Every time a dog kills a child, the media revive the “dangerous dog” controversy. The InVS (Institut français de veille sanitaire) (French Institute for Health Monitoring) has looked into the factors associated with the severity of dog bites. The results of the study, which analyzed more than 480 cases of dog bites in France, list the types of dog most often implicated:
German Shepherds
They are implicated in 10% of bite accidents. Paradoxically, it’s one of France’s favorite dog breeds. Now that’s Stockholm syndrome. In reality, the bite rate is also higher due to the higher proportion of these dogs. For example, the rate of tiger bites on humans isn’t very high in France because we don’t have many tigers in our apartments, but that doesn’t prevent the tiger from being more dangerous than the German Shepherd. In short, you get the idea.
Photo credits (CC BY-SA 3.0): Flaurentine
The Labrador
Here again, 9% of bites in France come from their charming jaws. But then again, they’re great guide dogs, so I think we can forgive them. And just like the German Shepherd, the bite rate can be explained by the popularity of this breed of dog.
Photo credits (CC BY-SA 3.0): derivative work: Djmirko (talk)wereweweewewewg.jpg
The Jack Russell
He may be small, but he’s no slouch when it comes to biting, accounting for 6% of all bites. What a talent.
Photo credits (CC BY-SA 4.0): Romain$38700
The Beauceron
Known as a formidable defense dog, the Beauceron doesn’t hesitate to fart its knees if it senses its master is being attacked. Except that the master wasn’t being attacked, it was just the baker giving him his baguette. Nice Beauceron, but a bit of an idiot with its 3% bite rate.
Photo credits (CC BY-SA 3.0): The original uploader was Agailleton at French Wikipedia.
Border Collie
He too has a bit of a 3% bite rate. But seeing how MUCH TOO SWEET he is, I’d say let him bite us a lot. And to the carotid artery.
Photo credits (CC BY-SA 4.0): Jean-noelkern
The Boxer
Surprising fact: Boxer shorts are responsible for 3% of bites, whereas men’s size M boxer shorts are responsible for 17%. Coincidence? I don’t think so.
Photo credits (CC BY-SA 4.0): Boxnaban
The Rottweiller
Strangely enough, the little Rottie only comes 7th in the ranking, even though the guy is a ball of nerves. That said, while he’s only responsible for 3% of bites, they can be quite serious. In fact, the breed is classified as a category 2 dangerous dog. But as always, it’s important to remember that when a dog is dangerous, it’s because its owner has made it so. Alternatively, you can adopt a hamster.
Photo credits (CC BY-SA 4.0): Foxilarenarde
The Belgian Shepherd
MEUH KEUMAN? A potichien so minion ki envi écrire avé des faut par amour. Yeah well, he too has his share of 3% bites. To prevent the slightest risk, make him some quilts, that’ll calm him down.
Photo credits (CC BY-SA 4.0): BN
The Weimar Pointer
The Weimar Pointer, as it’s known in dog jargon (no, it’s not), has a bite rate of just 2%, which is something to be proud of.
Photo credits (CC BY-SA 3.0): Ephyr
The Cocker Spaniel
KEUA? It’s hard to imagine this droopy-eyed, long-eared old thing having any aggression whatsoever. That said, it’s not for nothing that he comes last in the ranking, with a bite rate of just 2%. Frankly, even I do more.