Dogs are capable of many things—companionship, warmth, disease diagnosis, protection, and more. However, they could give in to their beastly instincts when not given care and attention.
More than 4.5 million Americans are bitten by dogs every year. Half of that number are children.
Dog bites are usually not fatal, given that they are medically attended to immediately. However, dog bites could cost a fortune.
The average cost for hospitalization caused by a dog bite is $23,680, compared to the general injury average of $15,743.
In this article, let’s look at the numbers on attacks by breed and claims. Time to dig in!
Fascinating Facts
|
Dog Bite Attacks by Breed and Claims in 2023
While dogs are mostly considered man’s best friend and are usually well-behaved when treated right, they are still physically capable of biting and causing injury. Unlike humans, dogs’ teeth are shaped to tear food.
They are also natural predators, coming from the family of wolves. Just like every living creature, they have an instinct to survive. When threatened or in pain, they tend to attack whatever threatens them.
Look at the statistics, claims, and fatalities of dog attacks.
Dog Breed Attack Statistics
Dogs are socially intelligent and capable of emotional connections. They can feel fear and frustration. Sometimes, they show aggression when they feel sick or hurt.
The dangers of rabies are well known. People often overlook that this disease affects the dog’s brain and alters his behavior.
Rabies kills about 59,000 people worldwide, and dogs cause 99% of rabies deaths. Here are other statistics that give you an idea of the number of dog attacks:
1. Pit Bull attacks make up 69% of dog attacks.
(World Animal Foundation, Highland Canine Training)
Although they comprise only 7% of the dog population, pit bulls are responsible for 69% of dog attacks. They were bred for agility and strength and honed for bloody dog fights. It explains why they are statistically the most dangerous dogs that exist today.
|
🎉Fun Fact: Pit bulls are stereotyped as fight dogs, with a general temperament rating of 86.7%. It means that they are generally not aggressive. However, when neglected and abused, they can be very dangerous. |
2. The Turkish Kangal has a bite force of 743 PSI.
(Rosenfield Injury Lawyers)
The Turkish Kangal has the strongest bite force in the world, 2x stronger than a pit bull’s bite. These dogs are huge and can grow up to 85 cm.
Turkish Kangals are herding dogs and do well in open spaces. They are usually friendly with people but are aggressive toward intruders and other dogs.
|
🎉Fun Fact: Turkish Kangals are often called “sheepdogs with a lion’s heart” because of their protective nature and fearlessness when defending their flock. |
3. Dog bites account for 9,500 hospitalizations per year.
(Pet Keen)
81% of dog bites do not need medical attention. However, there are still many people hospitalized for dog bites. Most dog bites are not serious, but 1 in 5 of these bites requires medical attention.
Dog bites cause more than 900 emergency room visits daily, totaling 340,000 yearly. The number of people going to the hospital for dog bites shows that dog aggression should not be taken lightly.
4. 70% of dog bites come from unneutered males.
(Nicolet Law)
Testosterone makes dogs territorial and dominant. When dogs are not neutered, their testosterone levels will keep rising.
In fact, neutered dogs are almost three times more likely to bite than other dogs. Neutering male dogs has become one of the solutions that animal rights groups have proposed.
Dog Bite Claims Statistics
Legally, dogs are considered property. Dog owners can be sued, especially if they knew, were negligent, or honed the dog’s aggressive tendencies.
You’ll need to prove that you did not provoke the dog in any way. It’s also important to establish that you were not trespassing since that constitute as criminal mischief in some state. Once proven, the dog attack victim can demand payment for their injury.
Let’s examine the number of filed claims and the average costs associated with a dog attack claim below:
5. There were 1,954 bite claims filed in California.
(Victims Lawyer)
40% of households in California have a pet. 80% of insured pets are also in California. It is now the state with the highest number of dog attacks.
Because of this, dog bite laws are relatively strict in California. Unlike other states, it does not matter if the dog has a history of aggression. The dog’s owner is liable for the bites on public or private property if the victim is lawfully there.
6. In 2022, the average value per claim in the US was $64,555.
(Insurance Journal)
The US had 17,597 claims in 2022; this is lower than the 17,989 claims in 2021. However, the average cost per claim went up by 28.8%. From an average cost of $49,025 per claim, it spiked to $64,555.
Although dog bite claims have fallen, they are still relatively inexpensive. After some court hearings, the amount of compensation will be calculated. This amount will depend on the following:
- The severity of the injury
- The physical consequences of the injury
- The emotional trauma the victim has to go to.
Dog Bite Fatalities by Breed
Regardless of breed, dogs are the fourth-deadliest creature in the world. Every year, they kill about 25,000 people; rabies is to blame for 99% of these deaths.
Note that when a dog kills a person, the owner could be charged with homicide. Here’s some data on what dog breeds have the most fatalities:
7. 66% of fatal bites are from pit bulls.
(Statista)
Pit Bulls are agile and strategic attackers. They are also responsible for most deaths caused by dog bites.
Although it is not true that the jaws of the Pit Bulls lock when they bite, they usually hold their bite longer than a dog. Studies have also shown that the victims of pit bull attacks have more bites and that these bites are in strategic locations.
|
💡 Did You Know? Genetics is not the only factor contributing to Pit Bull attack fatalities. The environment plays a part. Pit Bulls are mostly stereotyped and abused. They have been trained to be aggressive—starved and thrown into the pit to fight for their lives. |
8. Rottweilers have the second-most fatal bite.
(World Animal Foundation)
Rottweiler bites account for 10.4% of fatal dog bites. Unlike pit bulls, Rottweilers were not bred for dogfighting. Instead, they were first bred as herding dogs. Later, they were used as work dogs to pull carts in markets.
Rotties are popular big dogs sized 22–27 inches. Although banned in some states, some people choose to have them as pets due to their affectionate temperament.
Though affectionate, they are still capable of killing people. They are responsible for one in ten fatal dog bites.
9. Labrador retrievers make it to the top 10 in terms of bite fatalities.
(Forbes)
Labrador retrievers are a typical family dog breed. They are usually gentle and even work as therapy dogs. They are generally harmless, but at times they can be dangerous.
They cause 2.1% of fatal attacks. Their bodies were made for hunting and were big enough to push over a human.
The Bottom Line
Dog bites are mostly preventable. There are a lot of solutions to it, and these solutions are not that costly.
One of the most common solutions to dog bites is spaying and neutering. It helps regulate dog aggression and reduce the unwanted dog population.
However, the greatest solution to the problem is responsible dog ownership. Dogs only attack when they think there is something wrong.
The costs of adopting a dog do not end when the dog is acquired. It is only fitting that owners take good care of their dogs. Happier dogs mean fewer bite incidents.
