Are some dog breeds more aggressive?

On Behalf of | Mar 15, 2023 | Dog Bites

People often think of certain dog breeds as aggressive types of dogs that they would rather avoid. A great example is the pitbull. Every year, pitbulls are involved in the highest number of fatal dog bite accidents. This has given them a reputation for being aggressive and dangerous.

But are they? Many will say that the dog bite statistics are more closely tied to popularity than they are to aggression. For example, in the 1970s, it was more popular to own Dobermans. This led to a lot of Doberman bite cases, and that breed was regarded as aggressive. Pitbulls did not start to become popular until the next decade, leading to their rise in this position. But that change suggests that the stats are skewed more by popularity than they are by any level of inherent aggression in the breed of dog.

Size might matter more

Another thing to consider is simply the size of a dog. There are small dogs that are very aggressive, but they are too small to typically cause fatal injuries, even to children. This means that they do not show up in the statistics in the same way that pitbulls do, even though they might be more aggressive.

On the other hand, pitbulls, German shepherds, and rottweilers – the three dogs that usually make up the majority of fatal bite incidents – are all very large and powerful breeds. Their size means it’s more likely for one attack to result in a fatality, even if these attacks are rare statistically.

If you have been injured by a dog bite, or if you’ve even tragically lost a loved one, then it’s very important for you to understand the legal steps you can take.

  • Avvo Top Contributor 2015 Car Accident
  • BBB Rating A+ as of 12/22/2017 Click for Profile

Archives

Archives