Is bite work going to make my dog aggressive?

Let’s define what bite work is: a dog is taught to grip something with his teeth on command and to hold onto it until told to let go. Since dogs use their mouths the way children use their hands (i.e., touching and picking up things constantly), a lot of dogs develop a habit of being mouthy: they grab onto things indiscriminately and don’t let go until they want to. This can be problematic for obvious reasons and is something to be addressed sooner rather than later.

By teaching a dog to bite something specific (or something that is presented a certain way), we are actually teaching him bite control and bite inhibition. He will learn not to bite things unless told to do so, which instills a lot of self control and focus. Even more important, bite work training includes the letting go part of the equation: a reliable “out” or “drop it” is non-negotiable. We teach this in such a way that the dog doesn’t resent having to let go of something he likes, and that compliance with the command is all part of the game. When taught properly, bite work opens up a whole new world of games and play that taps into the primal needs and desires of just about every dog. And, to answer the original question, no, bite work is not going to make a dog aggressive: it is instead going to improve behaviors overall.