Dog Bites in Australia
Dog Bites in Australia - An overview of relevant literature.
Dog bites are a hotly debated topic in Australia, frequently appearing in news articles or online forums. But what are the real statistics of dog bites? Are certain breeds or situations more likely to contribute to these statistics? What are the things that we, as dog owners and handlers, can do to mitigate risk? This article aims to dispel some of the questions and uncertainty around dog bite statistics, and aid in better understanding the actions we can all take to keep ourselves and our pets safe.
How common are dog bites in Australia?
Between 2001-2013 across Australia 31,218 people were hospitalised for dog bite treatment (Rajshekar et al., 2017). The true statistics of dog bite incidents are unknown, as many people do not seek treatment for dog bites, and what constitutes a bite is often argued (Oxley et al., 2021).
Who is most likely to get bitten/attacked, and where?
In Australia, men are more likely to be bitten than women before the age of 45. The highest incidence density was between the ages of 0-4 years old (Rajskekar et al., 2017).
Table 1. Age group and sex-specific rates of hospitalisations and dog-bite injuries
Table from Rajshekar et al. 2017
Low socio-economic status individuals and areas are more likely to be the victims of dog attacks as found by a study in Brisbane region (Pekin et al., 2021). Another key factor increasing dog bites in this study was population density. The head and hands are the most targeted regions, and head targeted bites tend to be more likely in the 0–16 age group, who are also most likely to be bitten by dogs in their own residence (vs. in public). Children (ie. 0–16 age group) are more likely to sustain such injuries than any other age group, and are more likely to be male as opposed to female (Pekin et al., 2021). Another study by Caffrey et al. (2019) in Calgary, Canada, highlighted the same findings, where children were the most likely targets of dog bites and in their own homes – the authors concluded that careful supervision should be implemented around children and dogs, and that dogs were most likely to bite when they felt insecure.
Between 2009-2011 in South Australia (SA) at the Women and Children’s Hospital emergency department, 89.5% of children presented after being bitten by a familiar dog and 92.5% of these incidents occurred at home (Chiam et al., 2014).
What dogs are most likely to commit offences?
Children are more likely to have been bitten by a dog that is known to the victim and to be bitten by a small breed dog (vs. large breed dog). Small dog breeds are 6 times more likely to inflict head injuries compared to large dogs (Pekin et al., 2021). Dogs from the bull terrier group (20.0%) were the most documented breeds in the previously mentioned SA study (Chiam et al., 2014). Across a ten year period at Sydney Children’s Hospital, reports found that Pitbull, Labrador and Rottweiler were the most commonly documented offending breeds (25%) with the family-owned dog most likely to offend (49%) (Sulaiman et al., 2022). Gaudry & Richardson (2009) found similar results, where 68% of victims presenting at Canberra Hospital emergency department identified the dog as owned by themselves. Only 20% of cases had the breed of dog recorded in the hospital record, however. Terriers of all descriptions made up 41% of identified breeds.
What causes a dog to bite?
In the mentioned Brisbane area study, the victim was familiar with the dog in 12.5% of cases, unfamiliar in 6.9% of cases, and was not recorded in 80.6% of cases (Pekin et al., 2021). Prior to being bitten 8.4% of patients reported that they were trying to separate fighting dogs, while 2.4% were interacting in some way with the dog other than separating a fight or playing. 2.0% of patients were playing with the dog, and 87.2% did not have their prior behaviour recorded during their care. Only 4.8% of patients were outside at the time of the bite incident, and 2.8% were bitten in a residence known to them but not their own (such as a friend or family member’s residence). It should be noted here that over 90% of patients did not report where they were bitten.
Between 2009-2011 in South Australia (SA) at the Women and Children’s Hospital emergency department 67.5% of dog bite injuries were recorded as being provoked and occurred between the child and a familiar dog (78.0%). Indeed a study by Wilson et al. (2002) revealed that many children engage in unsafe behaviours around dogs, and that parents are largely unaware of the dangers associated with such behaviours. Keuster et al. (2006) also showed in a study in Belgium that in 67% of children admitted to hospital emergency departments, the bite had been triggered by an interaction of the child. They also reported that “dangerous dogs” by description were not responsible for the greater majority of bites that occurred, again suggesting that types of interactions in the home are key in mitigating dog bites, and also wrote that education should be the priority in addressing this.
A survey study run in Melbourne showed that owners of large breed dogs are much more likely to seek training than small breed dogs (Kobelt et al., 2003), which is perhaps reflected in the previously mentioned statistics referring to small dog bites being more common, especially for children. 63% of owners reported the dog getting overexcited as a common behavioural problem, and 56% of owners reported problematic jumping up on people in the home. Guy et al. (2001) also showed that in a Canadian cohort of dog bite victims, “dominant” or possessive aggression had been demonstrated by 75.6% of the dogs previously. Dogs that presented this aggression were also more likely to show fear of a variety of stimuli, suggesting unstable temperaments. Female dogs of this description were more likely to be desexed. 42% of incidents were attributed to dominant or possessive behaviour. (Guy et al., 2001a). Another study by this author found some significant risk factors to a dog biting include: the dog being female (particularly if small), teenage children in the home, a history of skin disorder, food aggression in the first 2 months of being owned, sleeping on a person’s bed in the first 2 months of being owned, and small size of the dog (Guy et al., 2001b) The authors suggested there may be greater owner tolerance of aggression in smaller dogs, leading to increased incidents. They also found that biting dogs were more likely to have exhibited fear of children, men, and strangers in the past, suggesting fear plays an extenuating role in causing bites to occur.
Perhaps also importantly, victim perceptions do not always provide clarity on the reason for a dog biting. Statistics from emergency rooms provide clarity on body part bitten, patient demographic, and sometimes dog breed. Occasionally, data is also obtained about where the patient was bitten (i.e. in own home) and who owned the offending dog. This is not always the case, and provides potent issues for any meta-analyses or reviews. Oxley et al. (2021) showed a distinct mismatch in what British survey participants would consider a “bite” and also demonstrated the many ways in which a dog’s motive can be confused or misunderstood (for example, bites may be accidental in play, or minor incidents). The authors concluded that classification of “what is a bite” especially in incidents not requiring hospitalisation, as this could greatly affect future research. Tulloch et al. (2021) also reported that in Great Britain where dog bite incidences have tripled, only 2% of these emergency room visits result in admission, and the increase is only reflected in adult patients – suggesting that knowledge surrounding dog bites needs to greatly increase.
What methods have been proven to reduce dog bites?
If most dog bites occur in the home, then it makes sense to address key factors that may affect canine and human wellbeing within the home. A Queensland study between 2006-2011 investigating the effects of strengthening alcohol restrictions on personal injury found that during the study when restrictions to alcohol access were implemented, dog bite injuries significantly reduced (West & Rouen, 2019). Is this because of the way we act around dogs in the home? Alcohol certainly plays a key role in lowering inhibition in other aspects of life.
Education, however, is key. A dog safety program implemented by Wilson et al. (2002) resulted in a significant increase in the ability of children to identify high risk situations for up to 4 weeks, with the benefits being even greater in those children whose parents were also given information regarding safe behaviours around dogs. One study conducted in Sydney tested whether education to children about appropriate behaviour around dogs could influence their subsequent treatment of an unknown dog (Labrador, tethered close to its owner) during a break, 7-10 days later (Chapman et al., 2000; the BMJ). 79% of children who were not educated approached the dog without hesitation and proceeded to pet and excite the dog - and therefore risking unsettling the dog. Only 9% of educated children attempted to pet the dog, and this was only after careful consideration and assessment from a distance.
This study strongly indicates that precautionary education among children indeed can influence how they behave around dogs. It’s highly likely that they would take this information with them home to their own family dogs, which has the potential to lower the chance of incidents in the future. Indeed, Hazel (2024) of the University of Adelaide also suggested a public health campaign increased awareness around dog behaviour and bites, as outlined by the Dog and Cat Management of South Australia Board initiative: “Good Dogs Have Bad Days”. Lakestani (2007) also showed that education for children on how to interpret dog states and behaviour increases safe choices around dogs and decreases the risk for bites to occur.
To conclude, much research is outdated regarding dog attacks and bites. Populations in some regions have skyrocketed, and socio-economic statuses have shifted in the recent economy. Property sizes are smaller, and dog breed popularity has shifted. Before implementing any laws and restrictions on dog ownership, new research MUST be carried out in order to assess current threat points and vulnerable populations. Furthermore, education and access to dog training MUST be prioritised as a means to reduce dog bites.
About the Author:
Dr Gabriela Visini (PhD) is a behavioural neuroscientist, and lecturer in medicine at Western Sydney University. She participates in IGP with her Belgian Malinois, Madden (IGP3).
References:
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Dog-related injuries. Canberra: AIHW; 2017.
Chapman S, Cornwall J, Righetti J, Sung L. Preventing dog bites in children: randomised controlled trial of an educational intervention. Bmj. 2000 Jun 3;320(7248):1512-3.
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Gaudry AP, Richardson D. Treatment of dog bites in the emergency department of the Canberra Hospital 2006-2008. MSJA. 2009:11.
Guy NC, Luescher UA, Dohoo SE, Spangler E, Miller JB, Dohoo IR, Bate LA. A case series of biting dogs: characteristics of the dogs, their behaviour, and their victims. Applied Animal Behaviour Science. 2001a Sep 11;74(1):43-57.
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Tulloch JS, Owczarczak-Garstecka SC, Fleming KM, Vivancos R, Westgarth C. English hospital episode data analysis (1998–2018) reveal that the rise in dog bite hospital admissions is driven by adult cases. Scientific reports. 2021 Jan 19;11(1):1767.
West C, Rouen C. Incidence and characteristics of dog bites in three remote Indigenous communities in far North Queensland, Australia, 2006-2011. Journal of veterinary behavior. 2019 May 1;31:17-21.
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