Some people fear large-breed dogs and think of them as highly aggressive. They worry about getting bitten, and they may especially worry about their children being near these dogs. After all, it’s far easier for children to suffer fatal injuries in a dog bite incident.
However, research has shown that some of this fear may be misplaced. Large dogs actually don’t exhibit the most aggressive traits. Many of them are relatively passive and docile. It is the smaller breeds that tend to act more aggressively.
So, why is it that people worry most about the dogs that seem to pose the lowest level of risk?
Fatal attack statistics
The key is to look at how serious these incidents are. The easiest way to do that is to consider fatal attacks. Statistics show that large-breed dogs are responsible for the vast majority of these incidents in the United States. Common breeds include Rottweilers, Pitbulls, Dobermans and German Shepherds.
The problem isn’t necessarily that these dogs are more aggressive or more likely to attack someone. They may be less likely to attack, but the ramifications are so much more serious if they do. A large and powerful dog can cause much more serious injuries. A small breed dog like a Chihuahua, on the other hand, may have more aggressive tendencies, but it is still far less likely to seriously injure someone.
That being said, people can be injured by any breed – and children are especially at risk. Those who have been hurt need to know what legal steps to take to seek compensation from a negligent dog owner.