Veterinarian, behaviorist and dog trainer Ian Dunbar developed a system for classifying dog bites on humans. Although it is not an infallible system, it is useful to have a general idea of the seriousness of the case.
If a dog has bitten you and you ask what level of bite it has made, you have entered the right place, in this article on our site we will detail with you all the related information so that you know first hand this classification system that considers the following six levels of dog bites
Keep reading:
1. First level bites: aggressive deployment without skin contact
First level bites do not touch the skin of the person attacked and do not cause physical damage. They are generally aggressive displays that can include growling and snapping at the air. More often, they include aggressive behaviors with the mouth open, showing the teeth and with growls, but that do not touch the person. Bites to pants or other clothing, without skin damage, are also included in this category.
Dogs whose bites fall into this category are reliable dogs, with strong bite inhibition and no intent to cause harm but give a sign. It is easy to eliminate these bites if the causes of stress that produce the dog's aggression are identified. However, if this problem is not taken seriously, biting can escalate into the following categories.
two. Second level bites: the dog's teeth touch human skin, but do not cause perforations
In this type of bite the victim may have teeth marks, but no injuries caused by perforation. Virtually everyone who works directly with dogs (trainers, veterinarians, veterinary assistants, groomers, etc.) has experienced this type of bite at some point. Although the dog inhibits its bite, there may be scratches and marks on the bitten person's skin. Superficial wounds caused by the movement of the teeth in relation to the skin, but not by perforation, may also occur.
In these cases, the dog is sending a very serious signal that he is being subjected to some type of stress that he cannot deal with. It is not intended to cause harm and is not a dangerous dog (on the contrary, it inhibits its bite well), but aggression should be taken very seriously. It is easy to solve these cases of aggression when the causes of stress generated by the dog's aggression are identified. However, if the problem is not fixed, it can move to the following categories, becoming a risk issue. You should start working on this problem right away.
3. Third level bites: a single bite with shallow wounds
The bite is unique and its consequences are from one to four superficial perforations, which do not exceed the depth of the canine. One-way injuries can also occur because both the person and the dog may be trying to get away from the situation when the bite occurs.
This type of biting is highly variable, and can have many different causes It can occur because the dog is afraid, because violent play escalates even aggression, because the dog's predatory behavior is triggered or for many other reasons. The severity of these bites is also variable depending on the situation and the person attacked.
Beyond the causes and the situation, the dog that executes a third level bite is a dog that must be treated by veterinarians or dog trainers. Since bites can have different causes, the treatment that is carried out will depend on the particular cause. If the cause is clinical, the required professional must be the veterinary specialist in canine behavior. If the cause has to do with behavior problems, a dog aggression specialist, either a trainer or a behaviorist, should be sought out.
Dogs whose bites fall into this category have poor bite inhibition, poor dog socialization, or some other serious problem. The problem can be solved, but it should be treated by people experienced in canine aggression.
Dog training can be favorable or unfavorable in these cases. Training methods in which the dominance theory predominates usually have adverse consequences in the long term (they tend to develop more aggression), even when they are apparently effective in the short term. I am sure that all or almost all of us who have trained with traditional techniques in the past, and those who continue to do so today, have suffered this type of bite due to the confrontational nature of the methods.
4. Fourth level bites: a single bite with shallow wounds
When the dog bites only once but the wounds are deep, we are talking about a fourth level bite. The bite can cause one to four punctures deeperthan the length of the canine, or wounds in two or more directions, resulting from the dog's head movement while he bite. In some cases, these bites can be caused by predatory instincts, as the dog bites firmly and may shake its head to cause more damage. In those cases, they are bites from unsuspecting and very dangerous dogs.
They can also be caused by fear, in dogs that try to defend themselves from a threat that they perceive as very serious, and after the first attack they move away. Dogs that have made these bites at some time are dogs that should be treated by competent professionals. Like dogs with level 3 bites, those with level 4 bites can be treated through clinical or behavioral procedures, as appropriate.
In some dog sports such as schutzhund or mondioring, bites similar to those of the fourth level are sought, but directed towards a sleeve or a protective suit. Dogs that participate in these sports and that have been properly trained are not dangerous and do exhibit bite inhibition. These dogs know that they are allowed to bite into a protective sleeve or suit, which is where they unleash the full power of their bite, and do not attack unprotected regions of the extras' bodies.
However, there are also dogs that are poorly trained to attack, that do not let go of their sleeves on command or have any control when their predatory instincts are stimulated. Those dogs are dangerous and that kind of wrong training shouldn't be allowed.
5. Fifth level bites: multiple bites with deep wounds
Fifth level bites (which are not fifth level bites) cause deep wounds, the same as the previous level, but are present multiple times The dog may bite multiple times in one attack, or attack several times in different situations.
Dogs that perform fifth level bites are dangerous dogs. Its rehabilitation is possible, but always under constant supervision and by an ethologist, a veterinary specialist in canine behavior.
Of course, there are mitigating circumstances for bites like this. A dog that is mistreated and bites to defend itself should not be considered dangerous, in the same way as a dog that bites to defend its owner from an attack.
6. Sixth level bites: death of the victim and/or meat consumed
This is the most severe level of bite and is very rare. It includes the death of the victim or the dog consuming meat torn from it. The consumption of human flesh from a carcass does not fall into this category. A dog (or a group of dogs) that causes the death of a person must be evaluated by an ethologist, a specialist in this type of case, and subjected to different tests.
Classification usefulness
This classification, like all those that have to do with animal behavior, is a general guide that must be considered based on the circumstances and experience of those dealing with canine aggression cases. It's not an absolute recipe for every dog that's ever bitten.
The bites of the first two levels have an easy solution and must be treated by competent professionals and through temporary or permanent management of the environment. The bites of levels three and four also have a solution, although in those cases the solution is not easy and greater precautions must be taken.
