Last Update: Feberuary 2023
Are you curious about the latest dog bite statistics in the USA?
I have curated, vetted and categories a list of the up to date dog bite statistics below.
In this guide, you will find:
- US Dog Bite Statistics
- General Dog Bite Statistics
- Dog Bite Statistics Involving Children
- Dog Bite Infection Statistics
- Dog Bite Statistics By Breed
- Dog Bite Prevention Tools
- Number of Dog bite statistics by age group ( total number of attacks, adult, children, number of attacks leading to death and number of attack leading to maiming)
Let’s see the statistics
US Dog Bite Statistics?
- According to the National Library of Medince, more than 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs each year in the United States.
- On the average, 50 people are killed by dogs every year. In 2022, 46 people were killed.
- Approximately 800,000 receive medical attention for dog bites, and approximately 10-20 people die from their injuries.
- In 2018, over 36,000 people were hospitalized due to a dog bite injury.
- Approximately 60 percent of all dog bites involve children under the age of 12.
General Dog Bite Statistics
- More than half of the people bitten by dogs are younger than 17 years old.
- Most dog bites occur on or near the owner’s property.
- About 1 out of every 5 dog bites requires medical attention. A majority of these injuries, especially those involving young children, occur when an adult is absent or not paying attention.
Dog Bite Statistics Involving Children
- Children between the ages of 5-9 are most likely to be bitten by a dog.
- Approximately 77 percent of all dog bites involve children under the age of 14.
- Most often, a child’s own dog or a friend’s dog will bite them.
Dog Bite Infection Statistics
- More than 18 percent of all dog bite victims require antibiotics to treat their injuries.
- Approximately 5-15 percent of all dog bites become infected with bacteria such as rabies, Capnocytophaga, Pasteurella and Staphylococcus species.
Dog Bite Statistics By Breed
- Pit bulls are responsible for around 67% of fatal attacks on humans in the US.
- Rottweilers are responsible for approximately 20% of fatal attacks on humans in the US.
Dog Attack By Breed 1982 Sep – 31 Dec 2020 (Deaths and Maimings)
| Attacks | Children | Adults | Death | Maimings | |
| American Pit Bull Terrier | 3397 | 1355 | 1312 | 440 | 2110 |
| Rottweiler | 535 | 297 | 141 | 85 | 296 |
| German Shepherd | 113 | 65 | 41 | 15 | 73 |
| Dogo Canario | 111 | 46 | 41 | 18 | 63 |
| Siberian Husky | 83 | 51 | 8 | 26 | 27 |
| Akita | 70 | 44 | 22 | 8 | 52 |
| Boxer | 64 | 19 | 23 | 7 | 31 |
| Chow Chow | 61 | 37 | 18 | 8 | 40 |
| Labrador (USA) | 56 | 37 | 17 | 3 | 45 |
| Great Dane | 37 | 12 | 9 | 3 | 19 |
| Mastiff (English) | 28 | 23 | 5 | 5 | 17 |
| Doberman | 23 | 12 | 9 | 8 | 12 |
| Cane Corso | 21 | 4 | 11 | 2 | 12 |
| Bulldog (English) | 20 | 12 | 4 | 1 | 14 |
| Blue Heeler | 20 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 5 |
| Alaskan Malamute | 15 | 12 | 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Australian Heeler | 13 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
| St. Bernard | 12 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 7 |
| Golden Retriever | 11 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 7 |
| Australian shepherd | 11 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 5 |
| Plott Hound | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Belgian shepherd – Malinois | 7 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 4 |
| Sharpei | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Dachschund | 6 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 6 |
| Shih Tzu | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 5 |
| Jack Russell Terrier | 5 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Fila Brasiero | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Dogo Argentino | 5 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 |
| Pyrenean Mastiff | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Poodle | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Collie | 4 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Catahoula Bulldog | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Brittany Spaniel | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Black Mouth Cur | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| Beagle | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Springer Spaniel | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Shiba Inu | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Irish Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Dalmatian | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Coonhound | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Chesapeake Bay Retriever | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Bull Terrier (English) | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| West Highland White Terrier | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Weimaraner | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Rhodesian Ridgeback | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Rat Terrier | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Old English Sheepdog (Bobtail) | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Doge de Bordeaux | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Cocker Spaniel | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Briard | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Boston Terrier | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Border Collie | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Basset Hound | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Airedale Terrier | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Tosa | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Setter | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Schnauzer | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Russian Black Terrier | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Pug (Mops) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Pomeranian (Zwergspitz) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Norwegian Elkhound | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Miniature pinscher (Zwergpinscher) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Maremma and the Abruzzes Sheepdog | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Keeshond | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Karelian Bear Dog | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Greyhound | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| East Highland Terrier | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Coton de Tulear | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Chihuahua | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Caucasian Shepherd | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Bernese Mountain Dog | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Anatolian Shepherd | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Unidentified | 81 | 16 | 29 | 8 | 32 |
| Wolf Hybrid | 85 | 70 | 5 | 19 | 49 |
Are Pitbulls More Dangerous Than Other Dogs?
Pitbulls have a reputation for being aggressive and dangerous dogs. But is this reputation deserved? Are they really more likely to attack people than other breeds of dogs?
What Are the Safest Dog Breeds?
So, which dog breeds are the safest? According to the data, the breeds with the lowest number of attacks per capita are: Chihuahuas, Jack Russell Terriers, Poodles, Yorkshire Terriers
These small breeds are all generally considered to be good family pets. They are usually friendly.
How Can I Make Sure My Dog Doesn’t Bite or Attack?
Of course, even the safest breeds of dogs can bite or attack if they are not properly trained and socialized. If you are concerned about your dog biting or attacking someone, there are some things you can do to reduce the risk:
- Get your dog spayed or neutered. Dogs that have been spayed or neutered are less likely to bite or attack.
- Get your dog trained. A well-trained dog is less likely to bite or attack than one who has not been trained.
- Socialize your dog. Dogs that are socialized from a young age are less likely to be aggressive.
How Often Do Dogs Attack Their Owners and Why?
Dogs usually attack their owners for one of two reasons: either they are feeling threatened or they are not properly trained and socialized. Here are some statistics on dog attacks on owners:
- 2% of dog bites occur when the owner is trying to break up a fight between two dogs.
- 8% of dog bites occur when the owner is trying to stop the dog from doing something it shouldn’t be doing, such as getting on the furniture or chewing on a shoe.
- 10% of dog bites occur when the owner is attempting to restrain the dog, such as during grooming or vet visits.
- 80% of dog bites occur when the owner is doing something that the dog perceives as threatening, such as approaching a strange dog or trying to take away its food.
As you can see, most dog bites occur when the owner is doing something that the dog perceives as threatening. This is why it’s so important to socialize your dog and to make sure it is properly trained.
What Should You Do With an Aggressive Dog in Your Neighborhood?
If you have an aggressive dog in your neighborhood, there are some things you can do to make sure it doesn’t pose a threat to your safety or the safety of others:
- Keep your distance. Don’t approach the dog or try to pet it.
- Call animal control. If the dog is acting aggressively, you should call your local animal control office and report the incident.
- Be a good witness. If the dog does attack someone, try to get as much information about the incident as possible so that the authorities can track down the dog and its owner.
What dog breed has the highest attack rate?
The data on dog attacks is inconclusive when it comes to determining which breed has the highest attack rate. However, some studies have suggested that certain breeds, such as Pitbulls, Rottweilers, and German Shepherds, are more likely to attack than other breeds.
Conclusion:
That’s it for my list of dog bite statistics.
As someone that loves dogs, I really enjoyed putting this list of stats together and I hope you found it useful.
If you are looking for dedicated statistics about Pitbull which is my favourite dog breed, then check this pitbull statistics.
Now I will like to hear your thougts: Which dog bite stat surprised you the most.
