Filed Under Dangerous Dog Breeds > Rottweilers
Pit bulls were responsible for 66 mauling deaths of humans between 1979 and 1998 (fatal dog attacks that involved at least one pit bull according), but Rottweilers were recorded for 37 mauling deaths mostly during the 1990s. German shepherds followed with 17, Huskies at 15, Malamutes at 12, and Doberman pinschers with nine.(1)
By compiling U.S. and Canadian press accounts of fatal dog maulings between 1982 and 2010, Merritt Clifton, editor of Animal People, shows the breeds most responsible for serious injury and death.(2)
The combination of pit bulls, rottweilers, presa canarios, and their mixes:
- 80% of attacks that induce bodily harm
- 70% of attacks to children
- 83% of attack to adults
- 69% of attacks that result in fatalities
- 75% that result in maiming
1982-2010 Fatal Dog Attacks and Maimings
| Breed | Bodily harm |
Child Victims |
Adult Victims |
Deaths | Maimings | % of dog population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pit bull terrier | 1,552 | 691 | 529 | 166 | 859 | .041 |
| Rottweiler | 457 | 262 | 118 | 73 | 246 | .009 |
| Husky | 56 | 36 | 4 | 21 | 14 | .081 |
| Wolf hybrid | 82 | 68 | 4 | 19 | 46 | .003 |
| Bullmastiff (Presa canario) | 58 | 22 | 21 | 9 | 31 | .013 |
| German shepherd | 79 | 52 | 20 | 9 | 50 | .018 |
| German shepherd-mix | 37 | 26 | 8 | 7 | 24 | – |
| Chow | 53 | 35 | 15 | 7 | 35 | .016 |
| Pit bull-mix | 102 | 44 | 21 | 7 | 51 | – |
| Doberman | 14 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 7 | .008 |
*Chart ordered by number of deaths; includes only a portion of breeds listed in report.(3)
Rottweilers Responsible for Almost Half Fatal Attacks on Humans in 10-Year Period
According to a special report filed in 2000 by a team of researchers, “Studies indicate that pit bull-type dogs were involved in approximately a third of human DBRF (i.e., dog bite related fatalities) reported during the 12-year period from 1981 through1992, and Rottweilers were responsible for about half of human DBRF reported during the 4 years from 1993 through 1996….[T]he data indicate that Rottweilers and pit bull-type dogs accounted for 67% of human DBRF in the United States between 1997 and 1998. It is extremely unlikely that they accounted for anywhere near 60% of dogs in the United States during that same period and, thus, there appears to be a breed-specific problem with fatalities.” (Sacks JJ, Sinclair L, Gilchrist J, Golab GC, Lockwood R. Breeds of dogs involved in fatal human attacks in the United States between 1979 and 1998. JAVMA 2000;217:836-840.) (4)
Sources:
(1) Kay Chirichigno, 2000. Inaccurate Rottweiler Statistics Reveal Solution: People & Dogs Need Training To Prevent Future Dog Attacks.
(2) Dog attack deaths and maimings, U.S. & Canada, September 1982 to June 25, 2010.
(3) 1982-2010 Fatal Dog Attacks and Maimings by Breed.
(4) The Breeds Most Likely to Kill.
