Should a dog that has bitten be put down?

No, it isn't automatic. A bite triggers a path of assessment and support, not euthanasia on principle. Even at the highest risk level, the vet only advises: only the mayor can decide, in serious, tightly framed cases. A high level is a signal to get to work, not a foregone conclusion.

How do I report a dog bite to the town hall?

You do it at the town hall for where you live, as the owner (any professional who knows about it is also required to). It's free and triggers the health observation and the behavioural assessment. It isn't a punishment: it's what protects your dog and everyone else.

How can I stop him biting again?

First rule out pain with the vet, because it lowers his tolerance threshold. Then deep work with a behavioural vet and a trainer: positive reinforcement and a marker word ('yes!'), never punishment, plus good day-to-day habits (a muzzle taught gently, risky situations anticipated).

How long does the vet observation for a biting dog last?

Fifteen days, with three visits to the same vet: within 24 hours, by the 7th day at the latest, then on the 15th day. It's about rabies and applies even to a dog whose vaccinations are up to date. There's no rabies vaccination during this period.

My dog has bitten someone: the legal procedure

Rights, paperwork & daily lifePart of · Rights, paperwork & daily life

My dog has bitten someone: the legal procedure

Q: What should I do if my dog has bitten someone?

The victim first: they see a doctor. Then you report the bite to the town hall, your dog spends fifteen days under vet observation (three visits), with a behavioural assessment during that period. You're not alone: a vet and a trainer help you with what comes next.

Q: Could my dog be rehomed or taken away?

Only the mayor can order it, after the behavioural assessment and in framed cases. Most of the time, it's enough to follow the requests (observation, sometimes a 7-hour course) and to commit to serious work. Cooperating and showing you're taking it seriously is what best protects your dog.

10 min read

First, breathe: what this does not mean

You may feel responsible, or terrified about what comes next. One isolated aggressive reaction doesn't make your dog an aggressive dog. In the vast majority of cases, a bite comes from fear or from a situation that got out of hand, not from any deep-seated nastiness. It rarely comes out of nowhere: small signals were probably going unnoticed before. Rather than blaming yourself, look for what triggered the bite.

A dog rarely bites "for no reason": there's almost always one, and pain is often part of it. Go and see the vet to rule out a health problem: that's a genuine first step, not a waste of time.

The legal procedure

Five steps that apply to any dog who bites a person, from the smallest to the largest, categorised or not.

straight away

Look after the victim first of all

Care comes first, not blame. The person bitten should see a doctor, even for a small wound: a bite gets infected easily, and how it looks on the surface says nothing about the damage underneath.

without delay

Declare the bite at the town hall

This is an obligation for the owner, and for any professional who learns of it in the course of their work, such as a vet or a doctor. The procedure is free.

15 days, 3 visits

Start the veterinary health monitoring

Fifteen days under "biting dog" monitoring, with three visits to the same vet: within 24 hours, then by day 7 at the latest, and finally on day 15.

during the 15 days

Have the behavioural assessment done

By an approved vet, listed in your département. It takes place during the monitoring period; its conclusions are sent to the mayor and to the national dog identification database (Icad). Skipping it exposes you to a fine of up to 750 euros.

Follow what the town hall asks of you

The mayor can ask you to take a 7-hour training course and obtain the certificate of aptitude. Responding shows you're taking it seriously and protects your dog.

This monitoring is about rabies, it isn't a punishment. It applies even to a dog whose vaccinations are perfectly up to date, and he receives no rabies vaccine during those fifteen days. It's a safety net for everyone.

What to gather so you can go through the formalities with a clear head.

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No, a bite doesn't condemn your dog

This is the number one fear, and the answer is clear: a dog who has bitten is not automatically put to sleep. The behavioural assessment places the dog on a four-level scale; even at level 4, the highest, the vet only advises (rehoming, or as an absolute last resort euthanasia) and passes his conclusions to the mayor (and to the Icad database). The decision rests with the mayor (or, failing that, the prefect), who holds the policing powers, and only in serious, tightly framed cases (serious and immediate danger, after a vet's opinion). A high risk level isn't a dead end: it's the starting point for work, with a veterinary behaviourist and a trainer.

If the bite really does come from a lack of care (a dog with no lead or muzzle where these are compulsory, measures ordered by the mayor not followed), the owner also risks criminal proceedings for unintentional injury: up to two years in prison and a 30,000 euro fine, more if several aggravating circumstances apply. Following every step of this path is also what protects you from that risk.

And if my dog has bitten another dog?

In the moment: separating them without getting bitten

No method is perfect, there's always a risk of being bitten, for you as much as for the dogs. The idea is to do your best with what's to hand, without putting yourself in danger.
Never put your hands or your face between the two dogs, and don't grab collars or tails: the bite almost always gets redirected onto you.
Interrupt from a distance: a loud, sudden noise, or water thrown over their heads, ideally from a hose or a jet. Effective on a scuffle caught early, far less so on a fight that's already under way.
Divert their attention with a wide, rigid object: a stick, a board, a bin lid, a chair.

Just afterwards: taking the pressure down

Separate the dogs and give the adrenaline time to come down.
Keep them out of sight of each other, not just apart: two still-tense dogs staring each other down while the owners talk means round two is guaranteed.
Then check them over calmly, and head to the vet if needed.

The formalities

A bite between dogs doesn't trigger the 15-day health monitoring (unless the département is officially declared rabies-infected): it's mainly a matter of care and insurance.
Exchange your contact and insurance details with the other owner.
Your civil liability cover (often included in home insurance) generally covers the damage caused to the other dog.
If a person was injured too, declare that at the town hall as well.

You're not on your own for what comes next

What you can do yourself

Declaring the bite at the town hall and arranging the veterinary monitoring.
Making things safe: teaching the muzzle step by step, anticipating risky situations.
Gathering the paperwork and informing your insurer.

What needs a professional, without delay

Understanding why he bit and preventing it happening again: work to do with a veterinary behaviourist and a trainer.
A bite born of settled fear, a repeat bite, or a child in the household: get support quickly.
Ruling out pain or a health problem: the vet first.

Code rural et de la pêche maritime, art. L211-14-2 and L211-11 ("biting dog" obligations), Légifrance
Order of 21 April 1997 on the monitoring of biting animals (rabies framework), Légifrance (1997)
What to do in the event of a dog bite? (factsheet F24028), service-public.fr
Code pénal, art. 222-20-2 (unintentional injury caused by an animal), Légifrance
AVSAB — Position Statement on the Use of Punishment for Behavior Modification in Animals (2021)
Bite wounds in dogs and cats (infection, Pasteurella), Merck Veterinary Manual

Going further

guidePublic liability: who pays if your dog causes harmAfter the declaration, the question that often follows: who pays for the damage? This guide explains your civil liability as an owner.Read the guide guideRegulated dogs: the law, the permit and your dutiesIf your dog is category 1 or 2, a bite can trigger specific obligations: this guide sets out the ownership permit and the law, without the drama.Read the guide guideTeaching your dog to wear a muzzleThe muzzle can become an obligation after a bite: all the more reason to teach it step by step, as a game and not a punishment.Read the guide guideHe growls, stiffens, reacts (reactivity)A growl, a stiffened body: these are often the signals that come before a bite. Understanding reactivity helps you defuse things before they escalate.Read the guide guideReading your dog's body languageKnowing how to read your dog's signals is the best prevention there is: this guide teaches you to spot discomfort before he bites.Read the guide guideCompulsory dog identification: microchip, tattoo and I-CADAfter a bite, identification (microchip, I-CAD) is often the first thing checked: this guide explains the obligation.Read the guide

Frequently asked questions

Does a dog who has bitten have to be put to sleep?

No, it isn't automatic. A bite triggers a path of assessment and support, not euthanasia as a matter of principle. Even at the highest risk level, the vet only advises: the decision rests with the mayor (or, failing that, the prefect), in serious and tightly framed cases. A high level is a signal to start work, not a dead end.

What should I do if my dog has bitten someone?

The victim first: they should see a doctor. Then you declare the bite at the town hall, your dog spends fifteen days under veterinary monitoring (three visits), with a behavioural assessment during that period. You're not on your own: a vet and a trainer will help you with what comes next.

How do I declare a dog bite at the town hall?

You do it at the town hall. The procedure is free and it triggers the health monitoring and the behavioural assessment. It isn't a punishment: it's what protects your dog and other people.

My dog has bitten another dog, what should I do?

Separate the dogs without putting your hands between them, let the adrenaline come down, then have the injured dog examined by a vet (a bite wound damages deep down). A bite between dogs doesn't trigger the 15-day monitoring (unless the area is declared rabies-infected). Exchange your contact and insurance details with the other owner: your civil liability cover generally covers the damage.

Could my dog be rehomed or taken away?

Only the mayor (or, failing that, the prefect) can order it, after the behavioural assessment and in tightly framed cases. Most of the time, you follow what's asked of you (monitoring, sometimes the 7-hour training course) and you commit to real work with a professional. Your cooperation is what protects your dog best.

How do I stop him biting again?

First rule out pain with the vet: it lowers the tolerance threshold and can be enough to explain the bite. Then, deeper work with a veterinary behaviourist and a trainer, using positive reinforcement: never punishment, which would only make the fear worse. Alongside that, teach him the muzzle step by step, as a game and not a punishment.

Updated on July 11, 2026Sources

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