Dog Bite-Related Studies

Dog Bite Studies

Welcome to DogBiteStudies.org

This website serves as a tertiary source that compiles and summarizes a wide range of peer-reviewed scientific studies on dog bite–related topics. Published by canine and public safety researchers, the content is organized into sections:

  • Comprehensive Studies & Systematic Reviews
  • Breed Identification & DNA
  • Breed-Specific Behavior & Aggression
  • Bite Strength & Severity
  • Breed-Specific Legislation (BSL)

Each section provides the study's title, the publication source, a direct link to the original study, and concise bullet-point summaries of the key findings. Our goal is to offer a convenient, evidence-based reference for those interested in exploring the scientific research on dog bite statistics, fatal dog attacks, and the factors that influence dog behavior. This website will be updated with additional studies as they are identified and reviewed.

Comprehensive Studies & Systematic Reviews

1) The role of breed in dog bite risk and prevention

Published by: American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)

Link to study: The role of breed in dog bite risk and prevention

  • Controlled studies have not identified pit bull-type dogs as disproportionately dangerous.
  • As the population of specific breeds increases, bite incidents related to those breeds also increase. This correlation is due to the larger population size rather than any inherent risk associated with specific breeds.
  • The term “pit bull” is particularly ambiguous, encompassing a range of pedigree breeds, informal types, and appearances that cannot be reliably identified. Visual identification of dog breeds is often unreliable, and witnesses may be predisposed to assume that a vicious dog is of this type.
  • The substantial variation within breeds suggests that it is inappropriate to make predictions about a dog's propensity for aggressive behavior based solely on its breed.
  • Breed is a poor sole predictor of aggressiveness, and pit bull-type dogs have not been implicated in controlled studies of dog bite prevention.
  • There is no evidence to suggest that introducing a breed-specific ban will reduce the rate or severity of bite injuries within the community.

2) Dog-bite-related fatalities

Published by: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Link to study: Dog-bite-related fatalities

  • After analyzing 15 years of dog bite-related fatalities (DBRFs), the CDC recommends breed-neutral approaches for dog bite prevention and public safety, such as the enforcement of animal control laws (e.g., leash and dog-at-large laws) and focusing efforts on irresponsible owners and dogs with a history of aggressive behavior.
  • Banning specific breeds is considered "unproductive" because most DBRFs are preventable. Additionally, as the popularity of various breeds changes over time, the number of bite incidents related to those breeds also fluctuates (e.g., Rottweilers were the most commonly reported breed involved in fatal attacks in 1995/1996, when their popularity peaked).
  • The CDC acknowledged that the media is prone to inaccurately reporting the breeds of dogs involved in DBRFs.
  • The CDC stopped tracking breed-specific data for DBRFs in the early 2000s, as it determined that dog bite prevention is not a breed-specific issue. The CDC also cited difficulties in accurately identifying breeds and accounting for the complexities of the circumstances surrounding each incident.

3) Systematic review of dog bite prevention strategies

Published by: Journal of Injury Prevention

Link to study: Systematic review of dog bite prevention strategies

  • After analyzing 43 previous studies on dog bites and dog bite-related injuries, the study concluded that breed-neutral strategies are more effective than breed-specific legislation (BSL) for reducing dog bites.
  • Evidence from multiple studies supports the idea that the most effective animal control policies apply to all dogs, rather than focusing on specific breeds.
  • Breed-neutral regulations, such as the enforcement of leash laws, stray dog control, and addressing dogs with a history of aggressive behavior, are the most effective policies for reducing dog bites and improving public safety.

4) Co-occurrence of potentially preventable factors in 256 dog bite-related fatalities in the United States

Published by: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA)

Link to study: Co-occurrence of potentially preventable factors in 256 dog bite-related fatalities in the United States

  • Factors associated with irresponsible ownership and failure to neuter dogs are the primary causes of dog bite-related fatalities; breed is not a relevant factor.
  • Media reports are unreliable sources for breed identification, with over 40% of breed reports in the media differing from the breed identified by animal control. Furthermore, valid breed determination was only possible in 18% of all incidents.
  • Most dog-bite related fatalities (DBRFs) were characterized by coincident, preventable factors; breed was not one of these. The study supports multifactorial approaches for dog bite prevention rather than single-factor solutions like breed-specific legislation (BSL).

5) Defaming Rover: Error-based latent rhetoric in the medical literature on dog bites

Published by: Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science

Link to study: Defaming Rover: Error-based latent rhetoric in the medical literature on dog bites

  • Many medical studies analyzed contained factual errors, misinterpretations, omissions, and exaggerations based on misunderstood or inaccurate statistics.
  • These studies often included misinformation about the significance of breed and breed characteristics in dog bite incidents.
  • Due diligence was not consistently performed to accurately or scientifically identify the breed(s) involved in the bite incidents.
  • The study discusses how breed-specific legislation (BSL) is often a form of "panic policy making."

Breed Identification & DNA

6) Inconsistent identification of pit bull-type dogs by shelter staff

Published by: The Veterinary Journal

Link to study: Inconsistent identification of pit bull-type dogs by shelter staff

  • A total of 62 dogs were visually identified as pit bulls, but only 25 had DNA from pit bull-type ancestry, resulting in a misidentification rate of 60%.
  • Visual identification of pit bull-type dogs was inconsistent with DNA results, with accuracy ranging from a low of 33% to a high of 75%.
  • The mean sensitivity for visual identification of pit bull-type dogs was 50%, reflecting errors: 60% of dogs were falsely identified as pit bulls, and 20% of actual pit bull-type dogs were not identified as such.
  • The lack of consistency in identifying pit bull-type dogs highlights the unreliability of visual breed identification.
  • This inconsistency in breed identification has significant implications for breed-specific regulations, which rely on the assumption that certain breeds can be identified by appearance and are inherently dangerous. Since injuries from dogs have not decreased following breed bans, public safety is better served by focusing on mitigating risk factors for dog bites rather than targeting specific breeds.

7) A canine identity crisis: Genetic breed heritage testing of shelter dogs

Published by: Public Library of Science (PLOS) One Journal

Link to study: A canine identity crisis: Genetic breed heritage testing of shelter dogs

  • 53% of pit bull-type dogs (133 of 249) had less than 50% DNA from pit bull-type ancestry, meaning they are mixed-breed dogs rather than purebred "pit bulls" or "pit bull mixes."
  • 98% of pit bull-type dogs (244 of 249) were found to be mixed-breed, with only 2% (5 dogs) being purebred.
  • Pit bull-type dogs had an average of 43.5% DNA from pit bull-type ancestry (38.5% on average in shelter 1 and 48.4% on average in shelter 2).
  • Using appearance to determine breed was highly unreliable, with accuracy ranging from 10.4% to 67.7%.
  • Breed bans in Spain, the Netherlands, Canada, and Italy have failed to reduce dog bite incidents. A recent study in Ireland found no difference in bite severity or medical attention required between restricted and non-restricted breeds.

8) Comparison of adoption agency breed identification and DNA breed identification of dogs

Published by: Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science

Link to study: Comparison of adoption agency breed identification and DNA breed identification of dogs

  • After comparing visual breed assignments of dogs by adoption agencies to their DNA, only 25% of the visual breed assignments correctly matched the DNA of the dominant breed(s) in the dogs.
  • The discrepancies between the opinions of adoption agencies and DNA analysis suggest that it would be worthwhile to reevaluate the reliability of breed identification and the justification for current public and private policies regarding specific dog breeds.

Breed-Specific Behavior & Aggression

9) Comparison of behavioural tendencies between “dangerous dogs” and other domestic dog breeds – Evolutionary context and practical implications

Published by: Journal of Evolutionary Applications

Link to study: Comparison of behavioural tendencies between “dangerous dogs” and other domestic dog breeds – Evolutionary context and practical implications

  • After testing and analyzing aggressive behavior in two groups of dogs, breeds commonly subjected to breed-specific legislation (BSL), including Akitas, Dobermans, German Shepherds, Rottweilers, and pit bull-type breeds, and breeds not commonly subjected to BSL, including Beagles, Dalmatians, Golden Retrievers, Greyhounds, and Labrador Retrievers, the study found no significant difference in aggressive behavior between the two groups.
  • The study concluded that breed does not determine aggressive behavior.
  • The study rejects BSL and concludes that it is unlikely to be an effective tool for reducing dog bite risk.

10) Ancestry-inclusive dog genomics challenges popular breed stereotypes

Published by: Science.org

Link to study: Ancestry-inclusive dog genomics challenges popular breed stereotypes

  • Only 9% of a dog's behavioral traits are attributable to its breed, indicating that breed has minimal impact on behavior.
  • There is significant variation in behavior across individual dogs of the same breed.
  • Generally, breed is a poor predictor of individual behavior and should not be relied upon when selecting a pet dog.

11) Is there a difference? Comparison of golden retrievers and dogs affected by breed-specific legislation regarding aggressive behavior

Published by: Journal of Veterinary Behavior

Link to study: Is there a difference? Comparison of golden retrievers and dogs affected by breed-specific legislation regarding aggressive behavior

  • There were no significant differences in aggression between the legislated breed group (including pit bull-type breeds, Dobermans, Rottweilers, and others) and the Golden Retriever control group.
  • The study found no significant difference between Golden Retrievers and breeds affected by breed-specific legislation (BSL).
  • There is no scientific basis for breed-specific lists.

12) Is breed-specific legislation justified? Study of the results of the temperament test of Lower Saxony

Published by: Journal of Veterinary Behavior

Link to study: Is breed-specific legislation justified? Study of the results of the temperament test of Lower Saxony

  • After testing the temperament of 415 dogs impacted by breed-specific legislation (BSL), including Bullmastiffs, Dobermans, Mastiffs, Rottweilers, pit bull-type breeds, and others, the study determined that there was no indication of dangerousness in specific breeds. The dogs were evaluated for aggression in various scenarios, including dog-human, dog-dog, and dog-environment interactions.
  • There was no difference in aggression or behavior between pit bull-type breeds (subjected to the strictest regulations) and other breeds impacted by BSL but subjected to fewer regulations, such as Bullmastiffs, Dobermans, Mastiffs, and Rottweilers.
  • The study concluded that there was no justification for specific breed lists in BSL.

13) Human directed aggression in domestic dogs (Canis familiaris): Occurrence in different contexts and risk factors

Published by: Journal of Applied Animal Behaviour Science

Link to study: Human directed aggression in domestic dogs (Canis familiaris): Occurrence in different contexts and risk factors

  • Aggression is strongly linked to an individual dog's experiences and environment. It is not a trait that can be associated with any specific breed.
  • The factors associated with increased rates of aggression were not breed-specific. These factors included intact dogs (failure to neuter), the dog's age, and exposure to punishment-based training methods.
  • It is inappropriate to make assumptions about an individual dog's risk of aggression based on characteristics such as breed.

Bite Strength & Severity

14) Dog bite injuries to humans and the use of breed-specific legislation: A comparison of bites from legislated and nonlegislated dog breeds

Published by: Irish Veterinary Journal

Link to study: Dog bite injuries to humans and the use of breed-specific legislation: A comparison of bites from legislated and nonlegislated dog breeds

  • There is no difference in the medical treatment required following a dog bite or in the type of bite inflicted between breeds stereotyped as "dangerous" (breeds targeted by breed-specific legislation, such as German Shepherds, Rottweilers, and pit bull-type dogs) and other breeds of similar sizes and strengths that are not stereotyped as "dangerous" (breeds such as Boxers, Bulldogs, and Labrador Retrievers).
  • Bites by breeds not perceived as dangerous (non-legislated breeds) are reported at a significantly lower rate to authorities, leading to misleading data in breed-specific statistics on dog bites.

15) Cranial dimensions and forces of biting in the domestic dog

Published by: Journal of Anatomy

Link to study: Cranial dimensions and forces of biting in the domestic dog

  • A dog's overall size is the primary factor that affects its bite force.
  • Breed was not identified as a factor influencing bite force in the study's conclusion.
  • The force of biting in domestic dogs is strongly related to size.

16) Bite forces and their measurement in dogs and cats

Published by: Frontiers In Veterinary Science Journal

Link to study: Bite forces and their measurement in dogs and cats

  • Factors affecting a dog's bite force are not limited to breed and include the dog’s size, chewing enthusiasm, personality, and training.
  • Breed was not identified as a significant factor affecting bite force in the study's conclusion.

Breed-Specific Legislation (BSL)

17) U.S. adults’ perceptions of dog breed bans, dog aggression and breed-specific laws

Published by: International Journal of Environmental Research & Public Health

Link to study: U.S. adults’ perceptions of dog breed bans, dog aggression and breed-specific laws

  • 70% of U.S. residents oppose breed-specific bans (BSL).
  • The majority prefer breed-neutral approaches for public safety, including public education about animal welfare and behavior, stricter leash laws, and harsher penalties for irresponsible dog owners.
  • There is growing evidence suggesting that breed-specific laws (BSL) are ineffective, negatively impact animal welfare, and do little to improve public safety. The ineffectiveness of BSL is attributed to factors such as breed misidentification, which has been reported among the general public, animal shelter workers, law enforcement officers, and healthcare professionals. The inability of most people to accurately identify dog breeds significantly impacts the ability to collect accurate breed-specific bite statistics. Consequently, media stories often spread inaccurate and misleading information about certain breeds.

18) Small animal veterinarians’ perceptions, experiences, and views of common dog breeds, dog aggression, and breed-specific laws in the United States

Published by: International Journal of Environmental Research & Public Health

Link to study: Small animal veterinarians’ perceptions, experiences, and views of common dog breeds, dog aggression, and breed-specific laws in the United States

  • 96% of veterinarians oppose breed-specific legislation (BSL) and overwhelmingly endorse breed-neutral policies, such as public education and stricter leash laws, to reduce the risk of dog bites.
  • Veterinarians' reasons for opposing BSL include: 89% agreed that BSL does not improve public safety; 76% agreed that BSL is a form of government overreach; and 75% agreed that BSL creates an animal welfare issue.
  • The majority of veterinarians described their experiences with pit bull-type dogs as either positive or very positive.
  • There is increasing evidence suggesting that breed bans do not decrease dog bites.

19) Emergency department visits for dog bite injuries in Missouri municipalities with and without breed-specific legislation: A propensity score-matched analysis

Published by: Frontiers in Public Health Journal

Link to study: Emergency department visits for dog bite injuries in Missouri municipalities with and without breed-specific legislation: A propensity score-matched analysis

  • After analyzing medical emergency room records on dog bite injuries in Missouri, no difference was found between municipalities with and without breed-specific legislation (BSL).
  • The study found that breed-discriminatory laws have not reduced the risk of emergency department visits for dog bite injuries in Missouri.
  • There appears to be no greater risk to public safety as local governments move to repeal existing breed bans.

20) A quantitative study of Denver’s breed-specific legislation

Published by: Animal Law Review Journal

Link to study: A quantitative study of Denver’s breed-specific legislation

  • Using data from Denver Animal Protection, the agency that enforces breed-specific legislation (BSL), the study found that the city spent more than $100 million enforcing the ban over its 30-year lifespan, with little measurable impact on public safety.
  • The enforcement of BSL was not equitable, as enforcement varied inconsistently within different communities and neighborhoods in Denver.
  • The study rejects BSL and advocates for comprehensive breed-neutral approaches to improve public safety.

21) The effect of breed-specific dog legislation on hospital treated dog bites in Odense, Denmark—A time series intervention study

Published by: Public Library of Science (PLOS) One Journal

Link to study: The effect of breed-specific dog legislation on hospital treated dog bites in Odense, Denmark—A time series intervention study

  • Breed-specific legislation (BSL) had no impact on dog bite-related injuries.
  • The study agrees with other research that has concluded BSL is ineffective.
  • The study rejects BSL and specifically advocates for breed-neutral regulations to reduce dog bite-related incidents.

22) Human hospitalisations due to dog bites in Ireland (1998–2013): Implications for current breed specific legislation

Published by: The Veterinary Journal

Link to study: Human hospitalisations due to dog bites in Ireland (1998–2013): Implications for current breed specific legislation

  • Breed-specific legislation (BSL) is not effective in Ireland, and serious dog bite incidents have significantly increased since BSL was enacted.
  • The current legislation is not an effective dog bite mitigation strategy in Ireland and may be contributing to a rise in hospitalizations.

23) Dog bites in The Netherlands: A study of victims, injuries, circumstances and aggressors to support evaluation of breed specific legislation

Published by: The Veterinary Journal

Link to study: Dog bites in The Netherlands: A study of victims, injuries, circumstances and aggressors to support evaluation of breed specific legislation

  • Dog bite incidents result from a complex set of factors, including dog ownership, circumstantial factors, and other variables.
  • The results of breed risk calculations did not correlate with the breeds targeted by breed-specific legislation (BSL).
  • The view that aggressive potential is linked to dog breed is concerning, as a dog's tendency to bite or exhibit aggressive behavior depends on more than just genetics. Other factors, such as heredity, experience, socialization, training, health, and victim behavior, all play a role. Therefore, it has been recommended that aggressive potential should be evaluated for each dog individually.

24) Fatal dog attacks in Spain under a breed-specific legislation: A ten-year retrospective study

Published by: Journal of Veterinary Behavior

Link to study: Fatal dog attacks in Spain under a breed-specific legislation: A ten-year retrospective study

  • Dog bite-related fatalities (DBRFs) result from a variety of factors, and breed-specific legislation (BSL) was ineffective in reducing DBRFs.
  • The study recommends a multidisciplinary, behavior-based approach to further study and address the relevant risk factors associated with DBRFs.
  • The implementation of BSL in Spain does not appear to have led to a reduction in dog bite-related fatalities over the last decade.

25) Spanish dangerous animals act: Effect on the epidemiology of dog bites

Published by: Journal of Veterinary Behavior

Link to study: Spanish dangerous animals act: Effect on the epidemiology of dog bites

  • After analyzing medical records on dog bites during the 5-year period before breed-specific legislation (BSL) was implemented and the 5-year period after BSL was implemented, the study found that BSL had no impact on dog bite-related injuries.
  • Dangerous breeds lists are unsuitable and unjustified.

26) Breed-specific legislation and the pit bull terrier: Are the laws justified?

Published by: Journal of Veterinary Behavior

Link to study: Breed-specific legislation and the pit bull terrier: Are the laws justified?

  • Evidence does not support the view that pitbull-type breeds are disproportionately dangerous.
  • Even though many areas in Australia have breed-specific legislation (BSL) that bans breeds including American Pit Bull Terriers, Japanese Tosas, Dogo Argentinos, Fila Brasileiros, Presa Canarios, and others, fatal dog attacks and serious dog bite-related incidents continue to occur.
  • The study rejects BSL and describes it as unjustified.

27) Animal control measures and their relationship to the reported incidence of dog bites in urban Canadian municipalities

Published by: The Canadian Veterinary Journal

Link to study: Animal control measures and their relationship to the reported incidence of dog bites in urban Canadian municipalities

  • Breed-specific legislation (BSL) had no impact on dog bite-related incidents when comparing data from municipalities with and without BSL.
  • Municipalities that enforced effective breed-neutral regulations, such as licensing requirements and ticketing, achieved a reduction in dog bite incidents.
  • The data provided no evidence of lower dog bite incidence in municipalities with breed-specific legislation.

28) Does the dangerous dogs act protect against animal attacks: a prospective study of mammalian bites in the accident and emergency department

Published by: International Journal of the Care of the Injured

Link to study: Does the dangerous dogs act protect against animal attacks: a prospective study of mammalian bites in the accident and emergency department

  • The Dangerous Dogs Act (DDA) in the UK, which bans several breeds including Japanese Tosas, Dogo Argentinos, Fila Brasileiros, and pitbull-type breeds, is ineffective and does not reduce the number of dog bite-related injuries.
  • After analyzing medical records on dog bites before and after the DDA was implemented, the study found that the data clearly demonstrates little impact on dog bite-related injuries.
  • If legislation aims to reduce and prevent injury from animal bites, in its present form the DDA does little to protect the public.
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