Got kids? Careful with this particular dog breed.
#1. Pit bull
Attacks doing bodily harm (1982-2018): 5,994 (166.5 per year)
Deaths (1982-2018): 421
Pit bulls have a fearsome reputation, but they’re not natural fighters like some people think. “Pit bull” refers to a variety of breeds, which inevitably means these dogs are regularly misidentified by shelters and news outlets. Statistics around their dangerousness are therefore almost impossible to compare with those for more universally defined breeds. Some pit bulls may be aggressive due to genetics and training, but these dogs are generally intelligent, gentle, and extremely loving dogs when owned by those who know how to handle their rambunctious nature.
Enough said. Compare it to one of the safest breeds:
#19. Golden retriever
Attacks doing bodily harm (1982-2018): 15 (less than 1 per year)
Deaths (1982-2018): 3
Golden retrievers are even-tempered, energetic, friendly with everyone, and easy to train, making them a perfect family pet. They’ve been one of the most popular dog breeds in America since they were introduced around the early 1900s, but they didn’t really take off until Gerald Ford’s golden retriever Liberty occupied the White House in the 1970s.
When my hometown media reports of a death due to a dog attack, I expect that breed to be a Pit Bull. Yet, some people swear by them. Go figure.
Source: Isabel Sepulveda for Stacker.com
