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Dog Attacks by Breed: What the Statistics Show
Dog attacks by breed are often discussed as if one breed alone determines whether a dog will bite. The available evidence is more complicated. Some breeds appear more frequently in studies of severe injuries, but breed identification, local dog populations, reporting practices, and the circumstances of each incident affect the results. For Illinois dog bite claims, the facts of the attack and the state’s law matter more than a breed label alone.
Dog Attacks by Breed: What the Data Shows
When researching dog attacks by breed, distinguish between reports of all bites, injuries treated in hospitals, insurance claims, and fatal attacks. These datasets measure different outcomes and should not be treated as interchangeable.
A 2021 systematic review in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery examined U.S. dog-bite studies published through May 2018. It found that German Shepherds and pit bull-type dogs were frequently identified in medical literature concerning serious injuries. However, the studies covered different populations and settings, so their findings do not establish a universal ranking of which breed bites most often. Read the systematic review of U.S. dog bites.
The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) also cautions against predicting an individual dog’s behavior based on breed alone. Breed population, the dog’s history, the circumstances surrounding an encounter, and the quality of breed identification can all influence reported figures. Review the AVMA’s breed and dog-bite research.
Dog Bite Statistics by Breed
The table below summarizes breeds frequently identified in studies of reported bites and severe injuries. It does not assign a current bite rate or a percentage of all attacks to any breed because no single, consistent, nationally representative dataset exists for that purpose.
| Breed or category | What published research reports | What the figures can tell us |
| Pit bull-type dogs | Frequently identified in some studies of severe injuries and fatal attacks. | These findings focus on selected outcomes and do not indicate how likely an individual dog is to bite. |
| German Shepherds | Medical studies frequently identify them in serious dog-bite injuries. | Hospital and trauma studies may overrepresent severe cases rather than all bites. |
| Rottweilers | Identified in some studies of serious bites and historical fatality reports. | Historical fatality counts are not current bite rates and do not measure the risk posed by every dog of this breed. |
| Mixed-breed dogs | Included in bite studies, although the precise breed mix may be uncertain. | Mixed ancestry and inconsistent identification make comparisons difficult. |
| Other breeds and unidentified dogs | Many reports involve other breeds or dogs whose breed cannot be reliably established. | A list of named breeds cannot capture every bite incident or establish a reliable overall ranking. |
Data note: This is a summary of findings in published research, not a ranked table of bite rates. Studies differ in location, period, injury severity, sample size, and how dogs were identified.
If you search for the most common dog bites by breed, you may find lists that seem to offer a definitive answer. Check whether a list describes all reported bites, severe injuries, fatalities, or insurance claims. A breed associated with a greater share of severe injuries in one medical dataset cannot automatically be described as the breed that bites most often nationwide.
Why Breed Statistics Can Be Misleading
No single comprehensive national database records every dog bite, confirms every dog’s breed through reliable identification, or adjusts results for how common each breed is in the community. Many incidents go unreported to animal control or insurers. Medical studies may include only people who sought treatment, while fatality studies examine a much smaller and different group of cases.
Visual breed identification can also be unreliable, especially for mixed-breed dogs. A study of dog-bite-related fatalities published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association found substantial discrepancies between media descriptions and breed information from animal control. The researchers concluded that they could validly determine breed in only a small proportion of the fatality cases they examined. Read the study on factors associated with dog-bite fatalities.
These limitations matter when interpreting dog bite statistics by breed. A report may identify a dog as a pit bull-type dog based on appearance without confirming its ancestry. The result can be a dataset that reflects assumptions about breed rather than the actual incidents.
Population size also affects the number of reported bites. A common breed may appear in more reports simply because more dogs of that type live in the area. To estimate whether a breed has a higher bite risk, researchers need reliable incident data, a reasonable estimate of the number of dogs in each breed or category, and comparable reporting methods. Therefore, treat dog-attack statistics by breed as one part of the picture, not a prediction of how an individual dog will behave.
For a closer look at breeds frequently discussed in bite reports and why those rankings need context, read our guide to most dangerous dog breeds.
What Actually Affects the Risk of a Dog Bite?
A dog’s behavior and the circumstances of an encounter can explain a bite better than breed alone. The AVMA explains that dogs may bite when frightened, startled, in pain, guarding food or puppies, or reacting to a perceived threat. Dogs may also bite during play if their behavior isn’t managed appropriately. See the AVMA’s dog-bite prevention guidance.
Factors that may be relevant when investigating an incident include:
- Previous behavior: Earlier bites, threatening behavior, or complaints may help establish what an owner knew about the dog’s conduct.
- Supervision and restraint: A dog that is allowed to roam, escape a yard, or approach people without adequate control may create avoidable risks.
- Training and socialization: Appropriate, humane training and gradual exposure to different people and environments can help owners manage a dog’s behavior.
- Health and pain: Illness or injury may affect how a dog reacts to touch or approach.
- The setting: A bite may occur around food, toys, puppies, a resting place, or when the dog feels cornered or threatened.
- The victim’s age and vulnerability: A bite that might cause limited injury to an adult can have more serious consequences for a young child, particularly when the face or head is involved.
These factors do not mean a bitten person is automatically responsible for the incident. They help explain what happened, prevent future injuries, and assess a legal claim.
Owners can reduce risks by keeping dogs appropriately restrained, supervising interactions with children, addressing concerning behavior, and seeking veterinary care when a dog’s health or behavior changes. People should avoid approaching unfamiliar dogs without permission and should give dogs space when they appear distressed.
For more context about public perceptions and research involving pit bull-type dogs, read our article on whether pit bulls are as dangerous as they seem.
Does Breed Affect a Dog Bite Claim in Illinois?
Breed alone does not determine whether an injured person can bring a dog-bite claim in Illinois. The Illinois Animal Control Act focuses on the circumstances of the attack and whether it meets its legal requirements, rather than requiring the dog to be a particular breed.
Under 510 ILCS 5/16, an animal’s owner may be liable for injuries when the animal, without provocation, attacks, attempts to attack, or injures a person who is acting peaceably in a place where that person is legally entitled to be. The injured person must still establish the facts required by the statute and connect the incident to the claimed injuries.
This means someone bitten by a Labrador Retriever, German Shepherd, pit bull-type dog, mixed-breed dog, or another breed may have a claim if they meet the statutory requirements. The dog does not need to appear on a list of breeds described online as dangerous.
Illinois’s statute is often described as imposing strict liability for qualifying dog attacks. In practice, a victim generally does not have to prove the owner knew the dog had bitten someone before. However, strict liability is not the same as automatic liability in every incident. Questions about provocation, lawful presence, the circumstances of the attack, and the injuries caused can still matter.
Read our guide to strict liability in Illinois dog bite cases for more information about the legal requirements.
Dangerous and Vicious Dog Findings in Illinois
The Illinois Animal Control Act distinguishes between a “dangerous dog” and a “vicious dog.” These classifications are based on statutory definitions and an investigation of the dog’s conduct, not simply its breed.
Under 510 ILCS 5/2.05a, a dangerous dog can include an individual dog that, in specified circumstances outside its owner’s or custodian’s property and while unmuzzled, unleashed, or unattended, behaves in a way that would cause a reasonable person to believe it poses a serious and unjustified imminent threat of serious physical injury or death. The definition also covers certain unjustified bites that do not cause serious physical injury.
A “vicious dog” is addressed separately under the Act and involves a legal determination based on the conduct and circumstances described by the statute. The process includes investigation and evidentiary requirements. A dog is not automatically classified as vicious simply because it belongs to a breed that receives negative attention.
Illinois law also states that vicious dogs may not be classified in a manner specific to breed. See 510 ILCS 5/15. In addition, 510 ILCS 5/24 permits local regulation of animals but provides that a regulation, policy, or ordinance may not be specific to breed.
For more information, see our guide to when a dog is considered dangerous in Illinois.
How Breed May Relate to Injury Severity and Damages
Although breed does not determine legal liability on its own, an investigation may consider the dog’s size, strength, and physical characteristics when evaluating how an injury occurred. These characteristics are only part of the evidence and do not prove that a particular dog is likely to bite.
The severity of the injury, the medical treatment required, whether the victim needs future care, scarring, lost income, and the effect on daily life may all be relevant to a claim. A facial injury, for example, may require surgery or scar treatment. A hand injury may affect movement, grip, or the ability to work. Some victims also experience anxiety or other emotional effects after an attack.
The value of a claim depends on the facts and supporting evidence, not simply on the breed of dog involved. Medical records, photographs, witness accounts, proof of lost wages, and professional assessments can help document the harm.
Learn more about emotional distress damages after a dog bite.
Identifying the Dog and Its Bite History
Identifying the dog and its owner can be important after a bite. If it is safe to do so, record the owner’s name and contact information, the location of the incident, and the names of any witnesses. Photographs of visible injuries and the scene may also help document what happened. Do not put yourself at further risk to obtain photographs or approach an unfamiliar dog.
Seek medical attention promptly, especially for deep puncture wounds, injuries to the face or hands, uncontrolled bleeding, or signs of infection. A medical professional can clean and assess the wound, discuss infection prevention, and determine whether additional treatment is necessary. Follow medical advice and keep records of appointments, prescriptions, and expenses.
Where appropriate, report the incident to the relevant local animal control agency or public health authority. Reporting can help document the event and allow officials to assess vaccination information and any applicable public-safety requirements. Ask the responding agency how to obtain a report or case number.
A dog’s prior bite history may be relevant evidence, but it is not always necessary to establish a claim under Illinois’s statutory dog-bite law. The central legal question is whether the requirements of the applicable law are satisfied by the facts of the incident. An attorney can help identify useful records and explain how the evidence may apply.
Illinois Claims in a National Context
National insurance figures show the financial impact of dog-related injuries, but they do not rank dog breeds by bite frequency. According to the Insurance Information Institute and State Farm, insurers recorded an estimated 28,450 dog-bite and related injury claims in the United States in 2025, with a total claim value of approximately $1.862 billion and an average cost per claim of $65,450. The figures include other dog-related injuries, such as fractures and blunt-force trauma, and should not be interpreted as a count of every bite or as a breed-specific dataset. Read the Insurance Information Institute’s dog-bite liability data.
Illinois accounted for an estimated 1,283 claims in the 2025 data, with an average cost per claim of $79,596. These are insurance claim figures, not a measure of the number of dog bites that occurred in the state or proof that one breed was responsible for more incidents.
For broader national context, see our article on U.S. dog bite statistics.
How Chicago Dog Bite Injury Lawyers Can Help
After a dog attack, you may be dealing with medical treatment, missed work, scarring, emotional distress, and questions about who is responsible. Understanding breed statistics may provide context, but it does not resolve the facts or legal issues in an individual case.
Chicago Dog Bite Injury Lawyers can review the circumstances of an incident, explain how Illinois law may apply, and help identify evidence relevant to a potential claim. This may include medical records, witness statements, photographs, animal-control reports, and available information about the dog and its owner.
Every case is different, and we can’t guarantee any result. A legal review can help you understand your options and what information we may need to evaluate your claim.
If you or a family member has been injured, contact our lawyers to discuss the incident and request a consultation.
FAQs
No reliable, universally accepted national ranking establishes which breed has the highest attack rate. Studies differ in the types of incidents recorded, the locations and years covered, and the accuracy of breed identification. Some medical studies frequently identify German Shepherds and pit bull-type dogs in severe-injury cases, but those findings do not establish which breed bites most often across the entire U.S. dog population.
No single trustworthy percentage applies to one breed across all dog bites in the United States. Some published studies report the share of particular breeds among selected hospital cases or fatal attacks, but those percentages do not represent all bites and may not account for how common each breed is. Check the source, study period, injury type, and breed-identification method before interpreting a percentage.
There is no well-supported, universal top-five list of breeds most likely to bite. German Shepherds, pit bull-type dogs, Rottweilers, mixed-breed dogs, and several other breeds appear in different studies of reported or severe bites. Their order changes by study and location. Don’t treat these lists as individual predictions; behavior, management, health, circumstances, and reliable identification also matter.
The Illinois Animal Control Act states that local animal regulations, policies, or ordinances may not be breed-specific, and that vicious dogs may not be classified by breed. See 510 ILCS 5/24 and 510 ILCS 5/15. Individual dogs may still be subject to legal findings and requirements based on their conduct and the circumstances involved.
The Illinois Animal Control Act provides that local animal regulations, policies, or ordinances may not be specific to breed, and it states that vicious dogs may not be classified by breed. See 510 ILCS 5/24 and 510 ILCS 5/15. Individual dogs may still be subject to legal findings and requirements based on their conduct and the circumstances involved.
Speak With a Chicago Dog Bite Lawyer
A dog bite can cause more than a temporary wound. If you have questions about medical expenses, lost income, scarring, or other effects of an attack, consider getting legal guidance about your options.
Contact Chicago Dog Bite Injury Lawyers today to discuss what happened and learn whether Illinois law may allow a claim. Your case’s circumstances, not the dog’s breed alone, will guide that assessment.
Methodology and Data Notes
This article summarizes published veterinary and medical research and insurance industry reporting available as of October 26, 2026. Breed-related findings are not presented as current population-wide bite rates because available studies use different samples, periods, definitions, and methods of identifying dogs. The national insurance figures cited above cover dog-bite and related injury claims, not every bite, and not claims broken down by breed. Legal information is a general summary of selected provisions of the Illinois Animal Control Act and is not a substitute for advice about a specific incident.
This article is for general information and is not legal advice.
Legally Reviewed By
Attorney Jonathan Rosenfeld
Content legally reviewed by Jonathan Rosenfeld The information on this page has been legally reviewed by Attorney Jonathan Rosenfeld, founder and managing partner of Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC. With extensive experience representing dog bite victims across Chicago, Mr. Rosenfeld is dedicated to helping injury victims hold negligent dog owners accountable and pursue the maximum compensation available under the law. His deep legal knowledge and commitment to client advocacy ensure that the information provided is accurate, reliable, and aligned with current legal standards.