Large Brown dog snuggling up to a mans neck

Man Bites Dog

March 24, 2025•5 min read

Man Bites Dog

Large brown dog snuggling into a mans neck

It seems like stories of severe dog attacks appear in my newsfeed almost daily, resulting in a mix of fatalities, grave disfigurements, hospitalisations, and dogs being euthanised (I despise the use of 'destroyed' as a description for ending the life of a sentient being). I'm starting to feel that the media have got it in for dogs, although working in the canine industry, as a holistic dog groomer, I know there is also an increase in injuries in grooming salons.

So, let's put this into some context, and this is where my previous self as a Data Manager gets her geek on.

There are 2 million more dogs in the UK than last year, yet the increase in attacks is outpacing the population growth.
After the first lockdown, Alder Hey Hospital witnessed a tripling of cases.
In 2020, West Midland Police recorded 800 dog attacks, a three-year high.
The Canine & Feline Behaviour Association reported a 54% surge in dog attacks from 2020 to 2021.
In England, the highest hospitalisation rates for dog bites in 2020-21 were among those aged 50-59 (1275 cases), followed closely by children aged 0-9 (1104 cases).
Between 2013 and 2019, deaths due to dog attacks ranged from none (2018) to five (2015).
According to Wikipedia (and yes, I did tut and roll my eyes for you), there have already been 7 fatalities from dog attacks this year.
In a commercial context, 2018 saw the most dog attacks in animal-related services (such as vets, groomers, kennels, day care or training facilities), with these settings accounting for 78% of incidents.

Ok, so there is obviously real cause for concern here. Are dogs revolting against their human oppressors? Are some dogs just bad dogs? Are some breeds inherently dangerous? No, of course not. Or are we part of the problem? In my opinion, yes, definitely. Don't all jump on your soapboxes quite yet; give me a chance to explain. By no means am I suggesting that any of the individuals who have been killed or injured in dog attacks deserved it or knowingly provoked it. I'm speaking in more general terms about the understanding of canine behaviour and the training methods employed.

How many times have you heard these phrases?

"You've got to show them who's the boss."

"You need to show them you're the alpha dog."

"You must assert your authority by being dominant."

"Cesar Millan, he's the man for dog training."

Let me tell you categorically, YOU DON’T, AND HE’S NOT! And it’s not just me who thinks this. Victoria Stilwell believes that the drastic increase in attacks is due to confrontational dominance-based training methods, which is supported by a recent study conducted for the Journal of Applied Animal Behaviour.

Staffordshire Bull Terrier giving a paw to an out streched had

But have you heard of these, and understand what they mean?

Autonomic Nervous System

Sympathetic state

Triggers

Trigger stacking

Calming signals

No, that's what I thought (and for those smarty pants out there, unfortunately, there is no prize—but knowledge is its own reward). Unless you have studied canine behaviour or, like me, studied at the Holistic Grooming Academy and are a member of other canine-related educational hubs, I'm not sure how you would have known.

Stilwell attributes most cases of aggression to the desire to make a perceived threat go away, clarifying that the intention is not to harm. She explains that dominance-based training methods are counterproductive, acting as a stimulant and sustaining stress while suppressing the dog's emotions. She cautions that although suppressing a dog’s emotions yields quick results (which is why dominance-based techniques appear effective), the increased levels of the stress hormone cortisol will take a long time to leave the body, resulting in a prolonged recovery for the dog. Stilwell expresses that "punishment, confrontation, and other unpleasant methods… in turn increase the likelihood that the dog will be aggressive again in the future."