My dog, Misha, has never bitten me. She's a rescue and she came from a horrible situation, so it would be normal for her to be skittish and afraid at first. She's nipped at other family members in my household, but even from the first day that I brought her home, she's been stuck to me like glue and she's never tried to hurt me. She's a Basenji mix, and from the research I've done I've seen that Basenjis typically do this little "nibble" where they affectionately and gently chew at things, mainly fabrics like blankets or clothes. Misha likes to nibble on my blankets, my jeans, even my hair if I'm laying close enough, and though many Basenji owners train this behavior out, it's totally harmless and really quite silly and cute! As for actual biting, the only time I've ever seen her get that violent was in a fight with our other dog Brooke, which started over an accidentally misplaced paw. (Misha only has 3 legs, and amidst the playful jumping between her and Brooke, she somehow managed to scrape just too close to Brooke's eye, inciting a snarling reaction.) We pulled them apart quickly, and even then, the second they both realized who was holding them, they calmed down. Never once did they strike at either of us.
I think most of the time it's a dog's background that makes them nervous or prone to biting their owners. For example, Misha tried to nip at my brother the first few days we had her, and she's never liked any of the men in our house or that come visiting. We think she might have had an unpleasant run-in with a male figure before we adopted her that might have caused this. However, she's started warming up considerably to my boyfriend after about a year of knowing him. I think it's just all about their history and the way you treat them, and that most behaviors, including biting, can be stopped if the dog is just cared for, loved, and treated correctly!
