When the Dog Bites

Each spring, when weather warms up and people and dogs are outside more, we see a spike in dog bites. Last year, our Animal Services Officers responded to 764 calls involving dog bites. 

Being bitten by a dog can result in emotional and physical pain, injury, infection (see picture), and can be fatal. Nearly 1 in 5 people bitten by a dog requires medical attention. Children are bitten more commonly than adults and are more likely to have severe injuries from a bite. While we all think our dog would never bite, the truth is that it's not always the dog. Sometimes it's the situation.

Common situations we see

While our Officers don't always know why a dog has bitten someone, here are some of the common situations they see and how to prevent them. 

• Breaking up a fight between dogs. Last year, we responded to 75 calls where someone was bitten breaking up a dog fight.
  • The situation: Your dog starts to fight with another dog (or more!). You reach down to grab your dog or its collar and one of the dogs bites you.
  • The solution: Throw an object to startle the dogs or throw a blanket or jacket on top of them. They should stop fighting and you can grab your dog.
• Walking, jogging, or biking past a dog. We responded to 46 calls last year where someone was bitten as they walked, jogged, or biked past a dog.
  • The situation: Your dog may get nervous or startled when passing someone on the sidewalk. They may lash out and bite as a response.
  • The solution: Shorten your dog's leash and keep them close to you, allowing extra room for people to pass. Even better – cross the street.
• Kids who were bitten by a dog.
  • The situations: A child hugs a dog, startles a sleeping dog, or bothers a dog guarding its food or toy.
  • The solution: Teach your kids how to interact with dogs, how to read their body language, and don't leave them alone with a dog.

A little prevention goes a long way in preventing dog bites

Read every dog's body language

We've already talked about the importance of teaching kids how to be safe around dogs. But really, that goes for the whole family! Everyone should read a dog's body language to know whether they should interact with it or not. You want to be left alone sometimes, right? Dogs do too! 

Last year, we responded to 172 calls where unwanted physical touch caused a dog to bite someone. Whether it's your dog or someone else's, in general, if it's tense, nervous, won't look at you, or is walking away, leave it alone. Learn more about reading dog body language from the American Veterinary Medical Association.

Socialize your dog

Introduce your dog (preferably when they're a puppy) to other people and animals. This helps your dog know how to feel comfortable in different scenarios, like taking walks, going to the dog park, or having company over. Training classes are a great way to do this, even for older dogs! It's best to have the whole family attend classes so everyone is on the same page and is consistent. 

Let's all be good pet owners!

We love our dogs. Let's be good pet owners to help prevent bites, and help prevent rabies, should a bite occur. 

• Most importantly, report all bites in Dane County to us! We'll help you figure out the risk for rabies or other illnesses from the bite. If you live in Dane County, Wisconsin, call (608) 255-2345 and ask for Animal Services. Or you can report the bite online. Either way, one of our Officers will be in touch with you about the bite. 
  • Take care of the bite right away:
    • Wash the bite well with soap and water.
    • If you are injured, see a doctor as soon as possible. 
• Keep your dog on a leash or under control at all times. Dogs are not allowed to run at large anywhere in Dane County.
• Spay and neuter dogs, it helps prevent aggression and bites.
• It's state law that your dog needs a rabies vaccine before they're five months old. And they need to be vaccinated again every 1-3 years. 
• If you take your dog to a dog park, they must have a dog park permit. And that requires a dog license, which is a state requirement for all dogs by the time they're 5 months old. It's not too late to get your 2026 dog license! 

Check out our webpage for details and more tips on being a great pet owner.