Common Causes of Dog Bites in Dallas

Getting bitten or attacked by a dog is a terrifying experience, especially for a child. Dog attacks can cause significant physical injuries, and the psychological impact can last a lifetime.

Adults and children can protect themselves by learning the common causes of dog bites in Dallas. Recognizing when a dog is distressed and avoiding contact with it can prevent many dog bite incidents.

Reasons Why a Dog Might Attack

According to the American Veterinary Medicine Association, dogs usually bite in reaction to something. A bite is a dog’s last resort, and learning why a dog might feel the need to attack could prevent bites.

A dog could bite when it feels threatened. Like humans, dogs have differing needs for personal space. Approaching a dog too closely or cornering it, even inadvertently, could trigger a defensive response. Loud or high-pitched noises and extended eye contact can also feel threatening to some dogs.

Dogs have strong protective instincts. They could bite if someone seemed to be approaching their owner or entering their property in Dallas. Dogs also protect their puppies, favorite toys, food, and other resources. It is best to turn away from a dog that seems to be in defensive or protective mode.

Signals That a Dog Could Bite

Few dog attacks come without warning. Learning how to recognize a dog’s signals can help prevent bites and other scary incidents.

Dogs will often put distance between themselves and a person they do not want to engage with. Following the dog, continuing to pet it when it has turned away, or trying to force it to engage or play invites an aggressive response from the dog. Many dogs will growl, bare their teeth, or both if they find someone threatening or annoying.

Body language can provide clues a dog might bite. The hair on the nape of their neck will stand up, and the dog might try to make itself look bigger. Other dogs will tuck their tails and try to shrink before biting. Most dogs hold their bodies stiffly when they are preparing to bite.

Tips to Prevent Dog Attacks

Most dog bite victims in Dallas are children, and children are more likely to suffer severe injuries from dog bites. In most cases, the child is bitten by a familiar dog. Supervising children’s interactions with animals is essential until the parent is confident the child respects the dog’s boundaries and can read its cues.

Some bites are not intentional responses to fear or a perceived threat but are accidents resulting from overexuberance. Puppies bite each other during play, and nipping behavior can continue into adulthood if training does not break the habit. Even a well-trained dog might nip when it gets overexcited, when wrestling or playing tug-of-war, or if someone attempts to remove food or a toy. Good training and avoiding over-excitement can reduce the chances of an accidental bite.

Some dogs are patient and trusting, while others are more short-tempered and reactive. The latter personality sometimes becomes a dangerous dog, meaning a dog that has shown aggression toward people or bit someone in the past. A dangerous dog should wear an orange collar and red tag at all times. Children should be taught to stay clear of dangerous dogs and not make eye contact with them, and adults should do the same.

Discuss Common Causes of Dog Bites With a Dallas Attorney

Despite efforts to respect a dog’s space and avoid the common causes of dog bites in Dallas, dogs still bite sometimes. When the dog was running loose or the owner’s conduct was negligent, the bite victim or their family could seek compensation for their losses.

Talk to a local attorney about whether you have grounds to file a claim against the dog’s owner. Call today to get started.