Which Dogs Are More Likely to Attack?

The Center For Disease
Control (CDC) lists the following breeds in declining order of fatalities: Pit
Bull, Rottweiler, German Shepherd, Husky, Malamute, Doberman Pinscher, Chow
Chow, Great Dane, Saint Bernard.

However, there are several
reasons why it is not possible to have an accurate count for the attack rate
between breeds for comparison.

For instance, the biting dog may have been
reported as a purebred when in fact it is a mixed breed. 

Secondly, the actual number of reported
bites that occur in a “community” is unknown, especially if the victim did not suffer
serious injury or failed to report the incident to the authorities.

Last, particular breeds or mixed breeds of
dogs are unknown because you cannot be certain that all dog owners have
registered there dogs or updated their existing licensing data on their animals
with the county they reside in.

Depending on the breed, some rental
agencies and Home Owner’s insurance companies have excluded certain breeds like
some of the dogs in CDC’s list.  Regardless of breed, parents should be
vigilant when their children are around dogs. Unfortunately, the rate of children suffering a serious injury from a
dog attack is much higher than for adults.

About the Author

Tom D'Amore is the founder of D'Amore Law Group and a trial attorney with over 30 years of experience representing injured people and their families across the West Coast, securing more than $325 million in recoveries. He handles cases involving car accidents, trucking accidents, construction injuries, medical malpractice, and sexual abuse. Licensed in Oregon, Washington, and California, Tom is the only NBTA board-certified truck accident attorney in Oregon. He is a national Board of Governors member, past Executive Committee member, and past Budget and Audit Chair of the American Association for Justice, as well as past President of the Oregon Trial Lawyers Association and an Eagle member of the Washington State Association for Justice.