Top Ten Most Aggressive Dogs
July 15, 2008 · Print This Article
I think most of us would agree that dogs are not born aggressive, they are made that way by the environment in which they are raised. However, there are some breeds that are more prone to aggresion than others. The Daily Telegraph in Great Britain reports on a study published by Applied Animal Behavior Science, ranking 33 breeds of dogs according to their owners’ answers to behavioral questions.
10. German Shepherd - I thought this one would be higher, because of their use in police work.
9. Border Collie - I can see this. They face off against sheep much larger than they are every day.
8. English Springer Spaniel
7. Beagle - This one surprised me. My beagle demonstrates every submission posture known to man.
6. Pit Bull - Popular legend has it that these dogs are the most aggressive, but I guess they really aren’t, if the study is on target.
5. Australian Cattle Dog
4. Akita - I had also heard these were dangerous dogs, like the pit bull.
3. Jack Russell Terrier
2. Chihuahua
1. Dachshund - one in five owners reported that their dachshund had tried to bite strangers, and one in 12 reported that their dachshund had tried to bite them!
Tune in tomorrow to find out which dogs rank at the other end of the spectrum.
I can’t believe that the Beagle is on this list. Mine is about as aggressive as a door knob. I’ve always felt that they are one of the friendliest breeds around.
The issue is not with the breed of dog or the individual dog but how people approach, interact or train the dog that causes the dog to be aggressive.
I’ve been raised with pittbulls my entire life and i would not put them on the top 25 list of aggressive breeds. they are extermely loyal and a great family dog. i will have to say though they have a very very high prey drive so small children should be watched very close while running around the dog. pitbulls were first used as hunting dog by the way.
I must agree with the Jack Russell Terrier being on the list. My sister in law has a boxer that was attacked by a jack russell from two houses down. Her boxer had just had puppies and was lying on the front lawn, when the neighbors let out there jack russell it came down the street to do it’s buisness on her lawn and attacked her boxer while it was asleep.
dachshund!!!!!!! seriously|???? i have one dachshund which is supperrr friendly!!!! i believe that the big percent on why the dog is aggressive is because on how the owner would handle, train, and raise the dog. if the owner would only know how to responsibly raise up a puppy, then it will become the best dog on earth. my dachshund, her name is duchess, is so playful, and very protective and she is not acting in an aggressive manner.
I grew up with a German Shepherd and he was the most gentle dog I have ever been around. Never aggressive. I also have an Akita and he is so sweet. We have a baby and 2 other children 5 and under and he is fantastic with them! They lay on top of him and put bows on his ears and he just lays there and lets them. Personally I think the smaller dogs are the more aggressive ones. My mom had a Yorkshire terrier (spelling?) and she tried to bite one of my girls when she was just 6 months old. We were standing right there and my baby never did anything to provoke her either. So.. in my opinion… small dogs are more aggressive and I get much more nervous with my kids around them than the bigger dogs.
You are all forgetting that this is based on each breed as a whole and not individual dogs. As a dog trainer I have met some very nice dogs of every breed but there are always exceptions to each rule. Keep in mind that dogs in many senses are just like people… individuals! Don’t take it personally if your sweet pooch is on the list.
Amy - Couldn’t have said it better myself! Thanks.