Many of us feel confident that our pets would never bite or show aggression, even those with experience handling or training dogs. But the reality is that any dog, no matter the breed, size or how gentle, can bite when startled, stressed or pushed beyond their comfort levels. We all deeply love our canine companions, and they bring many benefits and happiness. However, our modern lifestyles often expect them to tolerate handling or interactions that make them uneasy, and we don’t always recognize the subtle ways they communicate their discomfort and stress. With more than 4.5 million people being bit by dogs in the United States each year—and 3 out of 5 bites coming from familiar or family dogs—it’s essential to understand how bites happen and what we can do to prevent them.
Why Dogs Bite
Dogs bite for many reasons, including:
- Defending themselves or their territory
- Feeling scared or startled
- Their signal and communication are ignored
- Sensing a threat
- Resource guarding – something valuable to them (food, toys, space or sometimes people)
- Being sick, injured or in pain
Understanding triggers is an important step in preventing bites. Most dogs give warning signs when they’re feeling uncomfortable, stressed or overwhelmed, but these signals are often missed, ignored or even punished. When we punish dogs for showing their discomfort by growling, we remove a crucial way for dogs to communicate with us, increasing risk of bites that occur without warning. By learning to recognize and respect these early signals, we can reduce stress and create safe interactions for everyone.
Recognizing Stress Signals
Even though they sometimes bark, dogs communicate primarily through their body language. Other signs that a dog is feeling uncomfortable are:
- Showing the whites of their eyes, known as “whale eye”
- Lip licking
- Lick to dismiss – a dog may lick a person, which is often mistaken as a kiss (especially when in the face), but it’s actually a way dogs attempt to create space and signal discomfort
- Ears pinned back against the head
- Moving away or attempting to create distance
Safe Greetings and Interactions
Since dogs communicate differently than humans, it’s important to learn how to greet and interact with a dog safely—and teach children to do the same. Children account for roughly 42% of dog bite injuries, and many bites involving young children are directed to the face and neck, increasing the risk of severe injury (CDC, 2003). Roughly 60% of bites come from familiar or family dogs, making adult supervision essential even around dogs you know well (CDC, 2003). Even the friendliest or excitable dogs can nip or bite if interactions aren’t managed carefully.
How to greet a dog:
- Ask first – always check with the owner before approaching
- Let the dog come to you – don’t reach out or chase them
- Turn sideways – appear less threatening
- Watch their body language – if they seem uncomfortable, stop
- Pet safely – avoid reaching over the head; try under the chin, side or rear, or ask the owner where their dog likes to be petKeep it short – pet for 3–5 seconds, then give them a break. If the dog moves away, respect their space.
Rules for kids and dog interactions:
- Always supervise – stay actively involved
- Keep adults between dogs and young children, especially crawlers or new walkers
- Create a safe space for the dog in your home
- Teach safe interactions – remember, sometimes the safest choice is no interaction at all
While our canine friends are wonderful companions, they are also individuals with their own needs. By respecting their communication and signals, we build a deep, trusting relationship with them. Providing them with a space of their own that’s easy to get to gives them a place to escape if they’re feeling stressed. Their safe space can be a bed, crate, room or another area in the home where the dog can easily go. Make sure everyone knows that they are not to bother the dog while they are in that space. If you need more information for setting up success with kids and dogs, check out Family Paws, who specialize in programs and support for new and expecting parents with dogs.
Managing Dogs Around Visitors
Spring and summer bring more than just warmer temperatures and sunshine; they mean open doors (especially in the Pacific Northwest where less homes have air conditioning), backyard time and, often, increased encounters with unfamiliar people approaching their space. An example of this is delivery drivers, who can increase the risk of unexpected interactions with loose or territorial dogs. A 2001 study found that 4.5% of bites treated in the Emergency Department were work-related, affecting delivery drivers like USPS, FedEx and UPS, gardeners and home improvement workers (CDC, 2003). With the rise in home delivery services over the last decade, more unfamiliar people are around our home than ever before.
Proactive Management:
- Prevent door dashing and unsupervised access to visitors
- Use secure barriers, like sturdy, tall baby gates
- Short gates are often easily jumped or knocked down by dogs, especially if you plan to leave your doors open during warm weather
Add notes to your delivery instructions indicating a dog on property
Remember dogs may feel the need to protect themselves and their homes from unfamiliar people
Many dogs will rush out when someone unfamiliar enters their property
Keeping Everyone Safe
Dog bites happen for a variety of reasons, including missed communication, unmanaged environments or situations where a dog feels stressed or overwhelmed. By recognizing early warning signs, actively supervising interactions—especially with children—and implementing thoughtful management strategies in place, we can significantly reduce the risk of bites. Our dogs, children and other people rely on us to advocate for their safety. When we take the time to understand dogs’ language, respect their boundaries and manage their environment, we set our dogs up for success and create safer environments for everyone, both human and canine.
