November 16, 2017
Before you consider buying a dog, it might be helpful during your decision making to
factor in which dogs are most likely to bite people. Why is this important? Approximately 4.5 million dog bites
are reported in the United States every year. Besides your dog potentially biting you, they may bite other
people or strangers and you may be held liable. In fact, about ⅔ of bites occur by the front doors and front
lawns of people’s homes.⅓ of claimed victims have been postal workers. The most common known dog bite injuries
have been partial finger amputation, puncture wounds and lacerations, fingernail loss, and nerve damage. It is
highly recommended you do the research to determine if the breed(s) you are interested in owning are easier to
train and which are more likely to retaliate under discipline. Below we’ll discuss the top five dog breeds that
are most likely to bite.
Properly trained dogs may still bite people they are unfamiliar with due to fear,
stress, feeling threatened or startled, or as a means of protecting themselves, you, or their puppies. Once you
have established yourself as their owner, your dog will typically embrace you as part of their pack and will do
what they can to ensure your safety. Levels of protection may or may not depend on the strength of bond between
your dog and other household individuals.
Top 5 Breeds Likely to Bite You
1.Chihuahuas – These petite dogs are known to be more hostile than other dogs,
especially when they feel frightened. It is common for this fierce breed to mimic their owner’s
behavior because they are extremely loyal and defensive. Be sure to properly train your
chihuahua to avoid biting habits.
2.Bulldogs – Although these hefty dogs seem slower and often sluggish,
yet friendly and placid, untrained bulldogs can become very snappy. Bulldog puppies tend to handle the
teething process by biting everything, so do not be alarmed; this is normal behavior. It is important to
establish discipline whenever bulldogs bite too hard, especially as puppies so they respond in your favor
when they grow into adult canines.
3.Pitbulls – This may be less of a surprise since
these dogs physically look aggressive and have been known to be trained to fight. Pitbulls
generally don’t get along with other breeds and are very protective animals. Their strength
is often underestimated so it is wise to be cautious around pitbulls. In fact, Breed
Specific Legislation (BSL) was created and implemented to ban certain aggressive canine
breeds – specifically targeting pitbulls. More than half of the states in the US have
adopted BSL to emphasize the severity of this issue. Other breeds banned under this law
include Rottweilers, Dobermans, and Chow Chows.
4. German Shepherds – There was no coincidence these dogs were chosen to
be the breed of the police force and military. They are easily trained, however if otherwise can be very
aggressive to people and other animals. German Shepherds are naturally wild animals and make excellent guard
dogs. If you decide to own a German Shepherd it is common to experience mood swings and crankiness from
them. It is crucial to understand your dog may be triggered by threat, boredom, is upset, etc. Training
these dogs as puppies will help restrict bad behavior.
5. Australian Shepherds – These usually sweet and friendly shepherd dogs
are on this list due to their inherent instinct to herd livestock usually by biting the animals’ heels.
Packed with energy for herding large cattle, sheep and other animals, these dogs are not meant to be kept
constrained in small spaces.
There are a few things to consider when analyzing dog bite patterns. The majority of
occurrences involved running dogs on the loose, people trying to intervene a dog fight between two or more dogs,
and when dogs feel threatened from losing their food, toys, or property. Not all bites are done with malicious
intent but they still happen. It is best to be best prepared and aware of which dogs are more likely to be
aggressive. Even if you decide to own a dog that was listed above, does not necessarily mean they will bite. All
dogs have different personalities; situations and environments can be a major impact on their behaviors.
Although it is impossible to control unforeseen circumstances, it is critical we take the necessary steps to
minimize what harm may occur.