It's hard to beat the unconditional love and loyalty of a well-trained dog.
Having a dog is known to reduce stress, ease loneliness, and improve overall mental health.
It follows that about 66% of U.S. households (or 65 million) include at least one dog, according to Forbes. By some estimates, that equals roughly 89 million canine pets from coast-to-coast.
While healthy, well-cared-for dogs are generally safe, there are about 4.5 million dogs bites in the U.S. each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with children and seniors being the most common victims.
When dogs bite, insurance may get involved. Dog bites are a significant source of insurance claims in the United States. The Insurance Information Institute reports that homeowners insurers paid out $1.56 billion in liability claims related to dog bites and other dog-related injuries in 2024, and the average cost per claim nationally has risen 174.7% from 2015 to 2024, due to increased medical costs as well as the size of settlements, judgments and jury awards given to plaintiffs.
At one time, it was common for some insurance carriers to exclude coverage of injuries related to specific dog breeds. More recently, however, insurers and lawmakers have updated statutes to simply refer to "dangerous dogs," according to FC&S Expert Coverage Interpretation.
Bites may be uncommon for the beloved breeds named recently to the American Kennel Club (AKC) list of most popular dogs in 2025, but any dog can bite given the right circumstances.
Preventive measures can reduce both the likelihood of bites that result in injuries and insurance claims. Dog owners are encouraged to invest in training, socialization, and secure containment such as fenced yards or leashes, to minimize risks. Homeowners also should review their policies to confirm liability coverage and understand any exclusions related to dog bites.
The slideshow above takes a closer look at the AKC's most popular dog breeds for 2025 and poses the salient question: Do they bite?
(Featured image credit: Chalabala/Adobe Stock)
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