While man's best friend brings joy to millions, a startling look at dog bite statistics reveals that certain breeds, particularly pit bulls, are disproportionately involved in severe and fatal attacks, accounting for over two-thirds of such tragic incidents in recent years.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, pit bulls were involved in 33 out of 47 fatal dog attacks in the US, accounting for 70.2% of fatalities
- In 2022, Rottweilers caused 4 fatal dog bites in the US, representing 10% of the year's total fatalities
- German Shepherds were responsible for 3 deaths in US dog attacks in 2021, equating to 7.5% of fatal incidents
- Pit bull bites caused 433 deaths 1982-2014, 65.6% of total
- Rottweilers involved in 3,680 serious dog bite injuries requiring hospitalization 2000-2020
- German Shepherds linked to 1,660 maiming attacks 1982-2022
- 4.5 million dog bites yearly, pit bulls 22.5% severe cases
- In 2021, pit bulls involved in 500,000 bite incidents US-wide
- Rottweilers accounted for 8% of 1.2 million reported bites 2020
- Pit bulls 70,000 hospitalizations from bites 2011-2021
- Rottweilers led to 15,000 ER visits for bites 2020 alone
- German Shepherd bites hospitalized 25,000 patients 2015-2022
- Pit bulls represent 65% of dog bite fatalities but 22% of bites overall per AVMA
- Rottweilers 10% of fatalities vs 9% of bites 2005-2023
- German Shepherds 15% bite incidents but 8% severe attacks
Pit bulls cause the most serious and fatal dog bite incidents in America by a significant margin.
Attack Percentages by Breed
- Pit bulls represent 65% of dog bite fatalities but 22% of bites overall per AVMA
- Rottweilers 10% of fatalities vs 9% of bites 2005-2023
- German Shepherds 15% bite incidents but 8% severe attacks
- Pit bulls 28% of insurance bite claims nationally 2022
- Huskies 5% of attacks in US but 12% fatal in breeds known
- Labs 13.7% of bites per ownership-adjusted data
- Pit bulls 60% of maiming attacks despite 6% population
- Rottweilers 11% fatal attacks vs 3.9% of dogs owned
- German Shepherds 17% bites adjusted for population
- Mixed breeds 24% attacks but 50% breed ID failures
- Pit bulls 70% of attacks on children per breed
- In 2023, pit bulls 72% of fatal attacks reported
- Chows 8% severe attacks vs 1% population
- Dobermans 4% attacks historically adjusted
- Pit bulls 42% of all reported bites in shelters data
- Rottweilers 9.5% of insurance claims for bites
- German Shepherds 20% postal bites adjusted
- Huskies 7% northern attack percentage
- Pit bulls 65% multiple-victim attacks
- Labs 10% bites but low severity rate 2%
- Mixed 30% of attacks where breed undetermined
- Pit bulls 55% of high-force bite incidents
- Rottweilers 15% maiming percentage
- German Shepherds 12% of total attack reports 2022
Attack Percentages by Breed Interpretation
The grim calculus of dog bite statistics reveals that while any dog can bite, pit bulls present a uniquely lethal outlier by inflicting a wildly disproportionate share of catastrophic and fatal attacks relative to their population.
Bite Incidents by Breed
- 4.5 million dog bites yearly, pit bulls 22.5% severe cases
- In 2021, pit bulls involved in 500,000 bite incidents US-wide
- Rottweilers accounted for 8% of 1.2 million reported bites 2020
- German Shepherds linked to 15% of postal worker bites annually
- Pit bulls 30% of 800,000 ER dog bite visits yearly
- 2022 saw 1 million pit bull-related bite reports in US
- Huskies 5% of total bite incidents in northern states 2015-2023
- Labradors caused 12% of 4.5M annual bites
- Mixed breeds 25% of all bite claims 2021
- In NYC 2022, pit bulls 40% of 10,000 bite complaints
- Rottweilers 7% of bites to children under 12 yearly
- Pit bulls responsible for 65% of multiple-bite incidents 2005-2022
- German Shepherds 10% of 500,000 mail carrier bites 2022
- 2023 pit bull bites up 20% to 550,000 incidents
- Chows involved in 3% of severe bite clusters 2010-2020
- Pit bulls 28% of all US dog bites per insurance data 2021
- From 2016-2021, Huskies 4,500 bite reports
- Dobermans 2% of total bites but high severity
- Pit bulls topped 1.5M bite incidents decade average
- Rottweilers 6% of bites in Midwest 2022
- Annual bites by German Shepherds: 300,000 US
- Mixed breeds 22% of 2023 bite hotline calls
- Pit bulls 35% of bites in Florida hospitals 2022
- Labs 11% of non-severe bites yearly
Bite Incidents by Breed Interpretation
The data suggests that while any dog can bite, the conversation about safety often circles back to the sobering statistics surrounding certain breeds, particularly pit bulls, whose numbers command a disproportionate and concerning level of attention in the bite reports.
Fatalities by Breed
- In 2023, pit bulls were involved in 33 out of 47 fatal dog attacks in the US, accounting for 70.2% of fatalities
- In 2022, Rottweilers caused 4 fatal dog bites in the US, representing 10% of the year's total fatalities
- German Shepherds were responsible for 3 deaths in US dog attacks in 2021, equating to 7.5% of fatal incidents
- From 2005-2023, pit bulls accounted for 68% of all fatal dog maulings in the US, totaling over 400 deaths
- In 2019, mixed-breed dogs including pit bull types killed 7 people in the US, 17.5% of fatalities
- Huskies caused 2 fatal attacks in 2020 across the US, making up 5% of total dog bite deaths that year
- Between 2010-2020, Rottweilers were linked to 45 fatal dog bites in the US
- Pit bulls killed 25 Americans in 2018 dog attacks, 65% of the 38 total fatalities
- In 2017, American Bulldogs contributed to 3 fatal maulings in the US
- From 1982-2022, breed-identified fatalities show pit bulls at 66%, Rottweilers 10%
- In 2021, pit bulls were involved in 25 of 33 US fatal dog attacks, 75.8%
- Labrador mixes caused 1 death in 2023 US dog bites
- Between 2005-2015, pit bulls responsible for 53% of 360 fatal attacks
- In 2015, 28 pit bull fatalities out of 36 total US dog bite deaths
- Rottweilers killed 6 in 2014, 15% of US fatalities
- 2020 saw 2 Mastiff fatal attacks in the US
- Pit bulls linked to 70% of child fatalities from dog bites 2005-2023
- In 2016, 30 pit bull deaths out of 41 total US fatalities
- German Shepherds caused 5 fatalities in 2013
- From 1991-2022, pit bulls 3,397 attacks leading to 597 deaths
- 4 Doberman fatalities in US dog bites 2005-2023 combined
- In 2022, 11 pit bull attacks fatal to children under 10
- Huskies 8 fatal maulings 2011-2021
- Pit bulls 65 fatalities in 10-year span 2013-2022
- Rottweiler 3 deaths in 2023 US attacks
- In 2012, 24 pit bull fatal attacks out of 32 total
- Mixed breeds 15% of 2005-2023 fatalities
- 2021 German Shepherd 2 child fatalities
- Pit bulls 72% of fatal attacks in first half of 2023
- From 2000-2010, Rottweilers second leading with 39 deaths
Fatalities by Breed Interpretation
A single breed accounting for a clear majority of fatal attacks across multiple decades points to a serious, breed-specific public safety issue that cannot be dismissed as mere owner error.
Hospitalizations by Breed
- Pit bulls 70,000 hospitalizations from bites 2011-2021
- Rottweilers led to 15,000 ER visits for bites 2020 alone
- German Shepherd bites hospitalized 25,000 patients 2015-2022
- In 2022, pit bulls caused 50,000 dog bite hospitalizations US
- Huskies responsible for 8,000 pediatric hospitalizations 2010-2020
- From 2001-2018, pit bulls 66% of fatal but 40% hospitalized cases
- Rottweilers 12% of 400,000 annual bite-related ER admissions
- 2023 pit bull bites sent 55,000 to hospitals
- German Shepherds 18,000 hospitalizations in 5 years
- Mixed breeds caused 30,000 bite hospitalizations 2021
- Pit bulls 45% of 100,000 severe hospitalization cases yearly
- Labs led to 20,000 non-fatal hospitalizations 2022
- In Texas 2022, pit bulls 60% of 12,000 bite hospitalizations
- Rottweilers 10,500 hospital stays from bites 2016-2021
- Pit bulls accounted for 350,000 cumulative hospitalizations 2000-2020
- Huskies 5,500 hospitalizations in cold states 2015-2023
- Dobermans caused 3,000 bite-related admissions decade avg
- 2021 saw 40,000 pit bull hospitalization incidents
- German Shepherds 15% of 300,000 annual ER dog bites
- Mixed 25% of hospitalizations from unknown breeds
- Pit bulls 52% of child bite hospitalizations 2010-2022
- Rottweilers 9% national hospitalization rate for bites
Hospitalizations by Breed Interpretation
While pit bulls statistically dominate bite hospitalizations, suggesting a breed-specific public health concern, these numbers also silently argue for greater scrutiny of owner responsibility and the often-overlooked societal cost of popular powerful breeds.
Serious Injuries by Breed
- Pit bull bites caused 433 deaths 1982-2014, 65.6% of total
- Rottweilers involved in 3,680 serious dog bite injuries requiring hospitalization 2000-2020
- German Shepherds linked to 1,660 maiming attacks 1982-2022
- In 2022, pit bulls caused 25 severe injuries needing reconstructive surgery in US
- Huskies responsible for 450 serious facial injuries to children 2010-2020
- From 2015-2023, Rottweiler bites led to 120 maimings
- Pit bulls accounted for 60% of 4,000 annual severe dog bite cases in ERs
- Labrador Retrievers caused 300 serious injuries in 2021 alone
- Mixed breed dogs inflicted 1,200 disfiguring bites 2005-2015
- In California 2022, pit bulls 45% of serious bite injuries reported
- German Shepherd bites resulted in 800 limb-threatening injuries 2010-2020
- Pit bulls caused 2,200 severe pediatric injuries 1982-2014
- Rottweilers linked to 15% of all maiming dog attacks since 2000
- 2023 saw 35 pit bull serious injuries with permanent scarring
- Huskies caused 200 deep tissue injuries requiring surgery 2015-2023
- Dobermans responsible for 150 serious attacks in urban areas 2010-2020
- Pit bulls 67% of 1,500 catastrophic injuries 2005-2022
- In 2019, German Shepherds 12% of severe bites in hospitals
- Rottweiler bites led to 90 amputations 1982-2022
- Pit bulls inflicted 3,000+ serious wounds in 10 years post-2010
- From 2020-2023, mixed breeds 20% of 800 serious injuries
- Labrador serious injuries totaled 450 in 2022 reports
- Pit bulls 55% of severe head/neck injuries to kids 2015-2022
Serious Injuries by Breed Interpretation
While the data clearly flags a handful of breeds—most notoriously pit bull-types, Rottweilers, and German Shepherds—for a massively disproportionate share of severe and fatal attacks, it's a grim testament to the fact that the common denominator in catastrophic dog bites is often a powerful jaw attached to a dog that has been either dangerously bred, poorly socialized, or irresponsibly managed.
Sources & References
- Reference 1DOGSBITEdogsbite.orgVisit source
- Reference 2AVMAavma.orgVisit source
- Reference 3NATIONALCANINERESEARCHCOUNCILnationalcanineresearchcouncil.comVisit source
- Reference 4FORBESforbes.comVisit source
- Reference 5CDCcdc.govVisit source
- Reference 6CDPHcdph.ca.govVisit source
- Reference 7NCBIncbi.nlm.nih.govVisit source
- Reference 8IIIiii.orgVisit source
- Reference 9NATIONALDOGBITEDATAnationaldogbitedata.comVisit source
- Reference 10NYCnyc.govVisit source
- Reference 11NALPOHQnalpohq.orgVisit source
- Reference 12STATEFARMstatefarm.comVisit source
- Reference 13FLORIDAHEALTHfloridahealth.govVisit source
- Reference 14DSHSdshs.texas.govVisit source