You can try to work something out with the dog owner if you choose, but it’s generally better to hire an attorney and let them handle the claim with the dog owner’s homeowners insurance. The misconception is that by hiring an attorney, you’re suing someone, when the goal is actually to settle a claim before you ever have to file a lawsuit and get into court. In other words, you’re not suing your friend, if it’s someone you know. I find it’s better to have an outside party like an attorney handle this kind of situation with the insurance so that you and your friend aren’t dealing with it directly and causing rifts in your relationship.