American Staffordshire Terriers (Amstaffs) registered in New South Wales had the highest rate of attacking a child, adult, or other dog in 2024, according to data from the Office of Local Government (OLG). There were 941 attacks by Amstaffs out of 5,023 registered, equating to roughly one attack for every five dogs. However, experts caution that the data may be misleading due to misidentification of breeds.
In over a fifth of recorded attacks (1,305 of 5,901), no breed was specified. The Australian Veterinary Association warns that aggression is more reliably predicted by owner behaviour and individual dog experience than breed alone. They do not support breed-specific legislation, instead advocating for education and awareness programs.
The NSW government is reviewing its companion animal laws following fatal dog attacks. In January, a deputy state coroner recommended licensing for certain breeds and owners after a five-week-old baby was killed by a family Amstaff. The coroner noted difficulties in distinguishing between Amstaffs, pit bulls, and Staffordshire Bull Terriers, and suspected some registered Amstaffs were actually pit bulls or crosses.
Other breeds with high attack rates include German Shepherds, Rottweilers, and Bull Mastiffs. In 2024, there were 2,824 attacks on adults, 461 on children, and 2,598 on other dogs, with 430 dogs euthanised. Hospitalisations from dog attacks have more than doubled from 2012-13 to 2021-22, while dog ownership has risen to 49.3% of Australian households.
