Dog bites represent an important healthcare problem ranging from trivial to fatal injuries, often unappreciated by the general public. The majority of victims are children.
Many bites go unreported making the precise incidence impossible to measure.
It is estimated that at least 1 million people suffer from mammalian bites each year in the North America. Children under 5 years of age account for the majority of severe dog bites. Large breed dogs account for most of the bites and German Shepherds or German Shepherd mixes are the most common breed. Most victims are familiar with the dog and the most common location is in a house, in the child s neighbours yard or in the neighbourhood itself. Both dog owners and adults who care for children must be educated to the range of situations and behaviors that elicit aggressive responses from dogs.