Owning a dog can bring a great deal of warmth and joy to its owners. However, with dog bite claims on the rise and accounting for more than one-third of all homeowners insurance liability claim dollars in 2011, The Hanover Insurance Group reminds dog owners to take preventative measures to protect themselves from the potentially serious financial consequences of aggressive canine behavior. The cost of dog bite claims rose a whopping 53.4 percent from 2003 to 2011 according to the Insurance Information Institute. Rising medical expenses as well as the growing size of legal settlements are among the factors driving the significant increase in the cost of claims. With this costly increase, it’s more important than ever for homeowners to take the necessary steps to limit their financial exposure.