California is a strict liability state for dog bites. This means that if a dog bites and injures a person who either is on the property lawfully or is in public, the owner is liable for any resultant injuries. The strict liability provision does not apply for dog attack injuries that do not involve bites, however. For instance, if a dog runs up and knocks you down, causing you to be injured, the laws governing negligence apply. Moreover, the strict liability provision does not apply to anyone other than the owner, even if they had possession of the dog at the time of the incident. In such a case the law of negligence again is invoked unless the caretaker  had prior knowledge that the dog is considered dangerous.

 

Los Angeles County ordinances call for a hearing whenever a dog attacks someone and may be considered dangerous. If at the hearing the judge determines that the dog is, indeed, dangerous, the owner may be required to keep it contained or otherwise separate so that danger to the public at large is minimized. In some cases where a dog has repeatedly attacked it may be destroyed. 

 

Certain breeds statistically are more likely to attack people than others. There is considerable debate on whether this is due to the nature of certain breeds or simply how certain dogs are raised, but the following are the breeds most likely to attack, in order: