How to Identify Aggressive Animal Behaviors That May Lead to Dog Bites

 Posted on January 05, 2020 in Dog Bite Injuries

Dogs are often viewed as furry companions to men, women, and children, and they are usually expected to be friendly and loving to whoever interacts with them. While this is true in many situations, it is impossible to predict how an animal is going to behave. Dogs may unexpectedly become violent or aggressive, biting someone and causing serious injuries. If you or a loved one have suffered a dog bite injury, you may be able to recover financial compensation from the animal's owner.

Examples of Aggressive Dog Behaviors

Dogs will typically display aggressive behavior if they feel threatened. For instance, a dog may become more hostile when protecting their territory or offspring. There are several behavioral tendencies that dogs may display that indicate that they may attack someone, such as:

• Becoming stiff or rigid

• A deep and threatening bark or growl

• “Mouthing” - the act of grabbing something without applying significant pressure

• “Muzzle punching” - the act of a dog hitting someone with their nose

• Showing their teeth

• Snarling or snapping at an individual

• Nipping or biting a person without significant pain or damage, as a warning of upcoming aggression

• A rapid succession of bites

• Biting someone with enough pressure to cause a bruise or puncture wound

• Biting and shaking to cause increased damage

In many situations, a canine may take more than one of these actions in rapid succession or even at the same time. However, a dog's behavior is often sporadic, and there is no specific pattern of actions that will always occur before a dog bite or attack.

Risk Factors

Although any dog can display signs of aggression, there are certain factors that can increase the probability of an attack. For example, a dog that has a history of biting people or other animals may be deemed a higher risk. Furthermore, a dog's size, age, and breed may indicate that it is more likely to seriously injure someone. Since a dog attack can lead to serious injuries such as nerve damage, scarring, or even death, an animal's owner should take steps to protect others from potential harm caused by their animal. Failure to do so may be considered negligence, and an owner may be held liable for injuries inflicted by their dog. In fact, under the liability laws in Illinois, a dog's owner is liable for any unprovoked dog bite injuries, regardless of whether they knew their dog was dangerous or aggressive.

Contact a DuPage County Dog Bite Injury Attorney

If you or a loved one has been the victim of an aggressive dog attack, it is imperative to seek legal counsel as soon as possible. At Mevorah & Giglio Law Offices, our knowledgeable Illinois personal injury lawyers can help you take action to recover compensation from the owner of the dog that injured you. For a free consultation, call our office today at 630-552-6860.

Source:

https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/common-dog-behavior-issues/aggression