Dog Bite Dangers

Fatal dog attacks though tragic, are not that unusual. And although Pit Bulls and Chows are on many lists of the most dangerous breeds, almost any dog can kill.

According to a website called Dog Bite Law , the most horrifying example of the lack of breed predictability was the death of a 6-week-old baby in October of 2000. The child was killed by her family's Pomeranian dog. The average weight of a Pomeranian is about 4 pounds, and they are not thought of as a dangerous breed. The baby's uncle left the infant and the dog on a bed while the uncle prepared her bottle in the kitchen. Upon his return, the dog was mauling the baby, who died shortly afterwards.

There are currently 74.8 million dogs in America, according to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association. And a survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed that dogs bite nearly 2% of the U.S. population – that’s more than 4.7 million people every year.

Almost 800,000 bites per year, one out of every six, are serious enough to require medical attention. 1,008 dog bite victims go to hospital emergency rooms every day!

And the vast majority of biting dogs (77%) belong to the victim's family or a friend.

The Clifton study of dog attacks from 1982 through 2006 looked at the breeds most responsible for dog attacks. According to the Clifton study, Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, Presa Canarios and their mixes were responsible for 65% of the canine homicides that occurred during a period of 24 years in the US.

Other breeds were also responsible for homicides, but to a much lesser extent. A 1997 study of dog bite fatalities in the years 1979 through 1996 revealed that the following breeds had killed one or more persons: Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, German shepherds, Huskies, Alaskan Malamutes, Doberman Pinschers, Chows, Great Danes, St. Bernards and Akitas.

However, it is interesting to note, that although there are many reports of German Shepherds biting people, hearding dogs like German Shepherds rarely bite to kill.  (German Shepherds and German Shepherd Mixes make up 16% of the total US dog population)  They are bread to heard sheep by nipping or pushing them, not killing them.  They are also very protective, and will sometime "Grab and Drag" a child out of danger.  These should not be mistaken for attacks.  (Read the Clifton Study for more about different dog breed behavior)

To read more about dog attacks, and take part in a discussion of this issue, see links at left.