# Dog Bite Statistics Per Breed

> Last updated: 2025-02-27

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), an estimated 45% of homes house [at least one dog](https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/pet-owners/dog-bite-prevention), with nearly 90 million furry friends living as pets in the United States. While many dogs are well-trained and have friendly dispositions, certain situations may lead to [dog bites](/lebanon-dog-bite-lawyer/).

When a dog is startled, scared, threatened, or stressed, it may bite as a warning. Some dogs are possessive of food, toys, humans, or other pets and may bite in order to protect them. Dogs may even bite playfully, without aggression, when excited. And sadly, dogs that are abused may be more prone to biting.

The AVMA estimates that nearly 4.5 million Americans suffer dog bites each year. Although not all of these incidents result in insurance claims, insurers pay out roughly $1.2 billion for dog bites annually, with an average cost of nearly $60,000 per claim.

Do certain breeds bite more than others? Studies have shown that [aggressive traits](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9679229/) are not inherent to any particular breed, and there is great variation in personality among dogs within a breed. Still, some are more commonly bred for aggression, increasing the likelihood of behavior like biting that could result in a severe [personal injury](/lebanon-personal-injury-lawyer/).

## Which Breeds Have The Highest Occurrence of Bites?

Some dog breeds are prized for their size, speed, strength, and ability to protect humans or property. Alternatively, they may be bred for illegal activities like dogfighting. These dogs are often bred with aggression in mind and have become known for vicious behavior.

Such breeds include pit bulls, rottweilers, and German shepherds. Pit bulls are the breed most commonly associated with dog attacks, accounting for [22.5% of biting incidents](https://www.xinsurance.com/blog/dog-breeds-most-likely-to-bite/) in the United States each year, and are often the target of [breed-specific legislation](https://www.aspca.org/improving-laws-animals/public-policy/what-breed-specific-legislation#:~:text=Dog%20attacks%20can%20be%20a%20real%20and,they%20should%20truly%20be%20called%2C%20breed%2Ddiscriminatory%20laws.).

Rottweilers, originally bred as herding dogs, are frequently used for security and protection. They tend to be strong, smart, and protective, but they also have a powerful bite and can cause significant harm. Although often friendly and well-behaved, rottweilers require a lot of exercise and socialization.

German shepherds are commonly chosen for police and military purposes because of their proclivity for intelligence and protective instincts. While this makes them good guard dogs, it can also create tendencies for aggressive behavior toward strangers, especially if the dog has undergone attack training.

## How To Prevent Dog Bites

In an ideal world, every dog owner would properly train their pet and keep them contained on their property or on a leash when in public. Unfortunately, not all owners are so conscientious.

Preventing dog attacks isn’t always possible, but you can take steps to stay safe. Most importantly, you should always be cautious around strange dogs or those that you’ve known to exhibit aggressive behaviors. Don’t make sudden movements or try to pet a dog without an owner’s permission.

Children don’t always realize the danger of approaching a strange dog, and their playful activity could incite aggression and result in significant [child injury](/lebanon-child-injury-lawyer/). For this reason, you should never leave infants, toddlers, or small children alone with dogs.

## What To Do If You Suffer A Dog Bite

Dog attacks can result in a range of injuries, from mild scratches to deep cuts and puncture wounds to nerve damage or crushing injuries like broken bones. If you are the victim of a dog attack, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible not only to treat your wounds but to prevent infection and check for additional concerns like rabies.

You’ll need to collect information about the pet owner and, if possible, the dog itself, such as proof of current vaccinations. An experienced dog bite attorney can help you file a compensation claim for medical expenses and non-economic costs like pain and suffering.

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