Dogs Bite--Some Surprising Statistics
When a big dog bites a person it always makes the news. Certainly, bites from large dogs can cause serious injury, and any dog that shows aggressive behavior needs strict management and solid training work. But did you know that smaller dogs are actually more likely to bite? In a recent study, the breeds most frequently reported by owners as biters were Dachshunds, Chihuahuas and Jack Russell Terriers!
The article (D. L. Duffy et. al., “Breed differences in canine aggression,” Applied Animal Behavior Science (2008), doi:10.1016/j.applanim.2008.04.006) was based on a survey of approximately 5000 owners of dogs, representing 30 breeds. According to the authors:
Breeds with the greatest percentage of dogs exhibiting serious aggression (bites or bite attempts) toward humans included Dachshunds, Chihuahuas and Jack Russell Terriers (toward strangers and owners); Australian Cattle Dogs (toward strangers); and American Cocker Spaniels and Beagles (toward owners). More than 20% of Akitas, Jack Russell Terriers and Pit Bull Terriers were reported as displaying serious aggression toward unfamiliar dogs. Golden Retrievers, Labradors Retrievers, Bernese Mountain Dogs, Brittany Spaniels, Greyhounds and Whippets were the least aggressive toward both humans and dogs.
The authors caution that all dog bite statistics, including theirs, are imprecise and subject to misinterpretation. However, they felt fairly confident that the range of behaviors exhibited by the dogs in the sample were representative of the owners’ reports.
Another study was conducted recently in an area of Germany that had enacted a ban on bull terriers, American Staffordshire bull terriers and 11 other breeds. That study (E. Schalke, et. al., “Is breed-specific legislation justified? Study of the results of the temperament test of Lower Saxony,” Journal of Veterinary Behavior (2008) 3, 97-103) found that 95 percent of the behavior exhibited by 415 dogs from these breeds was appropriate to the test situation, and that inappropriate aggression was usually associated with unusual movements or owners jerking on the leash. The ban was subsequently rescinded.
More broadly, although dog bites are certainly no small matter, your chances of being bitten by a dog are actually rather small. A recent book, Dogs Bite, but Balloons and Slippers are More Dangerous, provides an amusing and informative look at the risk of dog bites. The author, Janis Bradley notes that dogs can be dangerous. And they are more dangerous to children than to adults. But here's the reality, according to Bradley. Dogs almost never kill people. A child is more likely to die choking on a marble or a balloon, and an adult is more likely to die in a bedroom slipper related accident. Your chances of being killed by a dog are roughly one in 18 million. You are five times more likely to be killed by a bolt of lightning.
None of this discussion is intended to be critical of any particular breed, nor should it lead you to be inattentive to warnings that your dog may give. The key to good behavior in any dog is early training and socialization, as well as patient, gentle handling and a secure, predictable environment. With this approach, you and your dog—regardless of breed—can have a safe and happy life together.
|