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.
Comments
20 Responses to “Top Ten Most Aggressive Dogs”
GOT SOMETHING TO SAY?
Read More Similar Posts:
- Least Aggressive Dogs
- Kayla’s DNA is in!
- Visit Your Dog’s Ancestral Home
- Name That Dog Breed! – Answers
- Top Ten Dogs @ Westminster
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.
I KNEW IT!!! Little dogs are the spawn of Lucifer! I work at a kennel and the meanest dogs we get are chihuahuas and Jack Russells (or similar like Rat Terriers). I’ve also been attacked by a weiner dog at work but they tend to tee-tee instead of bite. But the most terrifying encounter I’ve EVER had with a dog in my entire life was with a Jack Russell. We kept this dog in a cage we’d normally keep big dogs in ’cause that supposedly would make it less aggressive since it’s 5′ tall instead of 2′, you know? Makes sense. And I’d forgotten this dog has hyper-aggressive tendencies and went in all calm like “Hey, little buddy. I see you don’t like other doggies much.” and open the cage and he jumps up, snarling, teeth bared and goes for my neck and face. Not arms or hands like a normal dog. I run out of the room screaming and slam the door. Our groomers heard this and run into the hall to find me half-laughing, half on the verge of tears. So the ballsy one goes in with two leashes and comes out after 30 seconds of chaos behind a closed door with the dog. One leash around his neck and the other around his muzzle like a, well, muzzle. So we go to take it outside and and we put him in a run but realize “Hm, how shall he get the leashes off” ’cause this dog is furious at this point. So I get a pooper-scooper rake and she uses the handle to try to get the leashes off and it dives, fangs bared, not for her arms or hands or the rake but, as with me, her face and throat. So she bolts and the dog is running rampant around the middle yard and all the other dogs in their runs are watching, amused I’m sure, as we try to catch this little Jack Russell or chase him into his run or something. Anything. So after 5 minutes of attempting to capture this little demon and having him not run away but run at us going for our throats and faces. Finally she grabs him mid-attack, one hand around his ever-struggling snout and one arm around his mid-section. Admittedly, this episode did not help his stress-level but there is absolutely nothing you can do for a dog like that. His owner’s friend (who always picks him up, or did since he’s no longer staying with us since this) said she has to do the same thing with him so we were relieved (as much as one can be) that it wasn’t only us. I feel bad for him in a way but I’m traumatized and hate Jack Russells to this day. After all, he’s not the only one ’cause then there’s Charlie…
great job lady. if you are even a female that is.
There is no scientific evidence that every individual pup born of any of this breed is consistantly aggressive, let alone in the “top ten”
How can you even consider yourself a dog person when you advocate that certain dogs are inherently aggressive? I suppose if it is not your breed, it is just another dog,huh? Ban them all.
Omg, they squared off with a sheep!! They must be aggressive.
Why don’t you try to write an article on something original and not something that you have read or been told, or better, seen on TV.
I suppose the “Idiot who sputters in dog’s ears” is a hero to you as well.
What exactly is your specialty in canines anyway? Are you a groomer, vet tech, or vet, dietician, behaviorist, doggie day care, walker, or trainer? Or do you just “love” dogs? No, obviously it could not be that. Anyone with a brain that really cares about dogs would know better than to write such idiotic articles such as this particular one, where you are almost begging people to fear these breeds and give them a sense of false knowledge on exactly what each breed is about. You do not have a clue as to what each breed is about because you have sheltered yourself, here, in your nice little corner, where you can be protected by safely deleteing anything that may counter what you have to say.
Well, there are people and lots of them that know better than the bull crap you shovel and your ignorant pleas to be acknowledged behind a computer. All the while deleting anything that may be posted that would really show that you do not tell the real story, and certainly not the full story. If you are going to offer foods that are dangerous to dogs, why not offer all things dangerous to animals? the ASPCA offers a full list of these items. If you dont want to give them any credit, you can pretend you know it all and go to their site and copy and paste it.
All of these breeds mentioned, I have had EXTENSIVE experience with and although aggression in a few individuals may have been shown, the entire breed should not be taken down with your miserable attempts to “educate”. And for your information. The breeds that did most often show aggression consistantly as a whole are not even mentioned in your list. You forgot to mention the all american “mutt’ Yes, they can be aggressive too.
If you are going to attempt to show intelligence on a subject, at least do research it and study it for yourself. Good Lord, can’t anyone think for themselves anymore?
Nothing is “prone” to aggression more than humans are.
And if your beagle shows submission, that tells me that you are not a very respectful dog owner. Submission is not a good thing regardless of what Television tells you. Submission=Fear!
Fear will eventually explode in some way and usually it is shown through some form of aggression. In a perfect world it would be the owner, because they caused the dog to be fearful to begin with, however, it is usually on someone else, and then what happens? The dog has to be put down. When the owner is the one who really should be put down.
Regardless, as long as people keep using aversive methods when interacting with their dogs, they are going to create a time bomb. No matter what the breed is, using positive training methods in a consistent manner will produce a mentally healthy, confident, and loving companionship that is built on respect through trust, not fear.
Remember, we are “supposed” to be the most intelligent animals on the earth. It is time we begin proving it.
Pookie wrote: “Hm, how shall he get the leashes off” ’cause this dog is furious at this point. So I get a pooper-scooper rake and she uses the handle to try to get the leashes off and it dives, fangs bared, not for her arms or hands or the rake but, as with me, her face and throat.
Well, well, what a wonderful way to treat what is obviously already an extremely frightened, reactive dog. Yes, you taught that dog to be calm nicely.
This is the reason I never put trust in any other person to care for the only beings I have ever known to offer nothing but “unconditional love”.
So, the dog did not show any body language that would indicate that she was in some way fearful, or as you would call it, aggressive? If you work at a kennel you should research body language of the animals you work with. In my years of working with many species of animals, when an act of aggression occurred there was always a sign given before actually acting.
Some people really have no business having animals, let alone work with them. especially when you are working with other people’s pets.
There are people who claim to “love” animals and there are those who are indeed “animal people”. Not all animal people have animals or work with them, and in some cases, some animal lovers do not have animals.
Human Ego can really get out of hand too. For some reason, there are those people who have no business having a maggot as a pet, yet here they are with all kinds of animals. They do not enjoy the animals except when they are given attention for having the animals.
Honestly, it is not the breeds that should be banned at all. There really should be some sort of method to determine whether or not a person is fit to take an animal into their possesion. All of the things we have to have permits requiring certain qualifications and another living being is never considered.
these studys are bull! ITS ALL ABOUT HOW YOU RAISE YOUR PUPPIES, JUST LIKE CHILDREN!! i have a pit and bichon and they love eachother to death.. when someone comes to my house my pit doesnt bark.. my bichon protests my pit and is the boss of the house..raise your dog righ and you wont have problems.
I believe it is half nature (genetics) and half nurture (the way they are raised). I myself have SEVERAL Jack Russells and never ever not one problem. Never been bit nor have they bit anyone else.
I think proper breeding is where we will be able to turn all breeds around that have bad reputations.
I have some great info and links if interested…
Thanks, Sheila @ connemaraterrier.com
Can someone help, we have a 9 month old boxer that we adore she is wonderful BUT her version of getting you to play is to bite your ankles and when you ignore that and turn your back and ignore her she goes after your arms, I have three children so obviously unacceptable. If you saw her she is not agressive we can take food, toys and anything away but we are at the point that we feel we will need to find a new home for her so definately heartbroken.
Oh and we have tried dog trainers and non felt she is agressive.
Please give advice
Oh please, my Akita is a big lap dog and would’nt hurt a fly. He would only hurt someone if he felt his family was in danger.
I have a 3 years old Dachshund and she´s soo lovely.. so quite with people, really loves to be touched by people and kids.. I can´t believe that appears as number One in the list…
I think that It depends of how you trained it. If you spent time with him or not, if you provide him love, fun and time!!!
Dachshunds #1?!? Pit Bulls #6? Give me a break. I’ve heard one story of a dachshund being so agressive that it caused a fatality, and in that case, the parents were being irresponsible, rarely do they ever cause need for stitches. I’ve owned dachhunds for years and yes, one of them even bit my daughter, while she was arguing with her boyfried, just breaking the skin, no stitches required. This dog was a rescue so I have no idea what her background was. My others have a tendency to be very protective but have never been aggressive unless they feel threatened. Even then they may snarl or growl but that’s it. If it came down to it, you could kick a dachshund off of you easily if it attacks. Not so with a Pit Bull who again, showed up in the news just a few days ago for mauling a little girl requiring dozens of stitches. Please be more realistic and responsible in relaying your information.
Little cute dogs tend to be owned by coddling owners who think it’s funny when fluffy gets aggressive and thus encourage/reinforce that behavior. Owners are always the problem when it comes to aggressive dogs, regardless of breed. If one breed does more biting than others it’s because owners who tolerate that behavior are more inclined to own that breed. Whatever breed passive submissive owners favor is the breed that most frequently will become dominant aggressive as a result.
I AM NOT HAPPY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1 DACHSHUNDS?!?!”?!?!?! GET OUT OF HERE I HAVE HAD 7 DACHSHUNDS NONE OF WHICH THAT HAVE EVER BEEN AGGRESIVE TOWARDS ME OR MY CHILDREN, COLLIES, THATS ANOTHER JOKE THEY’RE THE MOST PATIENT DOGS I KNOW WITH PEOPLE!!!! THIS LIST IS ALL WRONG !