Dogs can become aggressive over various things. ... Competitive behavior between dogs can lead to aggression which can be potentially directed to the owner. It is also important to look for signs of pain. A dog that is generally pleasant is more likely to attack if it is in pain.

Why would a dog attack its owner?

There are multiple reasons that a dog may exhibit aggression toward family members. The most common causes include conflict aggression, fear-based, defensive aggression, status related aggression, possessive aggression, food guarding aggression and redirected aggression.

Will a dog ever bite its owner?

Every dog owner loves spending time with their dog, so when your best friend nips at you it can be very disconcerting. Truth be told dog bites are very common in the United States, with over 700,000 severe bites occurring annually. All dogs are capable of biting, so it's no wonder that it's such a common trait.