10+ Unexpected & Frightening Dog Bite Statistics

Dog bite statistics show that millions of people every year suffer canine attacks in the US alone. It is difficult to tell how many dog bite cases occur worldwide — many victims don’t require medical help and don’t report the incidents.

Dogs might be our best friends, but you should consider that sometimes even the sweetest and calmest dog can become aggressive and attack. 

To prevent such acts of aggression, we need to know how to behave around dogs without provoking them. Also, when choosing a pet, you need to find which dog breed is suitable for your family and lifestyle and how to train the dog properly.

Our research on dog attacks by breed can help you understand why dogs become aggressive and how to protect yourself and others in such situations. 

Let’s take a look at some statistics on dog attacks.

Frightening Dog Bite Statistics 

Most of the time, dogs do not pose a threat. Nonetheless, it’s essential to know how to avoid dog attacks and react adequately in such cases. 

If you don’t want to find out first-hand which are the worst dog breeds for biting, follow the basic safety tips when interacting with unfamiliar dogs. A good rule of thumb is always to avoid disturbing dogs while they sleep or eat. And if a dog surprises you, try to remain calm and wait for it to come and sniff you first.

While petting dogs, do so under the chin. If you pet them on the head, they might feel threatened because they can’t see your hand. In case of an attack, remain calm and don’t run and panic.

Here is some more information on dog attacks.

1. According to US dog bite statistics, roughly 4.5 million incidents occur every year.

(Canine Journal)

Out of those cases, 800,000 result in medical care — nearly 18%. Considering the size of the US population, that means that a dog bites approximately one in 73 people. 

While all of this sounds very frightening, we need to consider the long list of reasons dogs attack people and that quite often, they are being provoked or frightened themselves.

2. People between the age of 50 and 59 years more frequently suffer dog attacks than other age groups in the UK. 

(Statista)

The dog bite statistics UK 2020 show that most incidents happen to children up to nine years old and adults between 40 and 59. While adults usually suffer injuries in the extremities, children get bitten on the neck, cheek, or waist. 

Despite the high number of cases that occur each year, many injuries do not require medical treatment and heal quickly. 

3. Dog bites account for almost 99% of all cases of rabies transmitted to humans. 

(WHO)

The Center for Disease Control dog bite statistics reveal that dogs are the most common mediators in the transmission of rabies. Meanwhile, the most common carriers are wild animals, such as raccoons, skunks, bats, and foxes. 

The rabies virus infects the central nervous system and can cause brain disease and death if not treated. Being bitten by an animal requires immediate seeking of medical assistance.

Dog Bite Statistics By Breed

It is a fact that some dog breeds are more aggressive than others. That’s why it is crucial to do thorough research or consult with experts before deciding which one will be your pet. 

You should be aware of the dog’s history of aggression, attacks, the strength of bite, and behavior around children and strangers. The dog’s size has little importance as often small dogs may be more feisty and aggressive than bigger ones. 

We have gathered a few unexpected dog bite statistics by breed for you. 

4. The Kangal dog possesses the strongest dog bite force — 743 PSI. 

(Inside Dogs World)

The Kangal shepherd dog breed comes from Sivas City, Turkey, and families often keep them as guard and shepherd dogs. They are loyal, protective, and gentle towards children but could easily take down predators, such as wolves and bears. 

Research into dog bites by breed shows that the Kangal has the strongest bite, but Pit Bulls and Chihuahua attack statistics reveal that they have attacked and bitten more people. 

5. Dog bite statistics by breed UK show that labradors are responsible for most canine attacks. 

(Independent)

Labradors are often considered the perfect choices for a family dog. Surprisingly, research suggests that these dogs are responsible for most of the dog attacks in the UK. The vast number of labradors in the UK might be why they are on the top of the list. 

6. Most dangerous dog breed statistics reveal that Pit Bull, Rottweiler, German Shepherd, and mixed breed dogs are in the first positions.

(Forbes) 

These findings are consistent with previous years. Pit Bulls are responsible for most fatal cases (66%), thus, confirming the unfortunate stereotype of the breed.

Rottweilers take second place for most fatal attacks in a 13-year period, making up 10% (45) of the cases. On the brighter side, Rottweiler attacks statistics show that fatal accidents have decreased from before when the breed accounted for 14% of all fatalities.

And the German Shepherd bite statistics show that they are responsible for 4.6% of the total fatality cases.

Unexpected Dog Bite Statistics

If you or anyone in your family consider getting a “dangerous” dog breed, you can get dog liability insurance. It is a way to insure yourself in case your pet bites someone. 

Here are some more dog bite stats. 

7. 70% of the dogs in an area have to be vaccinated against the Rabies virus to ensure herd immunity. 

(WHO)

Annual mass dog vaccination campaigns are required to ensure control over the spread of the Rabies virus. At the same time, it is crucial to vaccinate your dog and yourself against rabies to prevent endangering your family and pet.

8. Dog bite statistics show that chained dogs are responsible for 25% of fatal dog attacks. 

(Max Sparwasser)

It is no surprise that chained dogs are more violent than those who spend more time with the family. As they don’t experience much affection, they have a hard time telling who is a friend and who is a threat. 

9. Rabies is the deadliest disease on the planet, with a mortality rate of 99.9%.

(WHO)

Once the symptoms of the virus start to show, the disease becomes fatal. Symptoms include hyperactivity, excitable behavior, hydrophobia, and sometimes aerophobia. 

10. Dogs attacked nearly 6,000 US Postal Service employees in 2018.

(NBC 25)

US dog bite statistics also reveal that most of the accidents happened in Houston, Texas.

The most common reason dogs attack postal service employees is that they enter the property the dog guards. 

11. According to recent dog bite insurance statistics, the average cost of a dog attack claim is $50,245.

(Investopedia)

If you find yourself in a situation where your dog bites someone, the lack of insurance might cause you heavy fines. Dog bite liability has transformed into a multimillion-dollar problem over the last years.

12. Dogs attack nearly 100,000 people in Australia every year, national dog bite statistics Down Under show.

(Wiley Online Library)

Between 12,000 and 14,000 victims of all cases need medical assistance for their injuries, and around 10% of those require hospitalization.

To Wrap It up — How To Deal With the Dogs That Bite the Most

Nowadays, dog attacks still often make the headlines and lawsuits. To prevent getting bitten, make sure you don’t disturb the animal while eating or sleeping. It is best to keep away from unknown and stray dogs, and if you cannot avoid them, let them approach you first and sniff you. 

To prevent your dog from attacking you or other people, make sure you take good care of it, socialize it enough with other dogs and people, and invest time and effort into its training. 

Let’s not forget that dog bite statistics rarely reflect the whole story. Dogs, in general, don’t attack because they are “bad”, but instead, they have been mistreated, scared or threatened.

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