Dog attack statistics in the UK
Every year in the UK over 64,000 dogs are killed from dog-on-dog attacks and a further 44,000 severely injured. In addition, 250,000 people report to have been bitten each year with over 112,000 of these incidents occurring while trying to defend their dog.
A 2017 survey estimated that over 100,000 dogs in the UK were either killed or suffered life-changing injuries due to dog-on-dog aggression. About 15% of adult dog owners reported witnessing their pet being attacked by another dog during a 12-month period.
How many dog attacks happen per year UK?
In England and Wales, police records show a significant increase in dog attacks in the UK, rising from 18,527 incidents in 2018 to 30,594 in 2023. This category includes offenses where out-of-control dogs cause injury, encompassing both dog-on-dog and dog-on-human attacks.
Find more statistics at Statista
Dog attack in the US
In the US more than 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs each year and there are over 800,000 fatalities or serious dog-on-dog attack injuries.
Understanding dog aggression
A dog is a man’s best friend. However, just like us, dogs have bad days can act out of character and can become aggressive.
Over 70% of all dog bites occur because the dog has not been neutered.
There was a 300% increase in dog attacks during the Covid-19 pandemic.
A dog will rarely bite unprovoked. However, triggers may spark aggressive behaviour such as feeling threatened. Namely, dogs usually bite if they are in danger, scared, or stressed.
The American Veterinary Medical Association’s (AVMA) dog bite statistics from 2020 show that dogs bite mainly because of their personal history and behaviour. In addition, Dogs that were abused or maltreated in animal shelters may be traumatized, which causes them to attack.
