Why Do Dogs Bite Their Pet Parents?

Dogs may bite their pet parents for all sorts of reasons, and not all of them have to do with aggression. It could be because they were startled, scared, or in pain. Just because a dog bites doesn’t automatically mean they’re aggressive or need to be rehomed. But it’s important to figure out what triggered the bite and then work with your vet or an animal behaviorist to prevent it from happening again.

Why would a normally gentle dog bite someone?

An estimated 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs each year in the United States, with a large number of those bites happening to children. The truth is, any dog can bite and the majority of dog bites come from family dogs. So why would a typically non-aggressive calm dog bite? The most common reasons stem from stress, fear, or discomfort.

Since dogs can’t tell us when they’re unhappy, stressed, or in pain, they communicate through body language. Some signs include panting, yawning, cowering, tail tucked, ears back, growling, snapping, or curling their upper lip. The problem is that many people, especially children, aren’t tuned in to these signals. When these cues are ignored, it can lead to a bite. Most dogs don’t want to bite — they try to communicate. When a dog shows these signs, it’s important to back off immediately.

Here are some reasons why a dog might bite their pet parent:

• Medical condition: Dogs can’t communicate their pain or discomfort, so it can manifest in various ways, including snapping and biting.

• Play biting: Mouthing is part of dogs’ play, and it’s possible a dog will be a little too enthusiastic in their play, leading to a bite that breaks the skin. Teaching dogs bite inhibition is important step in curbing this type of play.

• Stress: Dogs can become stressed out in many different situations, such as being around rambunctious kids who haven’t been taught how to behave around dogs. Some dogs react to stress by biting.

• Fear: Like humans, dogs want to protect themselves when they are afraid, which includes showing signs of aggression, up to and including biting.

• Resource guarding: Some dogs may bite if they feel possessive of something, such as food, toys, or even their human. They may see the person as a threat to their stuff.

• Overstimulation: In some cases, a dog may bite during play or petting if they become overstimulated or excited, especially if they’re not used to being handled in certain ways.

Preventing future dog bites

After a dog bites, you must take action. Simply hoping it won’t happen again isn’t the way to go. Instead, work with a vet or animal behaviorist to figure out why your dog bit you and to take steps to prevent it from happening again. The prognosis for the dog depends on what triggered the bite and observations from your vet or animal behaviorist, who can work with you to develop a plan to prevent future aggressive reactions.

The good news is that, in many cases, with proper intervention, these dogs can learn to live in a family and enjoy a happy life.

References

Corliss, Julie. “Dog Bites: How to Prevent or Treat Them.” Harvard Health, 1 Apr. 2024, www.health.harvard.edu/blog/dog-bites-how-to-prevent-or-treat-them-202404013029.

“Dog Bite Prevention.” American Veterinary Medical Association, 2023, www.avma.org/resources-tools/pet-owners/dog-bite-prevention.

‌“How to Avoid “Ruff” Situations: Veterinarian Shares Tips on Dog Bite Prevention.” Www.k-State.edu, www.k-state.edu/media/newsreleases/2021-04/dog-bite-prevention.html.

‌“National Dog Bite Prevention Week: How to Protect You and Your Family | Idaho Department of Health and Welfare.” Idaho.gov, 11 Apr. 2023, healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/dhw-voice/national-dog-bite-prevention-week-how-protect-you-and-your-family. Accessed 9 Jan. 2025.

‌Arlboston.org, 2023, www.arlboston.org/april-8-14-national-dog-bite-prevention-week/. Accessed 9 Jan. 2025.

Tuckel, Peter S, and William Milczarski. “The changing epidemiology of dog bite injuries in the United States, 2005-2018.” Injury epidemiology vol. 7,1 57. 1 Nov. 2020, doi:10.1186/s40621-020-00281-y