Top 20 Most Dangerous Dog Breeds in America

Boesen Law helps victims of personal injury in Colorado. As experienced dog bite lawyers in Denver, we understand the complexities of dog bite cases and the factors that contribute to these incidents. Sometimes ranking dog breeds can be controversial and misleading, as behavior in dogs is heavily influenced by training, environment, and the treatment they receive rather than breed alone. However, this list is just to be aware of since we have helped clients who were victims of dog attacks and are coming from a legal angle.

Lists like this are based on statistics like bite reports, fatal attacks, and insurance claims. Below is a general ranking based on commonly cited sources like the American Veterinary Medical Association, CDC reports, and other studies on dog attacks:

• Pit Bull Terrier
• Rottweiler
• German Shepherd
• American Bulldog
• Bullmastiff
• Siberian Husky
• Doberman Pinscher
• Alaskan Malamute
• Chow Chow
• Great Dane
• Saint Bernard
• Akita
• Boxer
• Presa Canario
• Cane Corso
• Dogo Argentino
• Tosa Inu
• Fila Brasileiro
• Wolfdog Hybrid
• Mastiff

For answers to your questions, call:
(303) 999-9999

Dog Bites by the Numbers

Before getting into breeds, it helps to see how common these incidents are and what they cost. The figures below are the most recent published as of 2026.

• Roughly 45% of U.S. homes include at least one dog, for a total of about 90 million pet dogs, figures the Insurance Information Institute attributes to the American Veterinary Medical Association. The AVMA reports that millions of people are bitten by dogs each year, with more than 4.5 million bites reported each year in the United States.
• Homeowners insurers paid $1.86 billion on dog bite and other dog-related injury claims in 2025, an 18.6% increase over 2024, according to Triple-I and State Farm claims data. The number of claims rose to 28,450, up more than 25% in a single year.
• The average cost per claim was $65,450 in 2025, down 5.5% from $69,272 in 2024 but still up 97% over the past decade. That decade-long climb reflects rising medical costs along with larger settlements and verdicts.
• The CDC, in guidance last reviewed in June 2026, reports that nearly 1 in 5 people bitten by a dog requires medical attention, that children are more likely than adults to be bitten, and that injuries to children tend to be more severe. Adults living with two or more dogs are roughly five times more likely to be bitten than adults with no dog at home.

Those numbers matter to a dog-bite claim for a practical reason. Most dog bite compensation comes from a homeowner’s or renter’s liability policy, and those policies usually cap out between $100,000 and $300,000. When a severe attack exceeds the limit, the dog owner is personally responsible for the rest.

Dog Breed Ranking Considerations

• Pit Bulls and Rottweilers often top these lists due to their strength and the frequency of attacks, but it’s important to note that any breed can be dangerous if not properly trained or treated.
• The lists are often criticized for not taking into account the total population of each breed, meaning that more common breeds may appear more dangerous simply because there are more of them.
• Some experts will argue that focusing on specific breeds oversimplifies the complex issue of dog aggression, which is more related to individual behavior, training, and environment. This is true, but again, we’re coming from a legal standpoint for victims of dog attack injuries.

Recent studies and reports on dog bite incidents in the U.S. provide insights into which breeds are most commonly involved in attacks and fatalities. Here’s a summary of findings from various sources:

• Pit Bulls remain the most frequently involved breed in fatal attacks. Over the 15-year period from 2005 through 2019, dogs killed 522 people in the United States, and pit bulls contributed to 66% of those deaths, or 345 fatalities, according to DogsBite.org’s fatality records. Rottweilers were the second most frequently identified breed, and pit bulls and Rottweilers together accounted for 76% of all recorded deaths in that period.
• Rottweilers rank second. Across 2005 through 2017, DogsBite.org recorded 433 deaths and identified Rottweilers as the second leading canine killer, responsible for 10%, or 45, of the fatal attacks in that period, according to its multi-year fatality report. Their size and jaw strength mean a single bite often produces crush and puncture wounds rather than superficial lacerations, which is why Rottweiler claims tend to involve surgical repair and permanent scarring.
• More recent annual counts follow the same pattern. In 2023, DogsBite.org recorded 63 dog bite fatalities. Multi-dog attacks made up 54% of those cases, and pit bulls were involved in 65% of the multi-dog attacks. CDC mortality data recorded 96 dog bite deaths that same year, a reminder that death counts vary depending on how each source collects and verifies its data.
• Mixed Breeds also account for a significant number of attacks. Wolf Hybrids and American Bulldogs are other breeds noted for their involvement in fatal incidents.
• Siberian Huskies, Akitas, and Chow Chows have also been reported in serious attacks, including fatalities, though they appear far less often in the fatality record than pit bulls and Rottweilers.
• Not all dangerous dog incidents result in fatalities, but many breeds with strong bite forces, such as Doberman Pinschers and Mastiffs, can cause severe injuries. Commonly cited bite-force estimates run from roughly 328 PSI for Rottweilers to more than 550 PSI for Mastiffs. Those figures come from popular breed comparisons rather than controlled laboratory measurement, so treat them as rough indicators of a large-breed dog’s capacity to do damage rather than precise values.
• Severity, not just frequency, is what separates a high-risk breed from a merely common one. A 2019 systematic review and meta-analysis of facial dog bite injuries published in the International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology concluded that breeds vary in both how often they bite and how much tissue damage they cause, and that the highest-risk breeds combine a high bite rate with significant injury severity. The authors found that injuries from pit bulls and mixed-breed dogs were both more frequent and more severe, with pit bulls responsible for the highest share of reported bites across the studies reviewed at 22.5%, followed by mixed breeds at 21.2% and German Shepherds at 17.8%. They also found elevated risk among dogs with wide, short heads weighing between 66 and 100 pounds.
• It’s also worth noting that children are disproportionately affected by dog bites, often experiencing severe injuries due to their smaller size and proximity to dogs. Adults are most often bitten on the extremities, such as the legs, hands, and arms, while children are far more likely to be bitten on the head and neck. In cases of dogs attacking children, the severity of the injuries can be even more profound, highlighting the importance of swift legal action.

What legal actions can I take after a dog bite injury?

Seek Medical Attention

Immediately after a dog bite, you should get medical treatment to address the injury and reduce the risk of infection. This also ensures you have medical records documenting the injury, which are crucial for any legal claims. A well-documented emergency room visit on the day of the attack is one of the strongest pieces of evidence a claim can have.

Report the Incident

Report the dog bite to your local animal control or law enforcement. They will often create a report, investigate the incident, and may take action against the dog owner if necessary. This report can serve as evidence if you decide to pursue a legal claim.

Identify the Dog and Owner

Identify the dog that bit you and its owner. This information is essential for any legal claim. If the dog is a stray, you may still report the incident to animal control, who might help track down the dog and its owner.

Document the Incident

Collect evidence, including photographs of the injury, the location of the incident, witness statements, and any communication with the dog owner. Keeping detailed records will help support your case.

Consult with an Attorney

You will want to consult with a dog bite lawyer in Denver who has experience with specific dog bite cases. Boesen Law has years of experience with personal injury cases, so we’ll help you understand your rights, evaluate your case, and guide you through the legal process in order to file a claim for compensation or sue the owner for damages if necessary.

We are proud to serve clients throughout the entire state, including:

• Denver
• Aurora
• Thornton
• Lakewood
• Boulder
• Westminster
• Colorado Springs
• Fort Collins
• Pueblo

Pursue a Personal Injury Lawsuit

If the owner’s insurance company does not cover your damages or the settlement offer is insufficient, you may consider filing a personal injury lawsuit against the dog owner. The dog owner may be held liable for:

• Strict Liability: In some states, dog owners are held strictly liable for injuries caused by their dogs, regardless of the dog’s past behavior.
• Negligence: If the owner’s negligence led to the bite (e.g., failing to restrain a known dangerous dog), you might be able to sue for damages.
• One-Bite Rule: In states that follow the one-bite rule, the owner may only be liable if they knew or should have known that the dog had a tendency to bite.

Settlement Negotiations

Often, dog bite cases are settled out of court, and the large majority of dog bite claims resolve without a trial. Boesen Law can negotiate a settlement with the dog owner’s insurance company or legal representatives to ensure you receive fair compensation.

If you are considering legal action, it is crucial to act promptly. Colorado applies a two-year deadline to most injury claims, and our overview of personal injury time limits explains how those deadlines are counted and the narrow circumstances that can change them.

Is Colorado a one-bite rule state?

Under Colorado law, specifically C.R.S. § 13-21-124, dog owners are strictly liable for economic damages (such as medical bills) if their dog bites someone who was lawfully on public or private property, regardless of the dog’s history. That strict liability rule is limited: it applies only where the bite caused serious bodily injury or death. Bites causing lesser injuries are still actionable, but through a negligence claim rather than the strict liability statute. However, for non-economic damages (like pain and suffering), the victim must prove that the dog owner was negligent or that the dog had a known history of aggressive behavior.

There are exceptions to this rule, such as if the victim was trespassing, provoking the dog, or if the dog was working as a law enforcement animal at the time of the incident.

For more information, you can refer to the specific legal statute in Colorado or consult with a local Denver personal injury lawyer who specializes in dog bites and understands the laws.

Has Boesen Law helped dog bite victims?

Yes, we have helped victims claim compensation and ensure their legal rights are met. Our case results include recoveries for clients left with permanent scarring and orthopedic injuries after an attack, including broken bones suffered during the attack itself. Below is a real client of Boesen Law who was a victim and how we helped him out.

Call (303) 999-9999 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form