Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, June 9, 1994 TAG: 9406090055
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-9 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: CHICAGO LENGTH: Medium
Some animal experts say they're barking up the wrong tree: They say human ignorance of dog behavior, such as a child running up to and hugging a dog, often is to blame for dog bites.
A study by researchers with the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that German shepherd dogs and chow chows were more likely to bite than other breeds.
Also risky were male or unneutered dogs, and - to a smaller degree - dogs belonging to a household with children and those chained in a yard, the researchers reported in the June issue of Pediatrics.
They said their study is one of few to look primarily at traits of dogs, rather than victims, in connection with bites, which kill 20 Americans each year and injure 585,000.
The study involved 178 first-time biters and 178 nonbiting dogs from the same Denver neighborhoods. Most victims were children under 13.
The study considered only bites of nonhousehold members because they are most common and most likely to be reported. The work was done in Denver because the lead author, Dr. Kenneth Gershman, was there at the time.
Shepherds accounted for 34 of the biters, but only 13 of the nonbiters. There were 31 chow chows among the biters, and only nine in the nonbiting group.
Another breed substantially more likely to be a biter was the collie; eight collies were among biters, and only one was among the nonbiters.
Safest breeds were golden retrievers and standard poodles. Only two goldens were among biters, while 13 were among nonbiters. Four poodles were among biters, while 14 nonbiters belonged to the breed.
There was only one pit bull in the study, and it was a nonbiter.
by CNB