While all dogs have the potential to cause serious dog bite inquiries, our dog bite lawyers at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm warn that some breeds of dogs may be even more dangerous than others. New research shows that rottweilers and pit bull terriers lead the pack, causing about 74% of all fatal dog attacks between 2005 and 2011.
Children are particularly susceptible to a dog attack because they have less canine experience, are more likely to alarm or threaten a dog, and are not as able to defend themselves. However, pit bulls attack adults almost as frequently as children. This demonstrates the problematic nature of the breed. Their behavior differs because of their selective breeding for dog fighting – they have far less inhibition about attacking larger beings, frequently attack without warning, possess a more lethal bite style, and a severely harmful manner of attack. By contrast, it is suggested that rottweilers show up more often in mauling, killing, and injuring statistics because they are both extremely popular and quite powerful. They are capable of inflicting great injury in cases where attacks by other breeds would be less harmful.
Most breeds do not attack without warning as the pit bull does. German Sheppard’s, for example, have three distinctively different types of bites: the nip, which is gentle and does not break skin, the grab-and-drag, which is used to pull puppies or children away from danger, and the reactive bite, which is used in defense of territory, children, or other guarded things. The reactive bite is preceded by warning signs such as barks, growls, and other behaviors meant to avoid a conflict. Hurting someone, unlike the nature of pit bulls, is almost never a German Sheppard’s intention.
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The other most dangerous breeds include wolf hybrids and fighting breeds, such as dogo argentine, presa canario, cane corso, tosa inu, and presa mallorquin. The breeding and ownership of wolf hybrids are regulated in most U.S. states because of their predatory nature. Reports of deaths from this crossbreed are extraordinarily high, with 19 fatalities between 1982 and 2010; and this number may be even higher because many owners often mislabel or do not register their dogs to evade recognition.
High-risk breeds should never be placed in dangerous scenarios, such as bringing a child into the home of someone who owns a high-risk breed, or vice versa. Placing both a child and a canine in a ‘new’ situation such as this is one of the most dangerous and preventable mistakes committed by the American public. No one should agree to take care of a dangerous breed if there are children in the home or expected to be in the home while the dog is staying.
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To date, over 650 cities have initiated regulations targeting high-risk breeds due to their risks. Reporting threatening, loose, or stray dogs is actually encouraged, and may help prevent future attacks. If you encounter a dangerous dog, never scream or run away, it is best to remain motionless and avoid eye contact. Dogs can be man’s best friend, but they can also cause serious and even fatal injuries. This is particularly true for certain breeds, such as pit bulls and rottweilers.Dog bite attorneys encourage anyone who has been the victim of an attack to contact a lawyer as soon as possible. It is important to remember that almost all dog bite settlements are covered by the dog owner’s insurance company, not the dog owner’s personal assets.
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