Dog Bite Statistics by Breed
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention over 4.5 million people suffer dog bites each year, sending an estimated 800,000 people each year must seek medical attention after a bite. On average, about 43 people are killed each year by dog bites.
Children are most at risk. In fact 29.4% of fatal dog attacks involved a victim between the ages of one and four.
Although many owners of dangerous dogs will never admit it, there are some dog breeds that are more likely to bite than others and consistently show a propensity to attack strangers and even turn on their owners. Of course, even the most innately friendly dog may bite when provoked or abused.
Here is a list of dogs that are most likely to attack.
Dog Attack Fatalities
The table below shows the top breeds of dogs involved in fatal attacks on human (2005-2017)
| Pit bull breed: | 284 deaths, 65.6% |
| Rottweiler: | 45 deaths, 10.4% |
| German shepherd: | 20 deaths, 4.6% |
| Mixed-breed: | 17 deaths, 3.9% |
| American bulldog: | 15 deaths, 3.5% |
| Mastiff/Bullmastiff: | 14 deaths, 3.2% |
| Husky: | 13 deaths, 3.0% |
| Unknown/unreleased: | 11 deaths, 2.5% |
Over this same time period, thousands more people suffered nonfatal dog bites at a similar rate from these same breeds. Such dog bite injuries can be common.
Why Are Pit Bulls So Dangerous?
While some might argue that pit bulls attack so often because owners train them to do so, this is not completely accurate.
- Selective Breeding
Centuries ago, selective breeding enabled pit bulls to become adept at bull baiting and more recently, dog fighting.Pit bulls have been selectively bred in a manner to ensure they would have particular traits that would fit these purposes, such as aggressiveness. Even without being trained to attack, pit bulls have an innate propensity toward fighting.
Additionally, through selective breeding, pit bulls have developed a particularly strong jaw. Their strong jaws allow them to bite, hold on, and shake their victims. The result is that when a pit bull does attack it tends to be particularly vicious and catastrophic.
- Trained to Protect
Many pit bulls are also trained to attack intruders. Dog owners often select breeds that are known to be aggressive because they want the dogs for protection. Many such dogs end up attacking people who pose no threat to either the dog or the owner.
- Unpredictable Behavior
Furthermore, pit bull behavior can sometimes be unpredictable. Most pit bull attacks involve the dog attacking its owner, or someone else familiar to the dog.
Pit Bull-related Legislation
Because of the rash of pit bull attacks over the past several years, all 50 states have some sort of statute designed to reduce the number of pit bull attacks.
For example, dog fighting is a felony all 50 states. There is also a federal statute that outlaws dog fighting.
Over 700 cities have regulations that in some way regulate pit bulls. Many towns altogether ban them. Others have mandatory sterilization rules for pit bulls. Some have declared them to be “dangerous” or “potentially dangerous.”
Dangerous Breeds and Homeowner’s Insurance
Another indicator of just how dangerous certain dog breeds are is whether insurers will include them on a homeowner’s or renter’s policy. Breeds that many insurers will not insure include:
- Doberman Pinscher
- Pit bull
- Rottweiler
Dog Owner Liability
When a pit bull or any dog you own injures or kills someone, you may be financially liable. This is the case regardless of whether or not you have insurance that covers the dog. In some cases, you may even face criminal charges. Our reputable dog bite attorneys have the expertise to guide you through the process and secure a favorable outcome.
