Dogs attack for many reasons, including but not limited to: A reaction to a stressful situation (dogs that are tied up a lot tend to be more aggressive); Feeling threatened or fearful; Past abusive situations; Wanting to protect puppies or their guardians/owners. Not all dog-related injuries stem from a dog attack. A dog may be excited and jump on someone, causing them to fall and injure themselves. In this scenario, if the victim suffers any monetarily quantifiable damages, they have a legal right to compensation.