Dog bites can be very dangerous. In fact, there are usually fatal attacks every year, often involving children. Even among non-fatal attacks, there are disfigurement, disabilities and the onset of serious infections. Some bites are minor, but this shows why they need to be taken seriously.
People will often say that pit bulls and Rottweilers – perhaps along with German Shepherds – are the most dangerous dogs. But others will counter that smaller dogs are more aggressive and that these large breeds are not actually all that dangerous. They can be calm and friendly, even around kids. Why do people have such different perspectives, and what is the truth about the danger of different breeds?
Aggression versus danger
The key thing to remember here is that the level of aggression does not equal the level of danger that a person faces in a dog attack.
Studies have found that small dogs are more aggressive. This is true. But these small breeds also have a very low bite strength, and their small physical size makes it easier to fend them off.
When you look at the fatality statistics, it is very clear that the large breeds are responsible for the vast majority of fatal attacks. They may be less aggressive in nature, but they are far more powerful. So, in the relatively rare cases where they do attack, the danger to the person being attacked is much higher.
This helps to show how dog bite incidents occur and how serious they may be. Those who have been injured or have lost loved ones need to know about all the legal options they have at this time.