Which Dogs Bite? A Case-Control Study of Risk Factors (1991)

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Study highlights

• Biters are 6.2 times as likely to be male than female
• Biters are 2.6 times as likely to be intact than neutered
• Biters are 2.8 times as likely to be chained as unchained
• Biters were significantly more likely to be German Shepherd or Chow Chow, male and unneutered, 50lbs and above and under 5 years of age
• Biters were significantly more likely to reside in a house with one or more children and more likely to be chained while in the yard
• Children aged 12 and younger were the victims in 51% of all cases; the median age of all bite victims was 12 years (range 1-83 years)
• 64% of bite victims were male
• 76% of the bites were recorded as minor and 24% as severe
• 50% of bites occurred on the sidewalk, street, alley or playground; 30% in the owner's yard; 14% in the owner's house and 4% in the victim's yard