Most dog bites in the United States are inflicted by pets and the family dog is involved 25-33% of the time. 

An astounding 85% of bites occur in an owner's own home with male dogs being responsible for more bites than females. In cats, family members are more frequently subjected to swatting, scratching, and biting (bites which both break the skin and those which do not) than strangers. While not all bites are created equal, there should still be cause for concern even if the bites are delivered during play. So why might a beloved pet bite its owner?

There are 14 types of aggression recognized in dogs, including aggression seen during play, while protecting their territory, and when frightened. Some dogs may also aggressively defend food and favorite toys. Since there are so many conditions under which aggression may occur, it seems obvious that this is a complicated problem with no easy solution. While this is true, there are some common elements that all dog owners should bear in mind. First, no matter what circumstances elicit the aggression, you must avoid repeating these same conditions until you can get help from a professional. If, for example, your dog snaps or bites you when you try to take away a toy, then take away all of the dog's toys (or at least all of them likely to elicit this type of response) and seek professional help. And secondly, refrain from punishing an aggressive dog. Aggression on your part will inevitably lead to escalated aggression on the part of your dog since the dog may aggress you in order to protect itself.

In addition, dogs often single out one family member and direct all of their aggression toward this person.  For example, children are most often the recipients of aggression by dogs. In many cases, the aggression is actually provoked by the child, albeit unknowingly, which can be even more alarming to parents. Children often squeal, scream, run, move in an uncoordinated fashion, and fall down while playing. These also happen to be the same behaviors seen in prey species, so dogs often view children as prey and themselves as the predator. This predator-prey relationship between dogs and children is often more pronounced in certain breeds. For example, parents often report that herding dogs like Border Collies will chase and corner their children like wayward sheep and correct them for fleeing by snapping at their heels. This is not aggression per se, but can still be viewed as a behavior problem worthy of immediate attention. At the other extreme is the dog that attacks the baby lying on the family room floor. Babies in particular seem to elicit the predator-prey response in certain dogs. This is why it is so.