http://www.examiner.com/dogs-in-nationa ... omaha-2010
Omaha, NE - Some people will have to pinch themselves to believe what they are reading – others will stand up and cheer as the statistics prove what they have been saying all along – it’s the owner, not the dog.
For 2 years running, the Nebraska Humane Society has ranked the Labrador retriever as the breed of dog with the most recorded dog bites.
Yes, the ever-lovable, wiggle-butt, all-around family dog, Labrador retriever. Surprised? Some will be.
Others, not so much. Those that realize that dog bites stem from poor ownership (or dumb moves on the part of the bite victim) won’t be shocked at all.
Of the dog bites recorded last year, 79 dog bites were from Labs, 44 were from German shepherds, 42 were from Pit bulls and 33 were from Chihuahuas.
Almost a two to one ratio – Labs didn’t win this dubious “bite” title by one or two instances…this is a landslide over the runners up.
Responsible ownership is the cornerstone of a balanced, “safe” dog. The Humane Society noted that Labradors are popular in this area and also commented that though typically friendly, they have seen some serious injuries inflicted.
Share this interesting article with others. Some are sure to be surprised. Others will be cheering.
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Examiner Note: In my life, I have been aggressively charged by my favorite breed of dog, the German shepherd (I was 12 at the time-it did nothing to sway me from my love of the breed and yes, it was the owner's fault-dog running loose, he was a 3 time, repeat offender), multiple Labradors, a German Shorthair Pointer, a Yorkie, and a couple of Golden Retrievers. As of yet, no Rottweilers or Pit Bulls. It is all about ownership.
I personally agree with this. I do know a lot of goofy and happy labs, a veterinary clinic is a great way to test a dog's temperament because you get to see them at their most stressed. I would say we have better luck with Pit Bulls behaving/being stoic/not trying to bite than we do with labs. I also think it has to do with the quality of the lab, I think the blockier/show type labs have a tendency to be more relaxed and easy going vs the field type that come in all shapes and sizes with waaaay too much energy.
In the article they mention that labs are a pretty popular breed in the area, but for the people who think that ALL pit bulls are bad, obviously even with the ones in the general population they still aren't producing the massive bite numbers people might expect. I'm also glad they included Chihuahuas because those dogs are horrible! They might not be able to kill a person, but that doesn't mean it's okay for them to be evil!