In previous posts we discussed whether or not there IS a dog bite epidemic, how much dog bites are costing homeowners in claims (2009 = dog bite claims totaled more than $412 million) and who has the highest risk of being bitten and so on. See related post at the end of this article.
Many studies have been conducted about which dog is most likely to bite. Pit bull and pit bull type dogs topped the list.
What Dogs are Most Likely to Bite?
- Overwhelmingly, the dogs involved in fatal dog attacks were unaltered males. [Karen Delise]
- Biters are 2.6 times as likely to be intact than neutered [1991 Denver County Dog Bite Data]
- Biters are 6.2 times as likely to be male than female [1991 Denver County Dog Bite Data]
No matter which report or whose data you look at, pit bulls do seem to top the list:
- Pit bull type dogs were responsible for 59% (52 of 88) this is equivalent to a pit bull killing a U.S. citizen every 21 days during this 3-year period [DogBite.org Survey]
- Pit bulls were involved in 42 (41.6%) of 101 deaths where dog breed was reported, almost 3 times more than German Sheppards (the next most commonly reported breed) [JAMA]
- Deaths attributable to pit bulls increased from 20% in 1979/1980 to 62% in 1987/1988 [JAMA]
- Even if the pit bull category was split 3 ways attacks by pit bulls and their closest relatives would still outnumber attacks by any other breed [Merritt Clifton, Editor of Animal People]
- Pit bulls attack adults nearly as often as they attack children [Merritt Clifton, Editor of Animal People]
- A characteristic not shared by any other breed [Merritt Clifton, Editor of Animal People]
- In the 21-54 age group, pit bulls were responsible for 82% (14) of the deaths. [DogBite.org]
The data indicates that pit bulls do not only kill children and senior citizens; they kill men and women in their prime years as well. [DogsBite.org]
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