Dog bites can happen in the blink of an eye, and the consequences can range from minor injuries to life-threatening trauma. While every dog has the potential to bite under the right (or wrong) circumstances, some breeds are statistically more likely to be involved in biting incidents than others.
Whether you’re a dog owner, potential dog owner, injury victim, or simply want to better understand canine behavior, knowing which breeds are most often linked to bites can help you stay safer and more informed.
At Express Legal Funding, we’ve seen firsthand how devastating dog bite cases can be—from emotional distress to mounting medical bills. This guide dives into the data on the dog breeds most likely to bite, explores the reasons behind aggressive behavior, and offers insight into what legal steps victims can take after an attack. If you or a loved one has been bitten, you deserve to understand your rights and options.
Let’s break down the most bite-prone breeds, what the statistics really mean, and how you can protect yourself legally and physically.
We will answer and explain which dog breeds are most likely to bite someone, and which dogs are considered the most “aggressive dog breeds.”
Which Dog Breeds Bite the Most?
Statistics show that Pit Bulls are the type of dog breed that bite humans the most, with Rottweilers and German Shepherds being the second and third most likely to bite.
However, the breed alone is not the only factor that can directly impact how likely a dog is to bite someone. Factors like training and abuse can lead to significantly higher rates of dog bite injuries.
Tracking the correlation between dog bites and dog breeds was initially started as a way to discourage ownership of certain breeds viewed as “dangerous dog breeds” by many.
The most recent incarnation of this controversial approach was the anti-Pit Bull campaign started after the media drew attention to the prevalence of Pit Bulls in dog fighting arenas and as pets of drug dealers.
Those who advocate for Pit Bulls as a safe breed of dog say they can be trained to be docile like other dogs.
However, the statistics surrounding Pit Bulls and other dangerous dog bite attacks show that certain dog breeds are more likely to use physical violence and bite when feeling threatened.
The most recent studies confirmed that Pit Bull attacks are at the top of the list, both in non-fatal and fatal attacks, including maiming. (Maiming refers to permanent damage caused to a limb on the body.)
Dog Bite Statistics: 1982 – 2021
En dog bite statistics in the US and Canada from September 1982 to December 2021 are broken down as follows in the most recent biting dog breeds report:
Top Biting Dog Breeds:
- Pit Bulls: American Pit Bull Terriers accounted for 7,772 attacks throughout that timeframe. Of these attacks, 5,331 resulted in maiming, with 3,616 adult and 2,783 child victims, 561 of which were fatal dog attacks.
- Rottweilers: Rottweilers accounted for 666 attacks throughout that timeframe. Of these attacks, 402 resulted in maiming, with 210 adult and 349 child victims, 110 of whom died.
- German Shepherds: German Shepherds accounted for 229 attacks throughout that timeframe. Of these attacks, 166 resulted in maiming, with 104 adult and 103 child dog bite victims, 20 of whom died.
Other dog breeds that bite the most: Doberman Pinschers, American Bulldogs, Bull Mastiffs, Siberian Husky, Presa Canarios, Akitas, Chihuahuas, Labrador Retrievers, Chow Chows, Boxers, Jack Russells, Cocker Spaniels, Wolf dogs, Collies, pit bull-type dogs, and even Golden Retrievers were also listed, though in much smaller numbers.
Therefore, the top 3 three most dangerous dog breeds, each responsible for the most amount of fatal dog bite attacks, are American Pit Bull Terrier, Rottweiler, and German Shepherd.
That does not definitively mean these breeds are dangerous dogs, unsuitable as family pets, or should be demonized for the statistics. This data only illustrates that some breeds are more likely to bite when they feel frightened instead of retreating, as some breeds will prefer.
Pit Bull Bite Attacks Per Year (Line Chart)
Large Dog Breeds Face More Stigma and Fear of Biting
Large dogs tend to face more stigma and fear from humans due to their imposing size and the history of some large dog breeds being trained as military attack and guard dogs.
However, with proper socialization and being raised in a nurturing environment, many large breeds are likely to be more docile than smaller dogs. So it is incorrect to say that the large St. Bernard is dangerous due to its size and should be lumped in with German Shepherds as “dangerous.”
Still, the fact remains that dog bites are a serious issue and can lead to severe and life-threatening injuries. Depending on what breed bit you and how many times, you might find that a trip to the emergency room is in your immediate future.
The question here is, what do you need to do after being bitten by a dog?
What Treatment Do You Need After a Dog Bite?
At a minimum, you will always need to clean the wound to check for broken skin after a dog bite. However, the severity of a dog bite and, therefore, the required treatment level will vary depending on the type of dog, where it bit you, and the attack’s duration.
Some dogs are small enough that the force of their bite will barely break the skin, whereas others are large enough to severely puncture your skin and damage your body.
The dog’s breed does not account for all the risks associated with dog bites, as there are dangers that follow the attack itself. That means you should visit a doctor anytime the bite breaks the skin, regardless of the breed. For immediate treatment, you should do the following:
Immediate Self-Care Steps for Broken Skin After a Dog Bite:
- Clean the Wound: Use warm tap water to wash the wound and use mild soap to clean it. The cleaning process should last 5 to 10 minutes.
- Stem the Bleeding: You must stop the bleeding if the dog’s bite breaks the skin. While you are not liable to bleed out, some bites can lead to excessive bleeding. Use a clean cloth to soak up the blood and keep pressure on the wound.
- Apply Antibiotic Cream: If you have antibiotic cream, apply it to the wound to minimize the risk of infection.
- Wrap the Wound: Once the wound is clean and bleeding has slowed, wrap it in a sterile bandage or gauze. Keep it covered until you can get a doctor to look at the injury.
Some people are inclined to perform these steps and leave it at that, but you should visit a doctor as soon as the injury’s immediate issues are resolved.
Dog bites are susceptible to various potential health issues that could exacerbate the original injury. Without a doctor’s examination, you might be the victim of one of these conditions. Have a friend or relative drive you immediately to the nearest emergency room or urgent care. The wound might impair your ability to control a vehicle, making driving yourself risky.
Once you get to the clinic or the emergency department of the hospital, the doctor can examine the wound and will likely re-clean it and apply antibiotics. Antibiotics are essential because dog bites can introduce bacteria into the wound.
While most pet owners regularly take their dogs to the veterinarian, some do not. Also, the offending dog could be a stray, which is more likely to have eaten things or entered environments that turn them into bacterial carriers.
If a dog bite becomes infected, you risk getting one of the following conditions:
- Staphylococcus (Staph infection)
- Streptococcus
- Pasteurella
- Capnocytophaga
In addition to bacterial infection, you will need to know when your last tetanus shot was. Tetanus immunizations are effective for ten years, but dogs eat things off the floor, groom themselves, and enter dirty areas.
This dirt could transfer from their teeth to your wound, putting them at risk of tetanus.
The bite penetrating the skin makes it possible for tetanus infections to overpower immunizations six years or older. Your doctor might require a tetanus booster if your last tetanus shot occurred more than five years ago.
Finally, the one risk associated with animal bites that should concern everyone is rabies. Rabies is one of the few diseases that can cross the species barrier and transfer from dogs to humans once we are bitten. When a rabid dog bites humans, they have 24 hours to get the first dose of the vaccine.
If you get bitten by a dog with rabies and fail to get the first dose in time, your chances of recovery become almost 0%, with only rare outliers recovering from other treatments.
En states legally require pet owners to immunize their dogs against rabies, not everyone does. Additionally, stray dogs are more likely to get rabies since they are more likely to have never been vaccinated for anything and will often have more exposure to rabid animals like raccoons.
Seemingly minor dog bite injuries can quickly have severe implications if left untreated, which is why immediate medical attention is crucial.
Going to the doctor does more than just ensure your safety. The visit will also help strengthen a liability claim against and sue the owner whose dog perpetuated the dog bite attack you suffered.
Can You Sue Someone for a Dog Bite?
Yes, you can sue someone for a dog bite. Typically, you would file a lawsuit against the dog owner whose dog bit you. The proceso varies by state, but most dog bite incidents involve cases where the victim seeks injuries and daños from the dog owner by filing a daños personales demanda.
Most states enforce a dog owner’s liability. Meaning a dog owner is legally responsible for their dog’s actions. Although some states enforce stricter laws that make a dog bite incident a criminal offense, which falls upon the owner for being responsible for preventing it.
In most states, however, dog owners may not be held legally responsible for dog bites in circumstances where they could not have prevented them.
The primary examples of this are when a victim provoked the dog or trespassed on private property when the bite occurred.
Because the victim’s actions caused the dog to bite them, the liability will often lie solely with the victim since the dog was defending itself and, ostensibly, its owner.
Other states are stricter about dog liability issues and offer fewer defenses to the dog’s owner when their pet bites someone else.
Some states have “strict liability” dog bite laws that place responsibility for the bites on the owner in all circumstances. Still, there are exceptions in the strict-liability dog bite statutes for extenuating circumstances, such as provocation and trespassing.
What State Has the Most Strict-Liability Dog Bite Laws?
Currently, only Kentucky has strict-liability dog bite laws with no exceptions in the statutes, which makes it so that the dog owner is always liable for their dog biting or hurting someone. The estatuto does not limit it to dog bites, and trespassing and provocation are not exemptions for pet owners.
There is another particular legal statute called the one-bite rule that some states have, which acts as leniency to the owner’s liability for their dog’s biting and aggressive behavior.
What is the One-Bite Law?
En one-bite law holds the owner legally responsible for situations where they could have deduced their dog would bite someone.
However, in cases where the owner could not have predicted the dog’s first bite attempt, the owner is not liable and is not expected to pay for the injuries and damages of the dog bite victim.
The one-bite rule does not mean dog owners get one free bite and are only responsible for the second bite onwards. The circumstance of the dog attack has to be a legitimate surprise and not easily preventable for the owner to be free from the liability of the injuries the dog bite victim is suing them.
What Are the One-Bite Law States?
The states that have one-bite laws for dogs include:
- Alaska
- Arkansas
- Distrito de Columbia
- Kansas
- Mississippi
- Nevada
- Nuevo México
- Nueva York
- Dakota del Norte
- Dakota del Sur
- Texas
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Wyoming
What Type of Claim is a Dog Bite Lawsuit?
Dog bite lawsuits are personal injury liability claims. However, if the dog bite incident involved fatalities, the suit will be filed as a wrongful death claim by the victim of the fatal dog attack’s family.
Regardless of each state’s specific dog bite statutes that may exist, victims of dog attacks retain the right to seek financial compensation from the dog’s owner.
The best place to start for the dog bite victim is to schedule a free consultation with a personal injury lawyer to find one to hire and represent them.
A dog bite attorney can help them by filing a claim and ultimately recovering money for their injuries, pain and suffering, and other financial losses due to the incident.
Dog Bite Claims Are Personal Injury Lawsuits
However, your power to seek legal justice does not extend to the future of the dog that bit you. You do not get to choose whether or not the dog that attacked you should be euthanized.
While animal control and the animal shelter might eventually make this happen to the dog that attacked you, you can’t request euthanasia as part of your lawsuit. The judgment of whether the dog needs to be euthanized is an unfortunate and separate matter that does not pertain to your dog bite claim
Like any personal injury lawsuit, suing for a dog bite injury is a long process that you will pursue because you will always suffer a financial loss. Getting the proper medical attention you need to recover after a dog bite is never low-cost.
So, just because you have a good dog bite case and sue the dog owner for your injuries, does not mean you can expect your dog bite attorney to have a liquidación check in your hand in less than a year after the dog bite attack.
There are many stages to liability claims, and depending on the circumstances, it can be more challenging to prove than your accidente de tráfico medio lawsuit. With that being said, there can be options made available to plaintiffs during dog bite injury lawsuits.
Closing Statements on Dogs That Bite the Most and Dog Bite Lawsuits
Dog bites are serious, and depending on the breed that bites you, the attack could be fatal. Dog bite statistics show that Pit Bulls, German Shepherds, and Rottweilers are at the top of the list of dogs that bite the most.
So it is not totally random, which can help you in your ability to have a viable dog bite claim and sue a dog owner for their pet attacking you.
Nosotros en Express Legal Funding realize that dog bite liability claims are no different than other types of injury claims in that they take time, and the cost of medical treatment and lost wages can leave you low on cash.
That is especially the case now with the average cost of living increasing, making matters worse and where we, as a pre-settlement funding company, can come in to help you.
Legal Funding for Dog Bite Cases
We can offer legal funding to plaintiffs who are suing for money in civil lawsuits. In the case of dog bite lawsuits, the injured dog bite victim or their families (if it were a fatal dog bite attack) are the plaintiffs.
How legal funding works in most states is that the clients who apply for legal funding upon approval can get cash funds now in the form of a non-recourse cash advance. It’s not a loan, which makes it risk-free.
The money is advanced in exchange for the right to receive a portion of the client’s potential case proceeds. We only get repaid if there is settlement or trial award money.
So if you get approved pre-settlement funding for your dog bite lawsuit and take your claim to trial but unfortunately lose, the non-recourse funding is yours to keep. The repayment never comes from your own pocket.
(It is important to note that the money we can provide to injured and damaged plaintiffs in Missouri is a recourse loan and, therefore, not risk-free advances on case proceeds.
Pre-settlement loans for workers’ compensation claims in states like Missouri are loans and must, technically, by law, be repaid. Express Legal Funding-Missouri, LLC is licensed to give these loans in MO.)
If you have a dog bite lawsuit and need access to financial help now, we encourage you to visit our website to learn more about pre-settlement funding and call us anytime for a free consultation to apply.
