Statistically speaking, these 10 breeds are most likely to cause a call to a dog bite injury attorney
Sadly, hundreds of thousands of dog bites requiring medical treatment occur in America each year. Often, the incidents involve the victim’s own pet and/or an animal that had never before shown signs of aggression. When interacting with any type of dog, it is important to exercise caution and avoid doing anything that could be considered a provocation for a dog to bite. However, you should take extra care with certain dog breeds. According to data from a 20-year study recently published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the following 10 dog breeds are statistically more likely to be involved in fatal bite incidents than other breeds.
- Pit Bulls: Few people would be surprised to learn that Pit Bulls top the list of most dangerous dog breeds. Over 700 US cities have regulations restricting this breed which is known for being extremely aggressive. In 2013, Pit Bulls accounted for 78 percent of the 2 dog bite fatalities.
- Rottweilers: Rottweilers are large, powerful dogs originally bred for herding livestock. Though generally calm, they can be territorial and aggressive towards strangers.
- German Shepherds: This highly intelligent breed is often used as a guard dog, police dog, or seeing eye dog. German Shepherds may rank high on the list of dangerous dog breeds in this study because of their police work.
- Huskies: Famous for their work as sled dogs, Huskies are very athletic and are known to have aggression issues if not properly trained and socialized.
- Wolf-Dog Hybrids: Unsurprisingly, wolf-dog hybrids can be dangerous because they often retain strong predatory instincts.
- Malamutes: Malamutes are similar to Huskies, only larger, more powerful, and with more recent wolf ancestors in their breed history.
- Doberman Pinschers: This breed is frequently used as a guard dog. Dobermans are extremely loyal, and most of the fatal Doberman bites documented during the study occurred when the dog defended its owner.
- Chow Chows: This is another large dog that is known for its aggressive personality. When not properly trained and socialized, it may be likely to bite strangers or other pets.
- Great Danes: Though this dog isn’t especially prone to biting, when it does bite the sheer size and strength of the dog makes a fatality possible.
- St. Bernards: Again, this is actually a pretty loving and affectionate dog whose bites disproportionately result in fatalities because of its large size.
What to Do After a Dog Bite
If you have suffered an unprovoked bite from any breed of dog, you may be able to hold the dog’s owner responsible for their pet’s actions by filing a personal injury claim. After seeking necessary medical attention, contact expert dog bite injury attorney Michael A. Kahn as quickly as possible. He will help you document your injuries and expenses and build a strong case for compensation.
