Dog bites are a serious problem, both for humans and for the dogs themselves. Approximately 4.5 million people in the United States are bitten by dogs each year, and about 20% of these bites require medical attention.
Even more concerning is that one out of every five dog bites will become infected, leading to even more health problems.
It’s important to understand the statistics surrounding dog bites so that we can better protect ourselves and our canine companions.
Types of Dogs Involved in Dog Bites
It’s often assumed that certain breeds of dogs are more prone to biting than others, but this is actually not true.
In fact, any breed or type of dog can bite; it all depends on the individual animal and its particular situation at the time of the bite.
That said, certain breeds do show up more frequently in bite statistics due to their popularity as pets. Based on data from 2019, the top three breeds involved in dog bite incidents were pit bulls (25%), followed by German shepherds (13%), and mixed breeds (10%).
Statistics Related to Dog Bites
The majority of dog bites occur when someone attempts to pet an unfamiliar animal or when a person tries to break up a fight between two or more animals.
In addition, most victims are children under the age of 15; nearly 50% of all victims are between 5 and 9 years old.
The riskiest situation is if a child has been left alone with an unfamiliar animal; this unsupervised interaction increases the chances for a potentially dangerous situation for both parties involved.
Conclusion
Dog bites can be very serious and should never be taken lightly. It’s important to remember that any breed or type of dog can be involved in a bite incident—it all depends on the individual animal and its particular circumstances at the time of the incident.
Parents should always supervise their children when they interact with unfamiliar animals; this will help ensure everyone’s safety while also providing an opportunity for kids to learn how to approach animals safely and respectfully.
Understanding dog bite statistics is key to preventing future incidents from happening.
