Can mistreatment make a dog aggressive and cause them to bite?

Question

I’m writing an article about dog bite statistics. In my research, I've seen reports that say abuse can contribute to an aggressive dog, and that a fair number of bites result from mistreatment. How accurate is this statement?

Debi Matlack · Accepted Answer

There are many factors in what causes a dog to bite. Abuse is certainly a contributing factor, along with other factors, such as the immediate situation, breed (not always pit bulls!), if a dog is cornered by someone or something, territorialism, protectiveness over a person or something like a litter of pups, aggression over food or objects. Many bites occur simply because someone ignores or in unfamiliar with the warning signs of anxiety in a dogs, such as licking the lips, eyes widened so the white is visible (called 'half-moon eye' or 'whale eye' by some), excessive panting, yawning, freezing in place, staring or even looking away. Failure to recognize these and continuing to interact with a dog, no matter what the intention, can result in being bitten.

Can mistreatment make a dog aggressive and cause them to bite?

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