What makes one dog breed get a reputation for being more dangerous than others? Should you be more cautious around specific breeds? And does a dog’s breed even matter, or is it always a case of bad training?
Let’s explore some of the world’s most dangerous dogs together. You’ll also learn about what makes us think of certain dog breeds as dangerous. Additionally, we’ll cover the role and history of dog training in building these reputations.
There are a number of reasons people tend to think of certain dog breeds as more dangerous than others. Not all reasons are valid in the same way: Some are hard statistics, others are personal experiences. But they all can play an important role in our understanding of these animals and our discussion about what might make some more dangerous than others.
Here are some of the reasons we tend to consider certain dogs to be the most dangerous dog breeds:
Let’s focus more on that last reason, as I believe it can have the most impact.
Whether it’s right or wrong for us to judge a dog breed based on our limited experiences and the stories we hear about them, it’s something most of us do on some level (myself included). So I’d like to share some personal stories and how they’ve affected me (or not affected me, though you might think it should have).
We saw this in your comments on the original list. For example, we had people saying Pit Bulls aren’t dangerous because their own experiences with the breed have been pleasant. Others shared experiences on the other side of the spectrum.
Personally, I come in somewhere in the middle. I’m not naive enough to think that breed alone makes all pit bulls dangerous or more vicious than other dogs. But I’m also not naive enough to ignore the evidence that this breed has a history of causing more frequent and more serious injuries than most, if not all, others.
Clearly the breed plays some role. Some breeds lean toward different temperaments, or have different loyalties. These might make them great with their own families but naturally suspicious of strangers or other animals or even small children, who have less self-restraint than adults.
Personal experience is also a factor, though. My brother has a small dog. He took the dog outside at his apartment building into the parking lot. Another neighbor was outside with their Pit Bull. It wasn’t on a leash (while this is a requirement, going unleashed isn’t terribly uncommon around here). By all measures the dog would have seemed like a normal, calm family pet.
Until it saw my brother’s dog.
It immediately charged at them and grabbed his dog by the throat. There was no provocation, no unusual noise, and they were across the lot — not close to the pit bull’s owner in any way. My brother was able to rescue his dog by lifting the Pit Bull and literally prying its mouth open (which, by the way, is a stupid thing to do — please don’t ever follow that example). The dog let go and his dog was okay after being treated for its injuries. The Pit Bull then latched onto my brother’s arm though. Again, he was okay after being treated, but the wound wasn’t insignificant. It could have been far worse.
That puts me in that middle ground territory I mentioned before. Personal experience with this breed is terrible. There was no warning sign that the owner trained this dog to attack or fight. In fact, the aggression caught its owner completely off-guard. It just snapped at the sight of a smaller dog. That kind of sudden reaction is far from unheard of with this breed.
But that said, I don’t fault an entire breed (in the case of Pit Bulls, actually three different breeds) for the actions of that single dog. The lack of predictability of some breeds would make them “more dangerous” in my view. But the same goes for poor training and bad behavior by an owner (like allowing any breed with known issues with children or other animals to run free without a leash).
This is far from the only example I could give. Saint Bernards are also sometimes cited as some of the most dangerous dogs. But they’re also known for being calm-tempered and being good with kids. It’s their fierce loyalty that can be an issue.
A family member had one years ago. That dog was a great dog for most of its life. It even helped to stop a burglar in the family’s building. But years later it lunged at another family member who the dog knew for its entire life. They came to visit, and out of the blue the dog lunged and went for her eye. She’s still terrified of the breed to this day (and understandably so after an experience like that).
We can’t explain the unprovoked attack. It might have been a breeding issue. The dog might have been having a bad day in some way. We just don’t know. I understand her fear of the breed. But it’s not one I hold myself as a result — perhaps because I didn’t see it first-hand.
I personally own a mixed breed dog — Border Collie mixed with a Lab. At this stage in her life, I would also consider her to be a dangerous dog, especially around children. She is in no way violent. She’s great with cats and other dogs.
She’s still at that point where she’s young, wants to play all the time, and she doesn’t realize her own size or strength. The hyper aspect is specific to breeds. Both Labs and Border Collies can be very high strung, especially in their first couple of years.
Neighbors and family members don’t want her playing with their tiny dogs, and I think that’s understandable. And I wouldn’t take her out to play with small children for fear that she’d accidentally hurt them by jumping up or knocking them over as she tries to play. Being dangerous isn’t always a case of being naturally vicious, and that’s why so much falls onto the owner. It’s our responsibility to make sure our dogs aren’t put into situations where they’re more likely to cause harm.
If you’ve had experiences that have shaped your own views of what makes for a dangerous dog breed, let us know in the comments. Tell us what happened and whether or not you think it’s a fair way to judge a larger group of dogs based on the action (or actions) you’ve seen first-hand, and why.
Now let’s get to our original list of some of the seemingly most dangerous dogs, based on breeds. Now that you know why certain breeds have earned their “most dangerous dogs” reputations, can you think of others that might also have a similar history? Tell us in the comments.
Every person that I know deeply cares about his or her pets. They are their best friends. They tenderly love each other. Sometimes they eat together, sleep together, and go for walks together.
I’m more of a cat person, but I can’t sit still when I see little puppies or big dogs with big soft fur. I want to hug them, play with them, and give them some of my love and tenderness too. I’ve also seen many adult dogs of different breeds worth praise and true admiration. They are clever, sociable, and funny when you want to play; calm and patient with kids.
And they’re something I can’t credit cats with: They are faithful.
Personally, I don’t know any dog that would bite without warning or just snap. It’s my firm belief that behavior of the dog doesn’t depend on its breed so much as it being the right training and the “master” that matter. In my opinion, humans are most often responsible for dangerous dogs. That said, there might be some truth in the idea that some breeds have more unstable temperaments than others. Knowing this, we should never provoke them.
Think for a minute and analyze your own life. Are we always polite? I can think of several situations when I would have gladly slapped a man in the face, but thank God I’m weak enough and I can control myself (at least I think that I can). Now think about animals. They have instincts too, and they may forget about good manners. It’s not as if they understand them in the same ways we do.
It’s also important for dog owners to protect both other people and their dogs from unexpected circumstances and thus the unpleasant situations. For example, when going outside, they could always use a dog-lead and a muzzle. They could be careful and not let the dog play on its own without a leash, especially when there are other people around. When you have a dog, you become forever responsible for the animal you’ve trained and tamed.
In any case, it’s good to know what breeds of dogs might be most dangerous, just to keep yourself safe. Sometimes the danger in a dog isn’t even a nasty personality, but a matter of them not knowing their own strength.
Even though I personally still find it hard to believe that breed alone determines whether a dog is “dangerous,” you never know what a dog’s owner has taught it. Reliable research into the most dangerous dogs included below comes from the American Veterinary Medical Association, the CDC, and the Humane Society of the United States.
We’ll start with least dangerous of the bunch. Sorry, but there won’t be any terrifying photos today.
Read Also: Ready for a Dog? What Breed?
Origin: Croatia, Middle Ages
Weight: 40-70 lbs
Height: 20-24 inches
Dalmatians are active and energetic dogs, and love to be outdoors. They are very playful and love running.
There’s still no definite info about what this breed was originally bred for. What is known is that it is the oldest spotted breed in Europe, Asia and Africa. They were serving as warriors, hunters, and shepherds long before finally becoming the symbol of the US fireman.
Origin: Germany, 1850s
Weight: 50-64 lbs
Height: 20-25 inches
The boxer is a very strong “square” dog. Boxers love to walk, but the owner should never forget the leash. It’s also better to refrain from aggressive games. Still, boxers recognize all members of the family and can play well with the children.
The boxer breed has its origins in feudal Germany and dates back to the line of bulldogs that existed in Europe in the 16th century. These ancestors lived for hunting wild boars and other big wild animals. The first puppy in the new breed received the name “Box”. Boxer’s qualities, such as their strength, were highly valued by farmers and shopkeepers.
Origin: Canary Islands, Africa, 18th century
Weight: 100-125 lbs
Height: 25-26 inches
The Presa Canario hails from the Canary Islands. Dogs of this breed had two jobs: Hunting – and war. During the 18th century, English traders and merchants came to the Canary Islands, bringing with them their working and gladiator dogs, notably the Mastiff of England and the bulldog. Englishmen also brought with them their traditions of pit fighting for which their breeds and the island dogs were inevitably mixed and eventually bred to produce the ultimate fighter. Nowadays the breed finds use in guarding, handling, and driving cattle.
The dogs of this breed can be gentle and noble with their families, showing great affection to their owners, but are highly suspicious of strangers.
Origin: Switzerland, Middle Ages
Weight: 110-180 lbs
Height: 24-29 inches
Saint Bernards are amazingly big and easygoing dogs, but due to their impressive size they can look a bit awkward. They are quiet and peaceful, love children, and are not inclined to active and rapid games. A Saint Bernard will need all of your attention, so if you spend days in the office, this dog is not for you. They are tremendously strong and, of course, they require a good bit of space.
Most likely, the ancestor of the Saint Bernard was the Alpine Mastiff, a pretty aggressive breed. The original Saint Bernards were working dogs and scouts. They were also much calmer than their Mastiff ancestors. For that reason, they make for excellent home companions today.
Origin: Germany, Middle Ages to 19th century
Weight: 90-120 lbs
Height: 27-32 inches
Great Danes are beautiful and majestic animals, with a gentle and loving nature. They love to play with children and participate in all family events and activities, especially in the outdoors. They are happy to go for a walk and don’t mind the company of other dogs. Despite their gigantic size, Great Danes can even feel quite at home in a city.
In the Middle Ages, these dogs earned their living in dog fighting and by hunting big mammals.
Origin: China, Antiquity
Weight: 40-65 lbs
Height: 18-22 inches
The chow chow is an independent dog often focused only on its own needs. Chow chows need constant physical activity and communication, even if they don’t seem to like being disturbed much.
The chow chow’s original purposes were hunting and helping shepherds.
Origin: Germany, 19th century
Weight: 65-90 lbs
Height: 26-28 inches
Doberman Pinschers (often just called Dobermans) are dogs whose traits emphasize protecting and defending instincts. It is important to avoid any type of aggressive play and struggle with these dogs. Instead, use the games to develop the Doberman’s intelligence. Even though they aren’t small dogs, Dobermans can adapt to life in a city and become a perfect companion for an experienced, physically active owner.
This breed has its roots in in Germany. The breeder Louis Doberman decided to combine the qualities of guard dogs and and the terrier. Luis was a policeman, and so saw the need for a dog that would devotedly defend its owner.
Origin: North America, Ancient times
Weight: 80-110 lbs
Height: 23-28 inches
The Malamute is a friendly dog, but it has rather an independent temper. It’s better to keep this dog in a village, far from the city. Sometimes violent and energetic, they constantly need to move or play.
Note that Malamutes are a working dog breed from a colder climate. So, if you don’t live in the deep north, make your Malamute a nice playground. That’s because they are always in need of physical activity.
The name of the breed comes from a local North American tribe. They used the Malamute to transport goods on a sleigh.
Origin: Siberia, Ancient times
Weight: 35-55 lbs
Height: 20-24 inches
Training a Husky is not that easy. For these reasons, breeder don’t recommend this dog for beginning owners. Initially, these dogs transported goods on a sleigh. Not afraid of cold weather, they’re very active and loving dogs. Huskies love to get together with other members of their breed and howl at the moon.
Origin: Germany, 19th century
Weight: 70-85 lbs
Height: 22-26 inches
German Shepherds are very beautiful dogs, distinguished from other breeds by their reliable and obedient temper. They are in need of constant and serious physical activity though, and they seem to prefer long walks and active games.
Originally (as obvious from the name), the dogs guarded grazing sheep. They are great home guards and often participate in programs for the disabled.
Origin: Germany, 1820s
Weight: 85-110 lbs
Height: 23-27 inches
Rottweilers are powerful dogs with strong jaws, primarily meant to protect. Their original breeders selected those traits especially for that purpose. They often don’t like strangers and other dogs — they are guards at heart, and the dog owner should always remember that.
Origin: US, 19th century
Weight: 30-55 lbs
Height: 18-22 inches
The Pit Bull is named after its original purpose: The questionable amusement of dog fighting in pits. Sad as it is, that bloody tradition has survived in places, and Pit Bulls still have to take their part in it.
Photos source: Flickr
Origin: Southern U.S., 17th century
Weight: 60-120 lbs
Height: 20-28 inches
The American Bulldog is descended from the now-extinct Old English Bulldog, which was bred for farm guarding, livestock herding and bringing down game, and blood sports such as bull-baiting.
Today’s American Bulldog arose from any such dogs brought to America by working-class immigrants, many of them former farmers. In the South, these dogs were an important line of defense against feral hogs.
By the time of World War II, the American Bulldog almost went extinct, but was saved through selective breeding.
These dogs are large, heavy, and have powerful jaws with a typical overbite. They were bred for aggression and protection instincts. While they are suspicious of strangers, they are also very loyal and family-friendly. However, they need lots of space and attention.
Origin: England, 19th century
Weight: 100-130 lbs
Height: 24-27 inches
Bred around 1860 by English gamekeepers, the Bullmastiff’s job was to guard game preserves. They caught poachers, holding them until they could be arrested. They emerged from a cross of the large but non-aggressive Mastiff with the aggressive but smaller, lighter Bulldog.
Starting in the 20th century, they became a distinctive breed.
Today, Bullmastiffs are typical watch and guard dogs. They are fiercely loyal and love their families, but they have an extremely strong territorial instinct, and can be stand-offish towards strangers. When they’re properly trained, Bullmastiffs are also frequently used as gentle therapy dogs.
They are easy to groom, doesn’t shed, but are very prone to drooling. Bullmastiffs generally don’t need too much attention or movement.
Note that this dog was bred to be very quiet, so it won’t audibly warn when it’s startled or otherwise in a bad temper. In combination with their strengths, this makes Bullmastiffs one of the potentially most dangerous dogs.
Note: This post was originally published on April 1, 2009. It has since been updated with a new introduction and further background on the history of dangerous dogs.
View Comments
I have owned 3 boxers. They are very gentle and very good with children. The only time they were aggressive is if they felt we were threatened. The boxer is also on the top ten most popular dog list.
I just want to say that all dogs have the potential to be dangerous just as us people or any animal for that matter. It's all about the upbringing. As for small dogs like cocker spaniels or chihuahuas being on lists like this, please don't fool yourself. Yes these small dogs have the tendency to snap or bite more often do to their smaller stature but the breeds of dogs on this list are being recognized for the potential damage done with a single bite and reports made by people of course.
Pit bulls, Rottweilers, Presa Canarios and so on have bad reputations solely because when not properly cared for and when put into hostile situations, they are without a doubt among the worlds most damaging dogs. They can inflict large amounts of damage in just a single bite. Im talking torn flesh, punctured arteries or even bone.
I have been bitten by a chihuahua and by a pit bull and believe me, I'll take that chihuahua bite over the pitt bulls anyday. And the pitt bull didn't even get me all that good. I was breaking up a fight between my friends 2 pitt bulls. Normally they are very sweet and gentle dogs but for some reason that day out of nowhere, they jumped at each other and locked up. I hold no grudge against pitt bulls or any breed. I blame owners and people who just don't understand what kind of attention and environment these dogs need.
After reading this article, I feel the need to comment. I am a dog lover but I have always been very questionable when it comes to pitts. Well, about 5 months ago all that changed. My brother found a pregant pitt and she had been abused. She had a huge scar on her leg, that had been sewed up with a neddle and thread. She was used as a bait dog and then as a bredder dog. Well, the first time I meet her she walked up to me and just started licking. She was the sweetest dog. On the day she had her pups, I was still afraid she would try to bite because most mother dogs will. Well, instead she licked me and I ended up helping her give birth to the pups. All the pups were little poop heads and would nibble at you as most pups do. Well, 5 months later I now own my first pit bull. He is one of puppies I helped deliver. I now wake up very morning being attacked with kisses from him. He is only a pup but is turning out to be one of the best dogs I have ever had. I also read on a website that pitts were harder to control. That's bs, because I also own a black lab and my pitt is easier to control then he is. I now have a better understanding of the breed and love to be around them. I will agree that ppl need to becareful around them because just like any other dog, you never know how the owners have trained or treated them. I would also like to mention that as a child a played with my cousin rotties and they were great dogs too. Altought, one of them did bite me because he was scared of my bike. Wierd right but, I have notice with just about every rottie I have been around has an issue with bikes. Even the one my brother owned. But still rotties are wonderful dogs. And just for the record just about every pitt or rottie I get around seem to be so sweet. Damn the stupid ppl that give these dogs a bad repitation. I am not saying that about the author because she only wrote the information she had been given. I just hope she doesn't believe it. But for the next time she needs to mention that pitts are wonderful animals with great dispositions. Oh, and I have also always heard that pitts are not good with other animals thats also bs because my pitt loves our cats and other dogs too.
To all people going on and on and on about your wonderful PitBull dog that won't harm a soul: READ THE ARTICLE NAME. "Most Dangerous Dogs in the World".
PittBulls, bred for FIGHTING, guess f*cking what, fall into the 'dangerous dog' category. Yes we know, any dog can be brought up to be nice - DUH. You still cannot deny the pittbull belongs in the dangerous dog category. If you have ever seen a couple pitbulls rip the face off a kid (I have) and scar/deface the kid for life, you too might smarten up.
READ the friggin article name before you post off topic.
I have like 10 and they are all sweet and loving and get along with anybody and any dog
[Insults towards other commenters removed. And do not comment multiple times about the same thing just because the first comment is still in the moderation queue.]
they are not Dangerous my BFF has 4 pit bull ND THEY ARE THE BEST AND THEY LOVE MY GERMAN SHEPHERD THEY PLAY WITH HIM ALL THE TIME.THEY ARE SO LOVING AND SWEET AND THAT BULL CRAP ABOUT PIT BULL AND STUFF.IT IS ARE SO MEAN.AND I HATE IT WEN PEOPLE HIT THEM AND BE MEAN TO THEM.SO PIT BULLS ARE NOT MEAN OR DANGEROUS.BUT SWEET AND LOVING.
Yes I have seen it, on top of that I have even seen a little sent to icu behind being nearly mauled by to death by a pitbull that was brought up wrong. The peopple who are commenting against this page feel that she is against dog period, and this is her article that she decided to post on the internet.
I understand a lot of dog owners feel attacked when someone mentions "their" dog in a list like this, but it's getting silly here. The list is based on research, as the author says. Dangerous also does not mean aggressive. Clearly, getting attacked by a rottweiler is more dangerous than getting attacked by a poodle, even if the rottweiler attacks once a year and the poodle attacks once a month. Dangerous means big, strong dogs that were breeded for hunting, guarding, fighting, etc.
you are dumb dangerous just means hostile not big. A monkey is more dangerous than any of these dogs listed. Think about it.
incorrect research
Any dog can be a biter and most of the comments above are accurate in that the way the dog is raised has more to do with its tendency towards agression than anything. As with most things the impression of certain breeds to be agressive is media driven. Cocker Spaniel bites child is not news. Rottweiler bites child is big news. I operated a very large pet store for years which encouraged people to bring their dogs in. Only two dogs did I ever see behave agressively were a cocker spaniel, a breed that is squirrly from in breeding, and a Rottweiler that was raised as a "bad guy image dog" by a thug. One day a nice lady came to me to tell me she would not be able to shop there anymore because we allowed dangerous dogs to come into the store. I thought some dog had growled at her and asked her to show me the dog and owner. She took me to a lady who had a Rottweiler on a leash who was shopping. The lady who was bothered said to me "they are agressive dogs that should not be in the store". I asked her to watch me. I introduced myself and her to the lady with the dog and then to the dog. Long story short, in about 5 minutes the first lady was on the floor with the Rottweilers head in her lap and she was petting it. A month later she came in with a Rottweiler puppy. It is all media driven perception.
Have a look at pet Hyenas in google image search. You may have to rearrange the list.
Hyenas arent dogs.
They aren't even canines.
i totally totally agree
Owner of 4 Huskies..why would this breed show up on this list? Personally, i think even a poddle can hurt you if you really make them mad. I have mine for over 9 years now and i will continue to love this breed as they are loving, strong, challenging almost human-like animals. No one ever was in danger when they walked in to my house, unless you consider licking dangerous behavior. It is possible, that some abused huskies fought back , or their animal instinct kicked in and they reacted. No matter what breed- people make the bad choices - leaving small children with a dog that is not trained or introduced properly to the new kid on the block is never a good thing. They are all good breed - but they are still animals, and only bad people will bring this out from them. Good owner - good dog. I dont agree with the labeling of the breed - i will swear by mine always
The research was performed by the American Veterinary Medical Association, the CDC, and the Humane Society of the United States
This list isn't a list for dogs that are predisposed to bite. It is a list of dogs that can do the most damage if they bite. There is no doubt that Huskies can be brought up to be great pets.
We have an Alaskan Malamute and there is no way there dangerous! Seriously! It's the owner not the breed. We also have an American Bulldog x Bullmasstiff. Both gentle giants! Any dog is dangerous if not trained right. Pitbulls pack a good bite hence why there number one but it doesn't make them the most dangerous breed. I honestly think The Chiwawa is most dangerous. So aggressive towards nothing.
I can't beleive someone said a Mastiff was dangerous. I have an English Mastiff. He's big, but the worst he would do is squish you as he climbed on your lap to lick you to death.
(Sorry for my very bad English so if i offend anyone or got some other things wrong in other ways i did not meant to do that and i am realy sorry if so... )
Here in the deepest forests of the noth :D We laso hawe some dog races that are very much like those dogs.
Yes, poddles (for example) are MUCH more agressive than (for examples) Huskies, Malamute and other similar races, but i guess that we had to remember those dogs are (at least i guess so...) much closer to mother nature than "city dogs" and i think, (correct me i i am wrong) they are not so far from the volves, in fact volves are much like modern domested dogs, but they are slightly different and will not always act exactly as as modern domested dog. I Guess to take care of those dogs one must understand them and undestand how they work and how they will response to Your command and (friendly, personaly i dont think "human style violence" will work here,)) tell him that You are the one in charge not him, if one fail with this step or doing it wrong he will often try to tell You what rank he think You will hawe. dvs, the dog not mean to attack people for hurting, just tell one who is now the true leader of the pack. I think many people dont allways can handle that the right way and understand that cooperating with the dog as a companion and a god friend rather than just a cute pet. We had to remember that Those dogs are very much smarter than most of the other races. (Than remember volves fur is much thicker than human skin so if one get some small scratsches it was not alwas the meaning to hurt You, often just he wanted to play around with You as a friend.)
It´s all about thrust and understand each other.
Yes, those dogs are not for beginners, but once one learn how to handle them correct You will hawe wery good friends for long time.
So, Yes, the list is probably correct.
come on a muzzle are you serious, or do you know how bring a dog up properly
Always use a muzzle??? Do you even own a dog? I own a doberman that's never bitten anyone. I have no need of a muzzle.