Dog Attack Deaths and Maimings, U.S. & Canada, September 1982 to December 31, 2012

By compiling U.S. and Canadian press accounts between 1982 and 2012,1 Merritt Clifton, editor of Animal People, shows the breeds most responsible for serious injury and death.

Study highlights

The combination of large molosser breeds, including pit bulls, rottweilers, presa canarios, cane corsos, mastiffs, dogo argentinos, fila brasieros, and their mixes:

  • 79% of attacks that induce bodily harm
  • 72% of attacks to children
  • 85% of attack to adults
  • 69% of attacks that result in fatalities
  • 77% that result in maiming

Discussion notes:

  • Even if the pit bull category was "split four 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. This is a very rare pattern, only seen elsewhere in the bullmastiff/presa canario line.
  • 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.
1982-2012 chart
Breed Bodily harm Child Victims Adult Victims Deaths Maimings % of dog population
Pit bull 2235 911 806 233 1268 4.4%
Rottweiler 495 278 131 81 277 2.2%
Husky 71 44 5 24 20 .05%
Wolf hybrid 84 69 5 19 48  
Bullmastiff (Presa canario) 87 30 33 14 46 .04%
German shepherd 96 60 28 14 59 2.3%
Pit bull-mix 148 63 37 12 83
Akita 65 42 19 8 47 .06%
German shepherd-mix 41 26 12 7 26  
Chow 55 36 16 7 37 .01%
Doberman 15 8 7 7 7 1.3%

*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 31, 2012, by Merritt Clifton, Animal People, December 31, 2012.
  1. This report is ongoing. New attacks are recorded as they occur. Older reports showing fewer attacks include: 2011,2010, 2009, 2008 and 2007.