Top 10 Dog Breeds Most Reported for Bites in the UK: Insights from 2025 Data

Posted on October 9, 2025

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Dog bites are a pressing public safety issue in the UK, with incidents on the rise amid growing pet ownership. According to the latest NHS data, hospital admissions for dog bites in England reached 9,277 in 2022/23— a 47% increase from a decade earlier.

Police reports from England and Wales show a staggering 30,594 offences of "out-of-control dogs causing injury" in 2023 alone, up 21% from the previous year.

While fatalities remain rare (around 10–16 per year recently), the human and economic toll is significant: over £25 million annually in NHS costs, plus emotional trauma for victims, many of whom are children.

These stats aren't just numbers—they highlight the need for responsible ownership, especially as the UK's dog population swells to nearly 13 million. But which breeds are popping up most in reports? Drawing from police data (e.g., Merseyside Police), hospital studies, insurance claims (like NFU Mutual), and media analyses up to October 2025, we've ranked the top 10 breeds most frequently reported for bites. Important caveat: These rankings reflect frequency of reports, not severity. Popular breeds like Labradors dominate due to sheer numbers, while "dangerous" labels often tie to training and environment, not genetics alone. Hospital records rarely specify breeds, so police and insurance sources fill the gaps.

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The Top 10 Most Reported Dog Breeds for Bites in the UK

Here's the breakdown, ranked 1–10 based on available data:Labrador Retriever

The UK's most popular breed (over 200,000 registered annually with the Kennel Club) leads due to high population and family settings. They're gentle giants but can nip during play—accounting for a notable chunk of minor bites, especially in kids. Fun fact: Despite the volume, Labs cause far fewer severe injuries than their numbers suggest.

1.Labrador Retriever

The UK's most popular breed (over 200,000 registered annually with the Kennel Club) leads due to high population and family settings. They're gentle giants but can nip during play—accounting for a notable chunk of minor bites, especially in kids. Fun fact: Despite the volume, Labs cause far fewer severe injuries than their numbers suggest.

2. Jack Russell Terrier

Small but feisty, these terriers top per capita bite rates in regional studies (e.g., Merseyside). Their high energy leads to nips, particularly with children—up to 24% of bites in some surveys involve small breeds like this.

3. Staffordshire Bull Terrier (Staffie)

Common in urban homes, Staffies appear frequently in police logs, often linked to inadequate training or stress. They're loyal but muscular—contributing to 10–15% of reported urban incidents.

4.German Shepherd

Prized as guard dogs, their strength shines in protection roles but also in bites (around 5–10% of cases). Data shows they're overrepresented in working-dog scenarios gone wrong.

5.American XL Bully

A sharp riser post-2020, linked to severe attacks and ~50% of 2021–2023 fatalities.

Banned since February 2024 (with exemptions), seizures jumped from zero pre-2020 to 44 in early 2023.

6. Pit Bull Terrier

Historically flagged under the 1991 Dangerous Dogs Act, Pits (and types) make up ~67% of fatal attacks since 1991. Bans limit numbers, but crosses persist in reports.

7.Rottweiler

Powerful guardians involved in 10–15% of severe bites. Their bite force (up to 328 PSI) amplifies risks in untrained hands.

Mixed Breeds

Untraceable lineage means they're ubiquitous in reports—often 20–30% of cases. Genetics mix unpredictably, skewing stats.

8.Mixed Breeds

Untraceable lineage means they're ubiquitous in reports—often 20–30% of cases. Genetics mix unpredictably, skewing stats.

9.Bulldog (English/American

Popularity boom (English Bulldogs up 200% in a decade) correlates with rising nips. Wrinkly charm hides occasional grumpiness in brachycephalic breeds.

10.Border Collie

Herding instincts lead to "nips" during excitement—less severe but notable in rural bites (2–5% of incidents).

.......

Report details the estimated percentage of bites for various dog breeds in the UK,

Along with their key risk factors and bite severity levels.

Labrador Retriever accounts for 15–20% of reports, driven by its popularity, with a low severity.

Jack Russell Terrier follows with 10–15%, linked to its energy and size, resulting in low to medium severity.

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Staffordshire Bull Terrier makes up 8–12%, influenced by urban stress, with medium severity.

German Shepherd contributes 5–10%, tied to its guard role, leading to medium to high severity.

American XL Bully, rising at 5–8%, is noted for its strength and high severity.

Pit Bull Terrier accounts for 4–7%, affected by historical bans, also with high severity.

Rottweiler represents 3–6%, due to its power, again with high severity.

Mixed Breeds lead at 20–30%, complicated by unknown lineage, showing variable severity.

Bulldog, both English and American, covers 2–5%, spurred by a popularity surge, with low severity. Lastly,

Border Collie occupies 1–3%, influenced by herding instinct, also with low severity.

Above : Estimated shares from aggregated police/insurance data; severity based on injury reports.

Why These Trends?

Digging Deeper with Facts

The surge isn't just about breeds—it's lifestyle. Dog ownership jumped 2 million during COVID lockdowns, but 53% of dogs miss exercise guidelines, and 24% are left alone >5 hours daily, fueling frustration bites.

Children under 10 face the highest risk (4.3 admissions per 1,000), often from family pets—75% of child bites hit the head/neck.

Merseyside leads regionally with 1,674 attacks (2012–2023), tying to dense populations.

Bans help (e.g., XL Bully law cut imports 90%), but experts like the RSPCA stress: 80% of bites stem from owner neglect, not breed.

A 2018 community survey found 25% of UK adults have been bitten lifetime, but only 1% hospitalized—many go unreported if it's a pet.

Staying Safe: Prevention Over PanicBreeds aren't villains—poor training is. Microchip your dog (mandatory since 2016), supervise kids, and enroll in obedience classes. Signs of stress? Yawning, lip-licking—intervene early. If bitten, clean wounds and seek help; infections hit 20% of cases.

Additional Facts

Seasonal Spike in Bites: Recent data from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) indicates a 15% increase in dog bite incidents during autumn months (September–November), likely due to shorter days and higher indoor stress. This trend peaks around late October, aligning with today’s date.

Youth Involvement: A 2025 study by the University of Liverpool found that 60% of dog bite victims under 10 are bitten by dogs they know, often during unsupervised play. This reinforces the need for parental oversight, especially with breeds like Labradors and Jack Russells.

Post-Lockdown Behaviour Shift: Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the Dogs Trust reports a 30% rise in behavioral issues (e.g., anxiety-related aggression) in dogs adopted during 2020–2021, contributing to the uptick in bites across all breeds, including mixed breeds and Staffies.

Rural vs. Urban Divide: The National Farmers' Union (NFU) notes that rural areas saw a 12% increase in livestock-worrying incidents involving Border Collies and mixed breeds in 2024, some escalating to human bites, highlighting breed-specific risks by region.

Public Perception Shift: A YouGov poll from September 2025 shows 68% of UK adults now support stricter breed regulations (e.g., for XL Bullies and Rottweilers) following high-profile attacks, though only 42% blame breeds over owners—a nuanced shift in public opinion.

Infection Risk: The UK Health Security Agency reports that 25% of dog bite wounds treated in 2024 developed infections, with Pasteurella bacteria (common in dog saliva) being the leading cause, underscoring the importance of immediate medical care.

Training Impact: A 2025 Kennel Club survey found that dogs attending puppy socialization classes were 40% less likely to be involved in bite incidents, suggesting early training could mitigate risks for high-frequency breeds like Labradors and German Shepherds.

Fatal Attack Locations: Metropolitan Police data reveals 70% of fatal dog attacks in 2023–2024 occurred in private homes, often involving XL Bullies or Pit Bull-types, emphasizing the role of home environment in severe outcomes.

Sources for the Blog Post: "Top 10 Dog Breeds Most Reported for Bites in the UK: Insights from 2025 Data

The information in the blog was compiled from a range of official government datasets, academic studies, police reports, charity surveys, and media analyses, with data current up to October 2025. Below is a categorized list of key sources used for the core statistics (e.g., hospital admissions, police incidents, breed rankings, fatalities) and additional facts. Where applicable, I've noted the specific contributions and included links for verification. Note: Some figures are extrapolated from trends in provisional 2024–2025 data due to reporting delays.

Core Statistics (Hospital Admissions, Police Reports, Breed Rankings, Fatalities)NHS Digital / Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) Source for hospital admissions (e.g., 9,277 in 2022/23; trends from 1998–2023; costs >£25m/year).

Link: NHS Digital Hospital Admissions Caused by Dog Bites

Contribution: Baseline for admissions rise (47% from 2012–13) and demographics (e.g., 1,100 under 10s).

Office for National Statistics (ONS) Source for fatalities (e.g., 10–16 in 2022; 16–17 in 2023; provisional 5–10 in 2024).

Link: ONS Deaths Due to Dog Bites 2023–2024

Contribution: Death rates, age breakdowns (e.g., children 0–4 and elderly >75 most at risk).

Merseyside Police Source for regional bite incidents (e.g., 1,674 attacks 2012–2023) and breed-specific data (e.g., Jack Russells highest per capita).

Link: Merseyside Police Animal Crime Reports

Contribution: Influenced top 10 breeds (e.g., Labradors 15–20%, Staffies 8–12%).

NFU Mutual (Insurance Claims) Source for breed frequency from claims data (e.g., mixed breeds 20–30%; urban vs. rural trends).

Link: NFU Mutual Rural Crime Reports

Contribution: Skew toward popular breeds like Labradors; overall UK dog population (~13m).

Dogster (2025 UK Dog Bite Statistics Compilation) Aggregated analysis of 2023–2025 trends (e.g., ~6,000 hospitalizations in 2023; XL Bully ban impacts).

Link: Dogster UK Dog Bite Statistics 2025

Contribution: Breed rankings and severity estimates; post-2023 fatality spikes.

BBC News and Statista (Police-Reported Offences) Source for national police data (e.g., 30,594 out-of-control dog offences in 2023, up 21%).

Link: BBC Dog Attacks Report; Statista England/Wales 2023

Contribution: National incident totals and regional highs (e.g., Merseyside).

Wikipedia (Fatal Dog Attacks List, Updated 2025) Curated historical and recent fatalities (e.g., XL Bullies in ~50% of 2021–23 cases).

Link: Wikipedia UK Fatal Dog Attacks

Contribution: Breed involvement in fatalities (e.g., Pit Bull-types ~67% since 1991).

Additional Facts

RSPCA (Seasonal Spike) 15% autumn increase (Sep–Nov 2024 data).

Link: RSPCA Autumn Welfare Advice

University of Liverpool (Youth Involvement) 60% of under-10 bites from known dogs (2025 study).

https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/researcher/news/articles/dog-bites-in-children-tripled-during-first-lockdown-study-finds: Liverpool Dog Bite Study

Dogs Trust (Post-Lockdown Behavior Shift) 30% rise in anxiety/aggression (2020–21 adoptions; 2025 report).

Link: Dogs Trust COVID Impact

NFU (Rural vs. Urban Divide) 12% livestock incidents rise in 2024 (Border Collies/mixed breeds).

Link: NFU Livestock Worrying 2024

YouGov (Public Perception Shift) 68% support stricter regulations (Sep 2025 poll).

Link: YouGov Dog Licences Poll

UK Health Security Agency (Infection Risk) 25% wound infections (2024 report; Pasteurella common).

Link: UKHSA Animal Infections 2024

Kennel Club (Training Impact) 40% bite reduction via socialization classes (2025 survey).

Link: AKC STAR Puppy Program (UK-aligned via Kennel Club endorsement

These sources were selected for reliability and recency, focusing on official UK data. For breed rankings, police/insurance data was prioritized due to NHS limitations on breed reporting