Dog Attack Deaths and Maimings, U.S. & Canada, September 1982 to December 26, 2011

By compiling U.S. and Canadian press accounts between 1982 and 2011,1 Merritt Clifton, editor of Animal People, shows the breeds most responsible for serious injury and death.

Study highlights

The combination of pit bulls, rottweilers, their close mixes and wolf hybrids:

  • 77% of attacks that induce bodily harm
  • 73% of attacks to children
  • 81% of attack to adults
  • 68% of attacks that result in fatalities
  • 76% that result in maiming

Discussion notes:

  • Even if the pit bull category was "split three ways," attacks by pit bulls and their closest relatives would still outnumber attacks by any other breed.
  • Pit bulls are noteworthy for attacking adults almost as frequently as children, a characteristic not shared by any other breed.
  • If a pit bull or rottweiler has a bad moment, instead of being bitten, often someone is maimed or killed; that has now created off-the-chart actuarial risk.
1982-2011 chart
Breed Bodily harm Child Victims Adult Victims Deaths Maimings % of dog population
Pit bull terrier 1970 826 687 207 1093 .033
Rottweiler 481 272 126 78 268 .003
Husky 66 41 4 22 18 .020
Wolf hybrid 84 69 5 19 48 .001
Bullmastiff (Presa canario) 76 30 28 11 44 .002
German shepherd 89 56 25 12 54 .014
German shepherd-mix 54 33 14 9 32
Pit bull-mix 130 56 31 8 74
Akita 65 42 19 8 47 .004
Chow 54 36 15 7 36 .007
Doberman 15 8 7 7 7 .007

*Chart ordered by number of deaths; includes only a portion of breeds listed in report.

Dog attack deaths and maimings, U.S. & Canada, September 1982 to December 26, 2011, by Merritt Clifton, Animal People, December 26, 2011.
  1. This report is ongoing. New attacks are recorded as they occur. Older reports showing fewer attacks include: 2010, 2009, 2008 and 2007.