Ok,
Are dog attacks on children and family members likely to occur by certain breeds more than others ?
According to a certain forum member this is likely because it's a breed specific problem,right ?
I already know that this is far from the the truth,no one breed is anymore likely to attack than another,no one breed is any more dangerous than another.

These stats from the USA as the UK doesn't keep any may actually suprize a few members.


There has always been a segment of the population that believes breed is the root cause of dog attacks. For whatever reasons, these people seem uninterested in examining the circumstances around the attack itself or refuse to acknowledge that the popularity and increased numbers of these breeds will necessarily be reflected in their "overrepresentation" in reported cases of dog bites.

However, history clearly bears out that when a certain breed becomes extremely popular in a given time period, and especially when the breed is used by substandard owners for negative functions, these will be the breeds found in reported cases of severe and fatal dog attacks.

The truth is - the incidence and frequency of dog attacks has remained relatively consistent over the last century, regardless of the popularity or involvement of certain breeds of dogs.

The extreme popularity of the German Shepherd during certain decades did not significantly increase the frequency of fatal attacks. Likewise, the immense popularity of the Pit Bull-type dogs and Rottweilers during the last two decades has not significantly increased the frequency of fatal attacks.

In the decade between 1966-1975*, less than 2% of all dogs involved in fatal attacks in the United States were of the breeds which today are targeted so frequently as the solution to canine aggression, (Pit Bull or Rottweiler).

* A sample year (1974) demostrates how breeds reported in fatal attacks change from decade to decade depending on popularity of breed and numerous other variables totally unrelated to the breed of dog:

FATAL DOG ATTACKS IN THE UNITED STATES: 1974

Jan. German Shepherd - OK
Jan. St. Bernard - IN
Apr. St. Bernard - NY
Apr. Northern breed - AK
May Golden Retriever - NC
May Irish Setter - TX
Jun. St. Bernard - WI
Jul. German Shepherd - MD
Jul. Malamute - AK
Sept. Dachshund - NY
Sept. German Shepherd - MI
Oct. Akita - NE
Nov. Border Collie & Labrador - IL
Nov. Great Dane - NY

Historic Cases - National Canine Research Council

I personally think any breed can attack,depends on which situation.

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Heres my website, take a look.www.freewebs.com/shellies-shihtzu

I just think some people will on hear what they want to hear.. and these are the people who the media aim their headlines at.

It's really sad that breeds like the SBT & Rottweilers get such a bad press not to mention other breeds who are seen to be "agressive". It makes me really angry that people can be so blinkered and narrow minded

If you look in to all the bad dog attacks that hit the headlines the dogs, children and up bringing of both was wrong, dogs made bad by bad handling and kids left alone, who is to say that the child did not do something to the dog and if you had a funny dog you would never leave it alone with your kids would you.

Any Dog can attack, regardless of breed

Just like people the most mildest of tempered people can loose it!!!!

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I believe any breed can attack... Its just the damage they can cause is the difference. When a dachshund bites ur arm the injury will not be as bad as when a large or even medium sized breed would bite.
I just dont understand why u never read many stories about other big breeds having attacked humans

we took our dogs for a walk today over the hills, a great treat for the dogs. Unfortunatly everytime we walk past groups of people poor leon (rootie) gets awful looks. when we see people leon gets put back on the lead as hes a bit freindly and people do not always apreciate this, particually because of his breed, but hes fine on lead. our other dog just gets called back without the lead as he very rarely shows interest. i always feel so bad for leon as its not hi fault people have such an opinion of him, he wants to say hello to other people and dogs and he just cant. the amount of people that pick up their dogs and give me a dirty look is unbelievable, even when hes on lead, he shouldnt be punished when hes done nothing wrong. it makes it more difficult for him to be socialised if people give him a wide berth or panic.

one man today stood back to let us pass and said "you go first because hes more agressive then me" i could have killed the git, its not the dogs you want to watch out for, its the offended owners!!!!

I would have stood back and laughed..lol and retorted..lol Why, you a mouse matey?

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Seriously. though I understand.. peeps would cross the road when I was out walking the Dobey(devil dog)

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my reply is along Natiks, you just dont hear about people being ' savaged by a teacup yorkie' because it will not do as much damage as a larger dog, but thats the only difference, not the breed itself. i was bit by a yorkie, it hasn't made me scared of them or want all of them to be muzzled. it is down to ownership. so many peeps out will pull their little dogs away from my two when mine have gone up to say hello, causing that dog to become fearful as they are projecting their fear onto their dog, and when that dog starts barking, my two back off, they know what the dog is saying, but a dog who hasn't been taught what that means through socialisation or a person who ignores the warning signs, the dog may well bite.