Immediate steps
- Make sure the injured person or animal gets medical or veterinary care
- Secure your dog in a separate, safe space
- Exchange information as appropriate and follow your local reporting and quarantine rules
- Confirm your dog's rabies vaccination status with your vet
- Write down what happened and what led up to it
- Contact a veterinarian and a qualified behavior professional before the next incident
The Dunbar bite scale
Veterinary behaviorists commonly use Dr. Ian Dunbar's six-level scale to describe bite severity:
| Level | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 | Aggressive behavior (snarling, lunging) without teeth touching skin |
| 2 | Teeth touch skin but don't break it |
| 3 | One to four punctures from a single bite, none deeper than half the length of a canine tooth |
| 4 | One to four punctures with at least one deeper than half a canine tooth; often with bruising or slashes |
| 5 | Multiple-bite incident with at least one Level 4 bite |
| 6 | Fatal injury |
Levels 1 and 2 are far more common and generally have a better outlook. Level 4 and above signals serious risk and needs professional evaluation. A scale is a starting point, not a prediction.
Legal and reporting
Bite incidents can trigger reporting, rabies observation and, in severe cases, formal proceedings under Pennsylvania's dog law. Requirements vary by municipality. Contact your local animal control and, if needed, an attorney. This is general information, not legal advice.
Common questions
Can I trust my dog again?
Will my dog be euthanized?
Should my dog be around children?
You don't have to figure this out alone.
Tell us what's happening. There's no judgment here. If you'd like, we'll pass your request to independent behavior professionals near you who work with aggression and reactivity. It's free and confidential on our end, and you're under no obligation.
- No judgment, ever
- Free to request, no obligation
- Independent behavior professionals, not affiliated with this site
- If someone is in immediate danger, call 911