Researchers of a new study have identified dog breeds that pose the highest risk of biting children. The study aims to provide parents with information that can help them decide what type of dog to own.
Dog Breeds Most Likely To Bite Children
In the study published in the International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology, Garth Essig, otolaryngologist at Ohio State’s Wexner Medical Center, and colleagues looked at 15 years’ worth of dog-related facial trauma cases recorded by the Nationwide Children’s Hospital and the University of Virginia Health System.
They also looked at dog bite papers from 1970 to investigate the risk of dog bite injuries in children, and the severity of the bite by breed, size, and head structure of the dog.
They found that pit bulls and mixed breed dogs pose the highest risk of biting children. They are also the ones that cause the most damage for bite.
“Injuries from Pitbull’s and mixed breed dogs were both more frequent and more severe,” the researchers wrote in their study.
Physical Characteristics Of Dogs That Tend To Bite Children
Essig and colleagues also found that physical characteristics may also be used to determine risk of biting for unknown or mixed dog breeds. Dogs with wide and short heads that weigh between 66 and 100 pounds tend to cause more severe damage.
“Because mixed breed dogs account for a significant portion of dog bites, and we often didn’t know what type of dog was involved in these incidents, we looked at additional factors that may help predict bite tendency when breed is unknown like weight and head shape,” Essig said.
Those who require treatment after dog bites are often children between 5 and 9 years old.
Young children are particularly vulnerable to dog bites because they often fail to notice the subtle signs that a dog may bite. Injuries range from simple lacerations to those that involve significant tissue loss that require grafting or other reconstructive surgery.
Amanda Hill says
You are so wrong…i raise pitbulls and have NEVER had one to bite or be aggressive…its all how you raise them and treat them:)
Jason says
Absolutely ridiculous. Did they look at the causes of the bites? Was the dog provoked? People seem to think it’s cute, or turn a blind eye to the aggressive behavior children often have towards dogs and then wonder why little Johnny got bit. People need to keep an eye on and teach their kids how to treat an animal, they’re often the ones to blame. Look back a century ago at the very breed description of a pit bull from the AKC. They are family dogs and we’re considered “nanny dogs” due to their docile temperament with children. I have had pit bulls for as long as my daughter has been alive and never once have any of them shown any aggression towards her. But on the other hand she has been taught how to treat them as well. Want to see the aggressive breeds, look at the stock dogs, healers, shepherds, collies etc. I’ve ran across more of those breeds that were aggressive than any pit or mixed breed.
Liz Fant says
Pitbulls are the best dogs with children that I have witnessed I have one that I would feel safe leaving any of my children with if they are raised right they are the most loving dogs you need to do more research because I think German shepherd are very mean and also small dogs pitbulls are the best dogs ever they just have a bad rap because of bad people!!!!!!!!!
Nunya says
Your article sucks and it’s based on false allegations look at your own country with aggressive dogs n dog fighting this specifically says mixed breeds not a certain breed you need to stop breed shaming
Lea Marie Gage says
I call bull shit. Many studies have been completed over decades that say exact opposite. Guess before you wrote this you had to search for a study that would push narritive you wanted.
Center For Disease Control (CDC) who keeps records on ALL dog bite every year in USA released these stats 2017
Approximately 4.7 million dog bites occur in the United States each year, and 800,000 of those bites result in medical care. The U.S. population is approximately 325.7 million people as of 2017. That means a dog bites 1 out of every 69 people.
These numbers are unreal! People automatically assume big dogs doing all this biting but they are wrong!!!
Once you seek truth you no longer assume.
Breeds to avoid in order from most likely to bite according to hospital animal police records 2017 as reported by CDC.
Most aggressive dogs
1) Chihuahua responsible for over 2 million of the reported bites in 2017.
2) Papillion
3) Pekingese
4) Cocker Spaniel
5) Lhasa Apso
6) Jack Russell
7) Australian Shepherd
8) German Shepherd
9)Bull Terrier
10) Bulldog & Pit Bull tied 10th.
Whats alarming is all these idiots that own these tiny aggressive dogs spend little time training or socializing them. A person walks by the little dogs barks charges and all tje sort. When the bigger dog has had enough they will bite the little dog and almost the neglectful moron thats own the tiny untrained dog sticks their hand down to grab the little monster and is bit by larger dog.
According to CDC records that is senerio of 58% of all dog bites. Large dog that trained to bite or fight. Dogs chained up. Un-socialized dogs make up most bites regardless of breed. People are the problem not the dogs. But if someone wants to start banning breeds I will CDC and have a judge ban dog breeds according to number of bites per year. I for one hate those yappy little ankle biters. Small breeds make most bites.