Most Dangerous Dog Breeds, from Portland Dog Bite Attorneys

By and large, Oregon dog owners know that keeping their pets under control is one of the most basic and key responsibilities they face. In spite of this, our Portland dog bite lawyers are asked every year to represent clients who have been savagely bitten and seriously injured by someone else’s dog. The dogs that are most likely to bite are also big enough and strong enough to do serious damage, or worse, and particularly to small children.

More than 200 people in the United States have been killed by a dog in the past 10 years, and worryingly, the trend is getting worse:

• In 2004, 22 Americans were killed by dogs.
• In 2005, 29 people were reported as being dog bite fatalities.
• 2006 saw a slight drop, to 26 people, but that climbed to 33 in 2007.

 Only last week, there was the report of a letter carrier who died after being attacked by a pit bull. Diane Jansen, 59, of Escondido, California, suffered a stroke after she was savagely bitten by the dog, which was not on a leash. Jansen was on her normal route when the pit bull charged out of a partially closed garage and attacked her. Paramedics treated Jansen at the scene, but she suffered a brain hemorrhage before she could reach the hospital, where she was put into intensive care. Two days later, Jansen was removed from life support, and she died the following day.

The Top 10 Most Likely Are…

When Portland dog bite lawyers are called upon to file a lawsuit against a dog owner, it’s quite likely that the dog involved will be one of 10 specific breeds, and the odds are more than two to one that one breed, in particular, will be responsible. Here we name the breeds which, statistically, are most likely to bite, starting at number 10 and working our way up to the breed most likely to bite.

                  10. The Dalmatian. Possibly a surprise entry, this dog is known for high levels of intelligence,   but can also be occasionally highly aggressive.

                    9. Boxers are not usually aggressive, but they are difficult to train because they are notoriously strong-willed.

                    8. Presa Canario. At an average weight of 100 pounds, this breed is often used as a guard dog. With a fearless nature and incredibly powerful jaws, it has a recognized ability to kill.

                    7. Chow Chows are like small children with a bad temper. If they don’t get a great deal of attention, they can become moody, aggressive and dangerous.

                    6. Doberman Pinschers are exceptionally intelligent and fiercely loyal; a combination which leads to them being most likely to attack if they perceive their family is under threat.

                    5. Alaskan Malamutes need huge amounts of exercise to avoid becoming bored. If they don’t get enough activity, they can become sullen, disobedient and dangerous.

                    4. Huskies are another surprise entry and have the smallest average weight of any breed in the Top 10. They are normally exceptionally friendly dogs, but between 1979 and 1997, huskies were responsible for 15 American fatalities.

                    3. Commonly used as police dogs, the German Shepherd is known for its fearless nature and ferocious strength.

                    2. At an average weight of up to 130 pounds and an intensely aggressive nature, the Rottweiler ranks second of all dogs that are most likely to bite. In addition, their jaws are so strong that when they do bite, the damage can be far greater than that caused by other dogs’ bites.

                    1. It will probably come as no surprise that the pit bull terrier is the most dangerous of all dog breeds. Once they attack—and they can attack with seemingly no provocation or warning—they have been known to clamp down their jaws and mangle their victim, refusing to let go until their prey is dead. This breed has been responsible for no less than 67% of dog bite fatalities; the next nearest breed, the Rottweiler, comes in at just 12%.

Dog Bite Accident Statistics

Researchers have compiled a number of interesting statistics on dog bites, some of which are surprising and some quite worrying. Just a few examples include:

• Almost half of all dog bite injuries that reached the hospital were treated as “urgent-emergency” by the emergency room.
• Dog bites are the second highest reason for children being taken to emergency rooms.
• An estimated 4.7 million dog bites occur in the U.S. each year. Of those, 800,000 require medical treatment.
• An amazing 92% of fatal dog attacks involve male dogs, 94% of which are not neutered.
• One in four fatal dog attacks occur even though the dog is chained.
• Approximately 67% of victims were bitten on their own property, and most of these people reported having known the dog before being attacked.
• Portland dog bite lawyers have been actively seeking compensation for bite victims. Insurance companies across the country have been forced to pay out more than $1 billion each year in dog bite claims.
• For every 60,000 dog bites that occur, there is one fatality.
• For every dog bite fatality that occurs, 670 people are hospitalized; 16,000 visit the emergency room, and 21,000 make other types of medical visits.

Dogs make fantastic pets, and they can provide a home owner with extra security. However, every breed, not just those dogs that are most likely to bite, can be dangerous, and owners must be responsible for their animals and protect innocent people from attack. Unfortunately, many Oregonians are savagely bitten each year. Many are badly injured and scarred for life, emotionally as well as physically.

If this has happened to you or a member of your family, you shouldn’t hesitate to contact a team of experienced and committed Portland dog bite lawyers, who will fight to hold the dog owner responsible and get you the compensation you deserve. Hopefully, by taking such action, you will not only get the financial help you need, but you will prevent other innocent people from suffering a similar attack.