Breeds That Bite

[Gooby]

This relates to Goober's attack, but I think it deserves it's own thread.

A few weeks ago I read an article that listed the top 10 breeds that bite.
Pits were first, then German Shepards or rotties, but the third was a lab.
I was like what? but then I realized that there were probably more households with labs than there were anything else. So I guess that shear numbers are responsible.

[tanza]

@Gooby:

This relates to Goober's attack, but I think it deserves it's own thread.

A few weeks ago I read an article that listed the top 10 breeds that bite.
Pits were first, then German Shepards or rotties, but the third was a lab.
I was like what? but then I realized that there were probably more households with labs than there were anything else. So I guess that shear numbers are responsible.

And then you have to look at the number one reason that dogs are given up to shelters, lack of training…. that leads to biting.... and also irresponsible dog owners.....

[Arizonaskyy]

I agree. I think the more abundant breeds will have higher numbers for the top 10 list. However, it is really the owner that should be held responsible in most cases. I know for a fact that Pits and Rotts can be extremely sweet and loving dogs. Hell I have had a couple people tell me that theirs Pits are better with their kids then any other dog.

Unfortuently, the type of person who owns a majority of these animals, are not the highest caliber of people and just want the dog so they can make it a big mean guard dog. So that is my opinion on the list.

[Duke]

What about the little "yappers" that are snappers! They are not as scary looking as the big breeds noted, but geez some are really mean. I knew a toy poodle, a little chi-wowa, (LOL - I can't spell it!) and my mom's pomeranian! When I was a kid, I learned quick to keep my hands to myself and hope my ankles wouldn't be attacked. Ha ha ha!

[lvoss]

I have spent the last 2 days at my local shelter. I live in a fairly rural county and the shelter is pretty small. All but 3 of the dogs in the shelter are large dogs and 1 of the 3 small dogs was adopted today. Most of the dogs there are either lab or pit mixes, some are lab/pit mixes. The 3 of us who went today worked every dog there. The pit bulls that are there were the most eager to work, softest mouthed, and human oriented of all the dogs in the shelter. Most of the dogs were strays that no one ever came for, some are dogs dumped by college students when school got out. There is a litter of 5, 4 month old male foxhound pups that were dumped in the night drop off, 1 got a new home yesterday. It is just so sad to see these dogs who are so eager to work with people and want so much to do what you want of them in the shelter. The one positive is that right now the shelter is only half full so these dogs are not in danger of being put down to make space. So much of the problem is the owners. So many people seem to think dogs should just be perfect with no training or work.

[tanza]

Exactly Lisa… and it is this type of thing that the "elected officials" of California that sponsored the spay/neuter bill... like that will stop the "human" that dropped off the litter of 5............NOT... If not dumped on the road to fend for themselves or die by car... then if lucky will be dumped at the shelter "night drop" for those that have them..... certainly the spay/neuter that is being passed as the "end to the pet over population" problem.... will never cover humans that treat animals no better then the garbage they put out weekly

[tasha]

The difference between a pit bite and a lab bite it that labs have 'soft mouths'. They were bred to have 'soft mouths' so that they can retrieve what their masters killed without destroying it. Anyway, this is why you don't hear too much about labs mauling people.

[Quercus]

@tasha:

The difference between a pit bite and a lab bite it that labs have 'soft mouths'. They were bred to have 'soft mouths' so that they can retrieve what their masters killed without destroying it. Anyway, this is why you don't hear too much about labs mauling people.

I agree Tasha. Though, of course Labs can, and will deliver a serious bite with their soft mouths Usually these statistics come from hospital reports of dog bites. Labs are the most common dog, so just by virtue of their numbers there will be many more bites reported than say, St. Bernards. The reason the little guys, who bite often, aren't on the list are because people don't usually go the hospital after being bitten by Fluffy.

[tasha]

@Quercus:

I agree Tasha. Though, of course Labs can, and will deliver a serious bite with their soft mouths Usually these statistics come from hospital reports of dog bites. Labs are the most common dog, so just by virtue of their numbers there will be many more bites reported than say, St. Bernards. The reason the little guys, who bite often, aren't on the list are because people don't usually go the hospital after being bitten by Fluffy.

Very true. They are big powerful dogs and their bites are surely painful.

[jys1011]

I have to chime in…I think the list is very narrow sighted. It all depends on the context of the bite, the extent of the bite, the geographic area where the list was put together. Mathematically speaking, if the area being surveyed has a vast number of Pit & German Shepard population than of course the number will be skewed toward these breeds.

I don't believe any breed is "known" for biting...I believe many human breeds are known for raising dogs that bite. I think it's unfair to blame a dog or a breed for biting when really 9 times out of 10 the human has either encouraged the bite or allowed an occasion to bite.

It is a very small percentage of animals that are aggressive due to neurological disorders.

[achandl2]

I think that in many cases you will find that the problem started with the owner…not the breed. Some breeds do have a predisposition to act aggressively, if not trained properly by the owner, but again the fault lies with the owner not the dog. In fact, most of the research published in scientific journals shows that breeds like the springer spaniel, golden retriever, labrador and beagle are seen more often by veterinarians and behaviorists for aggression related problems.

My cousins have this shih tsu that bites everyone. No one is safe. I'm just glad he doesn't have the jaws of a pit bull or we'd all be in trouble!:) On the other hand, we have a unneutered pit bull that lives in the apartment downstairs that Manning plays with and absolutely loves. When I take Manning out to the courtyard he sits in front of my neighbor's glass door and waits for the pit bull to come out and play.

[nomrbddgs]

Every dog will bite-provoked or unprovoked without proper training. It seems with the prevalence of breeds the bite ratio goes up. This is of course due to the fact that the breeds are seen more. As someone in another thread stated-70's shepherds,80's dobes, 90's pits. Does anyone remember when 101 Dalamations came out?? Lots of bad breeding, bad tempered dogs out in the public eye. These dogs were touted as being great family dogs-that is not the case, they, like any other dog, need training.

[Larka]

@Duke:

a little chi-wowa, (LOL - I can't spell it!)

An easy way to remember how to spell it is pronounce it "Chi- hu-a hu-a" and then just spell it like that- Chihuahua.

Most dogs that are seen as "vicious" just have a bad rap. I've owned a LOT of dogs on the "vicious" list- boxers, pit, dobbies, German Shepards, a Chow and Akitas. And I've owned Labs. I've been bitten by more little yippy dogs then any of the large ones.

[Barklessdog]

Basenji's bite. All dogs can if pushed. The problem becomes with dogs that can and do kill.

The lady in France with the face transplant had her face ripped off by her Lab.

Any breed can bite no matter how well trained, if pushed to the limit. To me it's a matter of human supervision, in addition to good training. No matter how well behaved or trained no one should leave a toddler alone with any dog.

[Quercus]

<>
Again, by virtue of sheer numbers these dogs are going to be at the top of the list...they are also all subject to thyroidits which will send you to the vet for behavior problems.
IMO, dogs are animals (well that isn't an opinion!) and most dogs who are called "aggressive" are just acting more like the animals they are, and less like the little humans we want them to be. So, yes, some breeds are more prone to using their mouths to get what they want than others, because of either being more primitive (like our dogs), or being bred to use their mouths to herd things (like German Shepherds). It is easy for herding instinct and guarding instinct to go awry in selectively bred dogs who have been bred to do a specific job for hundreds of years...and then suddenly kept in an apartment and expected to sleep for 15-20 hours a day. (holy run-on sentence!)
Anyhow...that is just my take...

[nomrbddgs]

My brother was bit by a lab they had just finished playing with. He was bit from eyelid to crown of skull wide open. This happened about 30 years ago, but again it can happen anytime to anyone.

[mjesse]

I read somwhere that your home owners insurance that you hope will protect you if your dog bites somebody will not cover certain breeds
pitbulls,chow,dobermans and labs were some of 10 not covered by home owners insurance…basenji were not mentioned

[tanza]

@mjesse:

I read somwhere that your home owners insurance that you hope will protect you if your dog bites somebody will not cover certain breeds
pitbulls,chow,dobermans and labs were some of 10 not covered by home owners insurance…basenji were not mentioned

Depends on your homeowners carrier, like all things, you need to read the fine print.

[lvoss]

It depends on the fine print. Some won't even cover you at all if you have certain breeds. Some will only cover you if your dog has a CGC title.

[JazzysMom]

@Barklessdog:

Basenji's bite. No matter how well behaved or trained no one should leave a toddler alone with any dog.

I know that!! Jazzy bit the little girl I babysit for – right on the nose/cheek last September. And snapped at another little girl just Sunday night, after hanging out w/the girl all evening. The little girl was walking past Dh, and Jazzy growled and snapped at her, completely unprovoked.

Sigh, I usually keep her in her crate when kids come over because unknown kids do make her uncomfortable. I don't know why I thought it'd be okay to leave her out Sunday night.

My baby girl is such a bitch.