environmental hazards and off-leash property boundaries. She lives on a small ranch in Las Vegas, Nevada with her husband and their Nederlandse Kooikerhondjes.
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