Data collected during the 20-year period, 1979 to 1998, reported 238 dog-bite related fatalities. The breeds most associated with fatalities in this study were:
Breed |
Known Fatal Attacks |
Pit bull |
66 |
Rottweiler |
39 |
German shepherd |
17 |
Husky |
15 |
Malamute |
12 |
Doberman pinscher |
9 |
Chow chow |
8 |
Great Dane |
7 |
St. Bernard |
7 |
Akita |
4 |
A more recent study for the three-year period of January 2006 to December 2008 continues to show similar results.
Breed |
Known Fatal Attacks |
Percentage of Total Fatal Attacks |
Pit bull |
52 |
59 |
Rottweiler |
12 |
14 |
American bulldog |
4 |
5 |
Husky |
4 |
5 |
German shepherd |
3 |
3 |
Doberman pinscher |
2 |
2 |
Chow chow |
2 |
2 |
Wolf hybrid |
2 |
2 |
Labrador |
2 |
2 |