Small Dog, Big Bite l Seattle Animal Attack Attorney

You see a large Dalmatian/Rottweiler mix sitting next to a little toy poodle. Which dog do you pet? Turns out you've just put your hand out to the more aggressive dog and avoided the well-trained nice one.

Because of the perception that "big dogs are mean dogs," as well as some facts, various places around the country have or are trying to pass laws outlawing and restricting specific dog breeds such as pit bulls and Rottweilers. For example, the Hawaii legislature is considering a bill banning pit bulls outright. In December 2008, the city of West Allis, Wis., tried to pass an ordinance banning pit bulls. Ohio passed a law in 1987 requiring all purebred pit bulls be confined and their owners buy at least $100,000 in liability insurance and Worthington, Ky., passed a law in June 2008 requiring owners of pit bulls to keep their doors and windows closed when the dogs are in the house-no screen doors allowed.

Small Dog, Big Bite

Smaller dog breeds such as Chihuahuas, dachshunds, toy poodles, and Jack Russell terriers are known to be very aggressive. The only reason we don't automatically think of a cocker spaniel when talking about an aggressive dog is because a bite from a smaller dog probably won't warrant a trip to the ER.