Dog attacks can be serious altercations that lead to tragedy. While virtually any dog has the potential to harm someone by biting, certain breeds are statistically more likely to bite in a way that causes substantial injuries and fatalities. The breed-specific statistics below come from fatal dog attack data collected from 2005 to 2019 in the United States. Make sure to speak with an experienced San Antonio dog bite lawyer for legal guidance.
Pit Bulls
Based on an analysis of deadly dog bite injuries over a 15-year period, the breed of dog responsible for the most deaths was the pit bull. Pit bulls accounted for 66.4 percent of all dog breeds that killed at least 13 people in the study period. In a separate study published in 2019, pit bulls also accounted for the highest percentage (22.5 percent) of dog bites involving facial trauma to pediatric patients. This study involved 240 children from 2002 to 2017.
Rottweilers
Rottweilers had the second-highest percentage of deadly dog attacks based on the study information (9.8 percent). Rottweilers were responsible for killing 51 people from 2005 to 2019, while pit bull attacks took 346 lives. Combined, Rottweilers and pit bulls contributed to 76 percent of the total recorded deaths in this time period.
Mixed Breed
“Mixed breed” dogs accounted for the third most dangerous type based on fatal dog bite injury data. This title is used to describe dogs with no prevailing breed type or if the only information in the report was “mixed breed.” In the study period, mixed-breed dogs took 27 lives, or 5.2 percent of the total. Mixed breeds posed the second highest risk (next to pit bulls) of biting the face and causing the most damage per bite in the pediatric study.
German Shepherd
German shepherds were responsible for 4.2 percent of reported dog bite deaths in the 15-year study period. This breed killed a total of 22 individuals in solo or group attacks. Around 15 percent of German shepherd victims who did not survive were infants (less than 11 months old).
Mastiff/Bullmastiff
Mastiffs/bullmastiffs took 18 lives from 2005 to 2019 (3.5 percent). This category includes Italian, English, South African and Neapolitan mastiffs, in addition to bullmastiffs and mastiff mixes. The study coordinators combined this group due to their rising threat to public safety.
Other Dangerous Breeds
Several other dog breeds besides these top five are also notorious for having strong bites, a propensity for biting or snapping, and the potential to kill. These include American bulldogs, huskies, Doberman pinschers, chow chows, Labrador retrievers and boxers. Smaller dogs such as Chihuahuas and Pomeranians can also inflict painful injuries and tend to bite often, though they are not likely to kill.
All Dogs Can Bite – Learn What to Do After an Attack in Texas
Dog breeds that have historically been bred for fighting and guarding are most often involved in serious and fatal dog attacks in Texas and throughout the country. However, any and all dogs can bite and inflict harm.
Texas is the leading state in the country in terms of dog bite injuries. If you, your child or a loved one has been injured by a dog in San Antonio, contact the dog bite lawyers at Hill Law Firm Accident & Injury Lawyers for a free case review. We can help you understand your legal rights.