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Our LocationsWhen reviewing dog bite statistics, it is important to keep a few facts in mind. Any dog can bite. Whether or not a certain dog is aggressive, hostile, or reactive depends on how it was raised. Any breed of dog can be trained and socialized well, making it safe to be around strangers and children. Also, large dogs are identified in attacks more often because they’re capable of inflicting more significant injuries.
A dog can also be un-trained or trained to fight or protect its family. This makes the dog more likely to act out or bite someone it perceives as a threat. Unfortunately, certain breeds are more often trained to be aggressive or protective. These often include inherently strong breeds like pit bulls and Rottweilers.
Before we list the dogs statistically most likely to bite, here are the common situations that may lead to an animal attack
Keep these in mind if you’re around a canine. Your awareness of their mental state helps you recognize the potential for a bite faster.
According to dogsbite.org’s multi-year fatality report, canines killed 568 Americans in the 16-year period from 2005 through 2020, and the American Veterinary Medical Association indicates 1 in 5 dog bite victims require medical attention.
Here are the breeds of dogs that tend to be involved in dog attacks:
Pit bulls are regularly cited as one of the most dangerous dogs. In dogsbite.org’s multi-year fatality report covering 2005 through 2020, pit bulls were identified in 67% (380) of dog bite deaths, though breed identification in these reports is disputed, as discussed below.
The number of pit bull attacks and fatalities is not because pit bull breeds are inherently violent. Organizations like the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) do not recognize any difference between a pit bull’s potential aggressiveness and any other breed’s capacity for violence. However, there are reasons why pit bulls contribute to such a large percentage of animal attacks and fatalities. These breeds of dogs are stocky and have one of the strongest jaws of any type of dog.
Throughout history, pit bulls have been bred to fight. Not only will the breed be tenacious in a fight after being injured, but their strength also enables them to inflict the maximum amount of damage on another dog. When pit bulls bite, they tend to lock their jaw and shake. Unfortunately, this translates to their ability to significantly injure or kill another dog or person.
Abuse and mistreatment can play a large role in a dog’s aggression, and due to the nature of illegal dogfighting and general animal mistreatment, pit bulls are often subjected to such conditions. This can often lead to scenarios where a human is bitten.
Keep in mind that a pit bull’s reputation and interbreeding may also play a role in instances of pit bulls being misidentified in dog attacks. As a result, they may be overrepresented on the list.
Ohio law reflects that skepticism about breed labels. Since 2012, when the legislature removed pit bulls from the statutory definition of a vicious dog, Ohio has defined dangerous and vicious dogs by an individual dog’s behavior, not its breed. For an injury claim, that means what matters is what the dog did and who was responsible for it, not what the dog looks like. A victim bitten by any breed has the same rights under Ohio’s strict liability statute.
After pit bulls, there are a number of other dog breeds that caused fatalities between 2005 and 2020:
If you are or plan to become a dog owner, keep in mind that how you treat your dog will affect how it behaves. Essentially, if you treat a dog badly, it will likely act accordingly.
Being a responsible dog owner means:
Below are a few factors that can help decrease the chances of an unwarranted dog attack.
If you are visiting someone who has a dog, remember you are in the dog’s territory. A wagging tail while barking is a sign that this dog wants to let you into its territory but is unsure. Let the dog initiate contact with you.
When a dog on a leash approaches you, act with caution, even if the owner assures you that the dog is friendly. Slowly lower your hand for the dog to sniff. Stand sideways to minimize yourself as a target should the dog attack and avoid direct eye contact with the dog.
Runners and bikers are vulnerable to dog bites. The movement of these activities triggers the prey drive in a dog. Often a dog will bark to warn you as you are moving toward their territory. Dogs chase you to keep you from advancing into their territory.
Although your first instinct might be to run or pedal as fast as possible, this only worsens the situation. Instead, stay calm, avoid direct eye contact, and stand slightly sideways. If you have anything in your hands like a stick or water bottle, put it between you and the dog to increase your space and make yourself appear larger. Some dogs will sniff the air and walk away.
If an aggressive dog knocks you down, roll into a ball, cover your head, ears, and neck with your arms and hands in a fist to protect your fingers. If the dog is tugging at your shirt or shoes, remove the item. Sometimes dogs stop attacking if they successfully “capture” something with your scent.
Dog bites could transmit diseases through blood or saliva, especially if you have a deep puncture wound.
After any dog bite or attack, the Mayo Clinic recommends that victims:
Ohio is a strict liability state for dog bites. Under Ohio Revised Code 955.28, the owner, keeper, or harborer of a dog is liable for any injury the dog causes. A keeper is anyone with custody or control of the dog at the time, such as a walker or sitter, and a harborer is someone who controls the property where the dog lives. You do not have to prove the owner knew the dog was dangerous. The exceptions are narrow: an owner is not liable if you were trespassing, committing a crime, or teasing, tormenting, or abusing the dog, and some owners will try to use one of these as a defense. Ohio leash laws and local restraint rules often help show the owner failed in their responsibilities.
If you or loved one have been bitten by a dog in Ohio, call us today. Under the Ohio Dog Bite statute, a dog’s owner is almost always responsible for any injuries their dog causes. This is known as strict liability.
The only limitations to this may be if there is evidence of you provoking the dog before the attack or trespassing on another person’s property. However, if neither of these factors are part of your case, contact us about seeking compensation for your or your loved one’s dog bite injuries. You may need to file a third-party insurance claim or a personal injury lawsuit.
You may also attempt to recover compensation based on Ohio’s common law regarding dog bites. If you believe the dog’s owner knew it was vicious or had previously been aggressive, then you may be able to pursue a monetary recovery based on negligence.
Pit bulls appear most often in fatality reports, but the picture is complicated. Their strength and bite style can make attacks more severe, while misidentification and their popularity in rough circumstances inflate their numbers, and organizations like the ASPCA recognize no breed-specific difference in aggression. What is clear is that any dog can bite, and severity depends more on size, strength, and the situation than on breed alone.
No. Since Ohio removed breed-specific language from its dog laws in 2012, liability turns on the dog’s behavior and the owner’s responsibility, not the breed. Under Ohio’s strict liability statute, the owner, keeper, or harborer is liable for injuries the dog causes regardless of whether it is a pit bull or a poodle, unless you were trespassing, committing a crime, or provoking the dog.
Get to safety, wash the wound with soap and warm water, and see a doctor promptly, since bites carry a high infection risk. Identify the dog and its owner, get contact information for witnesses, photograph your injuries, and report the bite to your local health department or county dog warden, which Ohio law requires. Then talk with a lawyer before giving any statement to the owner’s insurance company.
If you or a loved one were injured in a dog attack or have questions about liability for a dog bite, contact Kisling, Nestico & Redick. Our dog bite lawyers will review your situation, explain the laws, and if necessary represent you in pursuing compensation for your injuries.
Not every bite needs a lawyer, but some clearly do. Involve an attorney when the bite required stitches, surgery, or emergency care, when the victim is a child, when scarring or nerve damage is likely, when the owner or their insurer disputes what happened, or when you are getting bills for an attack you did not cause. Those are the cases where an early investigation and a properly valued claim change the outcome.
With offices all around Ohio – Cincinnati, Columbus, Cleveland, Akron, Toledo, Dayton, and other cities near you. Call us at 1-800-HURT-NOW to schedule an initial consultation.
