Dog Bite Scientific Studies

The scientific consensus on breed-specific risk is clear: numerous scientific studies have determined that a dog's breed does not determine its aggression, bite strength, or propensity to bite. These studies have also found that breed-specific legislation (BSL) is ineffective, as it fails to reduce dog bites reliably. This consensus is significant because it represents the collective conclusion of the scientific community based on a broad analysis of comprehensive research rather than the findings of isolated, limited-scope studies that may support opposing viewpoints. Below, we provide a selection of studies supporting the consensus on breed-specific risk and BSL, including summaries of their findings.

Findings:

Controlled studies have not identified pitbull-type dogs as disproportionately dangerous.
As the population of a specific breed or dog type rises, incidents of bites related to that breed also increase. This trend is a result of the larger population size rather than an inherent risk associated with the breed(s).
"The pit bull type is particularly ambiguous as a "breed" encompassing a range of pedigree breeds, informal types and appearances that cannot be reliably identified. Visual determination of dog breed is known to not always be reliable and witnesses may be predisposed to assume that a vicious dog is of this type."
"The substantial within-breed variation suggests that it is inappropriate to make predictions about a given dog's propensity for aggressive behavior based solely on its breed."
"Given that breed is a poor sole predictor of aggressiveness and pit bull-type dogs are not implicated in controlled studies, it is difficult to support the targeting of this breed as a basis for dog bite prevention."
"It has not been demonstrated that introducing a breed-specific ban will reduce the rate or severity of bite injuries occurring in the community."

Findings:

Factors associated with irresponsible ownership are the primary cause of dog bite-related fatalities and breed is not a relevant factor (breed does not determine risk).
Media reports are a poor source for breed information as there are a high percentage of discrepancies (over 40%) between the breed reported in the media and the subsequent breed identification by animal control; additionally, valid breed determination was only possible in 18% of all incidents.
"Most dog-bite related fatalities (DBRFs) were characterized by coincident, preventable factors; breed was not one of these. Study results supported previous recommendations for multifactorial approaches, instead of single-factor solutions such as breed-specific legislation (BSL), for dog bite prevention."

Findings:

There is no difference (in the medical treatment required following a bite or in the type of bite inflicted) between dog bites by breeds stereotyped as dangerous (legislated breeds such as German Shepherds, Rottweilers, and pitbull-type dogs) and other breeds of similar sizes and strengths that are not stereotyped as dangerous (non-legislated breeds such as Boxers, Labrador Retrievers, and Bulldogs).
Dog bites by breeds not perceived as dangerous (non-legislated breeds) are less likely to be reported.

Findings:

A total of 62 dogs were visually identified as 'pitbulls' in the study, but only 25 had DNA from pitbull-type ancestry - a misidentification rate of 60%.
Visual identification of pitbull-type dogs was highly inconsistent with DNA results, with accuracy ranging from a low of 33% to a high of 75%.
Overall, the mean sensitivity of visual identification of pitbull-type dogs was 50%. This mean sensitivity reflects the frequency of two types of errors: falsely identifying dogs as 'pitbulls' when they did not have DNA from pitbull-type ancestry (60% error rate), and conversely, failing to identify dogs as 'pitbulls' when they did have DNA from pitbull-type ancestry (20% error rate).
"Lack of consistency among shelter staff indicated that visual identification of pitbull-type dogs was unreliable."
"The marked lack of agreement observed among shelter staff members in categorizing the breeds of shelter dogs illustrates that reliable inclusion or exclusion of dogs as 'pitbulls' is not possible, even by experts. This has special significance to the topic of restrictive breed regulations, since such regulations are based on the faulty assumptions that (1) certain breeds or phenotypes are inherently dangerous, and (2) that those breeds and their mixes can be identified by observation. Since injuries from dogs have not decreased following bans on particular breeds, public safety is better served by focusing on recognition and mitigation of risk factors for dog bites."

Findings:

53% of pitbull-type dogs (133 of 249) had less than a 50% DNA concentration from pitbull-type ancestry, and are therefore by definition mixed-breed dogs (and not 'pitbulls' or 'pitbull mixes').
98% of the pitbull-type dogs were found to be mixed-breed (244 of 249). Only 2% (5) were found to be purebred by DNA testing.
Pitbull-type dogs had an average DNA concentration of 43.5% from pitbull-type ancestry (38.5% average in shelter 1 and 48.4% average in shelter 2).
Using appearance to determine breed was once again determined to be highly unreliable with accuracy ranging between 10.4% and 67.7%.
"Thus far, limited empirical data has been published on the effect of BSL on improved public safety; however breed bans in Spain, the Netherlands, Canada, and Italy have failed to decrease bite incidents and a recent study from Ireland found no differences between restricted and non-restricted breeds in the severity of bites inflicted or the likelihood that the bite would need greater medical attention."

Findings:

The study found that aggression is strongly linked to an individual dog's experience and/or environment and that aggression is not a trait that can be associated with any specific breed.
The factors associated with increased rates of aggression were not breed-specific and included: un-neutered dogs, the age of the dog, and dogs subjected to punishment-based training methods.
"It would be inappropriate to make assumptions about an individual animal's risk of aggression to people based on characteristics such as breed."

Findings:

Dog bite incidents are the result of a complex set of factors including dog ownership factors, circumstantial factors, and other factors. Most importantly, the results of breed risk calculations did not match with the breeds legislated by the enacted breed-specific legislation (BSL).
"The view that aggressive potential is linked to dog breed is a point of serious concern as a dog's tendency to bite or show aggressive behavior depends on more than just genetics, and other factors such as heredity, experience, socialization and training, health, and victim behavior all play a role. As such, it has been advocated that aggressive potential should be evaluated for dogs individually."

Findings:

In many of the medical studies analyzed, there were: "clear-cut factual errors, misinterpretations, omissions, emotionally loaded language, and exaggerations based on misunderstood or inaccurate statistics."
In many of the medical studies analyzed, there was: "misinformation about the significance of breed and breed characteristics."
In many of the medical studies analyzed, a due-diligence effort was not performed to accurately and/or scientifically identify the breed(s) involved in the bite incidents included in the studies.
The study's discussion notes describes BSL as "panic policy making."

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Dog Bite-Related SCientific Studies

18%

15

9%

AMERICAN VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION

DOG BITE RISK AND PREVENTION: THE ROLE OF BREED (META-ANALYSIS OF Numerous STUDIES AND SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH)

Findings:

Journal Of The AMERICAN VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION

Co-occurrence of potentially preventable factors in 256 dog bite-related fatalities in the United States

Findings:

Irish Veterinary Journal

Dog bite injuries to humans and the use of breed-specific legislation: a comparison of bites from legislated and non-legislated dog breeds

Findings:

The Veterinary Journal

Inconsistent identification of pit bull-type dogs by shelter staff

Findings:

Public Library of Science (PLOS) ONE

A canine identity crisis: Genetic breed heritage testing of shelter dogs

Findings:

Science.ORG

Ancestry-inclusive dog genomics challenges popular breed stereotypes

Findings:

Journal Of Veterinary Behavior

Is there a difference? Comparison of golden retrievers and dogs affected by breed-specific legislation regarding aggressive behavior

Findings:

Applied Animal Science Behavior Journal

Human directed aggression in domestic dogs: Occurrence in different contexts and risk factors

Findings:

Journal OF Anatomy

Cranial dimensions and forces of biting in the domestic dog

Findings:

Frontiers In Veterinary Science Journal

Bite Forces and Their Measurement in Dogs and Cats

Findings:

International Journal Of Environmental Research & Public HEalth

US Adults' Perceptions of Dog Breed Bans, Dog Aggression and Breed-Specific Laws

Findings:

PUBLIC LIBRARY OF SCIENCE (PLOS) ONE

The effect of breed-specific dog legislation on hospital treated dog bites in Odense, Denmark—A time series intervention study

Findings:

The Veterinary Journal

Human hospitalisations due to dog bites in Ireland (1998–2013): Implications for current breed specific legislation

Findings:

The VETERINARY Journal

Dog bites in The Netherlands: A study of victims, injuries, circumstances and aggressors to support evaluation of breed specific legislation

Findings:

Journal of VETERINARY Behavior

Fatal dog attacks in Spain under a breed-specific legislation: A ten-year retrospective study

Findings:

The Canadian VETERINARY Journal

Animal control measures and their relationship to the reported incidence of dog bites in urban Canadian municipalities

Findings:

Journal OF Applied Animal Welfare Science

Defaming Rover: Error-Based Latent Rhetoric in the Medical Literature on Dog Bites

Findings:

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