Dog Bites and Pet Aggression

Dog attacks are common with humans by feral or domestic dogs. Dog attacks often occur because of the close proximity of dogs to people, and such attacks have become the focus of increasing media and public attention. It is estimated that two percent of the US population, 4.7 million people, are bitten each year. In the 1980s and 1990s the US averaged 17 fatalities per year, while in the 2000s this has increased to 26. There is much debate over whether the attacks can be blamed on the prevalence of certain breeds of dogs or whether they are due primarily to the actions or inactions of the dogs’ owners.

Dogs are by default (after the clearing of larger or more dangerous predators) the most powerful predators other than humans in many parts of the world. They remain cunning, agile, strong, swift, territorial, and voracious despite domestication; even small ones have large, sharp teeth and claws and powerful muscles in their jaws and legs, and can inflict serious injuries. Large dogs can knock people down. Dogs are far more reliable than other predators of like size (for example, leopards and cougars smaller than some breeds of dogs) and most larger herbivores. Dogs and humans are usually clever enough to recognize the folly of potential threats to each other and avoid danger, recognizing humans as themselves similarly predatory, or have mutual affection that precludes attack.

Should affection or mutual respect not exist (as with feral dogs), should a dog be conditioned to become an attacker, or should someone intrude upon a dog’s territory and pose a threat, then the natural tendencies of a predator manifest themselves in a dog attack in which the dog, like all other formidable predators, uses its predatory abilities to defend itself. Extrication from such an attack is difficult because of the dog’s power and agility; it is then in charge of the situation.

There are many signs that a dog is about to attack, such as growling or snarling. Stiffened front legs and a raised ridge of hair along the spine are signs of an imminent attack. A wagging tail indicates an attempt to communicate excitement, but a territorial dog may hold its tail high and wag its tail as a signal of dominance. A highly disturbed dog may sometimes emit confusing or misleading signals, yelping or jumping. Some dogs are bred to not show any signs of aggression before they attack. Many human behaviors (especially by people unfamiliar with dogs) may factor into bite situations. The majority of dogs won’t respond to all or even any of these behaviors with aggression, however, some will. These behaviors include:

• Attempting to take food or water away from a dog, or moving towards a dog’s food or water, even inadvertently. While possessiveness is a form of aggression and should be seen as a behavioral problem, this is an issue commonly overlooked by the owner, especially when it comes to small dogs.
• Attacking a dog or its companions (which could be other dogs, humans, or even cats), or acting in a manner that the dog perceives as an attack (for example, a sudden enthusiastic hug or inadvertently stepping on any portion of the dog’s body,such as a paw or tail).
• Startling a sleeping or resting dog.
• Approaching or touching a sick or injured dog. Note that older dogs, like people, often become “cranky” and develop a tendency to become “snappish”.
• Approaching dogs already fighting.
• Related to the previous point, failure to recognize a dog showing signs of insecurity or fear and continuing whatever behavior is causing the dog’s anxiety to increase, until “fear biting” occurs. Again, an older or chronically infirm dog is liable to develop feelings of vulnerability and anxiety, and therefore become less tolerant and more aggressive.
• Behaving in a threatening or menacing manner around a puppy in the presence of an adult dog, especially its mother.
  Staring at a dog directly in the eyes. In dog communication, this is an act of dominance or aggression. This is more dangerous when on the same visual level as the dog (such as small children), or when the human is unfamiliar to the dog.
  Running away from a dog: the atavistic chase-and-catch instinct is not fully lost, and most dogs can outrun and overtake the average human.
• Similarly, the natural instinct to jerk one’s hands upwards away from an inquisitive dog often elicits in the dog a strong impulse to grab and hold, or at least to investigate, resulting in the dog jumping on the person and thrusting its head towards the raised hands.
• Ignoring “Beware of Dog” signs: trained attack dogs, unlike most dogs, may attack an intruder without warning.
• Entering a dog’s “territory” and behaving in an unfamiliar pattern or being unfamiliar to the dog. The dog’s territorialism, powerful senses, and latent ferocity makes almost any dog, irrespective of size, a powerful deterrent to burglars. The territory that a dog recognizes as its own may not coincide with the property lines that its owner and the legal authorities recognize, such as a portion of a neighbor’s backyard.

Pet owners can help stop dog attacks. In a domestic situation, canine aggression is normally suppressed. Exceptions are if the dog is trained to attack, feels threatened, or is provoked. It is important to remember that dogs are predators by nature and instinct is something that never completely disappears, and that predatory behavior against other animals (such as chasing other animals) may train a dog or a pack of dogs to attack humans. It is possible to acclimatize a dog to common human situations in order to avoid adverse reactions by a pet. Dog experts advocate removal of a dog’s food, startling a dog, and performing sudden movements in a controlled setting to teach the dog who their leader is, to defuse their aggressive impulses in common situations. This also allows better animal care since owners may now remove an article directly from a dog’s mouth, or transport a wounded pet to seek medical attention.

Small children are especially prone to misunderstanding dogs, in part this is because their size and movements can be similar to prey. Also, young children may unintentionally provoke a dog (pulling on ears or tails is common, as is surprising a sleeping dog) because of their inexperience. Because of a dog’s pack instincts, more dominant dogs may view children or even complacent adults as rivals rather than as superiors, and attempt to establish dominance by physical means. Any attempt at dominant behavior, no matter how tentative, should be firmly discouraged as soon as possible, to affirm to the dog that all humans are pack superiors. To avoid potential conflicts, even reliably well-behaved children and dogs should not be allowed to interact in the absence of adult supervision.

Dogs with strong chase instincts, especially shepherds, may fail to recognize a person as an being not to be herded. They may fixate on specific aspect of the person, such as a fast-moving, brightly colored shoe, as a prey object. This is probably the cause for the majority of non-aggressive dogs chasing cyclists and runners. In these cases, if the individual stops, the dog often loses interest since the movement has stopped. This is not always the case, and aggressive or territorial dogs might take the opportunity to attack.

Additionally, most dogs who bark aggressively at strangers, particularly when not on “their” territory, will flee if the stranger challenges it. Conversely, there is always the danger of the occasional dog who will stand its ground and escalate the situation. Mailmen, being the classic example, provoke a strong territorial response because they come back day after day to the dog’s territory. In the dog’s mind they are constantly challenging them for territory and that sets up a learned behavior.
What are some Legal issues in the United States?

Although using a firearm against an attacking dog may seem acceptable, laws in the United States which prohibit discharging a firearm in a city, and reckless endangerment may limit the extent to which a person is legally able to defend themselves in this way.[citation needed] Taking such actions where the dog/dogs involved were not acting aggressively towards humans may result in legal charges against the person who shot the animal. Laws vary from state to state and from city municipalities to counties.

Some state laws hold dog owners liable for the harm or damage that their animal causes to people or other dogs. For example, in recent years, Florida dog bite laws have been changed so that prior vicious tendencies may no longer be needed to prove owner liability. In Texas, as of September 1, 2007, `Lillian’s Law’ has taken effect, whereby the owner of a dog that causes death or serious bodily injury may be charged with a second or third degree felony when the attack takes place outside the dog’s normal place of confinement (Texas Health & Safety Code Chapter 882).