According to a study conducted by the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Wexner Medical Center and The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, United States and publishes in International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology, the risk of dog bite varies with dog breed, size of the dog and their head structure.

Dog Breeds vary in both rates of biting and severity. The highest risk breeds had both a high rate of biting and caused significant tissue injury. Bite risk and bite severity by breed from case series were combined to create a total bite risk plot. Injuries from Pitbull’s, rottweiler and mixed breed dogs were both more frequent and more severe with greater tissue damage.

Dr. Garth Essig, lead author, an otolaryngologist at Ohio State’s Wexner Medical Center said

“The purpose of this study was to evaluate dog bites in children, and we specifically looked at how breed relates to bite frequency and bite severity. Since mixed breed dogs account for a significant portion of dog bites, and we often didn’t know what type of dog was involved in these incidents. we looked at additional factors that may help predict bite tendency when the breed is unknown like weight and head shape “

“There are an estimated 89 million owned dogs in the United States and that number continues to climb,” said Dr. Essig.

“We wanted to provide families with data to help them determine the risk to their children and inform them of which types of dogs do well in households with kids. This information will help them decide which breed of dog is suitable for their family“

According to the center for disease control over 36% of households own at least one dog. Dogs are our closest companion. Sometimes our closest companion bites. This bite can result in pain, injury, or nerve damage.

“Young children are especially vulnerable to dog bites because they may not notice subtle signs that a dog may bite,” said Dr. Charles Elmaraghy, study co-author, associate professor of otolaryngology at Ohio State’s College of Medicine and chief of otolaryngology at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. “We see everything from simple lacerations to injuries in which there’s significant tissue loss that needs grafting or other reconstructive surgery.”

According to a study from the Center For Disease Control (CDC), approximately 4.7 million dog bites occur in the United States each year, and 800,000 of those bites result in medical care.

The breed of dogs which causes more severe bites are Kangal, English Mastiff, Rottweiler, American bulldog, German Shepherd.

Who are at risk of dog bites

Children between 5 and 9 years old are more likely than adults to be bitten by a dog, and when they are, the injuries are more severe. Over half of total dog bite injuries occur at home with dogs that are familiar to us.

Having a dog in the household is linked to a higher likelihood of being bitten than not having a dog. As the number of dogs in the home increases, so does the likelihood of being bitten.









Adults with two or more dogs in the household are five times more likely to be bitten than those living without dogs at home. Among adults, men are more likely to get bitten than women by a dog.

Robin Ganzert, Ph.D., president, and CEO of American Humane says “A dog bite can have a devastating effect not only on the victim but on the dog, who may be euthanized,”

State Farm is one of the few insurance companies that pay for dog bites without breed restriction.

Good news

During April 7-13, 2019 National Dog Bite Prevention Week® State Farm declared dog bite claims have decreased in 2018. State Farm paid $123 million dollars for 3,280 dog bite and injury claims. This is a

decrease of 9% compared to the number of dog bite claims in 2017 and a decrease of 7% of the amount paid.

In 2018 California became the highest claimant of dog bites while Minnesota had the least cases of dog bites.

T ips to prevent dog bites

According to ASPCA dog bites can be prevented by following some simple guidelines.









Never approach, touch or play with any dog who is sleeping, eating, chewing on a toy or bone, or caring for puppies.

caring for puppies. Never approach a barking, growling or scared dog.

Don’t pet unfamiliar dogs without asking permission from the dog’s guardian first.

Never try to pet dogs who are behind a fence or in a car.

If a loose dog comes near a child, he should not run or scream. Instead, he should avoid eye contact with the dog and stand very still, like a tree, until the animal moves away.

If a child falls down or is knocked to the ground by a dog, he should curl up in a ball with his knees tucked into his stomach, and fingers interlocked behind his neck to protect his neck and ears. If a child stays still and quiet like this, the dog will most likely just sniff him and then go away.

Children should never try to outrun a dog.

F inal words

Under the right guidance and a loving household, even the most aggressive dogs are a welcome addition to the family. Even the most dangerous dog breeds are very popular for pets, including Huskies, German Shepherds, and of course, Pitbulls. If one worries too much over their safety, a Golden retriever or Labrador is always an option. The benefit of these dogs is that they have been bred to be gentle with their mouths.