Vermont dog bite law
One-bite rule state
The owner is generally only liable if they knew or should have known the dog had dangerous or aggressive tendencies (a prior bite, aggressive history, or breed-specific local ordinance evidence can establish this).
Whether a claim succeeds usually turns on this classification plus a few facts: where the bite happened (a dog owner is generally not liable for trespassers provoking the dog on the owner's own property), whether the victim provoked the dog, and — in one-bite-rule states — whether there is evidence the owner knew the dog could be dangerous. Comparative fault rules can also reduce recovery if the victim is found partly responsible.
This is a general reference, not a determination for your specific facts — confirm how this rule applies to your claim with a licensed attorney in Vermont.