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Dog bites are almost always preventable once you understand why they happen. Though attacks may feel sudden, research shows that most bites stem from identifiable causes related to fear, stress, pain, or instinct.
The CDC estimates 4.5 million dog bites per year in the United States, and the majority involve familiar family or neighborhood dogs — not strays. In New York, dog bite–related injuries remain consistently high due to population density, close living spaces, and frequent human–dog interactions.
Veterinary behaviorists agree that dogs communicate stress long before they bite. Understanding what motivates these reactions helps families prevent dangerous encounters.
Main Reasons Dogs Bite
- Fear or Startle Response
- The #1 cause of dog bites. Dogs may react defensively when startled, cornered, or approached too quickly — especially by children.
- Pain or Injury
- Cornell University research shows dogs in pain are four times more likely to bite. Arthritic dogs, dogs with infections, or dogs recovering from surgery are especially vulnerable.
- Resource Guarding
- Dogs instinctively guard food, bowls, toys, treats, beds, and even specific humans. This behavior is natural but risky if misunderstood.
- Protective or Territorial Behavior
- Doorways, front yards, cars, apartments, and leashes often heighten protective instincts.
- Overexcitement or High Stimulation
- Crowded sidewalks, dog parks, running children, bicycles, scooters, and loud noises can overwhelm dogs and trigger reactive snapping or biting.
- Frustration or Redirected Aggression
- A dog frustrated by a barrier (fence, leash, window) may redirect that frustration onto a person or another dog.
If you have been injured due to a dog bite, you should contact Mack Press, the New York Dog Bite Lawyer. He will fight for you, while also ensuring it is the owner, and not the dog, that gets held accountable. Contact the New York Dog Bite Lawyer at 833-8-DOGBITE (833-836-4248), or visit our contact page.
