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        The Center for Disease Control reports that dogs are responsible for over four million bites per year in the United States alone. Of these bites, half of the victims are children. Insurance companies pay out nearly one billion dollars annually in dog bite liability cases, which account for one third of the claims filed. Over half of the cases treated required a significant level of treatment, including hospitalization. Dogs kill approximately twelve people each year.

        Dogs are not simply a threat to humans, they are also accountable for millions of attacks on other animals, such as cats, other dogs, and wildlife. In an effort to understand what makes a dog attack, it is important to note some of the instinctive characteristics of canines. Even the most well trained dogs still possess the same canine survival instincts seen in wild species such as wolves. The study of wolves has revealed insights into dog behaviors.

        There are three primary reasons why dogs will bite. The most common problem is territorial aggression. Most dog attacks of this nature occur at or near the dog’s home. The dog attacks because it perceives a threat to itself, its pack, or its property. This is a defensive attack on the part of the dog. A dog which is feeling threatened will snarl and growl, bark harshly, bare its teeth, and snap menacingly. Its hair is likely to be raised along the neck and shoulders. Some dogs take on a stance that makes them look larger than they may appear otherwise. Territorial aggression can be aggravated by compounding it with border frustration, as in the case where dogs are fenced in. These dogs become increasingly stressed at not being able to reach the perceived intruder.

        Fear biting is similar to territorial aggression because the dog is still responding to a threat. Canines possess powerful "fight or flight" instincts, and if unable to flee from a threat, the dog may feel forced into attacking. Dogs that bite from fear are more likely to bite its victim from behind. The animal feels intimidated, and will avoid a face to face confrontation. It is imperative to move cautiously when dealing with a frightened dog, as it is likely to attempt to maneuver around behind you. This is the type of behavior generally seen when a dog does not want to be approached or petted while on a leash or otherwise restrained. A frightened dog will lay its ears back and seem to slink down. They will draw away from the threatening presence and assume a submissive stance. The hair is not raised along the neck, and the shoulders may be slumped down. These are all warning signs that the animal is afraid, and is likely to spring forward in an attack.

        The third most common cause of dog bites actually has little to do with aggression. A surprising number of bites occur when the dog is merely playing. As puppies, a dog’s method of play involves the use of teeth. They bite each other. They bite the humans who wish to play. They bite their toys. Puppies naturally enjoy games of chase and tug of war. Chasing games relate to the wild dog’s instinctive desire to hunt and capture its prey. Tug of war in the wild canine is a means of ensuring a piece of the prey for food, as well as a test of strength. Both of these games seem relatively harmless in puppies, and many people encourage these games as a source of entertainment even in adult dogs. The desire to chase and retrieve all sorts of objects is the basic function of many working dogs. The hunting instinct drives the dog to chase moving objects, and is the number one cause of attacks against many children and other animals. These dogs are not biting because of aggression so much as for pleasure. A dog attacking a person or animal for fun is very different from the dog responding to a threat. The dog will wag its tail, and appear to be smiling.  Its ears will usually be pricked forward and the eyes will be wide open, focused on its target. They are likely to bounce in a playful manner, and their barks will be excited sounds rather than harsh and threatening. This type of attacking dog sees its victim as a prey animal, or even a toy. A pack of dogs behaving this way will quickly dismember a small animal in a game of tug of war.

        All dogs can bite.  All of these behaviors are instinctive and natural to any dog. In the wild, the canine depends on them as a matter of survival. In the domestic dog, it can be potentially deadly. Knowing your own dog and taking steps to inhibit biting is the only way to prevent attacks from occurring. Pets can learn to respect other animals and not to chase by presenting them to cats or rabbits in controlled conditions, and by understanding the natural predator inside.  The greatest attribute of the dog remains its desire to please its owner, which is far often the strongest instinct of all.