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
You forgot the boerboel, the fiercest dog I've ever seen.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boerboel
Yep, that's a strong dog and can get aggressive, and it also resembles some of the dogs listed in the post. Good addition, thanks.
most Dangerous dogs are Bully Kuttas, Gulldong, Gullterr, and saga kochee, what you put here is nonesense.
Hello there, i have to say that some of these dogs are not dangerous, i strongly believe that you can change a dog from young, i agree it's in there breed too, but still we can make a difference. It's the owners fault for not realizing that they should of trained it in the first place, we are teaching our dogs things every day, we have to be more careful... the message i'm trying to put out is, its not our dogs fault its our fault for teaching it these things they learn from us!!! i also strongly believe that your must NOT ever HIT A DOG.... be calm and assertive, ceaser millan said that we will follow on.
This list is not fully accurate. check out the ATTS website. I have been around many of these breeds fro 40+ years and I have seen an agressive dog from just about every breed. You can generalize to a point but to include Great Danes and St. Bernards is adding false information. In general they are gentle giants. Especially the danes. I have raised and rescued many of this breed and even the rescues that have come from the meanest of situations showed nothing but love and gentleness.
I find it hard to believe someone who can't distinguish the usage of "their" and "there". Uneducated people need to be silenced. I actually agree with what you are saying 100% but when I see that you don't even know the English language ("i also strongly believe that YOUR must NOT ever HIT A DOG") it makes you sound silly and uneducated. Go back to the ghetto.
James Boxton is an English language Nazi who should not be allowed to comment on the Internet. I hope you are aware that some people like to loosen THEIR written English when posting comments on the Internet. Here is a little something for you:
i hope u dont comment on each nd evry post tht doesnt tickle ur fancies coz id be sure that u'll b doing it for the rest of ur life and i think it is there (<- see wat i did here) business nd not urs
i agree on what hannah says
Hey James: You have poor punctuation skills.
*the usage of “their” and “there”.*
The end quote must always go after the punctuation at the end of a sentence.
Learn (and practice!) this simple rule before you embarrass yourself on the internet yet again.
Sorry Shelby, there's a difference between American usage and British usage of quotation marks regarding the final punctuation.
there not the most Dangerous dogs they can if no one treats the dog properly it's not the dogs falt itt's the owners falt any dog can be the dangerous dog it all depends on the owner
i agree
HAHAHA! You don't know when to use "there" or "they're"??!! Hopefully you are still i n grade school. Then I can understand your lack of grammar skills. In reading your jibberish answer, I can't make out what you are saying. Must be embarrassing..someone with an education can't understand what you are saying "(
@James Dad & @Hannah, I completely agree to you guys.
And I would also like to say that, v shud even try to keep a "JAMES BOXTON" breed as a pet. You know why, its because of their words they are soo sharp around. and dumb enough to keep looking for th things we once say, blindlyy following its own command which was once given to it.
I am gonna order one of the breed JAMES BOXTON right away. hahahahahahaha.. And will be waiting for "there" response.. LMAO...
Your are an idiot. Saint bernards typically weigh from 150-210 from the one my friend ahs been rasing for 23 years. the msot dangerous dog would be a mastiff breed or molosser type do your hsitory and great danes go from 150-190 and they are very agressive if not trained correctly.
there is also the canary dog, which was breed for aggression. they used to call them assassin dogs
Wow, you're aggressive. Lots of unkindness on this message board. I don't think it's aggressive dogs we have to worry about......
James Boxton, if you want to talk about grammar mistakes, then do not make any yourself! You forgot a few periods at the end of different sentences that you wrote. So James, don't be an ass. If you want to discuss spelling, and grammar, find a different website. And while you are at it, suck stale fart out of a dead seagull! And be a jerk somewhere else! No one likes a cyberbully. (<look who remembered a period at the end of the sentence.)
recently I have seen more and more people try to show how superior they are by degrading others...yes we type mistakes, do we care? NO! It is a small minded person who feels s/he has to troll through sites for spelling, vocabulary mistakes....and it has nothing to do with the subject spoken about..These sites are to share information not degrade and be rude to others who post! Many people type in a hurry, many have health problems and do the best they can, and many just could care less!! not here to impress you with my grammar or spelling knowledge which I know is atrocious at times but you can read the contents and get what I say .....Ugly minded people are best ignored .....they want to stir things up and are just obnoxious!
As to the subject, any dog can be vicious if treated badly or taught to fight, Although I believe many breeds are bred especially for their fighting abilities....I too find it hard to believe Great Danes, Saint Bernard and some others especially the Boxer who are big puppies most of their lives, if you buy from a reputable dealer, see both parents and so on, Boxers are great family pets....But they have been interbred with more vicious dogs to make the Pitbull!....The Pitbull is bot a breed ...it is a mix of the Stafordshire bull terrier, these dogs are one master dogs! lock on bite and never let go, very territorial to their family and will attack! English Bull dog though not as vicious, have the right build breeders want, are also in the mix, and then add Doberman and Rottweilers and you have the perfect fighting dog....We must remember that all dog breeds were used as working dogs centuries ago, so sometime no amount of training will stop the animals natural instincts ...All breeds can be vicious if treated poorly...And never ever let children annoy them pull hair and so on, might be cute! but so unfair to the animal!! and you have to teach children how to respect and care for animals, soon enough the dog will be wanting to play with them, but it has to their choice, not your rambunctious 2yr old pulling him by his leg ! I love all dogs! but am wary, even afraid of many....
Mastiffs r the most gentle breeds. Any and all breeders and websites will tell u the same. U never hear about mastiffs attacking people or other animals. They r known as the babysitter breed. They r too lazy to actually put out the effort.....lol!!
fhf your right .
no pitbulls are one of them i have 1 and he is strong he pulled my mom off of a seat
thats your moms fault for letting the dog get the best of her
I own a 3-year old pitbull and she is an absolute sweetheart. We rescued her at 4 months (she was previously abused). She LOVES kids, is very gentle even when playing, listens great and plays well with other dogs. They're only dangerous if you abuse them.....just like any other breed. Any pit owner needs to know how to properly handle their 4-legged friend and know when somebody should not be holding them. There was a good chance that she was not paying attention to him and noticing that he saw something. Always be aware of your pet and surroundings.
Well my german shepherd pulled my dad threw a yard of sprinklers . . . Good times
Lexi, what have YOU been teaching your Pit Bull? They are NOT naturally agressive!! What was your mother doing to make the dog pull her off her seat? I hope you didn't hit the dog! That's called ABUSE and it was probably doing something you considered "cute" when it was a puppy and failed to train him not to do that.
thats just a idoit to let a dog do that. if my dogs did that they know they would get popped hard on the nose. even thought i had a pit mix he was as sweet as sugar his name was puddles. he was so sweet.
pitbulls are the sweetest dogs ever and they should not be on this as most dangerous
Just one more this to add. James Boxton, we are talking about dogs, not grammar!
Just like any other breed or animal its about the training that they are given. I have been around Pitbulls my entire life and the only ones I have ever come across that dd things like that were the ones that were not trained or given attention. By pulling your mom off of a seat shows that you dog is in need of attention and hasnt had proper training between right and wrong. Any dog that isnt given any amount of traing is subject to do things like that not any specific breed.
you didn't train the dog not to lunge
There is no such thing as lock jaw.....pitts just have bigger jaw muscles. Rottweilers actually have the strongest bite and PSI [pressure per square inch] than anyother breed. Even larger breeds. Pitts r definently strong too!!
You are speaking nonsense. Ankle biters bite frequently, but really harm few. These breeds are big and have the capability to seriously injure or kill a person and some of them do. It is a mistake to assert that it is always the owners fault when a dog attacks. Some dogs are trained well and do not have any incidences with anyone until that one guy or kid that is threatening in some way we cannot know. Most people who sit here and try and refute the facts and statistics are owners of these breeds and have never had any issues and thank God for that. But are you gonna argue with the parents of a mauled kid? You gonna look them in the eye and tell them it was their fault that dog ate their kid. I lost 3 fingers to a pit bull that was raised without abuse or neglect. The dog didn't know me. I came into it's house, invited by the owner. The dog immediately went for my hand and as you know, removing your hand from the jaws of a pit usually ends in removal of the hand.
that mauled kid should have been supervised and yes i would argue with its parents. dogs attack when they fill threatend. if the kid was supervised then they could have prevented the threat. and you are only saying this because you have benn attacked by a threatend dog. your fault for intrudding
Ankle biters may not harm much, but look what they have to work with. If you look at a Chihuahua vs a Pitbull, a chihuahua actually has a worse attitude than a pit does and is probably more likely to bite. But, nobody cares about that because they can't inflict much pain due to their small size. Toy and small breeds tend to have horrible temperaments....and never know when to shut up.
Large breeds can be more dangerous. However, I have experience with large and small breeds. Small breeds tend to be more dangerous with children. The small breeds (40lbs or less) tend to be fear biters. Medium size breeds (like German Shepherds) also will tend to be more aggressive. Large or giant breeds are typically gentle. The larger breeds are more confident when raised correctly. I have had the honor of living with giants and tiny breeds. It was much easier to train a Caucasian Ovcharka than a Pomeranian. I think it came down to the fact that the Caucasian was not intimidated by me. They knew what I wanted without my saying. The Pomeranians, had to be essentially told what to do and are often a little skiddish. Yes, I have told a parent or two that their beloved brat was at fault. I have even had the police department and courts tell parents that the child provoked the attack. I've had my insurance polocies cancelled but luckily, I can afford attornies.
Zombie, please don't blame the dog for what happened! Why did your "friend" allow the dog to greet you at the door in the first place, if he knew the dog was aggressive? Blame your friend, NOT the dog! And if you're going to blame the dog, then blame the individual animal and not the BREED! There will always be agressive dogs in EVERY breed, but it's up to the owner(s) to restrain the animal when iniviting someone over. If your "friend" knew his Pit was stranger agressive, he should have put him in another room before answering the door.
helaina, you have lost your mind. Only a fool would argue something so stupid with the parent of a child who has been mauled by a dog. I have not been attacked by a dog like that but I completely agree with zombie. Let a dog attack one of my kids for being a KID and it will no longer be a "threatened" dog but a DEAD dog. PLEASE, stick with your animals and do not reproduce.
tell the 25 people pit bulls have killed in the last two years in america alone. including 13 children under the age of 9 and their families why you had to have a dog created for fighting. and how when it did what it was created to do it was their fault. tell the mothers their children are dead cause you are too cool for a corgi and wanted to make a statement by showing the world pitbulls can be nice. and yes aggression is in their nature it is just capable of being suppressed using socialization methods
nope not true removing the grip of a pitbull's jaws is as easy as removing the grip of a chihuahua's jaws you should look it up chihuahuas and german shepherds have the highest bite rate in all of the u.s people(mainly the government) use german shepherds as attack dogs and mostly they dont could the attacks because they dont want a bad name on the breed so people need to stop putting bad names on the american pitbull terrier
And that is the fault of the owner if you never been around the dog the owner should have known better than to just let you walk in. You were a trespasser on the dogs territory making you a threat to his family. Statistics that are given about Pitbull attacks are incriminating and inacurate. There have been attemps at full statistics done my the CDC and a few other government funded studies done with all of them having them final statement that they are inaccurate and unrepetable. Facts in many attacks are distorted and when they looked into it further the breed that was accused, in most cases being a Pitbull, came out not being what was reported but another breed all together in most cases. Im sorry that something like that has happened to you and for the families that have suffered because of something like that but the facts are that the only time its broadcast and made a point of is if it is a pittbull not other breeds. Where Im from I know of someone being attacked and there have been cases were there was someone killed by dogs and it never makes the news because it was not a Pitbull so it wasnt as important.
some breeds almost become possessed at one point and could kill or seriously injure there owners. I had a pitbull that graduated from dog obedience and seriously injured my dad the second he came in the house from work. Also we got him only at 8 weeks old and was going to become a police dog so he was never abused. Then i got a german shepherd the best dog of all. so we still have him and are breeding them./ They are SO nice
i am with you brother, i have seen bully killing a pit bull in 1 min flat. no one can mess with bully.
Wow! What a cool ghetto dweller you must be! You saw one dog killing another! Man, I am glad that I have money, make a good living and I don't have to be associated with minority sub-humans like you that view animal cruelty as entertainment. Know this: I am sitting in a nice house in the suburbs with not a care in the world and you are struggling to make ends meet while you have to resort to torture for entertainment. I win (and am looked at as superior in society). Dirtbag
f**k off
you havent got a clue kid, Pitbull is the best fighting dog and always will be, all these wanna be pitbull breads n dogs that are like 8ft tall....dont mean shit. pitbull would kill off any dog 1v1 standard.
Pitbull is like a puppy for bully kutta you retard. The only reason pitbull are considered fierce is because of popularity. I can bet a billion on bully, 'cause I've seen how much it is capable of when it comes to a dogfight or guarding it's owner. Also they are very easily trained.
a rottweiler would mess a pitbull up plus pitbulls are ugly
no, cacasian shepherd would wup it
actually dogs whom are part wolf such as huskies and malamutes in a 1v1 would kill off any pitbull as their extremely thick fur protects them from all dog attacks, they are naturally very active and extremely strong physically and are by far the most aggressive if not trained properly.
pit bull or bully nothing stands a chance near the great TURKISH KANGALDOG. may be a dog which may prove to be a competent rival is the great CAUCASIAN OVTCHARKA.
In your dreams, I have a german shepherd girl and there was a stray pitbull wearing a huge chain which usually isnt a good sign and guess what all she did was bark lunge and growl and it came closer then she tried to snap and it growled but ran off. . But i still love pitbulls! But even tho i do they arent the strongest dog in the world according to my proffesional attack trainer here
For those of us who are educated, employed and don't live in the ghetto, we don't care what the best "fighting dog" would be. We give our dogs great lives while you minorities torture yours. You are savages
Apparently you have never witnessed a Caucasian Ovcharka, Sivas Kangal, Tibetan Mastiff, or the like when in battle. Pitbulls while strong and aggressive, stand no chance against dogs bred to kill large predators. These dogs are bred to kill wolves, bear, and large cats such as tigers. I admire the Pitbull for what it is, a small to medium size breed that can hold it's own with medium size breeds, even some large breeds. However, you cannot compare a Pitbull with several of the large livestock guardian breeds. Pitbulls have been bred to fight other dogs while livestock guard breeds have been bred to fight and kill any threat to their property, people, or livestock.
Do any of you know what a pitbull was actually bred to do?
Did any of you actually know staffordshires were dog bred to fight beside early warriors in battle? Or that they were bred to hunt bulls? Of course not because its always size that matters to these "professionals" but bully kuttas and kurdish kangal are definatly strong dogs believe me because I've worked with my parent around rescues and fighting dogs but if a bully came around a pitbulls owner and got a little to close a pit it would do more damage to a bully. They are faster and have a harder bite. I dont care what anybody replies about "oooh yeah man my bully would totally beat up your dog" but in reality you've never handled one. I'm 15 and worked with more dogs then most people here and i can tell you its not the breed it's the dog. I myself have a rescue named bently, he is a black lab and no matter what dog and no matter how big he will protect me. Kangals are a different story kangals will forever be the scarriest dogs, my parents have rescued a fighter kangal and it tries to fight its reflection in the mirror. In my book best guard dog is and always will be a Rottie. Dog would take a bullet for you anyday and are very good with kids.
PLEASE STOP PERPETUATING (?) THE MYTH THAT PIT BULLS ARE BRED FOR FIGHTING! It's people like YOU that have encouraged society to have such an ugly view of these dogs! STOP IT!! It's CRUEL and AGAINST THE LAW!! I pray you don't own ANY Pit Bulls because you come off as a very cruel, self-centered, money hungry person. If you DO own a Pit Bull, I pray for the life of that poor animal. To you, it's a tool to make money off of. To you, that dog has no heart, no blood, NOTHING! If you had a child and you could make money off that child, you'd most likely teach that child to be mean & hateful. I feel badly for people like you, Conor, because you seem to have no heart or soul. Anyone who would use an amimal for fighting to make $$$ is inhumane in my estimation. God help you, because the Pit Bull breed is HIS creation & people like you are taking a very sweet and loving animal and turning it into a MONSTER!
i own alot they are frindley they just trained like that
Harshvardhan, Bull Terriers are easy to train? You have got to be joking (then again, sadly, perhaps you are not). I have had several in my obedience class and have seen, first hand, their lack of understanding of basic commands time and time again. They have a VERY short attention span, making them difficult to train in obedience. A scientific ranking of various dog breeds by intelligence ranks the "bulliy" 66th in intelligence out of 79 canine (another term for dog) breeds. Look up S. Coren, author of "The Intelligence of Dogs" and see the rankings for yourself. Maybe you are confusing aggression "training" and the responsiveness of the "Bully" to this type of "training" with its innate intelligence? You do sound like you are easily confused.
you are wrong the no 1 fighting dog is the japanese tossa fact .
u obviously dont know the dogo argentino or the brazillian mastiff so,,u clown....
@ James Braxton no you dont look superior you look just as ignorant as the person that is bragging about the fact that they have seen one dog kill another to brag about what you have doesnt make you better than anyone else it just shows your stupidity, ignorance, and how closed minded you are or maybe even your age because someone who actually worked for what they have doesnt brag about how much better they are than another person.
Also @ Rook you should also no your history before jumping the gun Pitbulls were breed as Hunting dogs. They were mixed with various breeds to get the different abilities so that in packs of 3 or 4 they were able to take down Big Game animals such as bears and Ox and Bison. In the 1800's the outlawed the use of dogs to take down big game which then theyu just became protectors of the family and it took one person that came up with the idea to use their abilities in a different way by fighting them. The Pitbull Terrier was actually one of the most popular dogs because because they were the families hunters and protectors and then man turned their backs on them because once dog fighting was banned it became underground which has created todays hype and disalusion of the breed.
Anybody heard of Caucasian Sheppard? This dog is a beast, it can eat other dogs with easy.
It is very dangerous, was breed in Caucasian Mountains for protecting life stoke. Some exemplars weigh more than 200 lb. Good for farms with large land. It is very active dog, needs a lot of space, barks a lot. Not a good dog to keep in you apartment. Good with family members, but will not respect neighbors or family friends. Needs to be socialized with other dogs from young age, otherwise will try to dominate and subdue them. The best dog for protecting your farm and domestic animals that it will accept as family members. It is not shy, very aggressive, does not feel pain much, will fight to the death to protect your house and your family. These dogs are known to kill wolves, sometime more that one at the time.
Own three at my country house, definitely would not recommend it for any purpose other than a guard dog. Vicious to anyone, but the family. Were bred to hunt bears and are naturally aggressive. Unlike most breeds that require proper training to be guard dogs they have that instinct since birth.
I agree very strongly yusuf but i dont want to offend you Anastasia
Totally disagree. Pitbulls are NOT the most dangerous dog. Golder Retrievers are the most aggressive. Pitbulls are number 5 on the list
Kylie, golden retrievers are the cutest but not the most aggressive dear!!!
Everything you listed is in the same family as a molosser.
personally cant believe danes have been listed but kangals,akitas, fila brazilieros and japanese tossas have not . maybe before stating so called facts on dog breeds maybe a bit of reading would be helpfull . and why is there a picture of a staffy for a pittbull ??????????
yea like the fact that pit bulls were originally breed to catch rats in England bet nobody really knew that on huh
just spent an hour or so reading about the bully . the dog is a maniac its deffinately up there with the japanese tossa . anyone thinking the pitt is the most dangerous dog are complete morons . there are dogs out there that would you pitts as tooth picks
If you think the Japanese tosa, is a big dog, you should check out the Korean mastiff. It's huge!
I think this was meant to say what dogs can be dangerous if they were to be aggressive.
YES, AND ADD THE KANGAL, CAUCASIAN OVTCHARKA, KOOCHE AND FILA BRASILEIRO - ALL OF WHICH MAKE THE ORIGINAL LIST LOOK LIKE PUSSYCATS. AND IF YOU WANT THE DOG THAT HAS BITTEN THE MOST PEOPLE, I'D PUT MY MONEY ON THE BLOODY AUSTRALIAN CATTLE DOG FROM MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE.
MAKES YOU WONDER ABOUT SOME PEOPLE WHO MAKE UP LISTS AND WHETHER THEY HAVE ANY CLUE ABOUT DOGS.
Well I have been around a lot of dogs in my life, and the most vicious are those little Taco Bell dogs!! mean as heck! would never get one! very loyal to owners ,, my friends used to hide under couch and snap at your heels! obnoxious little thing! He only had 1 tooth left but his gums were hard!! Another is those tiny poodles rotten little spoiled rats!! and I know it is owners who spoil them rotten, but many people spoil their dog rotten ...and they don't attack for no reason!
true i own a gultair and guldong mix he is pure white he is only 2 and a half months but his aggression is on a different level
it says that pitbulls are the most dangerous dogs in the world but thats the not the dogs fault yes pitbulls are fighting dogs but they dont have to be if you bring them up right from a puppy then they ont be dangerous dog and they wont be banned from england so hat im trying to say is bring them up to be lovley dogs because i know they can be
I think you never heard aboeut mongolian mastiff used from genggis khans time in battles for hunting for humans bears syberian snow tigers veeeety large dog height around 1,2m and still you can find in mongolian countryside
My 7 year old Boerboel "Daisy" is so gentle, why would you consider this a dangerous breed? You're confusing dangerous with protective!
exactly right
Hello Anastasia;
I am looking for a breeder of Esther Dobermans and I believe he has his Kennel in Germany. His name is Willis Romanow, are you aware of such a breeder?
Hi Anastasia, we have an rottie that look just the same as the photo of the one lying, its the best dog we ever had and I simply wanted to know which tipe of rottweiler that is?
yep i love your comment it can aggressive,
I have to disagree with everything you've posted above in terms of the dogs listed, I am definitely not suggesting these AREN'T powerful dogs; and I agree that dogs don't usually attack without a warning and most of those warnings are ignored by little children who do not understand the strength of any dog. However, all dogs are capable of harm, you also missed out the Japanese Akita, I have heard a lot more stories about Akita's harming people/kids than A Rottweiler. I put inexperienced owners down to this.
Sorry if you find my post biased or anything, I do own a Rottweiler myself; and I am a child so of course I am going to be slightly biased about Rottie's placing 2nd on the list.
Most of these dogs arent dangerous at all, this needs to be updated and the name does not go with the article, SORRY
So true!
hai friend i am a like dog
I beg to differ from your No. 1, I own a American Pit Bull Terrier and he is the MOST loving dog I have ever seen. He is just as loving as any other dog. People only Think they know a Pit Bull by what others do to them, but I say own a Pit Bull First before you judge them. Any dog will be danegerous if YOU as owner raise them to be dangerous.
why does your dog being nice have anything to do with the breed they kill people pits have 25 kills in the last two years in america alone
If you actually look at statistics that number is completely inaccurate the CDC doesnt even stand behind those numbers because reports that have been taken in alot of cases they automatically stereotype the dog as a pittbull and in a few cases they dogs stated to be a ptibull had no attributes or caricteristics of one. Also I believe there are 3 cases alone were children were on the receiving end of an attack were it is stated in the headlines that the family pitbull did it and if you actually do some digging it wasnt the pitbull, Which is included in the statistics, but actually the family Ferrett.
hmm well most people i see that hav pits are either crack heads, gangster wanna be, people with lots of tatts and probably really small u know wutz so guess wut thats a recipe of disaster idiots with strong dogs what else can the dog learn?? u giv these people say boxers or germ sheps or any other strong dog this will be the same thing................. pits are sadly givin to rejects and end up doin bad things cuz they were abused in many ways mostly treated like crap poor little pits they r wonderfull petz
You cant own "A" pit and know enough to judge the breed. Many lines of pits have aggression bred out of them but they are naturally more dangerous than many other breeds They are known for their strength and strong bite. They are used in hog hunting as catch dogs because of their lack of fear and willingness to bite and hold on till the hog can be caught by hand. The dog breeds used to find the hogs are typically too timid to catch a hog by themselves but pits rarely think twice about taking on a hog 3 times their size. You can take just about any ole pit from the pound or any of your 'gentle' family pet pits and make a catch dog out of it with little trouble. This isn't so with the majority of other breeds. They have little to no fear. That is why they are dangerous. Also unfortunately the pitbull is very popular with dog fighting. While many lines of pits have been intentionally breed to have low aggression, many other lines are bred to have super aggression.
My dog is a pit mix. He is a very loving dog to me and my wife as well as anyone I welcome onto our property but I have to watch him carefully around other dogs, mainly alpha males. He just can't help himself. Believe me he knows I don't approve but it is in his breeding.
sorry casey but pittbulls have always been bred for fighting hence the name they have always had pittbulls. to fight in the pitt . and i think you will find staffys were bred for badgor baiting . and the breed is not old enough to fight with early warriors lol . dogs like the akita irish wolf hounds great danes and chow chows have been used in war as these breeds are as old as the hills and unlike your bullterrier breeds have high enough intelligence .
i have a labrador but i want to agracive doges han i sugges root rottweiler for security & guard in my shop can u tell me that my good sugasation
The like begging are not strong dogs i would only count Pitbull , GermanShepard , Rottweiler Doberman , boerboel. Because of how they are used
A Pitbull is a Pitbull
I love my Pitbull and we walk 10km a
day but he is what he is... If you love your
Dog like I do you need to have him or her muzzle
all time . Because it would kill me inside if I had
to put him down because of something that he did.
LOVE YOUR PITBULL PLZ
Why would you list a St. Bernard, this breed is one of the most loving, docile breed you can buy!
They are like big loving cuddly teddy bears..their ancestry doesn't make them aggressive. They were bread to be work dogs and rescue. I have NEVER met a St. Bernard that was even the least bit mean or aggressive. Even in your description of them it says; peaceful, good with children, easy going, and quiet. Also I've never met a Great Dane that was mean either...they are gentle giants.
If you are going to include Alaskan malamutes and husky's, then you should add the wolf hybrid. Owning a wold dog is not like owning any other dog, you have to think of it as a wolf, rather than a dog. If someone does not know how to handle the breed they can become aggressive. They also tend to be overly dominant with other dogs.
Also..a wolf has the strength of 10 dogs, when say wolf, I am including the wolf hybrid dog. They are huge and very powerful. They can and if provoked will take on and kill any dog that they do not like. My father had a wolf dog when he was growing up, they are good with the family but very wary of strangers. His dog was always getting into fights, and easily took down any dog that was dumb enough to challenge him. Including Rottweilers and Pitbulls.
lol maybe they were malnutritioned rotts and germs........ just because one pit or wolf or dogo or wut evr doesnt mean that this dog can kill the entire race of that breed i have a 160 pound rott and once loose at the park a so called wolf hybrid beautiful dog got aggresive and went for my dogs neck 20 seconds later 15 people were hitting my dog with bats and broomsticks to get it off once he let go the wolfs leg was nearly severed had to be takin to animal hospital but im not gonna say just because this one incedent that rotts r the toughest dogs in the world and can kill all wolfs im sure there is a wolf out there that could do damage to him.... as well as pits ive seen really weak ones that i could slap around if i needed then ive seen ones that i wouldnt go around agn it doesnt mean all pits can kill evry dog all these breeds r tough and which evr breed there may b some that excell others within there own breed. bottom line most of these dogs u r talking about on this site are very tough dogs and u cant say one is tougher then the other it all depends on the dog,
you are looking so gooooooooooooood
i mgonna buy a labrador .cn u tel me smethin on it plz.
I really wish people like you could get there facts straight before posting stuff like this. Its people like you that give these dogs bad names. If you want to post stuff like this put there owners up, because they are the problem not the dogs.... Do a little more research next time and you will learn a few things ie....Pit Bulls were not bread for fighting. They have no proven record of when the breed came around. They just have an approx time frame and they were used for taking down bulls, then used in protection of tribe invasions,baiting, then brought to America and that where the problem began. Also look up the definition of dangerous..the only thing you are correct is part of that definition "able" and yes any animal is ABLE to harm someone. In conclusion i think you are dangerous in giving these loving animals a bad name. just my 2 cents.
as a owner of now my second st bernard
i dont know why you would say that they are dangerous
more teddy bears than dangerous
they are not bad dogs the owners are responsibel for all this dog fights. They shud be put in jail
I have what is referred to as a ''Gator Mouth'' pit bull. I have never owned a more gentle or loving dog.Dogs are not bad unless they are made that way.The bpeople who fight and abuse dogs ...well I would like to put them in a pitt with the animals they have trained.(but first they need their caritid severed)the only time my dog was ever aggresive was a time when my life was in danger
WELL said!!!!
Kim...I agree...well said. I own a lab/pit mix-from a rescue shelter. We have been fortunate to have owned another rescue dog-shepherd/lab mix and a purebred-beagle. They were wonderful family members. But my current dog-the lab/pit is the most affectionate, loving, funny and gentle and absolutely beautiful and fyi Conan has been very easy to train! She is intelligent and picks up on new commands quickly. It is the fault of so called human beings who turn these dogs into fighters-pits are so loyal to their masters-they are attempting to please these horrid people. At one time, in England, they were called nanny dogs, as parents used them to watch over their children. Finally, Conan, this is a forum to discuss breeds, not to correct and insults others if their spelling or grammar is not perfect! I guess we all cannot be as well educated (I did not say intelligent) as you. Stick to the topic.
i know why would they say that about a dog that has saved lives,
That's what I said! They are such loving dogs.
The title Dangerous Dog suits to many, Borboel is one which is missing from list.
but except Chow Chow none must be called Aggressive Dogs :-p
the smaller breed ones are more aggressive, and tend to bite and bark at other dogs and humans.
Yes what makes diff. is the list above (incl. borboel) they attacks are Fatal.
Especially Rotty and Pitbull. They are sweet lovely ones, but when provoked they can attack which can be fatal.
While some smaller dog breeds tend to be more aggressive, the article is about dangerous dogs. Although small breeds may be more aggressive, they are not as dangerous as say, an aggressive pit bull, because they lack the size and strength do major, life altering damage.
Thats bull crap about Pitbulls. My brother rescuses and reahabilates Pit Bulls that PEOPLE have abused. They are very loving and loyal and kind dogs. They are great with kids and love to please they're owners. You need to get your facts straight before you start talking bad about a breed of dog you know nothing about. Alot of these dogs on this list wouldn't hurt a fly. And just because they're big enough to cause damage to a person it's more likely that your gonna be attacked by a small dog then a large one. Get your facts straight before you start giving dogs a bad reputation like so many have already done with the Pit Bulls. Judge the Deed NOT The Breed!!!
I love the last part of your comment. Judge the deed not the breed!! The list of breeds on here confused the crap outa me???? But when I looked back I seen it says LEAST DANGEROUS which makes more sense to me but is still really wrong!! I've seen more dalmatian's bite and turn on their owners then any of the other breeds on this list. So regardless of the way this list is supposed to be it is still false information.
The list is perfect. it is based on the number of fatalities caused by these dogs in the past.
Then, could you please explain to me how "very loving and loyal and kind dogs", such as a Pit Bulls, just so happen to be banned from breeding in Ontario, are required to be muzzled in public, and must be sterilized?
I agree with you on this just to the simple fact that I own a rednose pitbull and a rottweiler. They get along great with my wife and daughter and yes they are protective. I also believethe reason why all the dogs mention get a bad rep is cause of dumb owners. All it takes is tlc(tender, love and care)
that is so right i have 2 pitbulls,2german shepherd,2 rotties and 2 bullmastif they saved my life.i was being attacked by a grizzly bear 4 of my dogs died saving my life.1 of my german shepherds died,Roxy she had a broken back.my rottie Lucky i put down because he had brain damage.and my 2 bullmastifs R-kie and AJ R-kiis was killed, is 4 legs were broken and so were is ribs he and Roxy were the first to attack AJ was eaten all that was left was his head and his 4 legs. the my other dog were hurt nu not bad.But the point is dont say crap about a dog cause no dog are dangerous it is what people make them.Ohya and all of my dogs were abused so it dose not matter if they were abused or not no dog should be abused or dangerous so don't abuse dogs
german shepherds r not dangerous...well if train they r not dangerous i have 1 and he is just a gentle dog would not harm a fly
They seem to just be nasty dogs but I supose not all of them are nasty.My friend has a rottie and even though they seem to be overlooked as vicous she is a lovely dog. But still I think that is a lie, I do not think they are great with kids.
GN, the key word in your posting is "provoked!" ANY dog would attack when provoked! It's a defense mechanism! But it seems the Pit Bull is blamed for something that it did not instigate! Again, key word here being "provoked!"
THANK YOU, LINDA!!! THANK YOU!!
It's the bad owners that make the dogs dangerous not the dog. I have an 8yr old Red nose pit bull that we have had was since he was a pup. He has been the best dog I have ever had. I have 3 special needs children and would never trust a dog more around them then him. He has been our best friend our companion for the past 8yrs. He is going to be an impossible dog to ever replace. So before all you big mouthed ppl say anything about the breed take into consideration who the owners are. dogs are a product of there enviroment just like ppl are!!!!!
I think these lists should be labelled a little clearer than "most dangerous" How about dogs capable of inflicting the most damage if left in the hands of irresponsible owners?
i agree with u no dogs a dangerous it is what people mack them i have 1 german shepherd,1 pitbull and 1 rottie and they r so nice and loyal they save my life.
Why stand up for a Rotty and Pit, but discriminate against a Chow? We have a Chow Chow and she doesn't have an aggressive bone in her body. She loves all people, will probably lick an intruder to death. I trust her 100% around our other dogs, cats and kittens, chickens and parrots. She is a real teddy bear. It depends on how you raise them!
ChantalI am not just standing up for the pit and rott but all dogs. This is is not perfect it is based on some things that are and true. Just another way to give the dogs we grew up with. Also the great dane was never bred for fighting but for hunting game where did you get your information and facts from
wrong guys most dangerous dogs are bully kutta, afghan saga kochi, pakistani gulldong.they are not familiar in the west but soon they will arrive.
that is tru a chow chow on my street is bing abused so he is really mean but i know in side that he has somme good bones in his body
wow pits and rotties r not dangerous if trained so back of
all dogs are great.. i was bitten by a rottie and they did not know if it had rabies. but while i was bleeding i begged my parents not to let them put it down..but now i have a rottie and i love her very much...plus our chow mix was shot,because she was part chow and our neighbers did not like her
Chantal, thank you for posting this! I am looking to get a chow chow puppy and have been doing lots of research on their temperament. Most of what I have been seeing is that they are a loner breed who can be very temperamental and dangerous at times which has made me wary. However I have always believed that a dog is only as loving as how you raise it and treat it. so thank you for posting this it has eased some of my worries and confirmed what I had already believed. If you have anymore info you could tell me about chow chows please let me know. Thank you very much
Ummmz sorry but pits arent really agresive if u raise them rite cuz i own on and i own a rotty and she is the most gentle and sweet dog ive ever had just saying.
i agree with all the comments about it is how the dog is raised and treated, however i do believe it is in the nature and breed of some to attack. my lab as you notice is not in the dangerous catergory, was just attacked by a Pit Bull. I believe that to be the case, the dog was not nurtured. However in the area that I live in there is a lot of that, therefore I would like to have them outlawed in our town.
no ots a taratorial thing and how do you know your dog did not start the fight
You were attacked by a Pitt? Did you know most attacks brought on by Pitts are because of people so no u being attacked by a pitbull dose not make them a bad breed and I think it's stupid that u want them outlawed in our town I mean I was attacked by a lab dosnt mean I want them outlawed... Just sayin o ya BLAME THE DEED NOT THE BREED BAN BSL
Phyllis-on one list on the net, labs were cited as being responsible for many attacks-I was surprised as I have owned lab (mixes)-gentle, sweet, loyal, but my pit/lab mix is the sweetest, most affectionate, loves everyone, etc. Read up more on pits-it is almost always the owners, who take advantage of the breeds incredible loyalty, who turn these sweet dogs into the "attackers" the media portrays-and very often it turns out they were either mixed breeds or not even pits!
dogs are aggressive due to the owner, we have had 3 chow chows and while they are very self absorbed, they have not been aggressive dogs and were very well mannered especially around children
[Insulting comments removed.]
Rottweilers are the best dogs in the world and no other breed can be so caring and alert as Rottweilers.
Pitbulls are clownish and will do anything for you.
It's all the fault of owners. They all are potential dogs with great capabilities but its the owners responsibility to train them and socialize them.
If the owner is the pack of leader then no dog can show aggressive behavior.
i agree growing up we had a german rott and he was the best dog ever! he would just lay there not bark but if you came in the yard and he didnt know yu he let you know to get out!! and pits are verry frindley i have had many i curenlt have 3 it is all how they are raised my 2 year old can do anything to my dogs and they dont do nothing!!!!
ya german shepherds ROCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have to disagree with this comment. We did our very best with our doberman pinscher. We did everything right. Consulted vets and behaviorists, obedience training was completed, socialization, etc. But the dog was poorly bred. To put it simply, she was a few sandwiches short of a picnic. People always blame the owners of the dog; in many cases we should be blaming the breeders. We loved our doberman to death but after she bit our son when he touched her bone, we had to make the choice to put her down. Broke our hearts.
Owners fault again.....why would your son want to take the dogs bone away???? did he let the dog know that is what he was going to do? did he approach her in the right way. If he wasnt old enough to adhere to the rules then he should not of been left unsupervised......poor dog....
Again--deed not the breed!
I always wonder why boxers are listed here. They are wonderful with children, known for their patience with little people.
In response to the comment about the dog attacking the child over the bone--sorry, doggy has to go! I would rather re-home him to a child-free environment, but you cannot raise a child in a hazardous environment. If the dog attacked a child in his own home, a member of his pack, then he'd go after a stranger and that would be a real disaster. You'll lose homeowner's insurance in a heartbeat for a dog bite!
All dogs should be taught to allow anyone to take their food, toys, etc. We raised our staffy puppy where we and our children would take his food and toys away at any time and then return them so that he understood they were not his belongings, but ours. It is very important with powerful breeds to let them know who has ownership of everything because no matter how well supervised your dog is it only takes a split second for them to react. The rules should be applied to the dog not the child.
The dogs actions all come down to the owner. We are the humans and they are the dogs.......humans should be responsible and act like humans therefore fatalaties, attacks and bad behaviour would not exist or at least be minimal if the owners took responsibility for their actions or inactions should I say!. All dogs no matter what breed can be brilliant domestic pets if brought up in a good loving environment and socialised as every vet will tell you!
Granted that training a dog should include teaching it not to be food protective but I have to defend someone who sounds like they made an obvious attempt to keep their dog and saw it as a part of the family. Why else would someone go to so much trouble for behavioral consultation? I love my boys with all my heart but if they hurt my children despite all of their training then sometimes you have to make a tough decision. Don't get me wrong. Our boys walk away from the food bowl when the kids start reaching for it as they have been taught but we also teach our children to be firm but loving and patient with the dogs. Its a two pronged approach. Both the kids and dogs know to respect each other. Its completely unfair to say a child was in the wrong in this situation.
I'm really surprised at your reasoning. A child should let ba dog know his intention. A dog that can attack a child for taking its bone is a dangerous one and should not be kept as a pet dog.
exactly
wow thats sad that poor dobie you realy shouldnt have a dog if your an irrisponcible owner and a bad parent you obviously didnt train your dog against food agression and not to watch your kid is just dumb. i have a properly trained 120lb rottie and my children can take a steak from his mouth if i would let them.
This arguement is stupid, as are most of these people. This is a simple discussion of Nature vs. Nurture. Some dogs are born aggressive, just as certain people are, others learn the trait from poor ownership. Don't act superior because one person failed at raising a dog you once had success with.
Again, this is about dangerous breds, and while I own a 250lb English Mastiff (sweet as pie), I understand that she is dangerous. Little dogs yip and yap, nip and bite. One bite from my mastiff could kill a grown man. That makes her dangerous, even if she has never attacked and probably never will.
When purchasing a dog that is powerful, even if your friends told you the bred is soooo sweet and would never hurt anything, they, like these people on this comment list, have no idea what they're talking about. Take responsibility for your dogs, understand the signs of aggression and train train train train train.
All of these dogs are DANGEROUS, maybe not aggressive by nature, but definatly DANGEROUS.
i to own a mastiff and have trained close to 40yrs. thats one of the reason i own a english mastiff what a breed.ive trained many of the akc breeds and its called reading breed.... then you read the dog no to dogs are the same.THE same for people. You made more sense then all of the them put togeather.May i ask where you got mastiff from? Randy
Doberman poorly bred I disagree with you. Did the doberman come from a bad home, and was it around kids, cause they are good with children if they were brought up with kids from puppies.Number 1 what are you doing allowing your child to be unsupervised.The missing some screws hmmm, I think you were missing some screws.Simply put your child had no buisiness going for the bone Hello.
I disagree with your comment. Why would you leave your son unsupervised with a dog bred for guarding is beyond me. And why he went for a dogs most prized possession is also beyond me. Every doberman I have ever met has been the sweetest thing. Either the dog was not taught not to be aggressive when someone reaches for their food or she was not oriented very well with the child. Those are the only way that any of that could have happened. As for the other dogs on this list, this is a bunch of crock. I've owned 2 rottweilers, an american and german, and they were the best dogs. the american even let my 2 year old sister sleep in the same bed as her and use her as a pillow on car trips. And i know a Pitt Bull that right now i could walk up to off the street and as long as you let your attentions be known pet and take its food.
I completely agree with the comments regarding the duty of owners and how the owner train the pet eventuslly being the deciding factor as to how your pet turns out to be- its totally wrong to blame a particular breed of dog and keep on writing bad things regarding them online- I am a proud owner of an eight month old Rottweiler and that is the most (loyal,loving,trustworthy,huggable,playful,intelligent,obidient,always trying to please) dog i have ever been around - its sad that media and internet has dented the reputation of such wonderful breed of dogs- I have a friend who has a four year old Pit Bull and has all the qualities which i mentioned above in my Rottweiler- they are simply man's best companion.
well said, Punnet!
I 100% agree with you I've never owned a finer dog then a rottie.
I myself have a rottie and to be honest he is more dosile and loving than the dog i had while growing up which was a collie spaniel cross.
I have to say that rotties were not bred for guarding the romans used them as hearding/droving dogs who would also pull carts full of meat for them.
I am a great believer in the fact that the tempermant of a dog has a lot to do with how they have been brought up! However i also understand the fact that an animal is an animal
i would like to know where you got that info about rotties being used by the romans seeing as they werent bred anywhere near there or that time frame. the were bred in rottweil, germany to guard the butchers shops. thats why they are named rottweilers. so please disclose some links or refernces.
You cannot have a guard dog and a family pet.....just as you have to choose if you want to show your dog...or is he going to be a family pet?.
No dog should be around children if he is food aggressive,
A guard dog is not a dog who barks at end of chain all night long at least little thing, a true guard dog will walk the perimeter of yard, be silent, and will attack as soon as someone tries to get in...He may be trained to bark at intruders, to alert household...these dogs do not make good pets.... They are focused on one thing keeping intruders out...
Someone said the Pit Bull was its own breed, I stand corrected then, but I also learned that most real trainers breeders, do not want any brown fur, not the tiniest bit ....because the original dogs were black and white and any brown markings show it has another breed in it's back ground... Also was told they were called pit bulls because they fought in a a makeshift pit ? or again was it because they were put down in the pit mines to kill rats? I do not know ....
Dogs, any dogs will do anything for approval of it's master, they can be lovable and eager to please, especially rescue dogs.....Still genetics do come into this, otherwise why would these scum breeders choose very carefully to breed the most aggressive dogs to train their puppies to fight? some of these puppies go for thousands of dollars...big money in fighting dogs...
We all love our fur babies....but I can truthfully tell you of three cases when the beloved family pet turned, and still the owners kept them...One man was on his patio relaxing in his chair, with his 8 year old Doberman lying at his side, he fell asleep he really was in a deep sleep and his arm relaxed and fell on dog, dog immediately savaged the arm and tore it off, Dog was a family pet, grandchildren slept with him! But somehow his natural instincts caused him to attack..
My neighbor's little boy was sleeping on floor he was like 2 beside him was the family rottweiler, that dog would growl at anyone!! he scared me! anyway same thing boy turned in sleep, dog thought he was being attacked and bit him in face! Normally the dog was well behaved and tolerated the kids, so what made him turn on the little fella who learned to walk holding on to the same dog? they kept the dog!!
Have had several friends who gave their dogs away when the new baby came and dog would growl,every time it saw the baby, one was a spaniel, other a cute mixed breed, ...When we had our first, I set crib up early, dog got used to it, I went in first and made a big fuss over him..while hubby put baby in crib, we asked everyone who came to see us to make a fuss over dog first, That dog was baby's best bud!! he would howl if I was not quick enough to change or feed him!
Each of us has to realize there is potential for all breeds to go bad! I went to buy a one year old Shetland Sheepdog....he was timid, but I noticed every time the woman's 2yr old came near he growled ? was going to go without dog, but something made me buy him...I did tell the woman to wait until her son was grown before getting another dog, I never heard him growl again, kids loved on him! cat's loved on him!!! He died of cancer 12 years later...we were heartbroken...
I agree, I own a Rotti and he is the most loving dog I inturduced him to my 3 year old step son about 8 months ago and considering the dog has never been around children he loves my step son and has never shown any aggresion I only have to make sure he doesn't get too excited because he can become a bit clumsy.
Rotti's are a lovely bred and a pleasure to own
yeah, but most boerboel ain't that aggressive why. And what about the cane canary
You must be talking about the Presa canario they are not really aggressive but there is a case involvling them with Diane whipple it is a sad story. You should look it up.
It is good to see that there is no real measure of a dangerous dog......Each has there own good and bad experiences of every breed. I must say to some of the posts regarding a dog biting a child when having it's bone removed...How would you feel if someone constantly gave you something to eat and then took it away . Man that would make me cross.
I have got to say you are completly right...I have a FULL BLOODED PITBULL people and Im thirteen and have a 11 year old sister and they are the sweetest dogs I have ever seen in all my life!!! She snuggles up with me and is one funny dog full of personality. So everyone do you really wanna know what the MOST DANGEROUS DOG IS???? Well there isn't one.... ITS THE OWNERS!!!!
My family and friends have owned pitbull's and a few of the other various breeds and any one of them can be very dangerous. One of my friends loved her Pitbull's and you could go to her house and they would run to you and give you kisses and would stay right next to you for you to pet them constantly. I liked her dogs and never thought they could ever be capable the being straight out vicious. I was aware of the breed and I worried about her baby being around the dogs. One day she heard a horrible scream and it was of her puppies. One of the pit's was tearing the puppy to pieces while its mother joined in and helped in the vicious attack. Her and her husband tried everything to stop the attack. The thing that bothers me the most is that it actually turned on it's own innocent baby instead of protecting it. I could have been my friends son playing instead of the puppy. Any dog can be dangerous just like a human. Anyone who owns a dog should always study the breed and be prepared. They are like children and sometimes act out which can be dangerous to others. Any dog can turn for any reason or no given reason even if they are the sweetest lovable animal in the world. I believe the biggest mistake of dog owners today is getting the wrong breed and not being educated on their animal. I love and have been rescuing animals including some wild animals most of my life. I was attacked by a dog as a child. I try to educate myself on each breed that I have came in contact with so I may be prepared. The biggest mistake an owner can do is think their animal would never bite. I personally don't care much for the breed since I have seen what they can do without being provoked. I would still rescue them if they were in danger and I am sure they are wonderful dogs but they can get upset very easily. A little girl riding her bike down my street set one off the dog. It seems it attacked her because of the shiny spokes on the bike set the dog in a frenzy. This dog had to be shot so they could pry it loose off of the little girl. She never even acknowledged the dog until latched onto her. I have seen first hand what German Shepard's, Boxers, Pitbull's, Rotweiler's, Dobermans and many other breeds can do and I don't wish that pain on any person or animal. Serena you are very right about some of the owners because they can be careless and that can be a very dangerous situation for the dog and anyone else involved. Everyone should know their breed and make sure they can handle the animal at all times.
i agree to a point with both dog breeds an owners .i think people have to understand that dogs are just like humans in the sence that some of us are just born with a few srews loose! whether it be this dog or that dog some are good an some are bad . it just take experience to be able to see early signs of agresssion in a dog an train accordingly . everyone likes to say i trust my dog 100% but that is bull crap it is or was a wild animal ! all considered . peace guys just love an respect these awesome animal.
what you think about the argentinian dog.. They protect the flock of cows against pumas.. I.ve got a mixbreed of argentinian dog with american stafford..who fought against pitbull and split the leg of the pitbull.. Comparing to my dog all other dogs are weak
everone always forgets the english bull terrier
you are absolutely right boerboelis the most ferocios
the pit bull is a british dog not a us dog
Okay i just have to say that i look up on the doverments and they was breed for wiching flocs if sheep at by there sell this person don't know what there talking about
i am a proud owner of a pit bull and her name is Roxie and she is 8 months old, she is one of the biggest babies i know and i have grown up with pit bulls my entire life and hate that fact that people will list these dogs as most dangerous that is not the case these dogs are the most kind and forgiving and would do anything for some love and affection if any animal should be considered dangerous it should be the human that forced the dog on a vicious life style not the dogs so i can only hope that one day people will get the big picture and realize that the pit bull is NOT the problem the HUMAN is...
Everybody forgets the bordeaux dog one of the powerful dogs in the world. My bordeaux dog has a bite strength of more the 650 kg per bite.
well they are fierce dogs...... but if you rais them as pups you can make them nice. like a dovermin pincher.... you can make em nice if you had it as a pup.... i have a golden retriver it is nice it would not attack a fly! soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo my dog dose not atack my cat ally but... my cat ally attacks ruby.... my dog and ruby dose not attack ally back......
Yes the boerboel but you ve forgot the bravest dog in the world ŠARPLANINAC,the strongest dogs in russia KAVKASKI OVČAR and ALABAI,you also forgot the KANGAL.
not just the boerboel but also sarplaninac,caucasian ovcharka,kangal,central asian ovcharka,etc.
Excuse me, I have two boerboels and they love people. They very cuddly and they love to sleep. It's all the matter of thow the owner treats the dog!
wolf is more
dANGEROUS
Tibetan mastiff is fiercest dog in world
i dont think any dogs are visious it the owner
We have a pitbull. She was a rescue dog. She is the sweetest, most gently animal we have ever owned. She quickly made her way into our hearts and our family. She is good with our cats and dog. The only thing she has any aggression towards are rabbits. She thinks they are chew toys.....
I fully agree with you, this stats don't mean that every dog that belongs to the breeds listed is dangerous. I believe that they can be best friends and the loveliest creatures in the world!
hi how old is your pitty i have two girls almost three and they are starting to get agressive towards each other.
They are social with other dogs so i might have to give one up, but not till i'v explored EVERY option
Any tips ?
one main reason most dogs fight after they've been together, is they start to get jealous of one another. if you think you're babying one more than the other, that could be a very good reason. they think they need to get more out of you, so they fight over it. check into it, I have a pitbull myself & he always got along with my sheltie that I had, but when they were together for a few years and I would start showing the sheltie a little more attention on some days, the pitbull would instigate a fight (which of course I never let happen)
we have two females also and it is because they both want to be boss of eachother. ours fought until one of them became more dominant
Are both of your dogs spayed? If not, try spaying them. Sometimes that helps with aggression.
Aggressive it is not aggressive one is trying to be the alpha dog,it is probably a mixure of playing as well
well my friend had two pitts and they were very jelous of each other so they fought over attention
We own 3 Pitbull's !We have a 4 yr old female , 3 yr old male and 1 yr old male . They are great with our kid's ,other dog's and people very loveable think they are lap dogs when we are sitting.Absolutly loveable, Never so much as raised a hair in aggresion toward anyone or anything . Teach them how to behave and they can behave. We have 4 yr old female , 3 yr old male and 1 yr old male .
awww do you have red nose pitties or blue nose
i love pitbulls most gentlest caring sweet loving dogs in the World!! i wish the media knew that same with the idiots who train theses wonderful dogs to fight so sad i have rottweilers not a mean bone in there bodies
... Mine thinks the same about squirrels :) ...
you also forgot a cane corso.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cane_Corso
are you kidding me?! those cane corso's look like Giant Teddy Bears:) I am getting my own place soon, & I'm looking all over for large dogs. Pitbulls are my #1 favorite, but I want to explore with the different bully & mastiff breeds.
altho they look like giant teddy bears they have a powerful bite and are alot more engrytic then most of the large dog breeds witch makes them more dangerous then lets say a Saint bernard.it is also rpeated over and over a dog wont become dangerous unless the owner lets them become it and that what it comes down too
my boy Moses is an 8 year old Bull Mastiff American Stafford mix and he is by the best dog i have ever known.
are you kidding me a cane corso outweighs a pit by like 50 pounds, pits are nothing compared to large molasser type breeds. a large doberman would destroy a pit. a caucasian ovchakra, kangal dog or bully kutta would eat one for breakfast.
you know what my fathers 80 pound black lab destroyed a 3year old cane corso. there is no superior breed of fighting dog. but a*sholes like you are the reason certain dogs gain a reputation for aggression you want your dog to be a bad a*s. the reason for this is because you are a coward! you are the type of person that trains a dog to be aggressive all because you have NO BALLS!
I have a pitbull.. and like JeanJean said above, she is the sweetest dog I've ever had. Over my lifetime we've rescued six or seven dogs, and Harley Jane was the first dog I've ever bought from a breeder. And she is the best pet I've ever had.
everyone who has good things to say about pitbulls are right. commenting on the statements of other people is not going to save this amazing breed. the problem lies in the information that is recorded! the people who say which type of dog is to be feared establish the lists using only the negative parts of the breeds history. pits as a whole are judged by the bloody path dog fighting has left. you never see a pit touted as a hero on the news. but at the same time labs which do attack are never on the either! i have been bitten by 2 labs in my life. never once has a pit ever showed aggression towards me the media is the problem too not the breed
hello
i have just got a brown staffy he is so sweet 7 months so i dont agree when people say they are nasty
I really loved that you prefaced with the fact that it depends on how the dog is taught. But both my pit bulls were abused before we got them and they're still the best dogs I know. I would have liked if you talked about their amazing temperaments more, despite their bad rap.
Yes, I do agree with you that the training is the one that will make the difference in the dog. It also depends on the owner. If the owner is a good person, naturally the dog will be influenced too. Some of the dogs here can really make my hairs stand just looking at them.
I am and have always been a responsible American Pit Bull Terrier owner. I have had them all of my life. I currently own an APBT, an American Bulldog, a Boxer, and a Pomeranian. My fiancee and I have 5 children in our home and ALL of our dogs are great with them. The APBT is by no means inherently dangerous. These animals will do anything and everything to please their master, owner, or handler. It takes a higher caliber of dog person to correctly raise, love, and care for an American Pit Bull Terrier. Once you and your dog bond, that animal will do absolutely do whatever it can to please you - even to the death. That is what is exploited with the creeps and scum that fight them. The person that wrote this site is obviously ignorant to the fact on what the APBT was originally bred for - they were not bred for fighting at all! That has been exploited. They were actually bred for small animal hunting. Several American Pit Bull Terrier throughout history have done and accomplished great things. So, next time - you can keep the APBT off the most dangerous list. The other ones on the list you never hear about. There is no Breed Selective Legislation going against them. They are not trying to be eradicated by certain cities and states in this country. No one ever hears about the attacks of the other breeds listed above. I will end with this question. After the American Pit Bull Terrier is gone, which breed will be next?
finally someone who understands the wonderful sweet loving natured dogs pitbulls are my favorite breed in the world!!! american bulldogs are so pretty im glad you enjoy your bully breeds i have rottweilers second best dogs in the world but no dog breed can beat the pitbulls teddybear quality!!!!
hold up! do you know the real reson the APBT is listed as dangerous probably not. dont get me wrong APBT's are without a doubt the breed i love most! like you i feel these amazing dogs are wrongfully getting a bad rap. but it is the love of the breed that fuels the laws regulating them. the true origin of the name we know so well is part of the problem none of the breeds listed as pitbulls were not bred for fighting. but the dogs selected for this cruel bloodsport were collectively known as pitbulls. that is something you will not find in government legislature!so it definitley is not the breed. any dog can kill but the most common information on all dogs of the pitbuul type is their bloody past. the truth is there thousands of dogs that die defending the people they love many more than any other breed but the only ones that get recognized are the ones that have attacked someone while cowardly labs are regarded as brave protectors because they are only recognized by the good they have done most unfair!
Boxers are smart, and possessive. If socialized properly, they are no more dangerous than golden retrievers or Labs.
They are ACTIVE, though, and some might take this for some form of aggression, it is part exercise and part pecking-order exercise (fast, physical, and tall are likely to improve your standing in the pack).
I am involved with Boerboel rescue in Southern California, and I have yet to meet a really aggressive Boerboel.
I am the proud owner of a 150 pound Great Dane therapy dog -- a wonderful, sensitive, calm, intelligent, and loving creature.
I'm a pet supply store owner and see lots of dogs come through our door as all are welcome. Our "store" dog is a great dane Halle who people will stop in just so they can say "Hi" or show her to friends. She's 150 pounds of pure mush. Most times she doesn't even get up to greet anyone..she will lay in her bed while kids sit on the floor next to her and gently stroke her. She is a pampered princess.
Her boyfriend is Hudson, a Katrina dog and a Rottweiler, they greet each other with lots of "kanoodling" and I always get a big smooch from him myself.
Then there was Sue, another Rottie, abandoned and found roaming. She would come in with her little pink polka dot collar and sit side saddle on the floor and watch as her owner walks up and down the aisles buying her lots of goodies. When her Mom came in and told me Sue had passed I cried like a baby. She was the perfect picture of what a rottie is not..aggressive.
We have pitty customers as well as boxers..not one has ever shown agression towards me or our customers.
Oh..we did have one agressive dog in our store...as I was handing her a treat I was bitten..by a poodle...not miniature..standard size. She is no longer allowed in the store to protect our customers.
Any dog can be aggressive...ANY!! A list like this could do more harm then good as the ignorant will use it as a basis to hurt these particular breeds of dogs because "their aggressive".