Many dog owners swear that their dogs will never bite another person. Unfortunately, this is not always the reality. If you suffered a dog bite, the owner may fault for your injuries.
Even if a dog did not show aggression prior, there are many reasons why a dog may bite. According to the AKC, dog bites do not happen for no reason.
Fearful biting
A lot of aggressive behavior stems from fear. When dogs become afraid of people or other animals, they may turn to bite to protect themselves. Likewise, if something startles a dog, the animal may become confused, disoriented and bite. Older dogs tend to bite more often because of poor eyesight and hearing. If a dog owner has a fearful dog, it is the owner’s responsibility to keep the dog from becoming overwhelmed or afraid. For example, some dogs become fearful of meeting new people. The dog’s owner should not introduce new people without precautions in place.
When dogs feel trapped or uncomfortable, they may become frustrated and bite whatever they believe has them trapped.
Pained biting
When dogs experience pain or illness, they may feel afraid and overwhelmed. In most cases, dogs who may act tolerant and friendly may become more aggressive when in pain. Dog owners should be aware of how their dogs feel and be cautious when handling injured animals. The owner’s responsibility is to remove a dog when the animal may bite another person.
Biting rarely happens for no reason, but it is up to the owner to read his or her dog’s signals to protect others from the potential of a bite.
