When you are dealing with a dog you are not familiar with, it may become aggressive within a few short minutes.
If these dogs do show signs of anger, they are likely not obvious to people around them who are not their owners. Understanding how aggression works in dogs can help you if a bite happens.
Baring teeth and growling
According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, an angry animal may not loudly bark at you when it is first feeling anger. Instead, it could become very still and focused on what you are doing.
You could also notice the whites of its teeth when it tries to growl or snap at you. A few warning lunges could signal that the dog is unhappy or feels unsafe. However, the owner or other people may not see the danger of these actions and incorrectly insist that the dog is just trying to play.
Hiding tail
When a dog is calm and ready to play, it will likely wag its tail. When you notice its tail pointing down or appearing rigid, it could be a sign that the dog is fearful or ready to be aggressive. Not every scared dog will bite, but there is a serious chance that it could react that way in unfamiliar situations.
Biting playfully
Before a dog bites down and breaks the skin, it may attempt to nip at you without necessarily using its teeth. You could see the whites of the dog’s eyes before it tries to bite down and hold on for a long amount of time to seriously cause damage.
Some owners could say that their dog is only trying to have fun, but dog bites can lead to infections and other kinds of injuries.
