From 2005 to 2020, dog bite injuries killed 568 Americans. Millions of dog attacks occur each year with quite a few in Texas, and the majority of these attacks either don’t cause injury or cause a minor one. Some dog breeds have more damaging bites than others, however.
Pit bulls
There is a common belief that pit bullsare dangerous. However, the breed itself isn’t innately aggressive. They only become aggressive when the owner has raised them to be that way.
Mixed breeds
Mixed breeds are just about tied with pit bulls on the frequency and severity of bites. Slightly over half of the dogs in U.S. households are mixed breed. Dog bite injuries are more likely to come from dogs that have short, wide heads and weigh 60–100 pounds.
German shepherds
German shepherds are protective dogs that can be stubborn. For their intelligence, high energy and protective instincts, German shepherds are popular choices for police, military and livestock dogs. This breed is more likely to bite humans than other breeds, especially when they don’t know the human.
Terriers
Although terriers are small, people bred them to hunt vermin. This breed is also known for having a fearless personality. Thus, it makes sense why they are one of the top breeds behind dog bite injuries.
Rottweilers
Rottweilers could become destructive if they don’t receive enough mental stimulation and activity. These dogs are for owners who have active lifestyles and the ability to give a lot of attention to their pets.
Protecting yourself from dog attacks
When a dog approaches you, don’t look into its eyes or smile. Screaming and running are other behaviors to avoid. Running triggers the predatory instincts within the dog. If a dog bites you and doesn’t let go, you could fight them off with your good arm and call for someone to help you. You could also press your thumbs into their eyes or ears until they let go of you. Another strategy for protecting yourself from dog attacks is to use an object to catch their bite so that they’re biting the object instead of you.
