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Why Do Dogs Bite? Understanding Canine Attacks in Washington State.

As a law firm helping people in Snohomish, Skagit, Chelan, King and other Washington counties deal with the often terrible consequences of dog attacks, we understand what is at stake. Attacks by vicious and aggressive dogs can inflict serious, sometimes lethal injuries and leave scars, both physical and mental.

Washington victims of dog bites could be entitled to compensation, but in order to prove the dog owner's responsibility, your legal counselor needs to understand exactly what happened and why. To prove fault, you need to take a close look at the dog, and the owner.

Why do some dogs become aggressive?

A dog's aggressive behavior stems from several causes, including:

The Environment: Some owners permit aggressive display while others punish it, with a wide variety of punishment methods and severity. Some owners even encourage and train dogs to behave aggressively. Aggressive behavior management and obedience training should start very early to be effective.

Hormones: Male hormones like testosterone, collectively known as androgens, generally promote the expression of inter-male aggression. On the other side, progestins, the female hormones, have the opposite, inhibitory effect on inter-male aggression. Appearing at sexual maturity, male aggressive behavior increases with the presence of other males. Castrated dogs, lacking testosterone, will be perceived as non-threatening (they smell differently to other dogs) and will be less subject to attacks. Supplementing a dog with female hormones could help reduce its aggressive behavior, but castration is the safest and most effective method. Many owners, however, are reluctant to castrate their pet dog.

Learning: Animals are encouraged to be more aggressive when they "win" the fight, creating a vicious circle that could become dangerous. Dog training, with its succession of punishments and rewards, is the way to go to keep a dog's behavior under control.

A qualified dog bite attorney needs to know all the facts influencing the circumstances of a dog attack so as to present a water tight claim leading to a fair compensation for all you have been through. Dog attacks need to be kept in check, and for that you need more than a lawyer, you need a dog bite lawyer.

If you have been the victim of a dog attack, contact the Monro Law Firm today for a free consultation.