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.
Dangerous Dogs (by Design?)
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:
Reasons for (Perceived) Dangerousness
- There are more reported incidences of dog bites and serious injuries from some breeds. This is one of the big reasons some municipalities consider Pit Bulls the most dangerous dog, even requiring special insurance if you want to have one in some areas.
- The sheer size of some breeds can increase that perceived “danger factor.” Many of the largest breeds actually have very calm temperaments. Their danger has to do with the potential for more serious injuries if those dogs happen to attack or even accidentally injure someone.
- Some dogs give us a feeling of danger because they were literally designed to instill it over the course of history. For example, we’re used to seeing German Shepherds used as police dogs. We’re used to seeing breeds such as Rottweilers and Doberman Pinschers being trained as guard dogs. And we’re used to stories of American Pit Bull Terriers being trained for dog fighting.
- Another big thing that affects our opinions of dog breeds is our personal experience with them. Similarly, anecdotal stories we hear from others can affect us. They may have had either positive or negative experiences with certain types of dogs.
Let’s focus more on that last reason, as I believe it can have the most impact.
How Our Personal Experiences Affect Our Views of Dog Breeds
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.
My Brother’s Pit Bull Encounter
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.
My Take on Breed vs. Training
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.
Guard and Danger
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.
Why my Dog Isn’t Harmless
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.
How About Your Experiences?
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.
The Human Influence
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.
Why I Wrote This List
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?
Dalmatian
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.
Boxer
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.
Presa Canario
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.
Saint Bernard
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.
Great Dane
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.
Chow Chow
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.
Doberman Pinscher
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.
Alaskan Malamute
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.
Husky
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.
German Shepherd
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.
Rottweiler
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.
Pit Bull
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
American Bulldog
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.
Bullmastiff
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.
Yes It is not the fault of the breed. It is fault in the training and the “Dog Whisperer” Cesar millan also believes that no breed is dangerous it’s the fault of the owners. For Example- In the United States pitbulls and rottweilers are known to be dangerous dogs but in reality they are not so dangerous. They have become so because of the bad owners who make their dogs fight . But beside rottweilers and pitbulls they are mant dog breeds considered dangerous for example Fila Brasileiro Perro De Presa Canario Japanese Tosa Dogo Argentino Cane Corso. But they are not dangerous. It;s the owner’s fault. Thank You!!!!!.
Dogs are nothing more than a relection of their owners and environment. Sure, genetics plays a role in certain in-grain behavior. I have never met a vicious or aggressive dog from a loving and stable home. I’ve owned or have been associated w/too many types of dogs to list here. I’ve seen overly aggressive labs to sweetheart pits. As a young man growing up on the farm, we used dogs to hunt vermin, game, and heard live stock. Since leaving the farm, my love of dogs, all dogs, has only grown w/ the appreciation that a well-cared for dog is an asset, while a poorly trained and raised dog (any type) is a liability. Not that I’m a fan of the Dog Whisper, but his show clearly shows that dogs of any type can develop behavior problem from uncaring or ignorant owners.
Sorry about the spelling. I didn’t proof read my comments.
I have had dogs all my life including Rotti’s. I currently own a Caine Corso and two Alaskain Klei Kai’s. The Caine Corso attcked without warning one of my little dogs last night. It was horrible. From the day I got this beautiful creature from the vet there was something off with him. Tried to work with the breeder didn’t get anywhere. He is sketchy and unpredicitable. I am going to be forced to make a very very tough decision today.
How can I purchase one of the German dogs. I reside in Nigeria and I love keeping dogs as pet in the house.
I am flabbergasted at the information provided. If I am not mistaken mr. Dobermann was a tax collector not a police officer. I have been around many different breeds for my whole life. I am wondering where the akita is listed. I don’t feel that dogs are bad from birth. There are aggressive dogs in every breed. I do not disagree with all the information. I just feel it is lacking. I own 4 doberman pinshers and they love everyone as long as their family is home. They have a job. They do it well. I also do not allow my dogs to bark constantly, rush the fence at strangers, or other unwelcome behaviors. If you own a pet be aware of the animal you have. Research first. And above all be responsible, socialize your dogs from an early age.
Hey ana,i really liked ur research very heartedly.I m an medical officer,i don hav any pet but i wil like to keep in future.I love dogs from my childhood,but most important i liked u r surrendarence and dedication to this project,i m very impressed by ur hardwork and sucess.i wanna make u my friend,best friend.waiting for ur reply………………………..Mally
stop saying how beautiful and loving they are, Labs and Beagles are beautiful and loving, anyone of these dogs will rip your face off with no regard
I like how everydog on her but one gets an explanation about characterisics and why they are good at what they do. Yes the “pitbull” as people like to call them were bred for please. If you are going to try and tell me that pit bulls will turn on anyone you’re wrong. Its careless owners dog fighting and yes they are still used for that today but do you know why? Because humans had never seen a dog with the agility and strength like the pit breed. Because they are the best of the best and they have a natural insticnt to please. Dont make the whole breed of a dog a stereotyoe. Yes there are those dogs that are aggressive to everyone but some of the most aggressive dogs I know are chihuahuas they just arent made out to be monsters because they aren’t 65 lbs on average. Give pits a fair chance. This is a one sided fight
i was very interested in this article as being a pitbull owner (staff/lab cross is what ive got to call mine due to uk laws)
where do i start? first of all,all the other dogs got a good write up, several lines describing the such said breed. But when it came to pitbulls i was astonished to find just basiclly 1 or 2 lines saying its primary use is for dog fighting!!!!
WTF? who wrote this list? do they own any of the dogs above? do you own a pitbull? i have had my (staff/lab) cross for 5 years now and i must say without being biased he is the kindest,cutest, handsomest and not to say the gentlest dog you would ever meet!! fighting between dogs goes on sure, but just to single out this one breed is so unfair!!
As has been said many a time “its the owners,not the dogs fault”
Tthis article gives the wrong impression of the breed and how it is brought up. I have just got a little puppy, she is 7 months old now, and cuba has NEVER EVER once tried to bite,fight or attack his little sister.
So where the writer got the information that this dog is mainly used for fighting, i think is somewhat deluded and ignorant.
im lead to believe that pits are still used as petting dogs in american hospitals!!!
so can the writer please edit his/her views regarding this breed.
many thanks
shaun.
check out my staff/lab on you tube….
search for my chan,shaunyboy6969uk or funny pitbull cuba
on a side note to my last comment….
me and my dog cuba were attacked 5 times (cuba was on lead/leash) by one particular alsation dog saxon (sadly passed away) “thats what dogs do” i was told by police, but one day cuba got out of an open gate,saw saxon and must have thought “right ya bastard,im avin you now” and started his own payback shall we say….
now cuba never once in this 1 minute revenge attack meant to kill saxon, all he did was mearly maul his leg for a while while i ran like fuck and split them up “thats what dogs do” av a bit of a fight.
the outcome…. me and cuba got took to court, fined £250 pounds and he was forced to muzzle up for a year!!! at one point they wanted to put my mate to sleep!!! WTF
PITPULLS ARE NOT KILLERS, they just want justice,and shall like the rest of us,dish it out when needed.
regards 🙂
Sorry, pitbulls are vicious dogs…end of. 🙁
You forgot so many breeds! BoerBoel, Anatolian Shepherd, Kangal, Caucasian Shepherd, Cane Corso and Dogo Argentino. An Anatolian Shepherd could rip out a German Shepherd anytime.
hi there does not seem to be much written about american bulldog i have one and have found it to be loyal and obedient until recently when it went crazy and attacked me from a mobile phone rang is there hope for this dog or should i call it a day on this dog, most savage encounter ever regards cc
I have a Caine Corso who attacked one of my little dogs last night. He didn’t kill him but could have, he had him by the neck. We got him from a breeder and the breeder won’t take him back and said we were not allowed to give/sell or otherwise him away. Do you have any suggestions. I am now scared if he did this to my other dog I would die if he did it to a child. I have to do something today. In the past he has shown sparatic signs of aggression and sketchiness. PLEASE HELP ME WITH YOUR COMMENTS.
kill him
kill him or get him a trainer to train him
Hey
If you have papers stating you full care, custody and control of that dog legally. You are responsible for it’s actions. You may do as you please with that dog. If the breeder had you sign a contract of sorts, he can can be tied to the consequences. Take it to the pound NOW
I have read and re read this article twice and three things have me baffled. One, what is the credentials of the author to make the statements they have made about these breads of dogs? Are you a trainer? A breeder? A veterinarian? A dog whisperer? Two, why would a cat person, who loves to hug dogs, feel they are qualified to write an article about dogs without referencing their sources of accurate information? And third and lastly, why would all of you even try to debate such a false, misstated pile of undocumented garbage? The only accurate thing I have read here, is that all dogs have a temperament, you all love your dogs (except the ones who keep referencing that their’s would win a dog fight, why would you even do that to living being?), and that dog fighting is bad. Just an FYI, pits were originally raised as nannies as the closest neighbor , back in the day, was usually miles away. Calling the teenage neighbor girl over to babysit, just didn’t happen. Watch Peter Pan or better yet, read the book. Reading helps with correct grammer usage. You can also google it too. I hope I spelled everything correctly.
*breeds…. Dang and I thought I spell checked it all.
nice valid views pit bull owner 🙂
sorry though, had to laugh regarding your spelling error, i feel your pain 🙂
on facebook the other night i made this comment,
“is changing his sense of humour from “sarcastic” to “havent got one”
(and who ever does the spelling check thing on chrome needs to but bloody dictionary!! humour is spelt correct!!!)”
i was ridiculed for several hours later :/
slightly off topic but nothing wrong with a bit of light heartedness now and again 🙂
check out my youtube channel to see my two doggies in action…
shaunboy6969uk
cya
*spell checked by my 2 year old neighbour*
türkişh kangals …..number one …dog
Hello, you have listed many breeds of dogs here. But what you have forgot is that some of these dogs have characters that need firm handling and should only be owned by people who are used to these breeds. I have owned doberman pinscher, dogue de bordeaux, old english mastiffs and huskys.
The dogs you have listed are not dangerous by choose but what we have breed them to do, Over the last 100 years we have breed and changed the breed and characteristics of this dogs. Like we have breed the german shepherd to be lower to the ground and the pit bull to be more bold and stronger willed.
If you read books on these breeds you will how the characters have change over the years. All the breeds you have talked about big powerful dogs, but I have found that smaller dogs have a more powerful mind and need to prove them self, more when around other dogs, that are bigger.
My dogue de bordeaux is the type of dog that would run away before biting anyone or another dog. But my little yorkie would bite you without thinking about it. All dogs are dangerous its certain situation, just some might do more harm than others, by the size and power of their jaw.
I believe that all dogs are not dangerous by heart, but can be if not treated and trained properly. All dogs could bite but they might not be the same power and size. It is the owners who have made these dogs dangerous in public eyes, not the dog its self.
Sorry my Akita would kill most these dogs , literally and i dont even mean it to be rude, my dog is very loving. I dont think people actually know dogs lol and just type nonsense! or maybe people just think pits and shepards and pinchers are elite! (LOL there not)
All dogs are capable of biting, I love dogs, this blog is based on opinion, dogs are just like humans some are mean and some are nice, we all catch attitude some times but you cant exclude anyone…I honestly think this should have been titled “Dogs That Scare Me” lol…Girlfriend wants a dog what should I get her…
you dont know anything about dogs
all you say is stupid you think you know everything about dogs you are dummy yusuf
If your talking about JV , your right i honestly dont no wot he is on about.:(
Hey!
You know what stupid is ? It is when someone has all the information available to them yet they choose not to be informed. When one keeps their mind open to Persuasion, they keep their mind open to learning.
For the gentleman that says great danes are not a threat, I laughed so hard when i seen that. I rescued man of the breed and there where all sucks, lol what a moron statement to make. I have owned 2 great danes for over 8 years. You think there the Gentle Giant? Come on down to my house in the middle of the night and ill show you the Gentle Giant. Just because the dog is a very very very very big suck and loves attention. Does not mean it can not be harsh. Yes great danes are very loveable, gentle, sucks, I would def not wanna cross ones path if he feels threatened.
What is dangerous is the people who OWN them, not the dog! It is the OWNER’S RESPONSIBILITY to insure the DOG’S saftey!
Too right! That is sooo true! 🙁
Well have to say with all the other pit owners I trust my pit before I trust my lab/golden. As my kid can’t go near my lab/golden he jumped on her once and she bit him. now when he gets near she growls then moves. Now my pit on the other hand he likes riding her as a horse and lays on her, The only problem I seen with my pit and 5 year old is she likes jumping on him to give kisses and almost knocks him over. My kid has hit this dog and kicked her and she has nothing but unconditional love for him. Here is the catch we only play ball with the dogs. No teasing no tug of war, only the dogs are allowed to play tug of war with each other. My pit doesn’t even bark when someone walks in the house yep robbers would be able to take everything i have. I have noticed though she doesn’t like Chihuahua’s course I don’t either, She tries to eat them of course I would to if something that small was in my face. We don’t let the kids wrestle with our dogs either we let the dogs wrestle.. So my theory is any dog can bite, or be aggressive it isn’t the dog breed it’s their owners that make the dog. If I could I would have 100 pits but I will stick with my 2. My 5yr old requested he wanted a dog because he was lonely it had to look like mommy’s pit and he was naming it spot. Spot waits for him in his bed when it is bed time. My dogs will bark if you come to the gate but you can walk right in. I have people coming and going from my house everyday the most that happened was my pit jumped up to see kim and spilled her coffee.. she is the happy jumpy doggie when people come.
i dont agree with any of you guys 1 because pitbulls were the first dogs to go in war with us another thing i have 4 pitbulls and none of them have ever bittin some one i never hit my dogs EVER the reason ppl give pitbulls a bad name is because ppl dog fight them THATS NOT RIGHT you know that used to be a sport WTF!!! some ppl are just messed up why are they so dangerous you wont to know why because no one in the damn world can see there true face because every one is so scared of a dog that didnt do a damn thing to you i can understand that you may got ataked by one but i have toke my pitbull up to ppl that are scared of them and you know what in the next weeks they ended up getting one of my puppys so think about that and another thing im only 13 i did the resech its your turn
I only add my bite. As i wasnt saying that these breeds are nasty, just that they have a strong instinct to guard there family and property. I live in the uk and was attacked by a american bulldog six months ago. Every dog can bite but the power of some dogs can do alot of damage. And dogs that can do this type of damage needs to have firm handling from puppy hood. I know that if i have thought of getting other dog i would make sure i wasnt too soft on it. I wouldnt want another person to go through what i have. So im just saying make sure you treat and handle your dog correctly. I always think now if that dog decide to attack how much damage would it do.
I agree with most of the list but i would like to put my 2 cents in. i have been around or had freinds with many of these breeds, first i have had 3 freinds that have at one point owned saint bernards and all 3 dogs were great big lazy loveable lap dogs despite the huge size. Second, i had a freind when i was a teen who had a huge great dane and thou i cannot say he was mean he always had a way of seeming like he was about to snap at any time at any one. Third, i have been bitten 3 times in my life by different dogs at different times and they were all 3 chow chows. once at 8, once when i was 15 and once when i was 26.
Studies shows that pitbulls are not dangerous as people though of it… Myth: Pit bulls have locking jaws. Once they bite, they can’t let go, even if they want to.
FACT: No dog of any breed has ever been found to possess a mechanism in their jaw which would allow them to “lock” their top and bottom jaw together. There is no such thing as a locking jaw!
Myth: Pit bulls have a unique bite style consisting of biting down, holding, and shaking.
FACT: Biting, holding, and shaking are not unique behaviors for pit bulls. All dogs will perform these behaviors. A dog may “bite and hold” when it is playing or when it has been taught to do this. You have probably seen police K-9 dogs, which are commonly German Shepherd and Belgian Malinois, doing bite work. These dogs are specially trained to bite hard and to not let go even when someone is hitting them. You have also seen many kinds of dogs playing with toys. Tug toys and rope toys are popular because many dogs enjoy grabbing, pulling, and shaking them. This is a natural behavior that all dogs engage in.
Myth: Pit bulls are genetically driven to kill people.
FACT: Dogs are not machines; they are living organisms. Like all living organisms, a dog’s behavior is influenced by both genetics and environment. How a dog owner manages his or her dog will determine whether the dog becomes a danger to humans. No dog is driven entirely by genetics to attack people, and no dog breed has been created or bred into such a state that all dogs of that breed are compelled to attack people. Dogs that are raised as beloved family pets do not kill people.
While some irresponsible breeders and owners may try to create “killer” dogs, these people are not the norm, and their activities are unethical and, in many cases, illegal. Responsible dog breeders understand that dogs are meant for companionship and love, not for fighting and killing. Responsible breeders understand the wonderful qualities that pit bulls have. They are interested in breeding quality dogs with excellent temperaments.
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Myth: Pit bulls are not good for anything except dogfighting.
FACT: Pit bulls have excelled in many working-dog sports such as agility, search-and-rescue, tracking, weight pulling, carting, Shutzhund, hunting, obedience, therapy, and more. Millions of pit bulls serve society today as faithful family members and beloved companions.
Myth: Pit bulls are very aggressive.
FACT: Pit bulls are no more or less aggressive than any other type of dog. Many of the behaviors we expect from and encourage in dogs, including hunting, tracking, guarding, and even playing, are actually modified forms of aggression.
Although pit bulls have a reputation for aggression toward other dogs, in fact, many other breeds and types of dogs are also known for such aggression. Interdog aggression is actually a very common behavior and is not limited to pit bull type dogs.
Pit bulls may be aggressive toward small animals, but again, this is common with all breeds and types of dogs. Dogs are essentially domesticated predators. Many dogs will exhibit predatory behavior toward small animals that they consider prey.
A few pit bulls may be aggressive toward people, but again, this is not unique to pit bulls. All breeds and types of dogs may be aggressive toward people.
Aggression is an individual trait that varies from dog to dog, and has a lot to do with a dog’s environment and owners. Aggressive behaviors are common and normal in dogs of all breeds and types. Pit bulls do not exhibit any aggressive behaviors that are unique or extreme when compared to other breeds or types of dogs.
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Myth: Pit bulls can not be trained or controlled.
FACT: Dogs are, generally speaking, trainable and controllable because they are intelligent domesticated animals. Pit bulls, likewise, are intelligent and domesticated, and like all dogs, they are obedient, friendly, and handle-able. Pit bulls have excelled in areas such as agility, tracking, Shutzhund, search-and-rescue, therapy, and many other canine activities. LawDogs USA, for example, opted to use pit bulls exclusively as drug detection dogs because the organization found pit bulls to be so trainable and eager to please.
Of course, individual dogs land on the spectrum of trainability and obedience at different points. While not every dog may be particularly trainable, it is extremely rare for a dog to be unmanageable. The overwhelming majority of dogs are quite trainable and manageable, and any behavior problems that a dog displays is more likely attributable to owner error than to something inherent or genetic.
Myth: Pit bulls are unpredictable; they can turn on anyone, even their owner, at any time.
FACT: Pit bulls are no more or less unpredictable than any other type of dog. Often, a person who claims that a dog is “unpredictable” simply doesn’t understand dog behavior. In the overwhelming majority of dog bite cases, the humans involved don’t understand or have missed canine warning signs preceding the bite. For more information on dog behavior and aggression, check out “The Culture Clash” by Jean Donaldson.
The way our legal system handles dog bites only strengthens the myth that dogs are unpredictable. In the case of a dog bite, a dog owner that admits prior knowledge of their dog’s dangerous behavior will be more severely punished than a dog owner who claims to be ignorant of the danger. For this reason, after a dog bite happens, you will hear the dog owner say “My dog was nice before this! I didn’t expect this to happen.” It sounds like the dog unexpectedly snapped, but in reality, the dog owner is trying to reduce their punishment by claiming ignorance.
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Myth: Pit bulls do not feel pain.
FACT: This is an urban legend started by dog fighters to justify the cruel activity of dog fighting. After all, if fighting doesn’t hurt the dogs, how can it be cruel? The myth is further perpetuated by fearful individuals who buy into the Hollywood monster myth of the unstoppable pit bull beast. There is no scientific evidence to support this idea. Pit bulls do indeed feel pain, just as any other dog does.
Myth: If a pit bull bites down and tastes blood, it will become aggressive and unstoppable.
FACT: Dogs bite because they are scared, in pain, or defensive. They bite so that the offending person/animal/object will go away—and it usually works. As a result, a dog learns that biting is a very successful tactic for getting what the dog desires. Subsequent bites have nothing to do with the “taste of blood.” In reality, the dog is repeating a behavior that has gotten a desired result in the past.
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Myth: Pit bulls have jaw muscles that can clamp down with (insert high number here) PSI of pressure.
FACT: Many numbers are floating around that claim to be the PSI (pounds per square inch) of pit bulls’ jaw strength. The numbers range wildly, from 800 PSI to 2000 PSI. These numbers are completely unfounded; there are no scientific studies to back any of these numbers up. In fact, bite force cannot even be accurately measured in PSI; the proper term is “pounds of force” or “Newtons” (metric system).
One study conducted by Dr. Brady Barr of National Geographic showed that the average domestic canine has an average bite of 320 pounds of force. In one portion of the documented study, Dr. Barr tested three dog breeds: a German Shepherd, a Rottweiler, and an American Pit Bull Terrier (APBT). The Rottweiler bit with 328 pounds of force—the highest ever recorded from a domestic dog. The German Shepherd bit with 238 pounds of force, and the APBT bit with 235 pounds of force.
It is important to understand that bite strength differs depending on the size of the dog, the situation that led to the bite, the dog’s training, and the state of mind the dog is currently in. The damage that a dog does when it bites depends on the location of the bite, the victim’s behavior while being bitten, and the size ratio between dog and victim, among other factors. Breed has very little to do with bite strength or level of damage. You cannot guess the breed of dog that bit a person by looking at the dog bite.
Oh, dear, dear, all kind of stupidness on these dog sites! Oh,dear, dear, what aunknowledge, oh dear, dear, stuppid you are!
– Fila Brasileiro is the most dangerous in my experience.
– I’ve trained and been psychologist to most of the others mentioned here, but there’s really no comparison.
– The Basileiros I trained as guard & attack dogs belonged to the ex personal bodyguard for the ex-president of Mexico (when I lived there). At his residence ONLY, although he had doberman, rottweiilers, and ridgebacks at his factory, handled by his own professional bodyguards with mini-Uzis. The brasileiros could ONLY be handled by myself, and were pure, imported specially from Brasil.
– Only breed that judges are NOT allowed to touch during a show /competition, for a very good reason.
– (For myself, all I had was a 150 pound 7-month old Mastiff, which was all I needed as both pet and self-defence. Brasileiros would have been WAY too dangerous for my purposes!).
I dont care about any other breed than the pit…. get your facts straight. Humans bred them to protect our army many many years ago! THEY PROTECTED THE PEOPLE WHO FOUGHT TO PROTECT OUR COUNTRY!!!!!!!!! they fed them gun powder to make them vicious. Fact: pit bull was the 1st dog to be in the white house! lock jaw…. yeah a myth there is no such thing. i own 2 pits and theyre the best dogs. i also have 2 small children and my dogs let them climb on them and every thing. its all about how theyre raised, yes many are raised to fight but that is the HUMANS fault. they have no remorse for life at all. also many dogs who are rescued fighting dogs turn out to be loving and loyal they just need the same in return and someone to teach them that not all HUMANS are cruel to animals………………………….. not that i can be quoted for this- animal planet, yeah the people who actually do research, small dogs are the most vicious. poodles, terriors, beagles, ect besides my 2 pits i also had a 20lbs rat terrior mix… he was the one who would bark and actually go after people (mostly males for whatever reason)
lol no such thing as lock jaw ? what planet are you on ? they were bred in england so what country do you mean when you say bred to protect our country ? they where never used in the british army . they were bred in england to take to america ( pre usa ) to protect live stock and for fighting in the pitt . fed them gun powder ?????????????? why would any soldier or army waste gun powder on a dog ? or what reason would they possibly have ? i think you need to get a grip wikipedia is so accessable so why you would believe this rubbish is beyond me.
Bad owners make bad dogs. Same scenario with children. Plainly said.
Hi randy,
I rescued my mastiff from a horrible man, He was kepted in a tiny room for most of his life. But he is the softest dog you could find. He is a gentle giant. apart from the drool, he would never harm anyone.
Where is the Mastiff. They are supposed to be real dangerous!!! 🙁
cant believe i forgot the neopolitan mastiff. towards strangers this could possibly be the most dangerous dog breed
My opinion is the most dangerous dogs in the world…..are those that are untrained and or not obedient
Owners who allow their dog to remain in the aforementioned state are the most danger to our world of dogs
Look at pictures of the world’s most powerful köpeğidir.İsteyen Turkish Kangal dog on any of the coil type of Turkish .. Pitbul world’s most powerful dog does not get a chance to see.
You lot write too much about these breeds. You should all go out and meet dangerous dogs. I have worked with dangerous all my life, and never have i heard people moan so much about breeds that they have only read about. And really the most dangerous dog is the saarlooswolfhond, as if these dogs are kepted with other dogs they can go back to there pack instinct. And they often make the other dogs join them. This page should really be called The Most Powerful Dogs in the World. Cause these breeds are friendly, but have the power to do more damage, than say a yorkshire terrier. So if your scared of these breeds, then maybe you should go out and meet some of these dogs. Cause if you read this page you all sound like alot of old people, who have lost their marbles. If i can get over my fear of dogs, then so can you lot.
I have a American pitbull terrier and a Labrador and A rabbit .the two dogs got crazy on the rabbit ,the rabbit got scared haha
there are some beautiful and some strong
there is some of are really dangerous dogs
I have had a significant number of dogs in my life and the most protective and physically dangerous have been my two female Great Danes. The average size for female Dane’s is 28 – 32 inches at the shoulders and 100 – 130 lbs. The males are larger at 32 -36 inches and 130 – 160 lbs. (average for both). Both of my female Great Danes have been very lovable, intelligent and protective of the family and the house. Both have killed Coyotes in the protective mode. My current Dane was attacked by an aggressive male Pit Bull and the fight didn’t last long. It took two of us to pull my Dane’s jaws apart to save the Pit Bull. A male Dane that plays with ours just took down two Pit Bulls in one fight and the Pit Bulls went to the Emergency Vet for immediate restorative surgery. This Dane was protecting his owner from a dual Pit Bull attack. Dane’s are attentive, amazingly strong, powerful and fast – my “girl” runs at over 30 mph. There is virtually no other dog that could be more protective. Their “security” bark is a sound to behold! Danes came from the cross breeding of English Mastiff’s and Irish Wolfhound’s in the late 1700’s and, later, Greyhound’s. They were German bred dogs and not Danish. They were believed to be first observed by a famous writer in Denmark and that is where they got the “Great Dane” name from. In Germany they are called “Deutche Dogs” or “German Mastiff’s.”
The most dangerous dog is the one that f**king that kills you.
I travelled around Tibet and had a really hard time with the Tibetan Mastiffs. Even on a motorbike, I was chased frequently. A crappy Chinese 150cc motorbike was JUST barely enough to get away from these rabid beasts if you were launching from a standing start. I often wondered what happened to the crazy European tourists who ride their push bikes around the Tibetan plateaus with these dogs about.
Not sure if it’s been brought up, but the training of these dogs, by Tibetans, apparently involves starving the dog, exposing it to the freezing climate and confining it to small spaces when it’s young, thus creating the aggressive. I didn’t witness this, but it would not surprise me. Scary dogs in my experience.
I have a half tibetan mastiff and half rott. He is an amazing dog. He loves kids,other dogs (we have a yorkie). We also have cats and a turtle and he is too big and lazy to ever chase a vehicle. Supposedly they can b hard headed but if socialzed right and knows whose boss than he is wonderful. Maybe I got lucky but he is the best dog I have EVER had or have met!!
Try looking up Anatolian Shepherd.Up to 200 lbs of wolf killing bear mauling herding dogs. Absolutley fearless. A pit bull or Rotty is called dinner to those guys.
THIS IS DIRECTED TO JAMES BROXTON. THIS IS A DISCUSSION ABOUT DOGS IE: AGRESSIVE AND NON-AGGRESSIVE. NO WHERE DID I OR ANY OF THE OTHERS POSTING THEIR OPINION READ THAT THIS WAS A GRAMMAR CLASS. I WOULD NORMALLY WRITE THIS BLOG THE WAY THAT WE (PPL) TEXT AND POST TO THE COMPUTER. BUT JUST FOR YOU, I AM WRITING AS IF I AM WRITING TO A ELEMENTARY STUDENT SO THAT YOU CAN READ AND UNDERSTAND IT.
OTHERWISE, I HAVE THE FEELING THAT YOU WOULD FAIL YOUR GRAMMAR CLASS.
Wow you have the UGLISEST pictures of dogs!
I feel like you just grabbed large (Some fierce looking) dogs and said they are dangerous. I will agree that some on this list tend to me more aggressive than other dogs. But many of these dog breeds are not aggressive. In fact, dachshunds and papillons, some very popular small breeds are extremely territorial over their owners. List like this are always hard to make up because there are so many factors into what makes a dog aggressive. Breed may play into it, but the way you raise and train your dog has a lot to do with it.
Well i do actualy agree on chow chow because when i was in my pram i was savaged at 18 months old.
hey guys just to let you know its what you teach your dogs, if you teach your dogs bad things it will be ficious and if you teach your good things it will be happy and adorable.
I know that there are well over 600 breeds of dogs in the world.I know most of the 600+ breeds including the Danish Chicken Dog.I have lived with dogs all my life.The dogs were not mine but belonged to family who lived in the same big house.With all of my reading on so many dog breeds i did not pick the overall toughest fighter.Not the best guard dog.Not the biggest,littlest,fastest,meanest or nicest.I picked a balanced breed that is a fighter if need be,a pal always,an impressive looking buddy ( most people love him until they find out that his’ breed has been used to fight,bear,boar and mountain lion ).Most owners of this breed are trying to sissify it.They want it to be a pretty show dog.There are actually seperate strains of show and working types.What is this mystery breed that i chose out of over 600 dog breed? The AIREDALE TERRIER.Ignored by many tough dog lists,if his’ family is attacked he will transform into Cerberus.Just buy the working type.They are larger,stronger and more impressive looking thanthe 60-70 pounders.My current dog is a dominant unfixed male,on one occassion he confronted two English Mastiffs.They did NOT fight.The mastiffs turned and put their tails between their legs and walked away.Ace weighs about 110lbs.Jim
Cant forget the Dogo Argentino!! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dogo_Argentino their amazing!!… A full grown Dogo can take down a full sized Puma
what about the all mighty chihuahua?
Waiiiitum any dog can be dangerous…i have been attacked by a german shepherd and a golden retriever…only due to the fact that the owners were dumb
rotts go back further to roman empire times use to herd and protect cattle not 1820s
i do not think that gremand shepards are mean at all i think that they are the most loving dogs in the world and i have one my self so you should think that over again!!!!!!!!
hello i am going to buy a dog. i want to protect the house from the thief which is the best breed to take? how about doperman or rotweiller?
Pit bull! Hands down! They are not apt o turn on people by any means… Yet, the signature bark on the other side of the door will de-ture just about anyone!
Me and my family own a Great Dane and she is the best dog I have ever owned. The only time she ever growles is to let us know that some other dog is in the yard or there is a stranger near our home. She is wonderful with my three young kids and is the smartest dog I have ever seen. Not ment for this page.
Um. You are misinformed, Pits were not bred for fighting, they were brought to America as fighting dogs. Their temperament is amazing, yet territorial. Don’t start none, you won’t get none.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pit_Bull
The matt guy who talked about malamutes and huskies. Malamutes and huskies are not part wolf at all. they are all dog. By the way they are very very dog and people friendly. They love love love other dogs and people. They will be destructive if not exercised.They won’t become aggressive because not trained. I am sorry the hair has nothing to do with helping on a dog fight. I have seen a malamute get attacked by a pit and you can still see blood.
i have a german shepherd dog .she is very sweet,it is not disobidence,and it is not a dangerous dog
This breed from my country has got to be the fiercest. We consider them to be the largest dogs.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%A0arplaninac
Want to say something..ANY dog can be dangerous. I mean common…Golden Retrievers are said to be one of the best family dogs and well…i was attacked by on when i was younger…no i wasn’t being mean to the dog she was being nice and out of no where she started flipping out and attacked me i didn’t lay a hand on her. I never blamed her she just wasn’t trained right and her owners didn’t keep her under control. I love ALL dogs no matter the breed or size. I believe there should be no such thing as a “Dangerous dog list” its wrong. Funny thing is people are always concentrating on pit bull attacks and saying how awful these different breeds are when it really the PEOPLE they should be upset with…Its never the dogs fault if it has dumb owners or bad breeding. Just saying.
i have germen sheperd
First things first…Pitbulls..were NOT bred for fighting…there orginally from England, and were bred for hunting wild game and hogs, and also used to protect farmers from bulls……until MAN decided it would be fun to use them for sport and make them fight bulls then each other so don’t go putting up things unless you know the correct facts….they aren’t born a vicious dog..man makes them that way…..get it together…cause none want to hear that there dogs are ferocious….and I am really tired of hearing that Pitbulls are a vicious, mean dog,.or ferocious….cause there not.
pitt bulls are a failed breed for what they were bred for. they make excellent protection animals rather than fighting. there is a video out on the internet where two dogs are going to fight eachother but when released, they meet eachother and do nothing but examine eachother. a person had to provoke the one dog to bite him, in which the other attacked to protect its master which started the fight. and also, pit bulls cannot ‘lock-jaw’ or whatever the name of it is. they have a very strong hold which many people confuse with lock jaw. and another note, when are they going to notice the small dogs and other dogs for turning on their owners? labadors had the record for turning on their owners and biting the hell out of them a couple years ago. basically, what im saying is that the list above needs to be updated big time.
and if you notice, they only mention the dangerous dogs as those large enough to kill a human. if its going to be listed as dangerous, it should include attacks and bites, because even these can lead to a persons death
First off fighting dog didn’t show any human aggression toward humans or they would be killed. For the simple reason that when dog fighting was a prominent sport the owners were in the ring and they would actually have round in the fight. The owner didn’t want to get bit when separating the two and the fight were not to the death. They were until there was a definite winner. If your dog lost you didn’t kill it either. You would rehab it and either train it or retire it. Also when the dogs were not fighting it was integral part of the family. It health and well-being was held above all others in the house hold. If there was only enough food for one person to eat it was the dog because he was a source of income for the family. Also Pit Bull is not a specific breed. The term “Pit” in Pit Bull refers to were the dog fights and “Bull” refers to the dog being a Bullie or Bulldog breed. If a French Bulldog were to fight it would then be considered a “Pit Bull”. However there is a breed called an American Pit Bull Terrier. This may seem nit-picky but not being specific and stricked on the standard has dug us in the deep hole we are in with the Fighting Breeds. If breed properly they are the most obedient and loyal family dogs on earth. With the sole purpose in life but please its family.
So now that the history of Dog Fighting has been discussed we’ll move onto the author’s lack of knowledge on the breeds. She should have done a little more research on before writing this bias garbage. Strong dog breeds in this article do bite. It’s unrealistic to say that there is a specific breed that never bites, but what I will say is there are breeds less likely to. According to the Center for Disease Control the German Shepard, Chihuahua, Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever, Collie, Chow Chow, Akita, Poodle, Scottish Terrier, and Shetland Sheepdog are the most likely to bite. Physically they don’t exert the same amount of bite force as the dogs with the larger jaw muscles.
Now onto the specific breed in this article. Some of the information is relatively accurate but when writing an article like this you lose credibility when basic facts are off from breed history to height and weight. It just proves to all of the readers that the author knows nothing about the topic at hand and she obviously thinks her audience is nieve enough to believe any piece of crap she writes.
Dalmatians are 19 to 23 inches and ranges from 50 to 55 pounds. The specific dimensions give this dog it’s symmetrical in outline free of coarseness and exaggeration. They originated in Dalmatia, on the Adriatic coast and now part of modern day Croatia. The dog we know today as the Dalmatian has been a dog of war, a draft dog, shepherd, ratter, fire-apparatus follower, firehouse mascot, bird dog, trail hound and retriever. Most importantly, he is the original and only coaching dog. His affinity for horses remains a basic instinct to this day and the breed is a natural follower and guardian of the horse-drawn vehicle.
Boxer is a well-conditioned middleweight athlete of dogdom; the Boxer is a powerful dog with an intelligent and alert expression. Their size varies from 21-25 inches and they weight 53 to 70 pounds. While they are instinctive guardians, the Boxer loves to be with his people. This personality has allowed them to succeed as couriers during war time and as seeing-eye dogs for the blind. Appearing in both fawn and brindle colors, the Boxer currently ranks as one of the most popular dogs in the United States according to AKC Registration Statistics. One of the breed’s most notable characteristics is its desire for human affection, especially from children. They are patient and spirited with children, but also protective, making them a popular choice for families. The Boxer requires little grooming, but needs daily exercise.
Presa Canario’s date back to the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. Following the conquest of the Canary Islands it is theorized dogs of great size may have existed or were brought there by the Spanish Conquistadors or possibly both. What is known was the function for which these dogs were developed; guarding farms, struggling with cattle and the extermination of wild or stray dogs. The essential characteristics of the Presa are those which enable it to drive and hold cattle, and to guard its home and family. These tasks require a powerful, agile, courageous dog with a large head and powerful jaws. They weight 85 to 100 pounds and are 22 to 26 inches. The Presa is extremely affectionate, docile and well behaved with its owner and family, but is wary of strangers and aggressive with other dogs.
Saint Bernards originally used to locate freezing and helpless travelers during snow storms; the Saint Bernard now uses his intelligence and strength in conformation and obedience competitions, cart pulling and weight pulling. Although powerful and muscular in build, Saints possess a gentle and dignified temperament. It is generally believed that the dogs eventually called Saint Bernards were bred from dogs previously existing in the Swiss countryside. The original Saint Bernard was a short-haired dog and was introduced to the Hospice (a refuge for travelers crossing the treacherous passes between Switzerland and Italy) as a guard dog, a carting dog and an avalanche dog that rescued travelers trapped in the snow. These gentle giants are 25½ to 27½ inches tall at the shoulder and 130 to 180 pounds.
Great Dane are nothing short of majestic, 28 to 32 inches tall ideally and ranging in weight from 100 to 200 pounds. Sometimes referred to as the “king of dogs,” this extremely large dog breed is known for being strong yet elegant, with a friendly, energetic personality. Striking in the show ring, this breed is also popular as a family pet. Coat colors can be brindle, fawn, blue, black, harlequin and mantle. Historians claim that there are drawings of dogs that resemble the Great Dane on Egyptian monuments from roughly 3000 B.C. The earliest written description of a dog resembling the breed can be found in Chinese literature of 1121 B.C. The origins of the Great Dane as we know it today can be traced to the Irish Wolfhound with mixture of old English Mastiff. The breed was originally developed by the Germans to hunt boar, a ferocious animal. When no longer used for hunting, the breed changed to one of a companion and estate guard dog.
Chow Chows The true origin of the Chow is unknown, but the breed as it is known today is easily recognizable in pottery and sculptures of the Chinese Han Dynasty (206 B.C. to 22 A.D.). An all-purpose dog used for hunting, herding, pulling and protection of the home, some scholars claim the Chow was the original ancestor of the Samoyed, Norwegian Elkhound, Pomeranian and Keeshond. A powerful, sturdy dog of Arctic type, medium in size and muscular with heavy bone weighting 45 to 70 pounds with a height of 17 to 20 inches. The Chow Chow is an ancient breed of northern Chinese origin. While the breed was originally a working dog, he primarily serves as a companion today and is seen in show rings across the country.
Doberman Pinscher’s originated in Germany around 1900, taking its name from tax collector Louis Dobermann of Apolda, who desired a medium size dog to perform as a guard dog as well as companion. Breeds utilized to develop the Doberman Pinscher may have included the old shorthaired shepherd, Rottweiler, Black and Tan Terrier and the German Pinscher. A square, medium-sized dog weighting 66 to 88 pounds and is 24 to 28 inches in height. The Doberman Pinscher is muscular and possesses great endurance and speed. He is elegant in appearance and reflects great nobility and temperament. The properly bred and trained Doberman has proved itself to be a friend and guardian, and his intelligence and ability to absorb and retain training have brought him into demand as a police and war dog…….
I can’t believe I wasted 40 minutes of my life entertaining this nonsense. It’s clear that half of you guys are retarded arguing about what dog could beat another in a fight. You guys are part of the problem. I stated earlier that the author said she obviously things the readers are idiots and you proved her right.
Pit bulls should be completely outlawed. There is no reason for anyone to have one of these. The only reason most people even own one is just to try to look big in other peoples eyes. They are dangerous, and the only ones who will argue this point are owners. If you own one, liability insurance should be mandatory along with registration. Not a month goes by here without someone getting attacked or even killed by these beasts. They were not bred to be pets, and they will always have an attack waiting inside them.
All I can say to you is, OWN A PITBULL before You Judge it!!!! Go to a Pitbull show and see how devoted they are to PLEASE their owner!! People like you just see the Bad side of them but they are the sweetest dogs, so stop talking bad about them and want to ‘Outlaw’ them just treat them as normal dogs and you’ll see the sweetest dogs on earth!! I’ll say again ‘Own a Pitbull before you Judge them’
There is no such thing as a dangerous dog, thay only have bad owners that don’t take care of them the right way. So if you say “bad dog!!” you should say “im a bad owner” this list is nothing but crap, and i have a pit bull, and i learnd how to take care of him the right way and he is a very well behaved dog and he is good with children, and he is very smart. “own one before you judge one”
I owned one mate it lived on my farm it killed my sheep they are a bad dangerous breed i had to put a bullet in it the are a bad natured dog and should be outlawed i bet you walk around with ur pittbull letting it go crazy off it leash like a took trying to act big
Yup I agree, my oldest son is around a 100%pure bred pitbull at karate and that dog runs around with all the kids and has never attacked, bit , or shown aggression to anyone. I personally would never own one just because I wouldn’t be able to train it but I have no fear of the breed. I also own a dalmatian mix and she is one of the biggest wimps I have ever seen. People who own dogs should be aware of the good and the bad that comes with having a dog. I do believe some breeds are more prone to aggression but with the right training the dog should be fine. There should be harsher penalties for people who abuse animals no matter what kind it is.
Liz, You would be surprised how easy they are to train… My mother (who is 59, with a knee replacement) kept my pitbull for several weeks when I was taking finals in college.. He was in his “teenage” wild years as well! When I returned, he was listening to her every word. Trust me this isn’t a hard dog to train by any means!
People rarely consider genetics. All common breeds were made by man to perform a specific duty or conform to a specific look. This was done over time, certain traits that were advantageous were kept by allowing those dogs to mate and have offspring, while others were culled.
Herding dogs were breed to herd.
Guard dogs were breed to guard.
Tracking dogs were breed to track.
Sled dogs were breed to pull.
Terriers were breed to hunt small mammals and rodents that would dig holes in the ground.
Retrievers were breed to retrieve game.
Fighting dogs were breed to fight.
Notice each dog has been genetically engineered of time through selective breeding to excel at its specific type. Border collies are excellent herders, Dobermans/Rottweilers are excellent guard dogs, Blood Hounds are excellent tracking dogs, Huskies are excellent pulling dogs… etc. There is a pattern here.
Pit Bulls were bred to fight bulls, and then when that was outlawed, to fight other dogs. The traits that made the dog excel at this were kept and other traits culled. However, you can NEVER get rid of a trait 100%. An example; One time Rottweilers had white in their coat, but this was unwanted and now we only have black and tan. However, every so often you will get a puppy with white spots in its fur, or a few white tufts here and there.
So aggression was definitely breed into fighting dogs, as well as gameness (the willingness to continue to the death) and other useful traits when it comes to fighting. You can certainly TRY to get rid of the aggression in a Pit Bull or ANY FIGHTING BREED through selective breeding, but it will never be 100% removed and you will ALWAYS have a dog that can potentially “snap” (meaning go into fight mode) and attack another dog or person. Over time and many generations, this trait can become RARE, but it will ALWAYS have a chance to be there.
Having said that, it’s unlikely many (if any) breeders will truly try to breed this out. That’s like buying a Ferrari with a Honda engine. Most of the people attracted to fighting dogs, are attracted to the traits that make the dog a good fighting dog in the first place. The responsible owners, are a minority for sure.
If you take a glass of clean water and drop in a single drop of blue dye, you may see the colour in the water. If you then pour half the glass into a new cup and fill the rest with clean water, you then can’t see the colour any longer. You repeat this 100 times and the glass of water looks the same as a glass of clean water, but there are still dye particles in the water.
Unfortunately this is not the dogs fault, but was done by humans many years ago, and this is probably why we hear of peoples pit bulls attacking others and then the owners claiming the dog never showed signs of aggression before.
How dogs behave has much to do with ownership and proper training, but genetics can’t be ignored or controlled.
So while I do feel “certain” people could effectively own these types of dogs, they are not for the average person, and there definitely needs to be liability on the owner and stiff penalties when certain safety measures are not in place. This goes for ANY FIGHTING DOG breed, not just pit bulls.
In closing I am not biased against the Pit Bull, but rather pro strong regulation for ALL fighting dog breeds. We live in a society that is made up of people with their children and pets (dogs, cats..etc). I can’t logically see a good result with fighting dogs thrown in the mix without strict regulation.
The American Pit Bull was bred to hunt AND herd. You’re truly lumping in all dogs that are considered to be pit bull, with the ACTUAL breed. The Staffordshire Terrier was bred to pit fight. The American Bully (Blue Pit) was bred to have little aggression.
They also are now bred, because of their loyalty and intelligence, as service animals. Your assertion is entirely incorrect. Hunting dogs were also bred as hunting dogs for their ability to learn and listen to commands. This, in no way, goes toward human aggression. I have a Staffordshire Terrier. She has a whole lot of bark, but zero bite. Most bully breeds are the same. The dogs are also fiercely loyal. They will attack anything if they feel that they, their handler, or their territory are threatened. Read up before making accusations:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pit_bull
There is no such thing as a bad dog, only bad owners!
Any dog can be made into an aggressive dog. There are too many people who have dogs, that don’t understand dogs and dog behavior. If a dog is trained, and socialized correctly, they will do what you want them to do. A well trained and loved dog just want to please you. To train any dog correctly, they must know that YOU are the alpha of the pack. Dogs are pack animals, they follow the alpha, if you do not train the dog to know that YOU are the alpha, then they will try to assume that role of the pack. This is when you create a dangerous dog, regardless of the breed.
In the 70’s they blamed the doberman, in the 80’s they blamed the German Shepard, in the 90’s they blamed the rottweiler, now they blame pit bulls. When are the humans that train them going to be blamed?
This is all hogwash.
my best dog is staffordshire bull terrier most caring dog ever and always great with children unless owner obv
I like dogs very much BECAUSE they are very intelligent and honest
You left out a killer in the Japanese Tosa) banned in some parts of the world can weigh more then 90 plus kilos and has one strong jaw more the the rottwheeler
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/uk_dangerous_dogs/html/1.stm
No, Pitbulls were not bred to fight.
i disagree.. i have 2 male rotty’s..8yrs and 6 yrs,, also have a male pittbull that is 2 and they are the greatest dogs ever,, it is all in how you raise them!!!!
A dog is only as mean as their owner.
This totally says it all with almost every comment from everybody containing poor grammar, spelling and punctuation. Look at yourselves first. I await your run on sentences and anger in reply.
I’m not seeing your point. Do you mean to say that *gasp* people typically don’t use proper grammar while typing? Well, start correcting, Mr. “this totally says it all with almost every comment from everybody containing poor grammar, spelling and punctuation”. You were redundant, missed at least one comma (two, if you agree with using the Oxford comma), and you changed tense in your own version of a run on sentence. I must assume that you do not know the true definition of a run on sentence, but, nevertheless, it is irrelevant. You do not need to have proper grammar at all times as a dog owner. You dog will love you unconditionally. Troll elsewhere, please.
Get a hobby!! U obviously have too much time on ur hands. Its not like this is a thesis for school or something. Peopl who put others down for something so little and stupid is insecure with themselves. Get a life!!
Not everyone can supervise their kids and their dogs 24/7. Not everyone can train their dog to be absolutely perfect either and for those times that I might not be around for a couple of minutes where my kids or dogs are not supervised I would like to have none of the dogs around on this list. We are talking about animals vs human life. In the “bigger scheme” of things does it really matter if you had a staffie or doberman? You should move to India, where animals are placed in high esteem.
I have a Rottweiler/Tibetan mastiff. Dante is a 6 yr. old AMAZING dog!! He weighs in at around 200lbs or so. We have two kids who r now8 and 10. We got Dante when he was 5 weeks old. We also have another dog named Benjie who is a 10 lb. Yorkshsire terrier. They are hilarious together! They play and love each other very much. We also have 2 indoor cats that we have had since him. They also play and cuddle together. Dante loves seriously everyone, all dogs and even loves cats. He does like to chase them as a game. He seriously is the best dog I have ever had or even know of. So I truly believe it is how well they are socialized as puppy’s and how their environment is as they r growing up.
some of these dogs a
re not dandos at all like the dalmatin.this such a dum wedsite
I don’t feel there is any need to have a go at the writer, besides its not her opinion.
People got to take into account the dog breed, intelligence and the owner.
You can have two totally different pit bulls, and two different owners.
Every dogs has a good heart if treated right just as human beings. The fucked up people usual are fucked up in some sort of way, like their childhood.
Owner of a Rottie… and the dog’s bloddy active alright! but I wouldnt say they aint dangerous if they were treated bad
wow…. tha pitbulls are very dangerous…………….
i have a Golden Retriver and he is very smart………
Do anyone knew about Kangal, the most ferrocious dog and meanwhile it has the greater bitting force than anyother dog,It has the bitting force of 728lbs. which is more than a tiger or lion bitting force, be
aware of those dogs
Dear Rajesh your dream is very nice don’t tell to other people you know way because those people will be afraid in the night dream.
When my grandchildren visited for the first time since I rescued a male mastiff, I feared that it might be child bowling as he is not the most graceful thing. I was surprised how gentle he was and he didn’t bowl anyone over the entire visit.
Why do we always let small dogs off the leash….lol!! I would say its the chiuaua or however u spell it. I have never met as many pits or rotts that bite. I have a huge rott/tibetan mastiff mix and he iks a wonderful dog and loves all people, kids and dogs. I also have a 10lb yorkie and they r great friends. But I would place money that the yorkie would bite b4 Just because small dogs don’t cause as much. Damage as a small dog doesn’t make it less aggressive.
Dear Robyn ;
We are human we should like and love human not dog if your are good man first love your wife and children your neighboure and other people in the nearest city in your country please .
I must say we are trying to help the pitbull breed most of these dogs are not dangerous if you train them and treat them correctly they can be the sweetest dogs ever how do i know?I have a Rottweiler, Pitbull, Doberman and 2 German Shepherds although they may look dangerous does not mean they are!My Dogs sweet hearts and they will protect me with their life if needed be i love them but whoever said these were dangerous animals are not correct it matters on how you raise them!BLAME THE DEED NOT THE BREED!!!!
help some children instead of dog.
The most dangerous dogs in the world are those that are not loved or cared for correctly. Any dog can be dangerous when they are kept in the wrong environment, without attention, love and training.
Most dog attacks I know of have been the fault of the dog’s owner. The most dangerous animals in the dog world are people, not dogs. This is mainly due to the fact that dog owners buy dogs without knowing anything about the breed and what the dog’s requirements will be. They are then too lazy to take the dog to training and the next step is to chuck the dog out of the house.
If it were a child and we didn’t bother sending the child to school or left it outside without attention all the time that would be child abuse. I have 4 large breed dogs, all go to training, or are retired due to age from training, and are in the home with my family. They are part of my life, it was my choice to own them and it is therefore my responsibility to make sure they are trained, well looked after and loved.
I agree with the post that we tend to let small dogs off the leash. I have not seen a small dog at obedience class EVER. I have been doing obedience classes one and off for 13 years.
Since humans domesticated the dog, that leaves their well being in our hands. But we will probably mess that up too…
hi everywon im new, and ive got a presa canario hes wonderful he protecme and hes wonderful whith kids has not biteng no won in hes life , and all these dogs arent dangurous the only dangerous are the owners and theve fforgoten the shar pei i got bitrn by won and the owner treats like its a football and it gives it meat .
Blame it on the owners. Blame it on poor training. I don’t care what the excuse, Pit Bulls have been the cause of 67% of fatal dog attacks in the US since 1982. Source: CDC
Bottom line: they are unpredictable in too many instances and will attack without provocation. A 23 year old rescuer in Atlanta that I know, died yesterday from an attack by her own Pit.
Now let the flame mail begin.
There are more people who own pit bulls that don’t attack than there are people who own pit bulls that do attack. Fatality by dog attack is actually pretty rare. The only real reason to put it into terms of percentages is to make the number seem much larger than it actually is.
SORRY, CANARY ISLANDS AREN´T IN AFRICA. THEY ARE SPANISH ISLANDS.
@likeaboss~ do u know how full the shelters are of german shepards?? I personally love the breed but they need a lot of training and exercise or they too can become very aggressive. Some statistics show the german shepardto b more aggressive as a pitt. Anyways u should b ashamed of urself for breeding any type of dog that u can find at shelters everywhere.or at german rescues. I could understand if it was some rare breed of dog that is super hard to find but seems like the profit is more important to u than the dogs best interests.
a Maltese dog is the most dangerous dog in the world….no doubt !!
it can tear any dog to pieces in a min …..hell…bud….pure evil O.o
waw very bad dog and my girl frnd is having dog name is sneha
You forgot the Kurdish Kangal
Why are there only medium/large breeds listed?
Don’t you know many small breed dogs are aggressive, have strong bites, and are protective of their families?
“Personally, I don’t know any dog that would bite without warning or just snap.”
I’m a dog lover, and have always been around dogs. I’ve been bitten twice by dogs – the first when I was about six by a Pomeranian – I was just standing in my grandparents yard when the dog next door ran over and bit me. Poms used to be on the top biter list, but have been pushed down by the popularity of more aggressive breeds. The second was at a dog show. A friend and I were walking by a St. Bernard and it randomly lunged at me and bit my arm. (As a matter of fact, we were walking by a number of dogs, and just chatting together and not concerned in the least about the dogs we were walking by – I was about 13 and weighed about 106 lbs – it was a pretty serious bite – there was no provocation involved.) I didn’t even see it coming as it came from behind. The St. Bernard is on the list of top 10 most dangerous dogs.
Well, of course, I’ve been bitten, as many children have, by Chihuahuas – too many times to count as we lived near a house with several and it constantly attacked us children as we walked by the house. They are on a lot of top biter lists, but the danger of serious injury is low because of their size, although they ruined a lot of jeans.
So, at any rate, from owning and being around dogs my whole life, I’ve learned that the breed of dog is so important – some dogs are more easily trainable and highly intelligent. Some dog owners are more responsible, but I would never, never, never own a dog on any of the dangerous or top biter lists.
It’s not worth the risk of injury to others, to other dogs, and especially to children. Breeding and genetics often tell and dogs have often been bred to have certain innate behaviors. When I hear someone saying it’s how the dog is trained, I seriously question their intelligence. (In other words, I say to myself, “What an idiot.”) While training has some – note the word “some” bearing on the dog’s behavior, their are always times when the dog under certain stressors MAY revert back to instinct – and to me, the risk is always there in some of these breeds…
As a matter of fact, there is risk in any breed if not properly trained and taken care of, or if abused or encouraged, but why would someone ever want a dangerous breed is beyond me. I’ve always had a fondness for Rottweillers – not a scrubbily bred one, but the purebreds are gorgeous and intelligent, and I fell in love with “Good Dog, Carl,” when my children were young and I read them the story. I would never own one because of the high risk.
And yes, in spite of my bad experience with dogs, I have one now, snoozing at my feet. A lab mix.
you also forgot about cimarron uruguayo it was hunted in its history for killing people
The most pathetic list Ive seen on the internet in regards to dangerous breeds. First off , where are the little dogs on your list????? A number of small breeds are on the most aggressive/dangerous list. Hell you didnt even list the breed who actually has a genetic “rage” issue. Spaniels. Funny how you list Dane’s and St.Bernards…… id love to see or have you list your info for these choices. As a firm believer in its the owner , not the breed and someone who has raised so-called dangerous or aggressive breeds for all of my 37 years and have parents whom have bred one of the most “so called” gentle breeds in the world , Nova Scotian Duck Tollers , for a large portion of my 37 years. Ive raised rescue Bully breeds , Molosser breeds , Mutts and Rottweilers. Some ex fighters and some abused.
It surprises me you dont even have a number of dogs on the banned lists for numerous countries on your list either. Where are the Dogo Argentino’s(the last breed bred off the Cordoba. The Jinpu’s? Daschunds?? You obviously half assed researched for this article or are just spewing opinionated BS. Get a education on dogs then try writing a legitimate article.
Currently own a 7 y/o Dogo argentino runt of a litter , shes a giant baby. A 9 month old Dogo Argentino with Champion ancestry and a 9 year old Husky/Rottweiler mix who was used for fighting until it was three and has become the leader/matriarch of my side buisness of reintroducing rescue animals back to society.
i have a LE LOUP dog and it is the most dangerous dog i think haha 😛
Probably the most ridiculous article I have ever read!!!
i think dogs are not vicious because i have met a dog as big as me named Rocky and he is a Gray Hound and i love to cuddle him. i also have a dog that is called Ned and he is very small.
I love dogs..and i agree that a dog does wt a dog is trained to do..
ah one more thing braxton!!! you are sick man get a life and if u can’t, just get a dog.. it will help
Firstly, This is stupid, Only German Shepherds, Rottweilers and Pit bulls would be the dangerous ones,
YOU ARE MISSING; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kangal_Dog : Which would probably destroy all off these dogs… -…………-
You are so right! The Kangal COULD destroy any other dog.