The popularity of pit bulls and rottweilers -- muscular breeds often bred and trained for their fighting tendencies -- has often been cited as the main culprit.
In fact, studies show those breeds are to blame in about two-thirds of the fatal attacks during the past 20 years, and that percentage has been increasing. Male dogs that have not been neutered also are far more likely to be implicated in attacks than females and neutered males.
At the same time, however, veterinarians say that smaller dogs like little Marlowe are the ones most prone to fear-aggression and unpredictable biting behavior.
Of course, these attacks tend not to be as serious, but there are exceptions. Dachshunds have killed children, as has a Yorkshire terrier and Labrador retriever.
