The 3 Most Aggressive Dog Breeds Revealed! – Pit Bulls? Rottweilers? You’ll Be Surprised….
With Breed Specific Legislation acts being brought forward in more and more areas across the country, dogs like Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, Doberman Pinschers and other “scary” looking breeds are in danger of losing their homes and even their lives. These breeds are often touted as being extremely aggressive – however a new study released this week in the journal of Applied Animal Behavior Science provides some statistical facts on what breeds actually ARE the most aggressive – and the answers may surprise you!
Photo by Artamnesia
The study involved researchers from the University of Pennsylvania as well as 6,000 dog owners. The number one aggressive breed out of the 33 dogs surveyed? The Dachshund. Yes – the wiener dog. The study found that “one in five dachshunds have bitten or tried to bite strangers, and a similar number have attacked other dogs; one in 12 have snapped at their owners.”
Photo by This Year’s Love
Number two on the list is an even more diminutive breed – the Chihuahua, while Jack Russells came in third.
The researchers say that the bite statistics that have been released in recent years are skewed because most dog bites are not reported. Big dog bites are more likely to require medical attention, but this does not mean that those breeds are doing the majority of the biting.
One of the teams researchers, Dr. James Serpell, believes that smaller breeds may be more genetically predisposed to aggressive behavior than their larger counterparts. Serpell says, “Reported levels of aggression in some cases are concerning, with rates of bites or bite attempts rising as high as 20 per cent toward strangers and 30 per cent toward unfamiliar dogs.”
Pit Bulls and Rottweilers scored average or below average in the aggression study. Breeds that scored on the low end are Basset Hounds, Golden Retrievers, Labradors, Siberian Huskies and Greyhounds.
Photo by Brokenwolf
February 7th, 2009 at 3:09 pm
I thought and heard on Discovery channel that Rottweiler are most aggressive dogs and in some countries they are now allowed as pet.
April 3rd, 2009 at 8:02 pm
I recently adopted a female rottweiler. I find it amazing she is considered to be an aggressive dog. All she wants is a bit of my attention. We go to the dog park 3-4 times per week and she loves to run. She enjoys being the chaser not the chasee and she does not like to be in the middle of a pack. She greets all the other owners and dogs with love. This dog has been one of the most well behaved pets I have ever had. She is 2 and very easy to train, eager to learn.
April 14th, 2009 at 5:30 pm
The reason you may have heard that (I doubt it was the Discovery Channel, I couldn’t find anything to support that claim) is that most research into canine aggression up to now has focused on dog bites, but researchers said that data is misleading. Most dog bites aren’t reported, and because the bites of big dogs are more likely to get reported, they are generally viewed as more aggressive.
How many times have you seen a tiny breed dog lash out, snap, and even bite people? Does anyone freak and call animal control? Do people rush to the emergency room after such an incident? No, because all they see is this funny, tiny dog. If it were a large breed dog, especially one of the falsly accused “aggressive breeds”, in that situation then it would not be taken so lightly.
May 31st, 2009 at 2:00 am
For me, it is not the breed, it is the arse behind the leash, if there is a leash a’tall, that shapes a dog. My Brothers has a Jack Russell Terrier and she is a dear soul. Why? Because my Brother is a dear soul. Oh the circle of Karma! I am the proud caretaker of a Rescue American Staffordshire Pit Bull Terrier and she is an amazing, loving, kind, pleasant, and caring dear soul. It is not the breed, it is the people who make the choice to do bad or choose to do good. Take Care, Happy Wagging Tails, and Happy Trails!!!
Semper Fidelis,
William
June 21st, 2009 at 12:29 pm
I get so upset when pit bulls are discriminated against. I have had a female red-nose pit bull for 5 years. We have had her since she was 4 weeks old and would never hurt anything…maybe a cat and I think she got a gopher once. I find it funny because she did get into a tussle with a weiner dog, the most aggressive dog breed. She only scratched him a little bit though, and you can believe the little ankle biter started it. Guess who got in trouble though…NOT THE WEINER DOG!! Owell, I guess the world really has not come that far out of discrimination. I know that my Daisy Dot is an angel, I guess it does not matter what anyone else thinks, just as long as they leave my baby alone.
July 10th, 2009 at 12:59 pm
My daughter has a blue pit & macoy and a red nose & macoy. Their both beautiful and spoiled. They think they’re lap dogs. They love children and are very friendly. She live’s in a mobile home park (please no judgements for that) in mount morris, michigan. After living here for over a year. The park now wants her to get rid of the dogs because this breed has a bad rep. Does anyone have any helpful advise. Please someone help me help my daughter save her babies.
July 24th, 2009 at 3:44 pm
Debbi- Perhaps your daughter could provide proof to the park that her dogs aren’t aggressive. She could let them meet the dogs; provide a video of them; gather letters from family,friends, and neighbors defending them; or tell the park that the dogs are not bothering the neighbors and ask the park managers to speak to the neighbors about it. However, this still may not be enough. She should do whatever she can to keep her dogs because many shelters have to euthanize pit bulls since they’re hard to place and many cities are banning them.
August 16th, 2009 at 2:23 pm
American Staffordshire Pitbull Terrier??!! unless its a mixed breed that’s impossible. Those are two very seperate breeds, I happen to own an American Staffy and am tired of being told he’s a pitbull. He’s registered with the AKC, as a staffy NOT as an APBT. There is a difference…..APBT are not even recognized as an official breed by the AKC…
What irritates me more is the difference shouldn’t matter. Pitbulls, staffies, and other bully breeds are some of the most loyal affectionate breeds. It’s unfortunate that when they bite, unlike smaller breeds, it turns into a media blitz against the dog and the breed as a whole. When was the last time you saw a news story about any sort of dog bite not attributed to one of the “Aggressive” breeds?! It’s no wonder the general public fear these animals, they see them vilified by the media every single day at 6 and 10pm.
September 29th, 2009 at 7:11 am
There should be a study done of which medium to large breeds are most aggressive. If you are a dog person, you already know the small breed dogs have the biggest attitude and are more likely to turn. I personally have a Rhodesian Ridgeback, APBT, and a Min Pin. They all are supposed to be more aggressive, but all are sweeties. Ive never had a problem with guarding, snarling, biting, or snapping. No matter where we go. I have however been severly bitten three times. 12 stitches to the back of the calf by a Golden. 4 stitches to my left forearm by a labradoodle, and 2inch gash right under my eye from a lhaso apso.
October 19th, 2009 at 2:17 am
I currently own a chocolate labrador retriever & a blue heeler/Jack russel Terrier mix. My terrier mix has always loved people,but hated any other dog other than his sister, our labrador & other small puppies. However, we tragically lost our Dixie, who was a purebred, beautiful, black and tan GSD because someone in the neighborhood that we recently moved into, shot her point blank in her own fenced in yard. She has never harmed a soul, or been out of the yard for that matter, so there was no reason for it. We caught the person who committed this heartless act & their excuse was this, “I have a 3 year old who was attacked by this breed at a young age, there is no place for them next door to me.” As I said, this dog would do nothing more than lick anyone to death regardless of the situation and had never even barked at someone passing on the street. Come to find out, the people on the opposite side of us claimed that the same person shot & killed their wonderful red nosed pit while she was let out to go potty. This person is serving community service for the murder of my “daughter” along with 5 years probation, but it seems to not even remotely justify the act. I do not have children of my own, my dogs are my and my husband’s children, & I feel that the judgement of any dog’s temperment before encountering each & every one individually is just as bad as judging a person before you have met them.
November 6th, 2009 at 5:23 am
I own a 27 month old Rottweiler named Bruno. He has never growled at anyone. He has never showed aggression towards a person or another dog. He plays with my 3 cats and our Dachshund. He licks babies and plays with kids. Bad dog owners have given the breed a bad name. Owners who wanted a “Bad ASS” dog. The owners are what made them mean. They are not genetically predisposed to aggression. They learn it from bad owners. Rottweilers are on the bottom of the scale as far as aggression tests go. The American Kennel Club lists the rottweiler as a calm and loyal breed. Aggression tests conclude that any animal can be aggressive. Certain health and mental disorders can play a role in a dog’s behavior just as in a humans. The Fact is this: “A dog is not genetically predisposed to agression and/or violence. How they are raised and treated is the major factor in their temperment”. Don’t blame the dog……..Blame the owner.
November 14th, 2009 at 1:56 pm
I have been around and worked with and loved many dogs; I found that there are sweet and well mannered chihuahuas and dachshunds, as well as ill-mannered and aggressive ones. There are loving and sweet tempered ‘bully breeds’ or ‘banned breeds’ as well as unruly ones. The only consistant was the owners: what they tolerated or encouraged in their animals. I also noticed that it’s true with people and thier kids; you see an unruly and insolent little monster, chances are mommy and daddy think it’s “cute” or don’t have the backbone to properly chastise. Kids who have manners and can behave in public tend to have parents who know when to draw the line.
These dogs need a firm and loving hand, a committed soul in their owners and the right living arrangements. If more people realized that in order to own a dog and enjoy it, you need to find the perfect match – maybe we’d have less surrenders and far less idiots buying a dog on a whim.
I am the proud mom of an APBT, a GSD and an ACD/BC mix, and have no qualms telling people. Love knows no breed or obstacle.
November 20th, 2009 at 1:31 am
Rottweilers are fantastic family dogs, in all honestly, majority of Rotty bites are at the vet. As a vet tech I love the breed outside of work, they are good dogs, and great dogs with the right training. I own a APBT, she is my 17 month old daughter’s bff, and sleeps with 2 out of my cats every night. Chi’s, Doxie’s, Min Pin’s, pretty much 97% of small breed dogs are evil, and are deemed “land sharks” in my line of work. Poodles are the exception, even tiny they’re incredibly stoic, and make wonderful little companions
November 30th, 2009 at 5:56 am
The first problem I see is that people refer to their “animals” as their babies(or kids). This is wrong on a serious psychological level and means you are an unstable person and so it goes to reason that your dog will be unstable.(according to the good owner goood dog bad owner bad dog theory you all profess) ahh Karma as one person put it. You are doomed to a serious lawsuit because in an instant some kid will lose the end of his nose or a finger at the instantaneous and “amoral” whim of your dogs
November 30th, 2009 at 6:06 am
I have a Beagle that I refer to as my “pet” or dog because I also have Kids and know the difference. I find the article enlightening because when he was young he was food aggressive and growled at the kids who were young then too. We got him because we viewed the beagle as safe after giving away our rottweiler that went psycho after she had pups(until then she was great!) She suddenly decided to protect me from the world and my kids.
February 2nd, 2010 at 12:41 pm
Certain dog breeds were created specifically to be used as guardian’s or for fighting. Pit bulls fall into this category and as such will have a natural instinct to attack other animals (especially dogs) and this will be a strong instinct around their territory. They were also bred to NOT be aggressive to humans as owners of dogs about to fight would need to inspect the dogs pre-fight to make sure that spikes, blades, etc… hadn’t been somehow affixed to the dogs. Rottys are agressive of their territory and family. Outside that they will rarely attack anything. You simply need to know the breed, it’s history, its natural instincts and adjust accordingly. Few, if any dogs, should naturally have aggression towards humans and the way they are raised will be the biggest defining factor in how they act. But just like people individuals vary widely. Know your dog and treat it right, for its safety and for yours.
February 15th, 2010 at 3:45 am
I applaud(sp?) the creators of this site. I am in the process of being certified by the state of Kansas as a large and “aggressive” breed rescue. My entire life has been full of beautiful and misunderstood dogs that we were always given due to their “aggression” (rottweilers, Great Danes, Dobermans, etc). Yet neither my parents,brother, myself or the other dogs we owned ever had to worry about being attacked or injured. I am a FIRM believer that EVERY dog has a chance at reform. For those who think that we are fools, let me tell you a story:
When I was 12, we recieved a German Rot named Baronus Von Stoval who was aproximately 4 years old. My father brought him home and told us that Baron was fearful of strangers and that we were not to approach him for a while, until he became used to us and his new home. He had been given to my father as a last ditch effort to save his life because the county that he had come from wanted him put down due to previous aggresive acts. After exactly one week of him being with us, I came outside to what I thought was his attacking my father. The noise to a 12 year old was extremely frightening. As I came into view of the dog I stood back in amazment and watched my father laying on the ground, tossing this VERY large dog back and forth like a rag doll and LAUGHING! Baron would stand up each time and crouch in typical puppy form with his butt in the air and his stump wagging. Then would pounce on my dad and proceed to roll his head all over my dad’s chest, almost as if begging for more. We were fortunate enough to have this dog for several more years without ANY negative acts to blemish that first wonderful memory. He was put down at the age of 10 due to a cyst that had formed on his spine which rendered him paralized in the back and was the last of that breed that my parents could ever stand to own. the love that he gave and was given by our family ranked him as a MEMBER, NOT a pet.
I have personally been training and rehabilitating dogs for over 15 years( I am over 30 now and began helping my father at 13 because of Baron)and have said for those same number of years that I concider smaller dogs to be more of a threat as far as biting and aggression (not damage) than larger breeds. I too consider my animals my children, and just like my children they need discipline mixed with LOTS of love. I hope that any future readers will take this true story as a sign that there are no bad animals, just rotten owners.
February 28th, 2010 at 11:58 am
I have a nine month female German Shepherd. She is very calm, gentle and loyal – which is what I have grown to know about German Shepherds. We bred this breed for sixteen years and all of the pups were of this temperment. I agree that the owners behind the leash are the reason the dogs have a bad rap. I purchased her from a breeder that in my mind is one of a kind. My girl is as I said 9 months old and over 80 pounds so needless to say she is going to be very large for the breed. Am I afraid of her – No No. Have I been training her – Yes Yes. She picks up very easily because of her natural intelligence. The breeder was and does belive in hands on when the pups are born. The are raised for the first 6 weeks with the family – small children. Please everyone understand if you are aggressive – your dog will pick up on that and be aggressive. There are no bad dogs – just bad owners. Happy dog owning.
June 26th, 2010 at 1:58 am
We have had two dachshunds. The first one was a lovable dog, but he was prone to snapping. You would be too,if your previous owner’s kid threw you down the stairs and pulled your tail.
Our most recent dog came from a pet store.He never snapped at me until he was 16 and a half.
“The arse behind the leash”? I definitely agree.
July 13th, 2010 at 9:13 pm
@Josh… the only difference in an apbt and a staffy is the fact it is registered under a different name. they are the same breed. the akc did not want a dog with the name “pit” it in, so they came up with american staffordshire terrier. certain pit lovers wanted to keep the name pit bull terrier therefor branched out and made their own registry called the ukc. some dogs are dually registered under the akc as staffy and ukc as apbt. did you know petey the pup was the first akc and dual registered pit bull. i guess that would make him an american staffordshire pit bull terrier. also akc considers dogs without cropped ears apbt, so if your dog does not have cropped ears, it cannot be registered through akc.
July 13th, 2010 at 11:15 pm
Hi Samantha, Actually the AKC allows American Staffordshire Terriers to be registered with both cropped and natural ears. Here’s the wording directly from the standard – “Medium length, deep through, broad skull, very pronounced cheek muscles, distinct stop; and ears are set high. Ears – Cropped or uncropped, the latter preferred. Uncropped ears should be short and held rose or half prick. Full drop to be penalized”
July 14th, 2010 at 2:22 pm
This article doesn’t surprise me at all. After having and working with dogs my whole life, the only scars I have came from a “weenie dog”.
As to the comment about referring to animals as “babies” or “children”, I don’t see a problem with it. As a parent you have to set limitations, rules and boundaries. If the lines are crossed you must discipline. Your job is to teach the child to be a successful part of society and to basically be a good person. You have to also nurture your child, love them and make sure they have all their needs met. They need exercise, mental stimulation and fun. How is this any different from a good pet owner?
July 14th, 2010 at 2:54 pm
Of all the dogs I have owned, I love my blockhead bully dogs the best.
After we put down our 10 year old American Bulldog, I was so lost without a bully buddy. Enter Chicagoland Bully Breed Rescue.
They had a dog for adoption who’d been seized in a drug bust. The dealers had been trying to make him mean and aggressive; all they succeeded in doing was to make him overly submissive.
I was (and am!) so grateful to adopt my Bud D Dawg. Despite all the mistreatment he received, he has NEVER gone to bite any person or animal. It took some extra loving training to keep him from rolling on to his back whenever I gave a command, but he’s the apple of my eye.
I used to work as a vet tech, and can tell you that (in general) the smaller the dog, the bigger the attitude. I think that’s because the owners did not train the animals, and spoilt the daylights out of them by treating them like toys rather than the dogs they are.
Dogs are dogs and need to be what they are. When you don’t give a dog a job to do (even if it’s basic obedience), you will wind up with a troubled animal.
July 17th, 2010 at 2:40 am
It does not make a differnece what breed it is any breed can bite, pits people hate because of media BS totally! if any of you go on my face book account you can read how an am staff saved me from drowning the deal here i own over 80dogs they range from chihuahuas to doxies to jack russelS to rat terriers to basset hounds to beagles &catahoulas to cur dogs to border collies to basinjis an i have mixed breeds of many of these dogs crosses of the bigger dogs each one of these dogs could bite given the oppertunity, but my dogs will bite if you where to try an hurt them,so many people abuse their dogs mine are spoiled rotten all of them ,most the big dogs are hunting dogs an some are not, but it dont have to look like a pit to be a real pit but to the layman if it looks pit then it is a pitbull be real,my catahoulas an some cur dogs an even trialing bloodline beagles all have that blocky head some pit bulls have an amstaffs too so because they look pit they are not on your worse day,theirs a saying i believe in THEIRS NO BAD DOGS JUST ALOT OF BAD DOG OWNERS!
July 17th, 2010 at 3:09 am
A “Staffordshire terrier” is a form of pitbull breed. . It Was given the name to be a breed of dog for akc to be satisfied. They weren’t even allowed to be shown till recent years. They even have “American pitbulls” who still are Not made akc. But a breed?? Wow shocker. .. goggle It. I worked vet feild for years and still makes no right. What makes it worse is people complain but no action.
July 17th, 2010 at 9:33 am
Bottom line as was stated above: It’s the owners NOT the dogs. I have had rotties, dobes, etc…have a rottie now. Grissom would NOT hurt a fly. We’ve had him since he was 6 weeks old. However, we know the potential, work with him, keep an eye on him, and he is ALWAYS leashed when outside of our fences.
He plays with our grandsons, the cat, other people, and their animals, etc…but again, we DO keep an eye on him.
I just find it sad that the animals are destroyed when things go wrong and the owners aren’t hit with stiffer fines.
July 17th, 2010 at 10:50 am
My daughter has a 2 year old Staffordshire Terrier. She is very loving but a great watch dog. Her name is Spike…yes a girl named spike. Spike does not bite and has never bitten but does have issues with licking, she is great with kids and extremely affectionate. I have a 10 year old Black Lab who she fawns over. My sister has an aggressive yorkie who would go after poor Spike and Spike now is not good with other dogs other than my lab. Does anyone have any idea’s to resocialize this Staffy in a safe manner? I am concerned that she may go after another dog. Spike was great with all dogs until constant chastizing from the little yorkie. HELP
July 17th, 2010 at 11:12 am
Being a rescue and around all types of dogs between doing rescue and grooming and once working at the Nebraska Humane Society in Omaha, and various vets… I have never once been even looked at in a wrong way by a Pit bull, a Staffy, and other bully breeds, I have unfortunately while at the NHS been by a Rottie. Now as a groomer I get bit more times by Shiztu and s lot of Cocker as well than any other breed. I was also bitten by a Chow and Doxies on several occasions… BUT!! and it is a big BUT!!! It is the owners who I believe are to be blamed for their dogs actions BECAUSE they do not understand the breed they get, properly exercise them, train and socialize them and MOST IMPORTANTLY!!! ill breeding practices and not making sure they are coming from reputable breeders and end up getting from puppy mills and backyard breeders who are in it for the $ and do not care what characteristics that are breeding into their dogs, and some are actually breeding the bullies to be mean, for like fighting, and sell to poor people who are unaware and ill prepared. I believe there are truly no bad dogs out, other then those bred for such purpose (but can be rehabbed in most cases if young enough) there just bad people doing wrong by them! PLUS having your dog spayed or neutered will cut down on their natural instinct to find a mate and protect their mate/pack And that includes us humans… from other dogs and people they deem as a threat. I think it is our duties as sentient beings to realize this and educate and go after those who are not breeding to better the breeds, not saying accidents don’t happen as they do but we need to push harder and make it more affordable especially to low income folks who can’t afford to get it done and thus end up with problems.
Right now in my rescue I have a Male lab for instance that an elderly gentleman had who at the time of rescue was unaltered and basically out of control due to the gent not being able to handle him and train him/exercise him as well as socialization. He is excellent with most people, sometimes barks or growls at people walking by, has SEVERE seperation anxiety if he sees that I am outside and he is inside, BUT has a major DOG aggression issue especially other males. I have been working on all his issues and have made progress other than the aggression issue, he has been fixed but being he was 3yrs old he had hit his sexual peak so it is going to be harder to rehab. But I am not giving up! I know of another similar issue with another loving Lab who is not fixed even though I have mentioned how it would help and he is now 6 and has attacked another dog.
Okay I have said most of my peace and yet can go on and on as I am passionate that it is the owners more than the breed!
July 17th, 2010 at 12:45 pm
I don’t find these statistics surprising at all. I’ve lived with both large and small dogs and the smaller dogs were far more aggressive than the larger breeds. My family has had a Siberian Husky, a German Shepherd, Dachshunds and Chihuahuas. I have found that chihuahuas are the most ill mannered breed and hard to train. I would never suggest one as a pet for children. However, I would suggest most large breeds as a family pet. We have never had an issue with any of the medium or large dog types. They tend to be more docile and loyal.
July 17th, 2010 at 2:00 pm
this is not a shock to find out. however, as to the comment about not calling animal control, emergency room visits and such, there is a reason. usually when a small dog bites, it doesn’t do damage. i love all dogs (i have a boston terrier), but i would much rather be bit by a weenie dog then a pitbull, if i had to be bit!
July 17th, 2010 at 4:16 pm
I think that most of the bunk that comes from any dog being aggressive is the owner behind them. I have been around big and small dogs my whole life and currently have doxies….not an aggressive bone in their bodies unless someone or something is coming after them. My doxies will let anyone in the house and show them the silver if just stop and pet them….none of them are dog aggressive and in fact one of them was recently attacked by a large dog and now runs screaming like a baby whenever a big dog looks at her. Any dog can be aggressive, but the smaller ones are getting a bad rap now….a doxie is only 4 inches off the ground, how would you feel if a giant was coming down on you? I think unless the owners have socialiazed any dog properly there will be problems no matter the breed.
July 17th, 2010 at 5:20 pm
I think a big part of the reason that small breeds are at the top is because of lack of proper training.
People feel that, due to their size, these small breeds do not require proper training – and they are wrong. All dogs require training to ensure that they are not a danger to themselves or others.
I know of very few small dog owners who have invested in proper training, and the behaviour of their dogs reflects that.
July 17th, 2010 at 5:28 pm
Pitbulls are evil and ruthless. One attacked my friends 5 year old daughter and ripped her face in half.
900 stitches and many more to go.
Nerve damage and broken jaw.
Really? thats nice dog.
It happens every day. Those dogs should be outlawed
July 17th, 2010 at 5:41 pm
It goes to show the ignorance of some people that want to do a breed specific law. Since when is a dog born saying I am going to be a mean, aggressive dog? We are here on earth to take care of God’s creatures. Who are those to decide which breed should be eliminated? Who made them judges? I cease to try to understand the thinking of some people. Their ignorance is above understanding. What about all the criminals? We house them, we pay for them. Some of them did heinous crimes. These crimes they did on their own choosing. A dog does not choose to become a “fighting” dog, it is by their willingness to please their masters that they do. It is man’s choosing to make them “fighting” dogs. It is by man’s choosing to abuse a dog to a point that the dog does become aggressive in it’s survival for life. Where is the logical sense? Wild animals kill other wild animals to survive, to eat. Man kills – just because they can. So where is the logical sense of these human beings that want to put in judgement certain breeds? Only one can judge. That is not you nor me. Animals were created first then man. Man was created to be these creatures caretakers not their abusers. I do not judge these people, but their rational thinking is way off. I feel sorry for them because they do not see. Any animal can become aggressive – and as our prison census shows – so can man. So think before you make a breed specific law. You are judging a certain breed a death sentence just because they are that breed. Do you think that is fair and just? Think about what you are saying, it just is not logical thinking.
July 17th, 2010 at 6:05 pm
There are millions of wonderful Pit Bulls that are valued family members. In fact they are some of the best dogs with kids there are because they don’t react.. as many other breeds do.. to kids bouncing on them, pulling on ears, teasing, falling over them. I was attacked by a Doberman … yet I do not disparage the breed because of a bad individual. People with no honor bred Pits, who in the past were renowned for their loyalty to their families, to be aggressive to people as protection of their illegal activities, i.e. drug dealing. It was epidemic down here in Miami. Now that Pit Bulls are illegal in Miami those same bad people are breeding Rottweilers, Presa Canaria dogs, Mastiffs, Dobermans and Shepherds.. to do their dirty work for them. They often cross Pit Bulls that are people aggressive into these other breeds which has created for them even bigger and badder ‘guard’ dogs. Blame humans because they control the breeding of dogs. NOT the dogs! Blame humans for their irresponsibility, NOT the dogs! The breed of Pit was meant to be the friendliest to people of any breed, AND the least aggressive. As horrible as dog fighting is, those dogs can be handled by people in the midst of the most horrendous pain and stress and never turn on the human in the ring. Any other working breed, in the midst of a dogfight (accidental or otherwise), is very likely, with the adrenaline and fear flowing freely, to inflict great injury on the humans trying to break it up. We owned the largest boarding and training kennel in Miami (Landmark Kennel) for 15 years and I ran countless obedience classes. During this time, Pit Bulls were numerous and popular. NEVER did I have a Pit Bull in class that ever once growled at his owner. There is no other breed of working dogs that I can think of, where that statement would be true. I am a dog trainer for the film industry, and I have had several great dog actors that were mostly Pit Bull and they were/are 100% trustworthy on set around strangers, children, and other animals. Petey of the Little Rascals was what Pit Bulls were, back before the criminals began to use their loyalty against them, and Petey’s example is what should be strived for now. Control the irresponsible humans that control the breeding/owning of aggressive animals with the possibility of JAIL time if their dog hurts someone! Until you can control the actions of the irresponsible dog breeders and owners, not to mention those using such dogs for criminal purposes, all of our working dog breeds are at risk from their whims and misplaced ego. Already there are Counties outlawing many other working breeds. This is a horrible trend. It is amazing that people cry out about civil liberties and Constitutional protection, yet Counties are getting away with outlawing my choice of pets, who are trained to be the best of the best of dog citizens.
July 17th, 2010 at 6:59 pm
Not even remotely surprised. When I owned three cocker spaniels (rescues), I found out that cocker spaniels bit more postal workers than any other dog in the uS.
It’s all about how much damage a dog can do though. I’d rather be bitten by an aggressive weiner dog than a pit bull or dobey any day (remember–dog behavior is almost always the owner’s fault).
July 17th, 2010 at 7:20 pm
I have two Doxies and working on adopting a third. We had a beautiful German Shepard Lab that lived to an old age. I feel dogs are examples of what they are shown. If they get love, they give love. If mistreated they will be aggressive back. I don’t like the recent bad rap that Dachshunds are getting. The are very lovable!
July 17th, 2010 at 7:30 pm
Lorraine, I’m sorry your friend’s daughter got attacked. However, the blame rests on the owner of that dog. Regardless of the breed, she would have gotten attacked due to the owner’s negligence or abuse. I have known my share of pits over the years and not one I would consider aggressive for no reason. One of them did attack a boxer, but it was to protect his owner’s friend who was being attacked by said dog after he tried to pet him. Even then I don’t blame the other dog. He was neglected by his owners and chained outside 24/7 regardless of the weather. I’d be pissed too. My husband was attacked by a rott several years ago because the owner (his friend) thought it would be funny to tell him to attack just to see if he would. My husband never blamed the dog or held ill feelings about him. I knew the dog too and he was just a big baby.
I own a rescue myself. Before he was put into my care, he was chained up in a basement without food or water for 3 weeks and had been physically abused. Another week and he would have died of starvation. He was so weak he could barely stand on his own and was deathly afraid of people. During what may have been his first bath, he was so scared of me that he peed in the bathtub. It took a lot of love and even more patience before he became the wonderful dog he is today. I have never known a more loving, loyal, incredibly smart and protective dog. He protects cats, kids and women even if he doesn’t know them. He would die for me and I would gladly do the same for him. I call him my angel because that’s exactly what he is. I had to fight to keep him with me and I’d do it all over again. I can’t have kids and he is my son. No one can tell me any differently. I may have saved his life, but he saved mine in so many ways. The only time anyone would be in danger is to raise their voice or hand to me. Everyone who has spent time with him knows what a sweet boy he is including the vet. When he got his first shots, he looked back and licked the vet right in the mouth. He never even had a problem with other dogs until a female was put in the mix. He’d play with the male, but once the female came into the picture, the male stopped playing and we were never able to put them together again. The next time he came in contact with another dog, it was trying to attack him while he was watching our house burn. We stayed with the friend with the 2 pits while we looked for a new home, but kept them separated for their protection. Through a glass door, he saw the male jump on my husband and thought he was trying to hurt him when all he wanted was attention. We’ve kept him away from other dogs since then, but he knows it’s not ok to hurt anyone unless being told or to protect his home and anyone in it. Many people said he couldn’t be “fixed” and he’d be aggressive because of how he was treated at such a young age, but I’ve proved them all wrong.
As for little dogs, my husband compares them to short men…short tempered and eager to fight in order to prove they’re “bad ass.” Not all are like that, but I’ve seen it and don’t discriminate based on the few I’ve known to behave in that manner. Banning dogs based on their breed is just nonsense. Every breed can get violent. It’s their owners who need to be banned from ever owning an animal.
July 17th, 2010 at 7:33 pm
I own two small dogs: a chihuahua and a toy rat terrier. I also work with animals. My two dogs are amongst the most aggressive that I have seen. They were both rescues as adults so I have no history prior to them living with me. Both have been to obedience classes (and passed) and have been socialized with many people. However, they are aggressive and will bite. They will bite strangers given the opportunity. I wouldn’t trade them for anything in the world but in my experience small dogs are much more aggressive than large dogs. That being said there are definitely large aggressive dogs. Unfortunately those dogs are more likely to be dangerous towards human while being aggressive. A small dog may bite and break skin but a large dog who bites and breaks skin will do more damage.
July 17th, 2010 at 7:43 pm
I work at a shelter and all breeds can be aggressive, but the ones that we have the most problems with are the smaller dogs. We have a lot of pits and pit mixes and the all receive a bad rap. People refuse to adopt a pit because of the “breed name” but yet will want to adopt the small dog even though he is a nipper or scared of kids.
July 17th, 2010 at 8:27 pm
People are the problem….dogs will act how they are raised. And some people are jerks.
July 17th, 2010 at 8:30 pm
Lorraine, I am truly sorry for your friends suffering. Let me ask you though, because someone is attacked by a person of a different race are we then to assume that all people of that race are dangerous. According to a lot of people I guess that would be true, which is a terrible shame.
I have worked in rescue, at shelters and at vets offices for my entire adult life, and I can tell you that when a Pit walks into my clinic I’m more likely to trust that dog than the cocker spaniel who walks in(no offense to cocker lovers out there..I have met some really nice ones too) They are on the whole, friendly, loyal, affectionate dogs. There have been several who have not been that way. Those who were abused, abandoned, not socialized. Dogs who are not fixed or chained are also more likely to bite.
I know this will probably not change your mind, but take it from all of us who work in the field dealing directly with these animals, pit bulls are not the enemy. However I think we can all agree that more STUPID people own these bully breeds and therefore stupid things happen.
And to the gentleman who thinks that thinking of your pet as a baby will lead to aggressive behavior..hmmm. Dogs want a pack and they are in a sense your kids. Unfortunately many kids and dogs aren’t disciplined properly and that can certainly lead to horrible things happening.
July 17th, 2010 at 8:47 pm
I have a kelpie cross foxie and a jack russel x foxie and both were rescues. We found one on the highway running backwards and forwards terriefied for his life and the other came to use because he is the spitting image of the first one. They both showed signs of being neglected and abused. My kelpie cross was terrified of women and still shakes and cries if anyone yells or raises their hands in the air near him. My JR x Foxie has awful separation anxiety and has had training for an elderly person eg. comes and gets you when the phone rings or someone’s at the door etc. They are both darlings but both have nipped me on the occasion (usually it’s nail clipping time – they HATE it so the vet gets to do it now!). We also have two cats – one’s only 18 weeks old but they would never hurt either one of them – the kelpie cross thinks that the kitten is his baby and takes care of her. They are lovely natured dogs and they get a long with most other dogs, provided that the other dog isn’t in their yard!
July 17th, 2010 at 8:54 pm
I have my daughter’s APBT now for a couple months, while she is looking for an apartment that allow’s dogs (esp. pitbulls!). She bought him when he was 6 weeks old. I also own a labrador/bloodhound mix. I do have a cat who is staying at my mother’s for now, as the APBT did grab the cat and wouldn’t let go! On the dog’s defense – he has never been around cat’s until he came to stay with me! But rather than see if he could be trained around my cat – I thought it best to keep the cat at my mother’s for the time being that he is with me. The two dogs get along very well – actually my labrador/bloodhound is the more agressive with the attitude and barking! The pit never barks! Also, not agressive (only to the cat!)He has been exposed to many people and places over the 10 months since he has been born! I do know they (APBT) have a bad rap – but it’s too bad people are so judgemental about the breed! My son was bitten by a collie in the face when he was 5 ! You just don’t know! But I believe that as long as you give a dog lots of love, and exposure to people from when they are puppies … they grow to have an outgoing personality and get along with others! Just like bringing up a child!
July 17th, 2010 at 10:21 pm
My family and I have had a rednose pitty who had died of old age. He was the calmest most loveable baby ever. He would even let my daughters ride him like he was a horse. They would lay in the grass, the girls using him as a pillow, and he wouldn’t blink an eye. They would pull on his ears as babys and he would lick them to get them to stop, which of course they thought was funny.
And we have a dauchsie, whom my girls know when she is laying down you have to leave her alone because she will nip. You get close to her face she will nip. You touch her belly, in the slightest of touches and she will nip. Our entire family are dauchsie owners and they are a very aggressive breed. It doesn’t matter how well they are being treated. My inlaws treat theirs as one of the children. She gets spoiled rotten, and she is aggressive. All the grandkids know to stay away from her because she will bite.
As soon as we can afford a bigger house we are getting another pitty! My kids loved the big lug and miss him so!
July 17th, 2010 at 10:28 pm
I have been bitten by a dachshund.. I also had a chihuahua & a doberman who were both the most loving of dogs. The doberman did become very protective of my twins from the minute they were brought home yet he never actually went for anyone..He was not vicious, he just placed himself between strangers & the babies, gave a low growl (without showing teeth)& no-one challenged him.. I also have 2 (had..1 passed on Sunday) chinese cresteds & 1 is extremely friendly & the other would go after any stranger coming to close to m & bite. I find that small dogs are more aggressive than large dogs..
July 17th, 2010 at 10:45 pm
I have rescued and fostered dogs for years, homing many different breeds. My pit bull was a rescue, and only showed aggression when I first got her. It was over food, which didn’t surprise me since her previous owners starved her. Now she’s perfectly stable and willing to share the food dishes.
But I laughed out loud when I read this article. I have a Chihuahua/Dachshund mix, and a Jack Russell, and they fight each other more than any other dogs I’ve ever had. Now it all makes sense to me!
July 17th, 2010 at 11:27 pm
I have a Pit Bull named Scabs who I will not be able to describe in words that will suffice how amazing he is. Besides the 2 labs that I have had in my life he is by far the best dog I have ever had. Scabs was used as a “bait” dog in fighting and got away somehow and wandered up into our yard. He was disgusting looking to say the least with nothing but scabs and bite barks on him (hence the name). Now I would be lying if I said we did’nt have any hesitations about keeping him around due to the fact that he was a Pit and in terrible shape, but after putting a good bit of money into him to get him all fixed up and having him neuterd as well, he has become one hell of a dog……my real life teddy bear. I will NEVER hesitate to get another Pit again and as soon as I get tha chance I will be adopting two more. Scabs has forever changed my life and my appreciation for this breed and any other for that fact has grown to a great fondness. I love my Scabbers!
July 17th, 2010 at 11:40 pm
I was bitten by a Lab mix when I was a kid. So I guess that proves that Labs are all vicious slavering monsters, right?
I have a Chinese Crested who, in her previous home, got beat up by the larger dogs there. When she came to me, she was terrified of all big dogs, and fear-aggressive towards them because of it. That was three years ago.
Today, in a feed store, we turned a corner and encountered a greyhound. My little Crested gave a couple of “woof, woofs,” not loud or aggressive, just startled, and then settled down immediately. I was sooo pleased with her… and then the grey’s owner said to his wife, “It’s always the little ones!”
I explained that she had been beaten up by larger dogs during her first year, and has made a lot of progress, and he said, “Yes, yes, I’m just saying, it’s always the little ones!” As if I should be nodding in agreement, and not all offended, because after all, he was agreeing with me, wasn’t he? *feh*
From twelve inches or less off the ground, the world is an awfully big place, filled with giants, some of whom might mistake you for a toy if you don’t tell them you’re not. Despite that, small dogs generally do extremely well, and are calm and friendly–but nobody notices the little ones that are quiet and well-behaved, just as nobody thinks it’s a pit bull if it’s not aggressive and scary. Just EXACTLY the same.
July 18th, 2010 at 12:31 am
Wow, Rich, where did you go to school to say that animal owner who feel their pets are their kids are unstable? I am assuming with a statement like the one you made, it means you have a PHD in Psychiatry or Psychology because if you don’t, then you have no room to make such a conclusion. The only thing you have done in your statement is make yourself look foolish, but I am sure you were hoping it made you look intellectual and all. Better luck next time.
July 18th, 2010 at 1:27 am
While bad owners do invariably create bad dogs, it doesn’t change the fact that aggression doesn’t necessarily equate to danger. Risk management figures – multiplying the results of a catastrophe by the likelihood of a catastrophe – are probably more relevant. Even though a pit bull might be less aggressive than a dachshund, the larger dog has a much greater capacity to do damage, and therefore is a greater danger. As some of the commenters on this thread have hinted, the victim of a pit bull attack is far more likely to need medical attention than a person bitten by a dachshund.
July 18th, 2010 at 2:50 am
Look people, a breed of dog is NOT the same thing as a race of human. Being understandably wary of an aggro breed of dog is not racism, you twits.
July 18th, 2010 at 5:33 am
I have a chow and had a doberman many years ago. Two of the calmest, friendliest dogs ever. I hate to hear people label them vicious- dogs are only as vicious as the people that raise them. On the other hand, my neighbors had a cocker spaniel- a breed not known for being aggressive- that attacked every kid in the neighborhood.
All my dogs over the years have been rescues. Some suffered horrible abuse by their previous owners- but they still responded to love and kindness, and in spite of the assholes that had them before joining our home, they were loving dogs… yes, these were the so-called ‘scary’ breeds- what’s scary is the way too many dogs are abused.
Insurance companies etc. need to stop labeling certain breeds as aggressive and others as safe, and take a good, hard look at the owners treatment of them instead- a mean owner makes for a mean dog, but most of these dogs do fine once they are moved to good homes.
July 18th, 2010 at 7:30 am
I doubt Rich has any dogs and would not understand the unconditional love that dogs offer to their person(s). A human-dog bond is tight and mine are considered family members, as most on this comment board seem to understand.
A pit bull was at my dogs’ fence a couple of years ago when I drove up. The pit walked over to my neighbor’s yard, so I went into my home and called them to see if they had met the new dumpee in the neighborhood. I was told he was very friendly, so I went outside and placed a bowl of food for him to eat and he ran over and gobbled it up.
Unfortunately, another neighbor who thinks all dogs are evil and trying to kill her cats saw the dog, too. She motioned him towards her and then screamed when he actually ran over to her. She called the police and then called me to tell me that there was a vicious dog outside. Grrrr…..
the pit had rubbed up against me like a cat and was not aggressive at all towards me or my dogs, so I told her she was wrong.
The pit was placed in my fenced back yard to protect him from getting picked up (she told them he was vicious) and my dogs were placed in the house. Within two hours, a pit rescue contacted me from petfinders.org, where I posted the dog, and the dog was taken to safety – away from my silly, vicious neighbor. It’s the people, not the dogs.
I’ve been bitten three times: my rescued cocker spaniel (who was apologetic afterwards), another neighbor’s very small rescue dog (still scared of people) and my lab/chow mix who was on steroids due to a skin condition. He wanted the food that the other dog (his own brother) was eating and attacked him, so I broke the fight up and he reacted to me. He didn’t break the skin, but couldn’t handle the ‘roid rage. He also seriously apologized when I gave him a minute to calm down and before I hugged him to show forgiveness. No more steroid meds for him. Lesson learned.
July 18th, 2010 at 8:24 am
I have 2 pit bulls, a black lab, a siberian husky, a catahula leapard and a bishon frize. We are all one big happy family, but the 8 pound bishon rules the pack…hands down. She is the only one who has snapped at me and the other dogs! I believe with my whole heart, not everyone should be allowed to own a dog. I hate to see some idiot walking his dog with 20 pounds of heavy chain around his neck…or too skinny. People need to be treated and judged according to how they care for their pets!! SICK OF STUPID PET OWNERS!!
July 18th, 2010 at 8:39 am
if you want the truth about aggression and if it is breed specific or not go to a veterinary office and ask the staff who is more aggressive!
vet staff have daily observation of every breed and every mix and can give you an opinion based on the breed’s continuous action regardless of the house it was raised in!
July 18th, 2010 at 9:07 am
It is so great to see so many positive comments about “bully breeds”. I have worked with dogs and known many dogs. EVERY Pit, Rottie, and Doberman, Chow, etc. I have ever know has been sweet, loyal, loving, caring, and like a big teddy bear. Some of them had come from abusive situations before being rescued….yet they were still so amazing.
Whenever people talk about “bully breeds” being mean, vicious, etc. I laugh to myself. Then I proceed to tell them how, like this article says, after working with dogs I have never been hurt by a “bully”….I have been bit multiple times by Chihuahuas. *I am not, and would never, say all Chihuahuas are mean. That is profiling and stupid. I have met a very sweet Chihuahua. I am just stating that I have had more bad experiences with little dogs, as compared to no bad experiences with any dogs considered a “bully breed”.
I love telling the story of how I was almost “killed” by some Pits. I was at the local shelter donating some food. I went to see the dogs on my way out. All the non-”bully” breed dogs were barking, jumping around, going crazy. EVERY SINGLE PIT that was there was sitting calmly. All waited until I asked them to come over. Then, I was almost killed. I got so many kisses I almost drowned in their saliva!
I came home crying because I had fallen in love with all of them, and wanted to adopt them all.
I wish more people who speak against these dogs would do research and actually spend some time getting to know these breeds. There opinions…and lives…would be changed for the better.
July 18th, 2010 at 9:16 am
I’ve had rottweilers since 1992. They are a wonderful breed and flourish in the right home. My male has his CGC and is a Certified Therapy Dog. Zendyle works primarily with children doing a reading program and also visits children in a psychiatric unit. He has such a gently way with people, children and other dogs. It would be sad to see BSL passed that would ban dogs like him who do wonderful things. He recently did a walk to help raise money for canine cancer…he was one of several hundred dogs…all on leash and there were no issues.
July 18th, 2010 at 2:21 pm
31 years ago, I purchased a Pitt Bull Terrier from a reputable breeder (I worked for a vet during college and was referred by him). This is before Pitties had the reputation that now have. All things were fine until I come home from school one morning (after 3 years of raising this sweet, beautiful creature, who slept in bed with me), and she was at the door when I unlocked it… She was baring her teeth and growling – she would not let me in the door. and unfortunately I ended up calling animal control. These dogs, through no fault of their own, are bred to protect/fight. I always say that Pitts are fine – - – until they decide not to be
July 18th, 2010 at 3:13 pm
Perhaps the better measurement of dog “risk” from aggression i serious injury, maiming, disfigurement and deaths. it does not surprise me at ALL that Chihuaha’s and Doxy’s are at the top of the list for biting, but Pit Bulls kill and maim more children. Recently we had another pit bull incident where the animal ate the penis and testicles of it’s infant victim. Owner should be jailed for creating that situation (dog and baby left unsupervised). Less than a week later, another toddler attacked. Then an incident where a mother shot a pit bull that was attacking her children in her own yard. These animals have been bred for aggression and powerful violence. We don’t need such a breed on this earth.
July 18th, 2010 at 3:53 pm
Everything “Eric” said on comment #51 is what I wanted to say but couldn’t quite put into my own words. I’ve been bitten by a Jack Russel Terrorist. It irritated me beyond belief. That dog would have walked with a limp for the rest of its life if I would have been able to catch him afterward. That being said, I would take a bite from that dog any day of the week over the bite of any large breed dog.
July 18th, 2010 at 6:12 pm
I am very proud to say my breed Dobermans in 40 years I have never had a “bad” one. They are loyal, devoted, loving, friendly and have changed many peoples mind on Dobermans. We do several events to raise money in dog walks, parades, etc. The ankle biters known as small breeds seem to be the ones lashing out. There are good and bad in everyone, animal and humans. Animals there is a quote” it’s not the dog it’s the owner”. I know of a Wheaton Terrier that is very aggressive – has been away to several trainers, and will come back to the owner and be the same as before it left. It only likes certain people and is very protective. This is the 1st one ever that I have seen act this way. The dog came from a so called breeder”puppymill type” that could be the answer.
Many of the so called dogs on the list for years have changed for the better, the new ones added. But it depends on how you bring them up, train, train, train and make it fun. Spend alot of time with them, treat then as you would like to be treated.
Let’s hope the puppymills will be stopped, spay & neuter very important- unless you are a Responsible Breeder. I am so glad to see there have been so many positive replys to this article- about the “bully breeds” and hopefully more people will read articles seek proffessional help if they are having a problem with an animal. After all they are no different than kids.
I was bitten by a Great Dane- that didn’t change my opinion of the breed- took into consideration – it was 99 degrees out without the high humidity,the dog was hot,tied up and tangled in a soft rope, he knew me but hadn’t seen me for a year. So you see it was not just the dog in this case.
I had people in a WalMart parking lot torment and harrass my dogs in my vehicle one fall day. They were banging on my windows, rocking my vehicle, and pounding on the vehicle- they had my animals very upset- I was in the store for maybe 10 mins- came out and heard them barking. Came up 1 row in front of my vehicle and saw the people and what had been done. My 4 windows were down approx. 2-3 ” and they had made my animals so upset, they were hot, things tipped over, just a mess. (Plus this made a huge difference in my aninmals when they would get in my vehicle after this, and it took a long time with alot of work for them to over come the terrible thing they went through.) So now who is to blame on this?? The dog if the authorities came! But who really was to blame the people doing this to animals! The Sheriff told me when I called them these people go around and do this on purpose to have the animals taken away from the owners- These people are nuts!!! They are animals rights nuts! So before people blame animals- look at the whole picture.
To end this I hope more of these animals will not end up in shelters, homeless, abused, etc….
they are living beings too…..
July 18th, 2010 at 8:19 pm
Hot Dog dogs are horrible! I’m so glad this is out there. When I was little we there was one across the street from us and he always chased me on my bike. Once he jumped and bit my ankle and wouldn’t let go even as I was trying to kick him off. I had to go get stitches. I’ve been around Rots, Pits, Dobies, Shepherds and none of them even growled at me. But the little guys, yeah… I’ve been bitten by many. Mostly without a scrape or scratch, but they do bite. Some are extremely sweet of course, but my friends Chihuaha has bitten me SEVERAL times and does nothing but bare her teeth and bark at me. Plus, she attacks other dogs.
July 18th, 2010 at 8:23 pm
“The first problem I see is that people refer to their “animals” as their babies(or kids). This is wrong on a serious psychological level and means you are an unstable person and so it goes to reason that your dog will be unstable.”
This is a crock of crap, and to make a blanket statement like that shows that you may be compensating for something – like your own “instability.” I have two “kids” – a six year old minx cat and a five and a half month old pointer mix puppy. These guys are pampered and spoiled and I call them my children – but when it comes to misbehavior or their well-being, I still understand that they are a DOG and a CAT. I treat my “kids” like I will treat my human children – they are fed a balanced meal (no table scraps or “crap” food), they are strictly disciplined, and I don’t put up with any nonsense, and that includes when other people watch them. They are astonishingly well behaved (except for the puppy’s jumping problem, but he’s learning, and I compensate for it by absolutely preventing him from doing it in situations involving those who don’t like it or can’t handle it, like small children.) and healthy – even mentally.
Just because one overly sentimental idiot can’t be a parent doesn’t mean the rest of us should be thrown into eternal damnation with that person. You should never make “all or nothing” blanket statements. They are nearly always wrong, and only going to irritate those around you.
July 18th, 2010 at 8:43 pm
Lots of comments on this, so I’m sure no one will get to mine.
I’m a big dog lover and I own 2 chihuahuas. I’ve also in the past owned a Jack Russell. So those two being on the list doesn’t surprise me at all. Our Jackie was nuts.
This whole idea of an entire breed of dog having the same personality is incorrect. There are traits that run in breeds, but socialization and training are a far better predictor of behavior than breed.
It is a good point that the larger the dog the more likely the dog is to cause harm, accidentally or purposefully. I’ve had lots of acquaintances with Pit Bulls, Labs, and other large breeds. Not a single one has ever been aggressive or attacked. But a Pit Bull did tear open the sleeve of my ex-boyfriend’s leather jacket. She was jumping on him — not aggressively, but in excitement.
My Chis are polar opposites. One is the sweetest, most social animal. He loves nothing more than having people come over. New people don’t bother him. New animals don’t bother him, he is intrigued. The other acts like a little monster. She barks and growls and attempts to bite when backs are turned. It takes her forever to warm up to a new person and even then she is highly strung. However, once she bonds with you she is far more affectionate, submissive, and loyal than my male Chi (who is sort of a jerk — but I love them both). I feel that this is partially due to their personalities, but mostly due to the very different habits I had when I got each of them. My male Chi was exposed to more people and places as a puppy than my female Chi, who got to stay with me 24/7 and didn’t get exposed to strangers or strange environments.
I’ve always suspected strongly that small dogs get their deserved reputation of being “yappy ankle biters” due to the sort of people that get them and those peoples’ expectations. Small dogs are often acquired with the expectation that they will be easier to care for than large dogs. When a small dog is not trained to potty outside, not trained to jump on people, or not socialized it’s far less obvious than with a large breed. They’re still obnoxious, but they’re 15 or fewer lbs of obnoxious rather than 60 lbs of obnoxious.
It’s also worth noting the instincts of these breeds. Pits and some other breeds are discriminated against and this is not right. But for families considering a Pit the instincts of that breed should be taken into account. Pits (along with lots of other breeds) were bred hunt vermin. As a result a Pit, if not properly socialized, will often display aggressive behaviors against smaller creatures: children, babies, small dogs, cats, etc. Just as border collies tend to try to “herd” other creatures by nipping at their ankles.
Jackies were bred as hunters as were Doxies. Jackies toward formal hunts, Doxies more toward ratting. Same as a Pit, it’s in these dogs’ blood.
I’m very opposed to breed discrimination, but it’s also true that breeding is often telling. It’s often astonished me that a greyhound taken from its mother at 6 weeks old will display a love of running, or a Jackie a propensity for digging. How we humans managed to instill these behaviors in the breeds we created I will never understand!
And that’s the point. We created these breeds. We choose to acquire them and not socialize and train them after ignoring the breed characteristics. These poor animals should not be discriminated against and killed due to our negligence.
July 18th, 2010 at 9:33 pm
Rich has real problems. I have 2 sons a wonderful daughter-in-law and two incredible grandkids. I also have 10 furry kids. My dogs stay on my property and behave better than most human children. They are loving beyond belief and have ‘adopted’ the grandkids into the pack with such joy even I was astounded. Yet I watch over their interaction 24/7. Kids punch eachother dogs bite. I see very little difference as my boys ‘fought more than these kids ever do! Rich do some research into those of us that know & love our furry kids and are responsible as we share our lives with them. Never ASS-U-ME.
July 18th, 2010 at 10:21 pm
For the folks here talking about how pitties are more likely to maim and do damage, do me a favor and “Find the Pit Bull” http://www.pitbullsontheweb.com/petbull/findpit.html
Also, look at these 2 news stories and tell me what you see (hint: the answer is in the headline):
“3 Pit bulls attack college student” http://www.wpri.com/dpp/news/local_news/local-wpri-new-bedford-pitbull-attacksal
“Family says dog tried to pull baby out of burning home” http://www.wsbt.com/news/local/98024604.html
My point is twofold: 1) dogs identified as pit bulls in negative news stories are often mis-identified but the breed name is always in those headlines anyway and 2) somehow the media seldom manages to mention the name of the breed in the headline when a pittie has done something good.
July 18th, 2010 at 11:58 pm
I’m sitting with five dogs on the bed right now…lab/beagle, poodle, and three miniature dachshunds. None of mine have ever bitten anyone, but the first one to the gate when the meter reader comes every month….the weenie dogs. I tell him every single month….the big dogs might intimidate you, but it’s the low ones that will get you. Anything with teeth can bite ya, but it’s the fearless badger hunters that come yapping to the gate warning strangers to stay out.
July 19th, 2010 at 10:37 am
I am not surprised because I had Dachshund mixes as a child. Known several chihuahuas and all were aggressive. the worst to me were Blue heelers in obedience classes and in the neighborhood chasing me and my huge bad rottweiler who was BYB and much tougher than my show baby.
There are 2 differences: RESPONSIBLE DOG OWNERSHIP is usually known by owners of those big bad breeds and we train out dogs and socialize them.
Training is not a class for once a week but every day.
and if someone tries to hurt me my rotty can kill them by the sheer jaw strength, but none of the litter terrors can help me out of my tub when my back it hurting. Nor can they protect me from push ins and thieves.
I only had one dog not love me and I was a child and it was a cocker/X. Rotty love is bigger than the dog.
July 19th, 2010 at 11:05 am
I’m not surprised about the weiner dogs! One of those suckers came after me when I was on my bike as a kid, and bit my ankle. To this day they are not my favorite. Mean little suckers!
July 19th, 2010 at 2:03 pm
I’ve a 5yr old American Pit Bull (male)and two kids (ages 6 & 5). My dog is such a good dog that people, who’ve feared pit bulls their whole life, love him, once they try to know him. I’ve friends or neighbors who own pit bulls, pit bull mix, german shepards, boxers, mastiffs, rotties, labs, poodles, dog/wolf hybrids, dobie mix, dobies, chihuahuas, husky, and husky/german shepard mix. The only two that I know would bit is the chihuahua & the husky/german shepard mix. The chihuahua has bitten so many people that they muzzle it, whenever they have company and it still tries to bit you (but then all of this person’s dogs have been like that regardless of the breed). The husky/german shepard mix was chained to a tree 24/7 with little social interaction (by it’s ignorant owners) and almost bite me when I was 7yrs old, as I at that point didn’t know that not all dogs are friendly. It’s how you raise them that makes them act the way they do.
July 19th, 2010 at 2:03 pm
Hip Hip Horray for the pitties. Loyal, agile, fearless, loving, empathetic, eager, friendly, funny, and many more. Of these characteristics the most valuable is their AMAZING loyalty.
July 19th, 2010 at 2:04 pm
Proud Owner of Rescued Pits – Kissa-Bull/Irresista-Bull/Lova-Bull/Adopta-Bull
“Stop Canine Profiling – Adopt a Pit Today!”
July 19th, 2010 at 9:23 pm
i have two pitbulls one a red nose and the other is a regular pit they both are very loving dogs the not aggresive it shows how people raise them with a little loving any dog can be kept from being acused of being a dangerous dog my red nose has been to court more times than a repeat offend because shes accused of being aggressive so i bring her in the court room to show them how aggresive she is she comes up and licks the judge the court cops com e up and pet her with no problem she just loves to loved thank you for your time
July 20th, 2010 at 9:40 am
Just want to echo “anonymous” on comment #65 on a lot of his/her points. I agree thoroughly that it’s not all about the breed and much more about the owner. More specifically, I think it’s about the *type of person* that tends to own these individual breeds. IN GENERAL (not overall), small dog owners tend to be looking for a plaything, something cute and cuddly, like a baby; so they treat it as such. For this reason, small dogs tend to not get the training/socialization/discipline that large dogs get, which makes for a more aggressive dog. Large dog owners tend to take more seriously their dog ownership, as the consequences of not doing so are large, so you tend to see better behaved, socialized, disciplined large dogs, which results in less aggression. There are exceptions to all of this – I’ve certainly seen well-behaved small dogs, and horribly-behaved large dogs – but it’s *always* dependent on the type of person that’s raising the dog. So when you see a headline about a pit that’s attacked someone, look at the owner, and how he/she raised/disciplined/socialized the dog. You’ll almost always find your answer there.
I’d like to add that MUTTS are the BEST – you avoid the inbreeding that results in pure breeds, therefore often “diffusing”, so to speak, lots of negative traits that can be more pronounced w/ pure breeds. I have owned a Dobie/Rott mix who was the biggest angel in the whole world; currently own a wolf mix and a boxer/dane mix, neither of whom have ever bared a tooth at anyone, ever. My nephews climb all over the boxer/dane and she doesn’t bat an eye (the wolf mix is old and somewhat aloof, so we keep them off of her – see, responsible dog ownership, amazing!).
Thx for reading, there are a lot of good comments here.
July 20th, 2010 at 10:08 am
Pittys rule, gotta home full (of rescues). Our pits live with cats and babies, there ain’t no maybe’s – we love rott’n'pitts!
July 20th, 2010 at 5:53 pm
Big dogs have a bad reputation because owners lack proper judgement and companionship with their pets. Abuse and poor diet can also make dogs like dobermins, boxers and pitbulls aggressive. The abusive owners should be put down, not the animals! Save the animals if they aren’t past the point of no return. I believe there should be extensive requirements and rigourous tests in order to acquire a dog for a pet. People take them for granted all the time. I once found 3 baby puppies, couldn’t have been older than 8 weeks old, hanging ina plastic bag on a chain link fence. How cruel is that? -.- It’s a damned shame. I took them to a shelter immediately because I knew I could not care for all of them. Responsibility is what’s lacking in our sense of “humanity”.
July 21st, 2010 at 7:25 am
I know you people love your dogs but people don’t end up in a hospital or morgue from weiner dog bites. Pit Bulls and Rottwielers may be nice dogs but when they do attack they do a lot of damage to the innocent victim. I would not want one in close proximity to may child. I work in a hosp ER and I ahve seen the bloody victims.
July 21st, 2010 at 8:08 am
I have 5 dogs, two are small, one medium and two large. My largest is a South African Boerboel x Ridgeback, and one of my small dogs is a Jack Russel. I have an even tempered pack, the majority of the time, my Jack Russel and my small cross breed are by far the most troublesome. My medium and large dogs are extremely well behaved. So I think this survey is spot on. All my dogs have been nutured in the same environment with the same rules, so it cant be the “idiot” behind the leash, now can it?
My Jack Russel has snapped once or twice at my daughter in the 6 years of her life, but my large dog, has not so much as even growled at my daughter.
I think large dogs get a bad rap, and yes most often its the owners to blame, but we must also look to the smaller breeds as they do get away with more than their fair share!
July 23rd, 2010 at 12:34 pm
I am so happy that you posted this article. Growning up I lived across the street from a man who breeded dobermans. I use to go over to his house and play with the dogs all the time. I always told myself that when I grew up and was on my own thats the kind of dog I wanted to get. I owned one for 11 yrs. She was the sweetest dog in the whole world. I had two small kids ages 2 and 4 when I got her. She grew up with the kids.She never showed her teeth or even growled at anyone in her life. Now I am a grandmother of a 3 yr. old. I have 2 dobermans who are 4 yrs. old. A brother and a sister which I also was told was a “no no” . They have no idea they are dobermans. They know I am the alpha which I think is the number one thing. But they also know I love them and have been raised with kisses and hugs. I hired a trainer with my first doberman and I learned how to do it so with these dogs I chose to train them myself. They are obedient and loving dogs. They are great with my granddaughter. But I will never forget that they are an animal and I dont care what breed you have , if they feel threatened or fearful they will defend themselves. SO around kids you should always be careful and never take any animal for granted . All I know is they are the best family dogs . They are devoted and SOOOOO sweet. Yes, their barks are scary and they may look scary and it is so funny to me when people that come into my house actually are intimidated because if they actually knew what these dogs where like they wouldnt be. I totally agree , it is the owner , not the breed. Certain dogs may have been originally bread to be guard dogs and have that natual instinct to be alert but that doesnt mean that they have a natural instinct to be agresssive. That is taught to them .
July 30th, 2010 at 7:06 pm
There is one clarification that I would like to make to this article after reading the abstract from Applied Animal Behavioral Science regarding aggression. The scientific study was broken down into many facets of aggression, two of which were aggression towards people and aggression towards dogs. The only reason that the American Pit Bull Terrier scored average to below average was because the Pit Bulls tested showed aggression towards dogs,…which is a known behavioral trait of the breed. After all, they were bred to fight dogs. So, when looking at the overall picture, the top three most aggressive breeds exhibited aggression across the board, towards their owners, towards strange people, towards other dogs, you name it. The Pit Bulls and Akita’s scored average because both of these breeds exhibited aggression towards other dogs. The Pit Bull in particular did not exhibit any other aggression except towards another dog. The breeds that scored the lowest had the lowest incidents of aggression towards people and dogs. Just thought I would clarify.
August 1st, 2010 at 10:04 pm
I am appalled at this article and its lack of research. I am a dog lover of all kinds, especially dachshunds since I have owned one for over 11 years now. She is my angel. She and I survived living in downtown Manhattan on 9-11. After I had to run from the first tower falling I came home to find her hiding under the pillow shaking. Since then I have suffered from anxiety and my dachshund has been my therapy dog ever since. She knows the right way to calm me down when I start to panic. She also like me loves children and people. She would never hurt a fly and when my son was born I was worried how she would react, but there was nothing to worry about. She loves him, even though he is in the toddler stage where he does things occasionally that annoy her, like pull her tail, she will not bite him. She will give him a dirty look, walk away and then a few minutes later she will be back licking him. Also, I belong to a few dachshund clubs and have been around 100 or more at a time. I have never had a dachshund try to bite me or see a dachshund try to bite anyone or any animal.
It seems to me that pit bull owners are looking for a dog to change focus too. Furthermore, if a pit bull bites it can and has killed people, as well as other animals. One killed a miniature pincher in the dog run of the park near where I used to live. It is not always the fault of the owner why a pit bull attacks. My best friend had one growing up and they raised it to be gentle, but it still killed the neighbor’s cat for no reason. Also, recently Rachel Ray’s pit bull bit the ear of another dog off on the streets of NYC for no reason. Obviously we know and have seen from the commercials she was in with her dog that she loves her, raised her right yet it still attacked. It is in their nature and they have a split personality no matter how they are raised. To compare their rep with one recent survey of bite statistics with small dogs, specifically dachshunds is crazy because they are two totally different dogs .
August 3rd, 2010 at 5:28 pm
Not at all surprising with the breeds mentioned,what gets me is how society is still hell bent on the bully breeds being blood thirsty monsters when they are in fact the opposite,i wish we could do away with BSL it is just not fair,i wish we could do away with the media,they are just down right liars looking for a story to bring up their ratings,i wish we could get rid of all the animal abusers,wipe out dog fighting,oh and wipe out all the trash that are caught abusing any animal,I wish for alot of things but i really wish is they would leave my beloved pets alone,i am worried everyday i take my pibble out,worried someones dog is going to attack him and he will be blamed,this is not fair,i hope the insurance companies see this list of aggressive dogs and go after the people who own these breeds,see how they like being picked on.Next time you are faced with your homeowners insurance agent show them this article,see how they react to that
August 22nd, 2010 at 2:28 pm
While certain breeds certainly should not be discriminated against for being more aggressive or more likely to attack, In reality, some breeds were bred to defend and therefore have more potential to do bodily harm. A Rottweiler, for example, certainly has more powerful jaws and is more intimidating than a smaller breed. My Granddaughter was attacked by my very own Golden Retriever and required several stitches in her head. This is a Dog that was calm in nature and was a therapy dog with his CDC. He was startled by her and turned to defend himself. We should have a respect for all dogs and know that ALL dogs have a potential for doing harm. No matter how sweet or gentle they are, or how big or small, they are animals. They are what God designed them to be. It is up to us as their owners to see that they do no harm. I personally would rather fend off the attack of an angry Dachshund rather than an angry Pitt Bull. There is no contest there. I don’t think the blame lies on people who discriminate against these animals. It is important to keep things in perspective. Some dogs are more dangerous than others just because of their size and their design. It is the responsibility of the owner to keep them from doing harm.
September 12th, 2010 at 10:11 pm
the behaviour of a dog often reflects its environment. people that say they own a dog that is beautiful natured that is listed as an aggressive breed is because they have met the dogs needs and raised it well, as it is for all dogs. it is in some breeds nature to become more feisty more easily then others and those breeds are often listed. yes some smaller breeds are quite aggressive but alot of the time the result of that is because the dog is small they get away with bad behaviour. im my experience i have noticed that small dogs get away with anti social behaviour because of their size and once over lookd causes problems. so i think people should think about that some breeds are more likely to snap then others but the biggest problem is the owners. personally i have seen more deadbeat looking people own most of the dogs listed to be aggressive, so i wonder why. people should grow a brain and if they dont look after their pet the best that they can they shouldnt have one at all.
May 18th, 2011 at 5:05 pm
I just want to say to those of you who think that pits are not wonderful pets, its only because you are uneducated about the breed. The pitbull is also know as the nanny dog. Did you know that? Also I grew up with a pit and he never was aggressive ever. I personally own pits and they are the greatest dogs, a super dog if you will. I also own a Rotti and a basset hound and none of my dogs are aggressive. I personally have been bit by a Daschund, a poodle, and a chichuaua. Little dogs are the number one biters and the only reason no one picks on these dogs is because no one reports it. I have 4 kids and the all play with my pits and that are super great with them. I even have a pit who loves kitties and also my chinchilla. So until you know more about the pitbull you should keep your mouth shut. They are a misunderstood breed due to the media blowing it out of proportion. Also by the way most dogs will chase cats and try to eat them, duh, cause they are dogs. Ban BSL!
May 18th, 2011 at 7:08 pm
It is nuture, not nature, that makes an aggressive or misbehaved dog. Just like in people, children raised right, act right. Dogs, like children, learn what they see and repeat what they are allowed to get away with. Plain and simple! Everyone should take responsibility for the misbehavior of their children and pets. Stop passing the buck!
May 21st, 2011 at 8:45 am
Here, read these… they define the most dangerous dog breeds PERFECTLY.
http://fortheloveofthedogblog.com/animal-advocacy/a-twist-on-the-top-10-most-dangerous-breeds
and there is an extended list of this one somewhere, with 10 rather than 5, but i can’t seem to find it.
http://spcaswiftcurrent.com/2011/04/revealed-the-5-most-dangerous-dogs-in-the-world/
June 12th, 2011 at 3:37 pm
IT IS NOT THE DOG–TRAIN THE OWNERS!! There are NO BAD DOGS! JUST VERY STUPID OWNERS!Do not kill the dog because the Owner’s are dumb, stupid MAKE THE OWNER PAY for their dumbness. Before anyone gets a dog I FEEL; that they should be REQUIRED BY LAW made to take K-9 courses, REQUIRED BY law to show proof of course completion,ALSO; show completion course of the breed they wish to obtain BEFORE they are allow to obtain,& OWN a dog! Also, if they DO NOT own their home, they should be required to have proof; that they can even own a dog signed by the LANDLORD, LAST BUT NOT ALL, have a fence or a kennel that proper fits the dog too.
June 25th, 2011 at 4:30 pm
My all time favorite is Rottweiler, doesn’t bother me whether they are aggressive or not.
Good Pedigree dog are versatile in nature.
Insist on buying a show quality dog.
July 4th, 2011 at 2:47 pm
I have rottie, and was in the market to rescue an English Mastiff. The rescue place interviewed my wife and I over the phone, and set up an appt. for a visitation. That got me to wonder why it isn’t required for anyone looking to get a dog to be tested to see if they can provide the right environment to care for the dog. If dogs are treated as possessions rather than a part of their respective families, then they’ll probably do the same as people would if they were treated so. Revolt, see slavery.
September 14th, 2011 at 7:08 pm
To Tracy who wrote: “some idiot walking his dog with 20 pounds of heavy chain around his neck”
Did you ever ask any of these “idiots” why they place chains around their necks?
I grew up in South Beach (b4 it became ‘Soul’ Beach) where everyone there had some sort of attack dog, and plenty of pitts. Most owners who placed heavy chains on their pets neck did that to give their dog an extra work out – these are working dogs with alot of drive and energy – and no, one does not need to have 5+ acres for them to roam – most of these dog owners work their dogs out with a combination of running, and weight pulling.
If you have a dog with drive, you need to work that dog, in order for the dog to be mentally well-balanced.
November 18th, 2011 at 9:51 pm
Hi i have a 18 week old pitbull puppy and i have had her since she was about 5 or 6 weeks old, honestly i do not see all the fuss about pits they are as loving or more loving i should say than any other dog i have ever owned, and i have owned quite a few, and a large variety. Rhea ( my puppy) is very obediant as well as non agressive towards other dogs, and i think its mainly due to me taking her around other dogs, big and small, she generally gets to play with my brother in laws blue nose a couple times a day. The key is socializing them with other dogs, i feed her with him and they eat together without agression. I used to have another female pitbull whose name was mojave and at the same time we had a german shorthaired pointer, well the two got into a fight one day (which was instigated by our hound) and honestly i went out there to break it up and got bit by the pointer because as soon as mojave realized that i was there she stopped fighting but the pointer did not sadly, now i have a scar on either side of my elbow due to her, we ended up getting rid of the pit thanks to my mother, she didnt understand at the time who was at fault. luckily mojave ended up going to a really great home. As for my puppy now, i understand what it means to be a pitbull owner and i am proud to say i am one, i tell people all the time, oh yea my puppy is sooo vicious, she will lick you too death! people generally get a good giggle out of it lol anyways just wanted to shed some light.
May 29th, 2012 at 5:35 pm
I have a weiner dog that will bite anyone that comes into the house. You say you rather get bit by a weiner than a pit. My dog took a huge chunk out of my friends knee cap. She is terrified of him now. Little dogs are much more mean than big dogs. You have to train big dogs to be mean, with little dogs it’s just their nature.
May 29th, 2012 at 6:33 pm
So, large dogs do more damage than small dogs…we are all agreed on that. So, is it a ban on ALL large dogs then?? Great Danes, St. Benards, Mountain Rescue Dogs, Labradors, Rottys, Pits – the list goes on and on and on…
And whilst we are at it, lets wipe out all the breeds of wild animals that hurt and maim…horses, cos IF they felt like it they could hurt you, Oh, and Bears, Mountain Lions, etc etc etc…
And why stop there?? Cars, trains, guns – all these things maim and kill innocent people…
I have always owned big dogs, including a Pit – who was the most loving, caring dog I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. My daughter was 18months when we got our pit (she was 11months old, was locked in a cage in her own urine for days on end, starved, and beaten) and she could roll all around with her. My Cat used to beat our Pit up…
Yes, some Pits turn – but, so do other dogs. The only dog I have ever been bitten by was a Labradoor cross.
Its the media, and the government, feeding the public what they want to hear. Pits used to be known as ‘the nanny dog’, because of how brilliant they were with children…
Just cos we are human, we think we have the right to KILL and MURDER anything we want. I completley agree, once ANY dog has turned, as unfortunate and heartbreaking as it is it has to be dealt with, but until an animal turns GET SOME PERSPECTIVE AND LEAVE INNOCENT ANIMALS ALONE…
May 29th, 2012 at 8:11 pm
I have a Doberman and pitbull. My Doberman will probably bite you if you break in my house, scare her or appear to threaten me, my husband or my kids. She is not dog agressive at all. She is submossive and will fall down and roll over to any dog. On the other hand my pitbull would never bite you no matter what you do to me or my family, even if you broke in my house but if another grown dog snarls or nips her first she will fight. Both dogs are 5 years old and we didn’t have them the first few years of their lives so who knows what they’ve been through. Sometimes it’s nature sometimes it nurture.
May 29th, 2012 at 10:24 pm
BLAME THE DEED NOT THE BREED!!! I have been bitten 8 times in my life and every bite was inflicted by a dog under 20 lbs! I have rehabilitated 2 aggressive dogs (that bit at the shelter), 1 a black lab/great dane mix and the other a black lab. supposedly the “less aggressive” breed. Both dogs became aggressive due to neglect, cruelty and lack of training. Love and proper training have made great dogs out of BOTH of them. I work with rescued dogs at a kennel and have never been bitten by ANY of the so called “aggressive” big dog breeds.
May 30th, 2012 at 1:33 am
My former boyfriend had a pitbull that was about 8 years old when we first started dating. Mack (the pitbull) was the sweetest dog. He tolerated my chihuahua/terrier mix (looked like a used, rusty old Brillo pad with teeth) who could be the most cantankerous little mutt you ever saw. He would snarl and growl at Mack, attack and latch on to his neck like a tick. Mack would roll his eyes and look at me until I removed him. He was very protective of me, and would knock other dogs down when they came in the yard uninvited, but would not hurt them. He just wanted them to leave and he let them know it. I think pitbulls and other similar breeds get a bad rap.
May 30th, 2012 at 12:01 pm
I would have to agree with this. I have a pitt (male) and a Chihuahua (female) and my Chihuahua is way more aggressive than my pitt. I tell people you can pet the big one but leave the little alone. My boyfriend has two kids and they can do whatever they want to the pitt, he doesn’t care, just loves the attention. My Chihuahua likes them to pet her and plays with them but they can’t pick her up.
May 30th, 2012 at 12:08 pm
I can totally agree with this, as over the last 50 yrs I have taken in Daxie, Rottie, Dobbie and Jack Russell rescues, and have not been bitten by any of the large dogs, but several times by the small ones, daxies being the number one offender, though they are the most numerous I have taken in!?
May 30th, 2012 at 12:11 pm
I have had big dogs & little dogs through out my entire life. For the past 20 years we have always had a Dachshund in our home, not one of them has EVER been aggressive. Neither has any of our big dogs. I think that it is all in how you raise & treat your dog, not the breed type.
May 30th, 2012 at 12:14 pm
I don’t think it’s always “nurture, not nature.” Someone put an 11-week old pit mix over my fence. She had a broken leg. My dachshunds adopted her and helped raise her with love and discipline. She will be 2 years old this week and is not allowed around any of our other dogs anymore because she attacked her dachshund “mom” once and her dachshund “brother” who is almost the same age. She’s doing fine with a stray American bulldog we took in off the street who is submissive, but they both have to go, either to new homes or to the vet one last time. I wholeheartedly support pitbull rescuers and fans, and I am against BSL, but I never ever want a bully breed in my life again.
May 30th, 2012 at 12:18 pm
I believe people need to be educated about the dog breeds. We can’t have wrottweiler’s due to insurance on the house but smaller dogs are simply ok. We as a family have always had pitbulls,mastiffs, & wrottweilers. I have never had any problems with the dogs. It’s all in how they are raised.
May 30th, 2012 at 12:26 pm
I used to be one of the first ones to say the only good pit is a dead one. I would read about all the bad things they did and was afraid of them. My husband talked me into looking at a litter to possibly get one. I absolutely fell in love with a fat little girl pup, who is almost 3 now. She is the kindest and sweetest dog ive ever owned. She sleeps with her cats and loves kids! I now own four pitties and love all my gentle babies! Its not the breed that we should punish, but the bad owners should be! You can make any dog the way you want it to be
May 30th, 2012 at 12:27 pm
I also wanted to say that as my 2 oldest boys went with my husband to take our 2 mastiffs to the vet to get updated on their shots a jack Russell bit my 5yr old for no apparent reason other than running past him to tech see the fish tank . The tech was so concerned with our big dogs biting someone she had set my husband in another area & let the little dog rome around. Ironically the dog was also there for his shots also but because of the bite I he could not her them. I strongly believe if the tech was educated this would have never happened .
May 30th, 2012 at 12:28 pm
Anyone who believes pitbulls are bred to guard has not done research. Bully breeds such as the AmStaff and the ABPT were bred to be highly excitable with a high prey drive and tenacity for DOG FIGHTING. An dog that showed any type of “guardian” human aggression was culled. All in all, Bully breeds are exceptional breeds as I own 2 myself as well as a boxer. It’s sad that we dont hold the humans responsible for what they have caused. If a dog is aggressive in any way there is always a human to blame. Whether you did not set out boundaries for the dog and trained it, or you bred them it is always your fault. A dog will only do what you allow it to as well as what you tell it to do.
May 30th, 2012 at 12:38 pm
Also to
Kera Black who wrote “My best friend had one growing up and they raised it to be gentle, but it still killed the neighbor’s cat for no reason”
I am appalled at YOUR lack of research, and your blind eye to the statistics of you dog breed. please refer to my previous comment. It is ignorance like this that is going to end a amazingly good breed. A pitbull again was bred with EXTREME PREY DRIVE and with this they make excellent hunting dogs as in the beagle. If you are so hell bent on assuming that pitbulls have “split personalities” you have not done any research on this breed. Personal experience is good but is no substitute for proper research. Also, your dog being your “angel” is the problem with dog owners now, not knowing how to clearly draw boundaries.
May 30th, 2012 at 12:40 pm
As a lover of both pits and Rotties, I appreciate the impulse to shift the negative attention away from these breeds. I absolutely get that this article’s intention is to open people’s eyes. That being said, I think we need to be mindful that whenever stigma shifts onto a new breed, then that unfortunate breed becomes the victim of abuse, neglect, bad legislation and general misery. We need to shift the spotlight off of the dogs and onto the owners.
I would be delighted to send the author of this post a copy of Karen Delise’s excellent book, The Pit Bull Placebo, which traces the history of breed discrimination all the way back to the turn of the 20th century, when everyone was terrified of… wait for it… bloodhounds!
Send me an e-mail with a mailing address if you’d like the book.
Respectfully,
Laura G
May 30th, 2012 at 12:42 pm
I have what people have pinned as an Argentine Dogo, it is not a recognized AKC Breed. She looks like a pitbull, a boxer, and a great pyrenees got together and Lucy (my dog) happened. She smiles and loves people especially kids. The only time she ever showed even the slightest aggression was toward the pedipaw I brought to file her nails. She turned around and gently nibbled on my fingers to let me know she was not okay with the pedipaw. She loves all people. Even my neighbors have fallen in love with her and say I have a great dog. Lucy also hardly ever barks. My only complaint is she sheds and sheds and sheds. Any ideas how to get a handle on the shedding?
May 30th, 2012 at 12:42 pm
Its about time that we’re seeing articles exposing these kinds of studies. Let the “REAL” truth be told. I have had pitbulls, and rottweilers all my life, and i will never love any breeds more than these. I’ve had to fight to keep my dogs in some instances because they
are supposedly ” aggressive” yes I’ve had to deal with the stereotypes, and the dirty looks, especially when i would walk my pits and rotts together. The best is going to a dogpark. People look in horror when u go in. Oh gee and to everyones surprise, they’re the most well behaved, of all the dogs there. Its really sad that these beautiful, loyal, loving, dogs have been ruined by total and complete ignorance. Any dog, any dog can be aggressive, you must always research any breed before getting a dog. You must teach, train your dog, socialization is one of the most important things, so many people just don’t understand. I love my pitbulls, and my rottweilers, i will always stand and fight to make sure these beautiful breeds will some day be off that horrible “aggressive” list, and get BSL banned for good. Nobody, i mean nobody will tell me what Type of dogs i can or can’t have.
May 30th, 2012 at 1:05 pm
That’s funny that the number one dog is a Dachshund! LOL I own 5 Dachies and a Pit Bull/Shar-pei the only one who will bite you is our Mini Dachshund Oscar! He tries his best to get folks ankles when they walk in the door, but when our Pit Name Max runs to the door all he wants to do is smell you and lick. Now he does scare folks but when I tell them not to fear him its our little dog you must fear, folks just don’t believe me!
I have or grew up with Bully Breeds Like the Rotties, Boxers, Chows, Dobies, and Pibbles. I never in my life seen any of them being aggressive towards other dogs, unless they were in our yard, Where clearly they didn’t belong, but never had bitten anyone. Now I have 5 Mini Dachshunds and truly know Our Oscar will and can be ugly we just either pick him up or send him to his kennel. Thanks for having this info about Dachshunds being the number one biter!
May 30th, 2012 at 1:06 pm
I believe that the “little breeds” are the worse offenders. As a kid my parents had a Pom that hated people, including me. I was a paramedic for 10 years and there was one call where we had a small dog come at us when we were “helping” the dogs owner.
I just has to stop my furious 2 month old pit from “attacking” another dog. OK the dog was a stuffed dog, and my pup started shaking her head. I told her no and took the toy now she’s sleeping on the bed. Wow how dangerous!
May 30th, 2012 at 1:18 pm
I own two Pitbulls and a Sharpei. Both of my Pitbulls (which are rescues) are so loving. All they want is love, attention, and treats. I walk them without any incident….I am more afraid of my neighbors crazy labs that are almost never on a leash.
How about being a responsible owner. Train your dog. Keep them on a leash. Learn how to introduce them. Don’t leave them alone with young children. Take some fricking responsibility! Both my Pits are going to go through CGC certification. Educate yourself….and your family.
May 30th, 2012 at 1:19 pm
Hold on…Where is the link to the actual study? 6000 dog owners…but it says only 33 dogs were surveyed. 1 in 5 dachshunds have biten or tried to bite strangers, and 1 in 12 had snapped at their owners…so…out of 33 dogs, at least 12 were Dachshunds? Or did they include 33 dogs from each breed studied? I don’t understand the math…maybe I need more coffee…
May 30th, 2012 at 1:22 pm
How often do you hear of a dachshund or chihuahua killing somebody? You don’t, because they can’t. Yes, some breeds may be more aggressive, but they aren’t more dangerous. I’m so tired of pit bull owners expecting everybody to love their vicious dogs because they do. Every time you read a story of some pit bull or Rottweiler viciously attacking somebody you hear their owner say, “It was always so friendly.” Some people are idiots, and they’ll defend vicious dogs because, well, they idiots.
May 30th, 2012 at 1:50 pm
I agree the larger breeds,especially ‘mutts’(or dogs of Mixed Heritage)are better with small children. It may be because if a child pulls an ear or steps on a small dog-it hurts MORE.However at almost 62 yrs.old, I have had a lot of personal experiences.When I was a tiny 2 yr.old my aunt’s Doxie would always growl & try to bite me. I was a very gentle child who loved all animals. But perhaps the dog had other experiences with a rough child.I just never approached that particular dog again. I received a miniature poodle pup for my 10th birthday in June & had the whole summer to work with her.She was the brightest,most loving dog ever.She let me dress her up in baby clothes, rode on my rt.hip on my bike,if we’d play hide & seek with her, she would stay wherever we placed her -like on a windowsill with the drapes closed.She would STAY there until she was ‘found’. After I got married & had a baby I rescued an Irish Setter who was one year old. She was kept in a basement because she was terrorized by 3 little boys, all under 5 yrs.old, & fortunately the youngest was allergic & the setter was placed for adoption.This was a large, goofy dog who would escape the yard & usually be found playing at the high school with the gym class – LOL.But my baby learned to walk by climbing up the dog & holding onto her collar.She knew to be gentle & slow when it counted.She would also never try to eat off the highchair when the baby was. If the food hit the floor we’d say “ok – fair game” -then & ONLY then would she eat off the floor. In years after, it seemed all our dogs were mutts in need of a home. ALL great dogs.One that sticks out was a pup my son found on the side of the road.He seemed to be a chow-pittie-lab mix per the vet.He had kennel cough(yes, he spent a week at the vet’s in a nebulizer room)that never really worked. He had a stubborn skin condition that didn’t respond well to steroids,etc.He was rather homely but OMG,was he sweet & gentle. One time he seemed to be choking so I shoved my arm down his throat & he was FINE with it.My son adored this dog!! We had cats = no problem.We had kids around all the time=no problem,even if they brought their dogs.When he finally HAD to be put down because he was dragging his legs around & was miserable. My ‘tough’ son was 30 & had a baby of his own but he cried like a baby. We all did.Dogs are individuals.NO breed should be condemned.But MANY people are not emotionally mature & should not have ANY dog.Or kids.
May 30th, 2012 at 1:55 pm
i dont know doxies i could maybe see that but i have a dopple the doxy and what will kill you is the kisses she loves everyone and licks you to death she doesnt know she supposed to protect , i also have a jack russel she also loves everyone never ever have my dogs bitten anyone
May 30th, 2012 at 3:16 pm
There were 33 different breeds of dogs that participated in the study.
May 30th, 2012 at 3:24 pm
I have 4 Rottweilers. I have had Rottweilers for 11 years. Not one bite. The only bites I’ve had that have done damage were from chihuahuas and one snarly toy poodle.
Any dog can bite. That’s why BSL is BS
May 30th, 2012 at 3:32 pm
I have to agree that the Chihuahua are very agressive. It is the one dog that bit me on the hand. I also find hounds of any breed are layed back and are not biters
May 30th, 2012 at 3:45 pm
I think some aggression has to do with the owner and/or owner choices. However, I have witnessed so much unbelievably stupid behavior on the part of other people that I refuse to blame owners as much as the some who’ve responded here.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve said to my partner “That person is going to get bit.” When I’ve seen a dumb@#$% continue approaching a dog (to try to pet it or whatever) when the dog is growling or clearly upset by the person’s behavior. I have seen it happen so often I’m surprised no one else has seen this. Maybe you all aren’t paying attention to the human side of the interaction?
I was reading a blog written by a cake decorator a while ago, she was talking about how she was trying to do something with her own dog. She actually said “The dog growled. I did it again. Then the dog bit me WITHOUT ANY WARNING.” WTH?! The dog did give a very clear and indisputable warning! What is wrong with people?! I have seen this kind of behavior with my own eyes just about every time I’ve been somewhere there is a dog. It’s like reality doesn’t register in their brains. If a dog is growling at you and trying to get away, you don’t keep approaching!!!
I’ve seen people leave their idiot children alone with dogs and expect the dog to put up with annoying and sometimes painful actions that the stupid humans themselves wouldn’t put up with. Sometimes they just watch and laugh while their child pulls a dogs ears or tail. They’d probably swat their own child away and yell “Ow!” or something, but the dog is supposed to be even more superhumanly tolerant and understanding than they are, otherwise it’s a bad dog.
I was on a message board one time, reading a story from a lady who was asking if her dog was ‘suddenly aggressive.’ The dog had never snapped at or growled or bit her children. But one night as they were leaving to go somewhere, their daughter ran over to say goodbye to their dog. The dog was sleeping in the corner. The daughter jumped on top of the dog to hug it (her exact words) but the dog jumped up and started to snap at her. It pulled itself back – didn’t fully finish the snap nor did it bite her or growl. She accused the dog of being suddenly aggressive after this. How stupid is she? If she was sleeping and her child JUMPED ON TOP OF HER and woke her up, would she be suddenly abusive if in her not-quite-awake-yet-very-startled state she would accidentally swat her child? No. But yet a dog – A DOG – who has less intelligence and understanding than a human is supposed to be more saintly than a saint when dealing with abusive children.
The problem is rarely the dog and almost always the human.
May 30th, 2012 at 3:55 pm
I have both rottweilers & doxies and yes the doxies are much more aggressive. When my kids have friends over, the doxies are the only ones that get crated. The big dogs are mellow & friendly & like to be part of the fun.
May 30th, 2012 at 4:14 pm
Well the only dogs I have ever been bit by which made me dislike them were Dachshunds!!! Never met one I liked. I am a dog lover, and will approach any animal on the street but much prefer larger breeds. I think the little ones feel insecure and that is their defence and the way they are treated by their owners…they end up with little dog syndrome!!! Never a good thing.
May 30th, 2012 at 4:38 pm
As a dog trainer,it is my experience that every single breed or mix, is capable of biting. And just from my experience, I would also say that this article hit the more frequent biting breeds superbly. I would even add Cocker Spaniels to the mix. BUT every single individual animal is capable of biting under the right circumstances with the right provocation. Large dog bites are reported because of damage, small dogs usually don’t do anything other than break the skin, although more serious injuries are possible, especially with children.
Breed “is no longer considered to be of discernible value” when addressing dog bite prevention, according to a CDC spokesperson.
The most important factors affecting the odds of a dog bite or attack have always been the ones ANY DOG PERSON can rattle off: Puppy socialization. Training. Pack behavior. The dog’s health. The dog’s care and condition. Something as simple as never leaving a small child unattended with any dog. Size of the dog: when big dogs bite they generally do more damage than little dogs — although that’s a moot point if you’re six weeks old.
If you want facts on dog aggression, read A Community Approach to Dog Bite Prevention, the AVMA’s groundbreaking 2001 task force report.
And the report that is most often cited with these “statistics”? The “Clifton” report? What a joke. It is littered with its own weaknesses. Dog bite statistics are not really statistics, and they do not give an accurate picture of dogs that bite. For those convinced that pit bulls send more people to the hospital than all other breeds combined – because “you never read about Lab attacks in the paper” — the Clifton report is the go-to reference.
I’m embarrassed for people who cite it. It’s that bad.
From an article:
http://lassiegethelp.blogspot.com/2007/08/dangerous-breeds-dog-bite-statistics.html
May 30th, 2012 at 4:39 pm
.all terriers are by design are bred to kill…..they were used before cats were introduced to Europe….
May 30th, 2012 at 4:44 pm
I am a dog groomer and a major pit bull advocate. I always prefer big dogs to little dogs because the little boogers are always more likely to bite. The only bad bite I have ever received came from a Maltese who punched 3 holes in my thumb. Whoever said little dogs leave no damage has obviously never been seriously bitten.
My favorite dogs are always the breeds that everyone fears because they are nothing but big babies and I always try to make sure people know the truth about these great breeds. Small breeds are usually more likely to bite because people baby them and don’t give them proper discipline because they think it’s just funny or cute when a little dog acts big and tough.
May 30th, 2012 at 4:51 pm
Jim,
Using that logic, then all dogs over 50 pounds are “dangerous”. And I can quote instances of small dogs inflicting serious damage and even death in infants. Most statistics that “attempt” to be accurate (which is impossible, since no standardized reporting is possible, and the CDC no longer finds it to be a important factor in bite prevention anyway….) usually list Golden Retrievers and Labradors as the most frequent breeds to bite? WHY? Because they are simply SO MANY MORE OF THEM…their registration numbers far outpace any of the other breeds, so it stands to reason, logically, that because of their numbers, there will probably be more bites by these breeds. To attempt to categorize by breed, or by type, doesn’t take into account the real reasons that dogs bite. I can give you a story of a pitbull HERO for every single story you can provide from media sources highlighting “attacks”. I have trained numerous Rottweilers, and every one, including MY OWN, was a marshmallow. That doesn’t mean she wasn’t protective…but she was also stable and friendly…to the day she died. By placing labels on breeds, and eliminating those breeds, doesn’t nothing to address the underlying issues of why dogs REALLY bite. And it usually lies in the fact that the owner has fallen short in their responsibilities to the dog. Or to supervising a situation responsibly. One of my favorite quotes to new families/owners…is that before the age of six months, if your puppy has an accident in the house, it’s YOUR FAULT!!! And I feel much the same about dogs biting. In almost ALL cases, the fault lies with the owner. A three year old Pomeranian tore out the throat of a very young infant, while the grandfather went to the kitchen to warm the bottle. The baby’s cries upset the dog. But what on earth was anyone thinking leaving a crying baby along with a dog? People who believe that breed specific targeting will solve the problem of dog bites, is stupid. Perhaps the better answer for those that believe BSL is a solution, is to simply outlaw ownership of pets, period. They both share the same amount of logic and rationale. All dogs are capable of biting. Not all bites are aggressive. And any dog of any size is capable of serious harm. To another adult, to another child, or to another dog or pet.
May 30th, 2012 at 5:26 pm
I was bitten by a dachshund when I was a kid, but I’ve noticed that the mini dachshund has a much better disposition. My mother-in-law has a chihuahua and she thinks she can take on my German Shepherd. Funny to watch.
May 30th, 2012 at 5:33 pm
I do agree that many pittbulls are sweet natured animals, however, after my daughter was bitten, it is the potential for damage, or even lethality, that is the issue. How many, people/children have been killed or seriously maimed by dachshunds, jack Russell’s and chihuahuas…. None I would think. Yes it is up to owners to be responsible and to properly train their animals. But let’s be real these breeds are capable of greater levels of damage due to their inherent size and strength.
May 30th, 2012 at 6:33 pm
The reason you hear about big dog bites vs. small is simple…
Big dog bites do more DAMAGE.
So there is naturally a bias, but yes….small dogs are ABSOLUTELY 100% more aggressive and more prone to bad behavior.
May 30th, 2012 at 8:43 pm
I have pictures on my facebook that anyone is allowed to see. I have 2 babies that wallow ride and annoy my rotts and nothing the only time they are aggressive is if someone tried to hurt the children that are at my house. I have a full blooded dachshund and 2 dash/chi wee mix, the dashshund can be tempremental but the the other 2 no so my rotts are just gentle giants.
May 30th, 2012 at 9:04 pm
Well I do believe its the owners that make the dogs, and love this site, added to my favorite! I have a Brindle Pit mix, he is Pit/Golden Retriever/Chow mix, and he looks 99 percent pit. He has been the best dog i have ever had. I had him since he was 6 weeks old, and when i was driving truck he was with me from 6months on. I can they are the most loving and friendly dogs i have ever seen or had. They are also very protective, i will say this, my dog, saved my life and cuz of that i will never get rid of him! A man got in my truck when i was sleeping with a gun, to steal the truck/load i had. Dog before i could even get up jumped up and took him down in the truck. Turns out he admitted to the cops that he was going to kill me while i slept. So I can never get rid of my dog. He is my best friend, and the only person (human) i trust with my life and to have around. He has been around babies and children of all ages, and love them all the same. They can tug on him, play with him, he never gets mad. He has been all kinds of dogs and loves anything for legged period. Even a friennd of mines dog that is a tiny toy dog keeps beat him up biting him and he just comes crying, so never judge a book by its cover. Pits are great! I will forever have a pittie in my life.
Just wanted to say that about them.. They are great!
May 30th, 2012 at 10:03 pm
50% environment 50% heredity….some breeds are bred to be predisposed to certain traits, that is after all why we have different breeds
May 30th, 2012 at 11:07 pm
I’ve owned both chihuahuas and dachshunds and yes, they were little terrors, always nipping at the ankles of strangers when they’d come in and leave…lol, but my chow/husky that I have now, she just gives a bark or 2 when they come in, and when she sees it’s ok for them to be there, she doesn’t say a word, even when they get up to leave…she’ll just raise her head up to see what they’re doing, but then she lies right back down. And she’s never bitten anyone…unlike her 2 predecessors, who sadly passed away are are still missed (the chihuahua and dachshund)…
May 30th, 2012 at 11:58 pm
So following that same logic, you’re telling me because I’m 6’8″, 300lbs and bench 600 I should have legislation specifically against me because my “potential for damage, or even lethality” even though a 5’4″ 220lb person can kill also? Dachshunds have maimed more than a few children.
Quit generalizing based upon race/breed/size/strength and let’s come up with a test or common criteria if we have to pass legislation or insurance restrictions.
My god daughter was bit in the face by a Dachshund. It’s lucky to still be alive and is no longer allowed near the children. She routinely plays with our boxer and doberman and has never been injured once. It’s the individual animal that’s the issue.
May 31st, 2012 at 4:29 am
It’s not easy being small. When a large dog indicates he’s not happy with us, we wisely pay attention, but we commonly don’t listen in the same way to small dogs, and we don’t take them seriously. Small dogs can get pushed and pulled around a lot - sometimes gently, granted, but without having much choice in the matter. This can predispose them to being a little wary of what’s going to happen next, a bit on edge, and more likely to be reactive. In addition, many small dogs are held in arms or carriers and don’t have the option of getting away. Flight is generally the first and wisest choice in a tricky situation, and when it’s not available concern can quickly escalate into action.
May 31st, 2012 at 8:19 am
Awhile back, I was pushing my daughter, then bout 3 yrs old, in her stroller down the street. 2 big dogs & 1 little dog start wandering up to us. I scoop my daughter outa the stroller & close up the stroller (umbrella stroller) to use as a weapon if need b. Out of the 3 dogs, the tiny lil weiner dog is the one who attacked me. The 2 big dogs just kinda scattered in fear when the lil dog went crazy. Just wanted to put that out there since it was the little dog who attacked n not the big ones. Breaks my heart how big breeds, especially the pits & rottweilers r bein accused of such terrible things. It’s the stupid owners who turn a dog sour. People r too quick to judge those dogs. My friend has 2 giant pit bulls n my 4 yr old son gets in their faces all the time huggin n kissing em, so do I. They love us to death as we love them. The world needs to quit hating on big breeds. Just cause they could do more damage than a lil breed doesn’t mean they’re gona do any damage. Should we b afraid of severely obese people or extremely muscular people cause they could do more damage than a tiny person? No.
May 31st, 2012 at 11:48 am
I have 2 rotties, the oldest is male and the pup is female. My male has bitten someone a few years ago, but here’s the scene and you decided if he deserved to be put on the hit list as aggressive? Our friends came down for a cook out her parents were in from Cali and they came too. we have talked about our boy around them and they knew his temperment when it comes to his home. so brad was standing at the fence talking to the boy and the dad came up behind brad and leaned on the fence after he was told about the dog and him not knowing the dad. Well the dog saw the dad as a threat to our friend and the dad had his hand over the fence then my dog got hold of his hand and bit him. He had to go get stitches and my dog was put on the list. I had a sign all around my yard saying do not put your hands on,over or through the fence gaurd dog on premisis!!!! how could you not see that? and do it anyhow??? I worked in a boarding kennel for 3 years and have seen alot of dog breeds, I have been bitten and chased out of the kennel house by many little dogs but never the big dogs. I have a problem with this labeling of dogs, they are all a part of the wild animal kingdom and have the potential to bite. Just like any animal you own. We as people don;t like to be discriminated against or labeled so why should we do it to animals??? The law doesn’t realize it’s the owners that make the dogs aggressive when they are abusing them. Those are the only ones you ever hear about, never the good things these dogs have done or their potential to be service dogs of some sort. and some dogs bite when they feel their family or home is being threatened, just like you would shoot a robber that comes in your home. Thats how i feel about all this and if the bite is justified i will spend my last penny defending my rotties.
May 31st, 2012 at 12:13 pm
My pitbull and his brothers and sisters all love my Beagle, my cat, my 12 year old and my 4 month old. The pit recently found a baby opossum in the back yard and never even attempted to hurt it, although he was very curious about it. The chicken that flew into my yard didn’t meet his demise by the pitbull. I trust this dog 100%, he was raised right. The Jack Russel from across the street runs over into MY yard and growls and snaps at me though and I wouldn’t let it within 20 feet of my children…because the owners are not responsible pet owners. Any breed can create dogs to be loved or dogs to be feared…it’s the owners that need to be persecuted not the breed
May 31st, 2012 at 12:41 pm
I am 72 years old and have at least one dog all my life, sometimes 2 at a time and no SMALL pups..all adopted from rescue, all abused, all recovered. It is the owner that makes the dog, they are always looking for direction and want to please you if they can
It is your energy and your care that makes the dog. YOU must always be the alpha, the “leader of the Pack” Only problem I ever had was with a Springer who became agressive when food was disturbed while he was eating, every other dog I could put my hand in the food while they were eating (in case a child did) “lothar” was a great dog, he allowed my boys to dress him up and would sit for hours waithing to be undressed. It is all about the owner. Use one word commands , otherwise they hear “bla bla bla” just say “no, stop, down, back.et all. saying ‘NOW Junior, how many times have I told you not to chew the couch, I am so disappointed……”
June 1st, 2012 at 7:20 am
Actually, it’s the “leader of the pack” theories that get a lot of dogs in trouble. Newer scientific studies show that dogs don’t form linear hierarchies and that using “dominance” as your training basis actually can cause aggression in many dogs. Hence, the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior has, through their position statement on dominance, asked that veterinarians no longer refer clients to trainers who use “alpha” techniques with dogs. You also don’t need “one word commands” you just need cues that the dog has been taught. For example, one of my dogs has been trained to “open the door” which, for her, means to flip the latch on the baby gate and either push or pull it open so that I can get through the doorway while carrying dirty dishes from my office to the kitchen! As a trainer, it disheartens me how much misinformation there is about dogs and their behavior, because ultimately dogs pay the price for human ignorance. One bright spot in an otherwise barren landscape is that the newest organization for dog trainers has expanded its offerings to include a membership (free at this time) for pet owners who would like to join us in supporting a force-free model of training that uses no pain and no fear. I would urge people to join, and to take advantage of the eventual educational opportunities and resources presented by the Pet Professional Guild. Science and ethics combined may be the only hope some dogs have!
June 1st, 2012 at 6:19 pm
I have had dacshunds all my life and they have never bit or been agressive with anyone . I think some dogs bite or get agressive because maybe they were tormented or abused and and that happens with any breed , I noticed they really didn’t disclose or elaborate on what the situations were where the dogs bit people or were agressive . I ‘ ve had many daschunds and they are lovable and good with other animals and kids , so don’t judge them by this silly survey or report but no on
June 1st, 2012 at 7:06 pm
Bad behavior, runs down leash. Just as it runs down stream.
June 2nd, 2012 at 5:28 pm
I have been a veterinary technician (nurse to an animal doctor) for over 20 YEARS and I have scars from a beagle, a poodle, chihuahua, shih tzu, many cats and a couple of mixed breed dogs. I have NEVER been bitten by a pit bull, German shepherd, Doberman or Rottweiler…and that’s all I’m going to say on this subject.
June 3rd, 2012 at 11:17 am
The small minded, ignorant, uneducated about animals believe crap articles like this. Do your homework, research the breeds, find a good reputable breeder, then buy one and raise it with help from someone who does know the breed. Then reread this b/s. I have had Rotties all my life NOT ONE BITE!
June 4th, 2012 at 9:39 pm
All the ignorance! I used to breed staffordshires,its hit and miss, some are agressive by nature and some aren’t. As far as Im concerned, pits and rotts need to be exterminated! Terriers are naturally high strung and can be snappy but just need to be trained. You can’t “train out” behavior that was bred into a certain breed. Pits were originally bred for cattle and did not succeed, as then they were turned into fighters with the aggression bred INTO them. I have a dobe that’s a wonderful WATCHDOG. That’s what they are bred for,and she is never unsupervised around the kids but would rip anyone to shreds if they tried to harm my kids! Dogs should not be left with little children unsupervised for any reason whatsoever until the child matures and knows how to properly handle them! Dogs are not babysitters!
June 5th, 2012 at 6:18 pm
We had dobies along with my 3 boys for all of their growing up years. Dobies are the Best dogs hands down! We had a rescue male chi that lived with with my 11 1/2 year old male dobie for the last 6 months of his life and they both were great together. The chi wasn’t yappy and learned respect from my dobie. My dobie passed and the chi got depressed so my hubby took me and we picked up another female rescue chi from the shelter. They are totally cute to look at but they def. ARE much more aggressive and untrustworthy “biting wise” with people that come into my house then my dobie EVER were. And trust me I am on my little dogs just like I was with my dobies. Little dogs are just programmed differently. My dobies just knew…”if my family is ok with them we’re ok with them.” Dobies only look scary and I would give the world to have both my dobies back! I do love my chi’s but they are aggressive and need to be supervised all the time when people come in my house. They do deserve the 2nd spot. It comes down to training and socializing your dog, and being on top of them big or small.
June 7th, 2012 at 11:31 am
I have owned a lot of different breeds in my life and the two that were the most aggressive towards us in our family and strangers were the dachshund and my current chihuahua. Yodi, our dachshund was very aggressive towards strangers, kids and other dogs. We had to really watch her. The chihuahua we have now is a rescue and although we really love her, she is a really nasty little (5 lbs) dog if you do something she doesn’t like. We are calm, dog lovers, who require our dogs to be trained and behave but these two dogs were and are just aggressive.
June 9th, 2012 at 9:36 am
I have had several dachshunds and well as other breeds & mixes over the years, including a foster pit. I had to laugh when I saw that dachshunds were rated as the most aggressive, because I’ve long believed the “little” breeds are more aggressive than the larger breeds by nature. If raised/loved by responsible owners, I’ve found that the “bully breeds” are the BIGGEST babies! They are considered bullies now because of what MAN has done to them! Don’t get me wrong; I love my doxies, but I also love the big guys too!
June 9th, 2012 at 9:41 am
It is not these dogs fault it is how the owner raised them. My son has a pitbull and he is so gentle. They have a 6 month old and he just loves her. It makes me sick when I see a dog put down because he is a fighter or is aggressive. They were not born this way, it is how you bring them up with loving tender care. They are all great dogs!
July 19th, 2012 at 4:48 pm
i have a 8 year old Bull Mastiff Zeus and a 3 year old Lasa Apso Molly .. if someone asked me who i trusted more its Zeus he is calm he is laid back .. i love my molly girl to death and she is a really good dog but somedays she has Major PMS and other days she’s fine but thats the same with any dog.. and BTW they are both rescues and everyone told us when we adopted Zeus it was trouble and he would bite one of our 4 kids..he’s never so much as looked at them the wrong way..he would rather lick them to death than ever hurt them.. my friend has a pitt and she’s one one of the best well behaved dogs i have ever seen ..
July 19th, 2012 at 4:56 pm
I have four dachshunds and they are barkers but not biters. They only get agressive towards one of my neighbors and that is because he kicks a ball at the fence all of the time until I catch him. And his parents cannot understand why thet are like that and they know their son would never do what I am telling them he is doing.
July 19th, 2012 at 7:32 pm
I have one Dachi and one Boxer mix. The little one is guilty of the above posted aggressive behaviors down to attacking the Boxer mix. It has been my experience, the smaller breeds are far more dangerous. I think they have a size complex and out to prove “I maybe small, but I can kick your butt!”
July 19th, 2012 at 8:10 pm
I own a Neapolitan Mastiff, have had a couple of them…if they were 1/2 or even 1/4 as aggressive as some of the smaller breed of dogs, someone would’ve called the cops us…it’s amazing how people, especially owners of these little doggies think that those hostile behaviors are “cute” but the same behavior on a 125-140 lb dog turns them into a man eater. Animals are like children,they need love and behavior control….dogs are taught to behave as they do…Take the time to train them, love them..no matter what their breed or size!
July 20th, 2012 at 3:37 pm
Wow! I actually have a chihuahua(9 yrs old), Dashound(7 yrs old), two pit bulls(5 yrs old)and a greyhound(9 yrs old). All of them rescues! Have never had a problem with any of them bitting! I agree with Ramona, train them and love them! But when people ask if they bite I say yes….they have teeth.
July 20th, 2012 at 11:58 pm
i will have to say this Pitties are just scaredy cats, and its the little dogs you have to watch out for thats for sure. got bit by a damned dash hound! i work at a kenneling place and yeah. more afraid of the small dogs than the big ones!
August 20th, 2012 at 1:12 am
Interesting research.
Anyone who has anything to do with Staffies (or any Mastiff-type) dogs knows that they are generally gentle ‘sooks’= big energetic but essentially harmless if properly trained. Of course there are exceptions – but look at the owner not the dog.
As to ‘little dogs’ – it depends on the circumstances. I walk my Jack Russell every day. Off-lead he is a joy, meets and greets other dogs with no aggression what so ever, but put him on the lead and he is the ‘devil incarnate’ – barking and snarling at any dog we meet. Strangely enough he calms instantly when we have passed the other dog, never looks back, so I reckon it is all ‘show and no go’. It is well known that Jackies have ‘more front than the UN Building’.
August 20th, 2012 at 8:05 am
Josh, staffies and apbt are NOT “very different breeds. Years ago some apbt breeders wanted akc recognition so they changed the name to amstaff. Over the years they’ve bred a slightly larger dog. As i said, NOT a very different dog, bacisally the same. Its ok to read and educate yourself.
August 20th, 2012 at 6:55 pm
It is not alway the owners fault if a dog turns aggressive or fearful of other dogs and people. Studies have proven that personality IS effected by inheritance and experiences. Anyone hear of he Russian fox experiment, which proved that domestication and a friendly personality can be ontained by breeding and only breeding.
Furthermore, there are other factors that Can cause a dog to be aggressive or fearful. For excample, my lab use to be a very nice and outgoing dog when he was a pup. My Jackass of a neighbor had a Samoyed who was highly dog aggressive and had been known to even snap at people. This Samoyed had attacks my lab on four occasions, twice on a leash, and the other two times where in my own fenced yard. Yet the jackass owner couldn’t figure out his dog needed a leash and a fence himself. Now, my lab is very scared of othe dogs dispite seven years of trying to socializeing to many other dogs.
And what about dogs from rescues and shelters who had been threw traumatizing events before being bought by new owners?
Yeah, it’s easy to TALK about how you can “socialize” these dogs, and we would all like to bel
August 20th, 2012 at 7:10 pm
Sorry, didn’t finish before accidentally clicking the post button.
Anyway, we would like to believe that all you need to do us snap your fingers and your dog will forget about all traumatizing events, but the truth is it takes YEARS to get your dog to a point where they are comfortable confronting their fears, IF they even get to that point.
It is not always the current owners fault if the dog shows signs of aggression. Sometimes they get attacked at the groomers or at a day care. Sometimes they where abused before you even met them. Sometimes you leave them in the care of someone you trust, only to find out too late that they have been beating your dog. Sometimes your dog gets out by a whole in the fence or slip their color, and while they are lose they may be picked up by a sick bastard who cuts off their tounge or they run into another dog who nearly kills them.
Then what? The owner has little control over such situations, and now they have a dog who is not as confident as it used to be. And the owner can be like me and my lab, working for years to get the dog to recover, and making only a little progress. Can you really say its the owners fault if such a dog bites someone who tried petting him before he was ready and didn’t have the brain to ask the owner first?
In some cases, it is the owners fault, or the previous owners. The wanted the perfect “guard dog”, and not only baught from a bad breeder, but spent the dogs puppyhood “training” it to be vicious. Or they may have wanted a little toy dog who they never felt interact with other dogs or people. Or maybe they where too dumb to research the dog and baught a cute puppy at the spur of he moment, not knowing te extent of excersize and training the dog would need.
October 4th, 2012 at 10:54 pm
I believe there is a huge bias (and prejudice) regarding “owner responsibility” based on breed and size.
I have two boxers who are basically 60lbs 3-year old children (figuratively–the breed is know for its energy and playfulness). In addition they are both VERY LOYAL AND PROTECTIVE OF ME.
As such, they are not always “dog friendly”–especially with dogs who are off-leash.
So, recently my neighbor let her dog (a terrier/lab mix) just roam the neighborhood off-leash (the “dumber dog owner type” in the top-10-dangerous dogs list).
I was walking through a breezeway with my dogs leading to a large field when I heard her calling the dog (that didn’t listen, clearly). I immediately started to back away, as her dog was coming closer. At this time, my dogs were behind shrubbery so they didn’t see the dog. I heard her calling and I started saying in a steady cadence, “you need to get your dog! you need to get your dog!” Well, she didn’t.
When I saw the dog come into the breezeway where we were walking, my tone grew stronger, and my voice louder; and I said, several times “you really need to get your dog, NOW!” At this time, my dogs spotted the other dog, and I’m trying like hell to get my dog out of there.
Had the dog been on leash, she could have grabbed her dog, I could have grabbed mine, and could have walked the other way. Problem solved.
Yet, because she was dragging her derrière across the lawn, the dog ran up to me– and my dogs immediately smack him down.
For about 20 seconds they both had the dog pinned on its back. The owner was standing dumbfounded until I told her “get your ass over here and get your damn dog!”
Meanwhile, I’m wrestling with over 100lbs of dog trying to get them away (I was able to call to them ) and they released and came back to me.
So, my morning walk with my dogs ended with me sitting on the ground mangled in shrubbery all because some clueless nincompoop thought is was “cute” to let her dog walk off-leash.
Had there been serious injury to her dog, animal control would be at my door because my guys are boxers and big; and I’d be cited for failure to control or have my dogs labeled.
Yet her pooch was breaking a state leash law, yet would have been injured and the narrative would have been, “oh, poor doggie got attacked by those vicious boxers.”
i think she learned a very good lesson today.
Over it.
October 17th, 2012 at 8:46 am
I have 2 beautiful pitbulls and they are the sweetest animals! One I’ve had since she was born and is now 55lbs. The other we rescued. At only 24lbs, hair falling out and scared to death, the now 60lb brindle blue is beautiful, forgiving and healthy! People judge each breed when what needs to be judged is the UPBRINGING. My daughter, at 5, was attacked by a 1yr old Husky and yet this states they are a lesser aggressive breed. ANYTHING with teeth has the potential to bite. Should we hate and kill all of them because of what ONE did to my daughter? Pitty’s learn what they live. They are the most loving, faithful family dogs. In this case ignorance ISN’T bliss!!!!! Own one and you’ll never want anything else…..
January 15th, 2013 at 1:37 am
Since most people that commented on this cant read , it said rotts and pitts have average to below average aggression so in other words they are defending the breeds, and all u getting bent out of shape by this article most not have understood it.
Ive noticed pure breeds tend to be more aggressive just due to year of inbreeding in the species .
I have a rott and my 3 year old nephew hangs all over him never once has he been aggresive towards him or any one in fact he is a baby, ive seen the reactions I get from people with him yet my husky springer mix is more likely to bite then him
January 20th, 2013 at 11:25 am
I happen to own both a pitbull AND a dachshund … the study is spot on. A few years ago my pack also included a doberman who sadly died of bladder cancer. My pit is 13 years old and has never even growled at a human or other dog. She is an affectionate well behaved overgrown lapdog. Between myself and my siblings there are 8 children under the age of 7 in the family and the pit is their favorite toy. She sleeps just outside the kids room on sentry duty each night and every now and then we will find her curled up in bed with one of the kids if they were sleeping restlessly. She is absolutely a danger to prey animals, though, especially birds. The dachshund, however, is a short tempered dog with a bad attitude that barely tolerates anything. She has a habit of snipping at the smaller kids if the pit isn’t nearby. She barks and growls at everyone and I have to gic e guests safety rules to follow around her. Most people ignore them thinking the weenie is cute when she gets mad. They don’t take my warnings seriously until they get really bitten for the first time. The pit is not now and has never been a problem. The doberman wasn’t either. This little dog is an issue id you aren’t an adult member of her every day family.
January 20th, 2013 at 5:33 pm
I know these things to be fact. When I started raising and owning pit bulls, the number one biter was the most popular dog at the time (the Cocker Spaniel. Poodles were right up there with them. But like most things today the media convinces you otherwise. Since you will never see cases make the news of small dogs biting, we are led to believe that all dog bites are from Rotts or Pitts. It’s a shame.
January 21st, 2013 at 11:24 am
They need to include Akitas and Sheba Inus on the list. I will say the only dog that ever bit me was a doxie.
January 21st, 2013 at 1:34 pm
I rescue dogs. If I see a dog loose on the street, If I can get them, I almost always find where they live. I rescue BIG dogs: huskies, rottweilers, dobermans, german shepherds, pit bulls, even a couple of wolfdogs. The ONLY dogs who have ever bitten me were chihuahuas owned by friends,and a toy poodle owned by a friend’s mother.
January 21st, 2013 at 8:07 pm
This article is laughable. What is more dangerous, an aggressive kid with a BB gun or much less aggressive kid with a shotgun? Which would you prefer your children play with if you HAD to choose? Which would make headlines if something went wrong?
IF you own a “kid with a shotgun” you better be watching that kid like a hawk AT ALL TIMES NO EXCEPTIONS AND NO EXCUSES WHEN SOMEONE GETS MAIMED OR DIES!!!!
January 22nd, 2013 at 4:10 am
I was attacked by a yellow lab a few years ago when I went to pet it. I got part of my face mangled and had to go to the hospital. I still have a tiny scar (I was lucky). The dog was chained up all the time and never given enough exercise. Goes to show it is more about the owners, given lab is one of the least aggressive dogs. So for the person who posted about big dogs (aka meaning pits)can do more damage and this is why outlawing them is possibly fair..would outlawing labs..retrievers then be a good idea as well. These are seen as family pets and can do just as much damage. Also I agree Rich’s comment was rude and inconsiderate, he seems cold toward his “pet.”
January 22nd, 2013 at 7:45 pm
As an owner of rotties for more than 20 years and a dog groomer I have only been bitten by 1 small dog an Australian Silky Terrier. We have groomed guard dogs that are so gentle and well behaved when not on duty and never did these dogs show any sign of aggression as they were taught how to behave but the silky was never taught how to behave. We trial our rottie and as with some of you when there is a scrap involving him most people point there fingers at him blaming it on the rottie and it has always been the other dog who starts it. It is unfair as he is so gentle and loves most other dogs
January 22nd, 2013 at 9:01 pm
Have to respond to this one! I am a 57 year old female. I have been involved in dogs almost my entire life. I breed, train, groom, pet sit and show dogs as a professional handler as well as my own. I own or have owned and shown many breeds from Chihuahuas to Great Danes and every size and temperament in between. I currently own and show the top two listed “biters”. I also own and show sight hounds including Afghans(considered one of the dumbest breeds, which is another topic all together). I am really curious as to who, what their credentials are and how these studies were conducted. I believe there is no consideration given to each breed and how and why is was developed. Which is a reason for our over crowded shelters. Prospective puppy buyers do not research the breeds, they just buy what strikes their fancy and discover that the adult dog does not fit well with their life style. An example of variations in breeds: Dachshunds come in three varieties and two sizes. When I became involved in Dachshunds I heard the following phrase. “Longhair Dachshunds are the lovers, Wirehair Dachshunds are the clowns and if you have ever been bitten by a Dachshund it was probably a Smooth”. Exactly correct! Why? Dachshunds, specifically the miniature smooth Dachshund and Chihuahuas are two of the most popular breeds to own as pets in regards to size, longevity, cost of food and coat care. Dachshunds were used in Germany to hunt badgers, any display of shyness is a serious fault. So yes a Dachshund will and should take a stand to any threat. Many of the small breeds are carried around by their owners a good deal of the time. If someone approaches their owner with a hand or hands out stretched exclaiming “oh! can I pet your dog?” of course that dog is going to perceive this as a threat and protect their owner! Same goes if the dog in on the ground and someone looms over them. In these studies is anybody examining the ratio of reported bites to the total number of the breed? What the circumstances were? No, of course not and that would not even be accurate as many dogs are not registered with the AKC, CKC, UKC or any other dog related organization. Another important factor is inbreeding, when a breed is popular everyone jumps on the chance to make a dollar. Breeding to whom ever is convenient or cheap, paying no attention to the faults or defects of the parents(resulting in ongoing extreme deviations of temperaments, size, coat texture, skin and allergy problems, and breed specific attributes). Supply meets demand! One of my pet peeves is the way the term “breeder” is thrown around! If you own a bitch (female), she is bred and has a litter of puppies….Wha lah! you are now a breeder! I guarantee if the study was conducted with these factors included, the numbers and rankings would change dramatically!!
January 22nd, 2013 at 10:06 pm
Maybe so BUT I will take a wiener dog bite over a pit bite every time!
January 23rd, 2013 at 3:01 am
I completely agree with Wm. ERROL PACE….its all about the owners NOT the breed on the animal….i have had 14 pit bulls at once and over the years have had 5 other pits, a boxer, a terrier, and a miniature Dachshund. Not one of them have ever bit or even snapped at me, other people, or animals (NOT even cats). they have all been very loving, caring, playful, and sweet dogs…I had one who love to eat at the table in a chair while we all ate dinner. one who chowed gum and suck on ice. one who slept with the cats outside. and many who went to your side when u would feel down, sad, crying, and/or even sick. so i took this article a little offensive on the account of dachshunds being aggressive.
January 23rd, 2013 at 4:06 am
I’m not too surprised about the Dachshund, (or the Chihuahua). A neighbour had a very, VERY aggressive Dachshund, the dog chased the children on the street any time it could. Then again, the owner was a bit… special, as well.
My own Dachshund wasn’t too kind towards me and my siblings when we were little, bit us hard once or twice, though half of the times we might have earned it for being so clingy. He grew to be the loveliest dog I’ve ever had when I got to be his owner instead of mum. Dachshunds in general maybe have a shorter temper and problems with children, (especially clingy ones)?
My current dog though, a mix between Dachshund and Tibetian Terrier is the most energetic, childrenloving, playful dog I’ve ever met. So patient and playful with everyone; animals and people.
Makes me think that small dogs who are aggressive might be that way because:
1. People tend to spoil smaller dogs and not train them like they would have trained and treated a large dog.
2. Maybe smaller dogs feel more threatened because they are so small and have an aggressive approach towards what they consider threats.
I dunno, it’s worth thinking about though.
January 23rd, 2013 at 10:39 am
I own 2 Staffordshire Terriers, 2 mini weenie dogs and cats. They get along great. I have raised 4 kids around my staffies and now 8 grandchildren. I have in the past been attacked by the neighbors pitty. It was on the news and they wanted me to make a big deal out of it and I would not. I brought my staffies out and they used them on tv to prove that not all pits are bad. I have raised many breeds. Rotts are also very loving dogs. My Staffies are 10 and 7 years old and they are the sweetest dogs ever. And so are my weenie dogs so far. I am a Grandma and consider my pets my furrbabies. Don’t really care who might think thats crazy or that I’m unstable. They are very well loved and spoiled. And I have gone to hell and back again to keep my staffies safe. There was a situation a few months ago where an officer walked into our yard with a 9 year old boy present and shot my at that time 9 year old staffie in her face. He tried to say she attacked him which many witnesses saw she did not. Anyways to make a long story short. We lost in court, to save my babies I took off out of town leaving my family behind and take my staffies into hiding. Thank God for a lot of caring people out there my Staffie is healing and she still the sweetest dog. I get so tired of the BSL. For dogs that have attacked, That also doesn’t mean that they are Vicious. Shit happens. Have you ever hit someone????? If so then I guess you should be deemed Vicious as well. Get over it. Own a “Aggressive breed before you open your mouths”!
January 23rd, 2013 at 10:52 am
The statistics show otherwise. There is a huge difference between a bite that a dog gives as a warning and a dog that doesn’t warn first with a bark or a bite like a pit bull who kills first. Statistics don’t lie. Pit bulls are only 5% of all dog breads but make up for over 60% of deaths due to dog bits. Dachshunds don’t kill people. http://www.dogsbite.org/pdf/dog-attack-deaths-maimings-merritt-clifton-2012.pdf
January 23rd, 2013 at 11:34 am
In my experience, the little dogs are far snappier than the big ones. But you don’t see gang members and dog fighters training Chihuahuas or Dachshunds. ; ) Little breeds are more likely to be pampered, coddled, and treated like a human baby, which probably makes them more obnoxious and ill-tempered. Any dog, big or small, can bite, but big dog’s tend to do more damage, thus drawing more media attention. Breed-specific laws aren’t the answer; owner education (and punishment, if need be), is.
January 23rd, 2013 at 12:02 pm
I have 2 rottweilers and 1 dachshund and 1 dachshund/chihuahua mix and the one that would bite someone first is the doxie/chi mix. My rotties are very loving!
January 23rd, 2013 at 12:09 pm
I would have to agree with jmac on this. Any dog will bite or turn aggressive under the right circumstances. To me, its more about what the dog is capable of if and when it does decide to be aggressive, for whatever reason that may be. My shih tsu can bite me 20 times and I will at worst bleed a little and need a band-aid. However, a pit bull can be the sweetest dog for 10 years and never bite anyone, but once it gets old and cranky and you accidentally step on its foot he has the ability to put you in the hospital, or worse. I’ll take an aggressive small breed any day over a sweet, loving, super powerful large breed. My rule of thumb, if the smallest person who might be in my house can’t overpower it, its too big!!!
January 23rd, 2013 at 12:26 pm
I live in the UK, where PITS are banned. I used to foster Staffordshire bull terriers and fell in love with the breed, I now own a rescue who is now 8, and one of her puppies (now 2).
ALL dogs are capable of aggresion, and whilst I would agree that some owners are responsible for making their dogs that way, I believe there are a large number of very loving owners who make their dogs that way by accident, through lack of relevant training and not enough exercise. Many small dog owners do not give the dog enough exercise and I believe this goes a long way towards the problem. Socialisation is also a problem, and I often despair that other dog owners will not let my Staffies meet their dog because of a perceived aggresion. I feel that legislation should be put in place that all potential dog owners be given instruction on how to properly train their dogs… After all, a four wheel drive can do much more damage than a mini but that doesn’t mean the 4 wheel drive should be banned, but the driver should be held responsible for the proper steering of the vehicle. If a vehicle (4 by 4 or mini) is involved in causing damage to a person or property, the vehicle is not destroyed, but the owner may lose their right to drive again, and this is the way it should be with dogs.
January 23rd, 2013 at 12:28 pm
The simple reality is that laws are a way of managing risk which combines both probability of something happening and the impact if it does.
Littering may happen frequently but nobody dies today if you drop a piece of paper out of your pocket.
The three most aggressive dogs mentioned in the study are “high probability” but “low impact”. Most likely way to deal with that is training (reduce the probability) and muzzles when in public (reduce impact).
For the big three for media-reported attacks (dobs, pits and rotts), probability might be lower (and training might lower it), there is very little that can be done to reduce impact. They are just too strong and when they attack, their attack pattern is to continue until the prey is down and lifeless.
Which means the risk for the first one (high x low = small to medium risk) is low enough to deal with it. For the second group, Medium x high = moderate to high, which means you need a much more aggressive way to deal with it.
Same reasoning behind most laws — shoplifters do it frequently but don’t risk life and limb to anyone (high x low); murderers do it infrequently but kill their victim (low freq x high impact). One gets small fine, slap on risk; other hopefully goes to jail for a long time.
The alternative is considered “wrong” by ACLU types — it is strict liability, the same liability some argue for gun owners. If your pet does something, you are 100% liable both civilly and criminally as if you did it yourself. So, by extension, if your pit gets loose, and hurts someone, you will be charged with assault as if you delivered the blows yourself. Your pet, your responsibility, your penalty. If the person dies, you get charged with murder. Strict liability. If you have a tame dog, no aggression, and you keep them controlled, proper care, your risk is low — but it wouldn’t take more than a conviction or two before the yahoos out there get the message if you train them or breed them to be aggressive, and they react, you go to jail. Do not pass go, do not collect $200, do not claim “it was an accident, they got loose, they were really just a bundle of fur, they must have been provoked somehow, I’m not really responsible.”
For thsoe wondering if this applies to all dogs, it should. Your terrier might bite someone or snap at them, and your penalty won’t be much for a nip, but you might think, “Hmm, maybe a dog with a better temperment is a better choice”. As for large dogs, like labs, you’re not banning any dog, you’re just saying “You own them, you own the risk if something happens.” With large dogs like labs, the risk isn’t as great — they don’t tend to keep attacking unless the opponent is fighting back — they immobilize (rather than shred to lifelessness) and then end their attack unless they feel frightened again. So impact is probably low enough to handle the risk.
Some advocates want this for gun ownership too — if you buy a gun, you’re responsible for it for the life of the gun. Even if you sell it, lose it, give it away, you’re always still responsible for it.
Problem is of course that strict liability rarely works in courts, considered too “harsh” on liberty and freedom. Tell that to the dead victims.
P.
January 23rd, 2013 at 1:09 pm
Jack Russells can be holy terrors. I have more than once had to pick up bigger dogs (who were foolish enough to act tough) to “save them” from my two on a tirade. My boy dog has come home with puncture wounds on opposing sides of his body which tells me he fought his way out of a big dog mouth. Neither has ever been aggressive toward children or women but I once saw my little 16 pound female jump up and grab a buddy’s fat roll and hang on like a staple remover on crack. She just doesn’t like big guys. I picked him up as a hobo who was living in downtown bars – we rescued my girl dog from a Pet Store about 6 months before they shut it down.
January 23rd, 2013 at 2:00 pm
I own two pitty babies. 1 Blue nose full pitbull, 1 lab/pit mix, neither are aggressive, if anything they are large lap dogs. When are we going to stop blaming the wrong end of the leash for agressive behaviors. Pitbulls are huge babies unless they are taught to be aggressive. Blame those who neglect and mistreat this bully breed by fighting them. Pitbulls are powerful, as are most large breeds, but it’s the deed of the owner, not the animal. Every pitty baby I’ve known want belly rubs and to give kisses. The only reason these large breeds make the news is because people fight them, including famous people which put them in the spot light, they are tough looking dogs, but if you know one, they are huge babies are heart, defender of children and woman, and lovable beyond all measures. Education of those that don’t know pitty babies, rotties, dobbies, get to know them one on one before you judge, I promise you’ll change your mind.
ALSO, if you or someone you know who has been bitten by a large breed, keep in mind the dogs circumstances were they fed, watered, had any human contact or were they chained up outside in all elements with nothing but being hit, teased, or not fed and watered, no affection. Dogs defend themselves like humans only with retreat, growl, bark, then bite.
January 23rd, 2013 at 2:08 pm
Sarah,
I am sorry you were attacked, yes it’s the owners responsibility, but to your comment as to outlawing pitbulls, it’s not fair, your dog is your baby, MY pitbulls are MY BABIES. These dogs are like my children so it’s not okay to kill them because uneducated people think so. If you don’t know anything about pitbulls, go get to know one personally, it’s the owners responsibility with ANY large or small breed to teach their dog and to properly ensure the dog intereacts with animals, people, children, that’s a responsible owner. Pitbulls yes in all fairness do cause a lot of damage but I’ve seen a lab cause way more damage on a human. In fact labs are 10 times more likely to bite a human than a pitbull is. ALL dogs are taught by people, don’t blame the dog for what they were taught, it’s all they know. and please…don’t suggest outlawing a dog if you never even met one face to face…pitbulls honestly are tail waggin, face lickin, belly rub loving dogs…as most dogs are.
thanks
January 23rd, 2013 at 3:04 pm
Thank you for posting this, i have passed it on for more dog owners to read.We just moved from California to Missouri (husbands job transfer) and found it hard to find a place to rent, because no one would rent to us knowing we have a German Shepherd dog.My male dog loves kids and al he ever wants is to play catch with who ever will play with him.We did find a house by a lake, in a friendly neighborhood.But i found it very rude for most of the people i talked to, to laugh and say “No will rent to you, having a German Shepherd”.I was in tears.
January 23rd, 2013 at 3:47 pm
I am an animal lover and owner. I have trained dogs as well as horses, and have been around a large variety of animals my whole life. Certainly the way that an animal is treated and trained makes the potential for danger higher or lower, but the reason that these larger breeds have the reputation that they do is not really that they are the more agressive breeds by nature than other dogs. The reality is that all animals (including humans) have a switch that can be flipped at any given point. It may never happen, but if it does the sheer lethal damage that can occur from one of the larger breeds versus the smaller breeds is why they have the reputation. Anyone that thinks that the potential does not exist simply because their animal is always friendly is naive. If that switch ever does flip then there is the potential that someone could die or be disfigured/disabled forever. That is not the case with a small dog because they do not have the ability to overpower you. The sheer strength of the pit bull and the other breeds is what sets it apart from some of the other big dogs. Pit bulls were originally bred for bull baiting which meant they were to bite the nose of the bull, and not let go. They have continued to be bred as fighting dogs, and the fact that they will not stop and their incredibly strong jaws. The other dangerous dog breeds have similar lineages. Labs were bread to retrieve birds. There is a BIG difference in the two, and that means a BIG difference in the danger level. Those that think the potential is not there are fooling themselves just like my 17 year old that thinks he can drive a car really fast and nothing has happened the last 10 times that he’s done it, so it’s fine. It only takes once to end a life, or forever change it. My point is that people that want to have these breeds should be mindful of the potential, and take precautions that do not put their dog or others lives in danger. The breed potential IS a factor. I have seen it in all animals. Some have more potential for certain characteristics than others. Please just be careful when considering your next pet.
January 23rd, 2013 at 4:03 pm
As an Animal Control Officer I am not shocked!! I get bit by smaller dogs 20 to 1 over the larger breeds. It saddens me that I have to euthanize alot of large dogs because of the media and ignorance. I truly hope one day people will open their eyes, for all dogs are worthy of love and compassion.
January 23rd, 2013 at 5:26 pm
I have a Boston Terrier (Roxy) and at one point had the sweetest Blue Pit (Cali). Both are female dogs so there were times when they didn’t get along and I’ll tell you, my Boston is a force to be reckoned with. My pit didn’t stand a chance against her. Cali honestly thought she was a lap dog and had no idea she was an “aggressive” breed. I miss her dearly. After my divorce, I couldn’t bring her with me because of her breed. I love my Boston though and wouldn’t trade her for the world but she can be quite feisty with other dogs when necessary.
It is not the breed, it is the owner. Pits, when raised with other dogs actually take on the temperament of the other dog(s). Thankfully, mine took after the lovable side of my Boston. There is a reason why there is an etiquette when meeting ANY dog. It is understandable that individuals develop fears based on experience but blaming the breed for it is misplaced. Sometimes blaming the specific dog is too. Sometimes, most times actually, the dog attacks because it feels threatened. Follow etiquette, treat all dogs with respect, and don’t judge a book by it’s cover.
January 23rd, 2013 at 5:51 pm
I have a German Shepherd and a Shih Tzu. Guess which one is more likely to take a bite out of you? That’s right the Shih Tzu. It’s the little dogs you have to worry about. My cousin has a chichuaua and he is not friendly to me at all. Little monster of a dog.
January 23rd, 2013 at 6:50 pm
As a dog-lover, I wish all dog owners took care of their pets well. Unfortunately, while many of you do this, your anecdotal stories are not a logical way to approach this situation. Yes, your pit bull may be lovely, but in areas where the owners do mistreat or ignore them, they are able to do far more harm than one of the dogs listed here. “Aggression” with these types of dogs does not equal injury like it does for larger dogs. Think of the types of dogs you see in dog fighting… they aren’t chiwawa’s for a reason.
January 23rd, 2013 at 6:50 pm
That is so true I had a weiner and she was very aggressive. She bit me regularly, bit strangers that tried to pet her and attacked her sister all the time. She did mellow with age though. She is gone now and do I miss her she made me laugh.
January 23rd, 2013 at 7:26 pm
I go to a animal shelter every weekend to walk the dogs but I LOVE pit bulls. I dot bite by more Chihuahuas then pit bulls. I love all breeds but pits r my favorites.
January 23rd, 2013 at 7:42 pm
I agree completely with this study. I have a Yorkie X Chihuahua and she’s mean. I love her dearly, but I’m pretty much the only she hasn’t shown aggression to. I have gone out of my way to socialize her, and train her to be around people. It’s sad because she’s such a cute dog and little children are drawn to her because she looks like a puppy, but little kids are the worst. Not that I want my dog labeled as aggressive but I would really like for people to stop labeling dogs that only look mean to be labeled aggressive when they have nothing more to go on.
January 23rd, 2013 at 7:51 pm
The thing is that they might be the nicest dog breed ever but when they bite it gets more coverage bc small breeds can nip and bite all day and it won’t necessarily even break the skin but when a pit bull attacks it can be deadly. About twice a year on my local news someone dies from a pit bull attack. That’s about as often as from a mountain lion attack, not very often. I think what scares some people is that the owners (from what I have seen) are usually surprised. I’ve also heard that over 80% of pit bulls that attack are Males that have not been neutered. I’ve heard some people argue that the breed has been bred to fight so I can never be fully 100% trusted But on the other hand I have many close friends who rescue pitbulls and they seem to be the nicest dogs ever who’ve been given a bad name because of the few that have attacked people
January 23rd, 2013 at 9:17 pm
We had a rottweiler and she was the biggest baby ever. She was so sweet and always looking for love and attention and if you didn’t give it to her that minute she would climb on your lap and demand it:) They get a bad rap but it is all in the handling of the dog. She was very protective of my nieces and nephew and never showed a mean side ever except when someone tried breaking in. My parents shitzhu is more aggressive and mean than any other dog I know. Like I said it is all in the way you raise and handle your dog.
January 23rd, 2013 at 9:45 pm
When I was fifteen, at my mother’s insistence, we got a Dachshund, a standard smooth who grew to be a well-proportioned 28 pounder (12.7 kilos).
He was just about the smartest dog I ever met and while he never really snapped at anyone his overall attitude was one that could be viewed as overall fairly aggressive.
The mailman was one source this way to him; when the mail would come through the slot the teeth would be bared and the hair went up on his spine.
He also had the bark of a much larger dog, so much so that when we moved, the moving men refused to come into the house until they actually got to see the source of that bark!
That, and the delight that he took in trying to kill squirrels; I did actually see him kill two of them; he’d just rip out the throat and then snap the neck!!
January 23rd, 2013 at 9:55 pm
Doxies?? I have one that will lick you to death. he loves to meet people and other dogs. He has NEVER bitten or growled at any living thing..Loves to dig for moles..
January 23rd, 2013 at 10:48 pm
I bred and trained horses for years, mostly quarter horses and paints. Certain lines in the quarter horse business are bred for certain purposes. There are lines of halter horses that have to be retrained every day…beautiful, but not a brain in their heads. Some of the working horse lines are incredibly well-balanced and good-tempered. Then, throw in the ability of the trainer and you have a wide range of results. Think about cats. Maine Coons are docile and dog like. Siamese are sassy and not just vocally. Most dogs were originally bred for a function and it needs to be taken into account when you make the decision to include them in you life. I’ve owned labs, dachshunds, Australian shephers, blue heelers and then bully breeds for the last 20 years. My last rottie was the kindest dog who ever breathed, and the smartest…she would have died for me. She never showed any aggression toward anyone. Of course, I never had someone break into my house in the middle of the night. I am sure that I would have seen another side of her. Training and socialization should be included in the life of each and every dog. Pitties get bred in back yards to fight because none of the sociopaths would show up to bet on a fight between chihuahuas. Pitties look like gladiators, unfortunately for them.
January 23rd, 2013 at 11:00 pm
here is the thing pit bulls a gangster thug dogs and people who own then are that type or wanna be that type of hard ass person but if you want any type of dog how about going out getting a good job and buying a house with your money than you can have any dog you want…thats what i did and my purebred doberman is doing fine with no problems had to also spend money on a fence but with 2 children under 4 as well that will keep everyone in so stop trying to live in apartments with dogs that is the real crime here
January 23rd, 2013 at 11:23 pm
Well…seeing that I don’t have that 1 in 5 weiner dogs, I am blessed! We have a dachshund that is going on 6 years old, and has never lashed out on anyone, I have 2 young kids 5 & 3, and they have pulled on the dog and everything a kid can do to a dog, and he is GREAT with them.
I do agree with someone up above, it is not so much the breed of the dog, but the person raising the dog…yes, if you raise a small dog with one person and do not socialize this dog, he/she will have a tendency to be nippy. However, if the dog is socialized from day 1 with other animals, adults, children etc. it will have a better chance to being friendly!
January 24th, 2013 at 1:16 am
I am a proud dachshund owner and my pet is the sweetest, most precious dog I’ve known. Let’s stop stereotyping ALL ( weiner dogs, Pitbulls…)breeds and focus on being a responsible “parent” to our dogs, large and small.
January 24th, 2013 at 3:42 am
i adopted a 10month old ffemale pitbull .she is now 2 1/2 .she is a lover of everyone and everything..the only thing she ever bit or harmed is a crickett .she doesnt understand what they r and wants to ply with them ,but ends up crushing them..when she put her paw on them …so sad for the crickett
January 24th, 2013 at 9:43 am
I own a dachshund, and it is true that they can be very aggressive, although none of mine have been that way. I also know and love many of my friends rotties and pit bulls. I also agree, it is often the owner, not the dog, who creates the problem. But lets also be honest here, a mean dachshund bite will hurt but a mean pit bull or rottie can kill. Lets not compare apples and oranges. They need to be leashed around other people or dogs, and the owner needs to be in control. Sadly, the very dogs that need that leash, are often owned by people who train them to be agressive, and do not care to control them when around other dogs or people.
January 24th, 2013 at 10:11 am
Interesting findings from that research. I have two chihuahuas myself, and neither of them has ever so much as growled at anyone in person. They are, however, very aggressive towards strange noises outside, to the point of it being comical. I like to say that they think themselves part police dog, part Rottweiler, descended from wolves, etc..
January 24th, 2013 at 11:27 am
Wow guess my 22 years of training and raising dachshunds I must just have rare ones cause I have never been bite by one. Never trust a study go to someone who trains and knows the breed!!!
January 24th, 2013 at 11:55 am
I agree with William E.Pace….It is not the dog…it’s the ignorant, non-educated Idiot at the other end of the leash that is the problem. Learn the rules about approaching and indroducing yourself and your children to dogs. It’s about respect of the dogs personal space.If the dog senses negative energy or fear, it causes anxiety. This can cause any dog to lash out. Well, that’s my opinion anyway….
January 24th, 2013 at 1:32 pm
For those who say that pitbulls should be banned. I say well I have been bitten by a collie so all collies should be banned, and I have also been scratched by cats so all cats should be banned. Sounds stupid you say? Exactly! It is stupid, you should not ban an entire breed just because of what a few do. Most of he time these hings happen as a result of owners who do not know how to properly take care of and train dogs. And they would have thesame issues no matter what breed they own. People who own pitbulls to fight abuse and hurt these dogs horribly. And the dog is the one who gets in trouble when I isnt even the dogs fault. But sadly sometimes pits that are rescued from those situations are to far gone to help. Ive had my own expriences with pits, rots, and Dobermans and they have been nohing but wonderful dogs in fact my doberman is the biggest wuss, my dads black lab pushes him around. As for dogs bein talked about as family well if one knows anything about dogs they know that to a dog we are considered their pack. So to them we r family. And in a way they are like children. In their eyes we are the alpha. As a dog owner that is how u should think, like u are he alpha of the pack. So to them its like a pack and they need that alpha. And if a person doesnt understand how to properly raise a dog, they will have a lot of trouble.
January 24th, 2013 at 1:42 pm
the problem is people. most people get a dog for the wrong reason and at the wrong time. my family has had dogs my entire life and most of my friends throughout have dogs. Started with a german short-haired pointer. She was an awesome dog and always slept in the tree out front while i was outside playing, she ripped apart a squirrel that ran in front of me one day. Very protective dog! After her we had another handful of GSHP and all were great dogs but would go after the mailman from time to time. we have since had an adopted mutt that took off one day, a goldie, two flat coated retriever/cocker spaniel mix, another german short haired pointer and I got myself a boxer. The most aggressive dog we have ever had was the goldie. Sister wanted it and didn’t want to train it. the dog would snarl, show teeth and snap very often. I trained him real quickly from that, any of spoken behavior and i would turn him on his back grab his nose and give him a good slap. needless to say he was no longer aggressive.
Onto other people’s dogs. Every pit i have come across i would send to a pound immediately if it were my dog. jumping up uncontrollably, snapping at fingers and hands, constantly chewing and destroying anything in sight and many other unacceptable behaviors. A pit is not a typical dog, its a whole different breed and most people do not realize that, train or treat it accordingly.
I train dogs with a friend for sled racing. She has a neighbor who has 6 pits, there have now been 6 occasions where they see us training the dogs in the field and they bolt over to us to try to attack our dogs and the thing is they don’t stop unless BEATEN. It took 4 snaps of a leather whip across the one’s face before it retreated. They travel in packs and are much more vicious around other pits. They are not the lovable cuddly breed that a lot of owners want to make them out to be. I travel around a lot and see hundreds of dogs. through my experiences the worst breed by far is the Pit
January 24th, 2013 at 2:29 pm
Comment #30 is naive. Agressive, biting small dogs can inflict a lot of damage. My brother-in-law was attacked by a small dog (Pomeranian). 70 stitches and plastic surgery later, he is healed.
January 24th, 2013 at 2:36 pm
I have a 3 pound red nose chihuahua an she is not friendly at all only with us the person that she see daily basis she don’t bother to be nice with nobody she will come to u and bite withno gesitation
January 24th, 2013 at 2:37 pm
The next time one of those damn little chihuahuas or Pomeranians snarls at me, I’m calling the cops and reporting them as aggressive! When we start doing that to the SMALL breeds I bet things will change!
January 24th, 2013 at 2:37 pm
I hate that these amazing breeds are discriminated against because of ignorance and hearsay. I am the very proud owner of a 65lb American PitBull Terrier who’s favorite spot is in someone’s lap (he doesn’t discriminate who as long as they’re giving him lovin’) with his head on their shoulder. The only thing vicious about my pitbull is his tongue and his tail when he’s happy (which is nearly always). Anyway this “vicious” pit bull lives in a house where he’s bossed around by a cat, and scared to death of a pet rat. Oh, he’s also scared of the bathroom (he hates baths). He sleeps on his back and snores, and tries every day to sleep in bed with me and my husband, even though he knows he’s not allows because he’s just too big. He loves to play with any dog that will play with him and will just run and run. I like to take him to my mom’s where he has 45 acres of country side to run. Although, I have to admit the last time we were there a pack of 5 dachshund/beagle mixed dogs charged after him, and I just can’t believe how he reacted. Can you believe that my dog actually tucked his tail and ran towards me like his life depended on it?! I have never seen a dog with a more terrified expression on his face than I did that day. Definitley on of those moments you wish you had been able to record! Anyway, people need to start being responsible for their actions towards these beautiful breeds. Too many people are blaming the wrong end of the leash.
Happy trails.
January 24th, 2013 at 2:42 pm
I’m not surprised at all by those results. The only reason that you don’t hear more of attacks by the smaller breed is that they don’t inflict the damage of the larger breeds. I’ve never like dachshunds because although I’ve met a few that had nice temperaments, the majority have snippy, snappy and yappy. I’ve also found that to be true in the majority of Chihuahuas and Jack Russells that I’ve had the misfortune of encountering.
And Dode…. Purebreds are NOT more inclined to bite. That’s a pile of hokum. Poorly bred dogs, with no thought given to temperament, are more likely to bite. We raise and show Boxers. Temperament is paramount in our breeding program. We’ve NEVER had an issue with ANY of our dogs or their offspring, biting. In the same sentence you state that Husky/Springer mix is more likely to bite….. a non-purebred.
January 24th, 2013 at 2:45 pm
i just want to say that i have been bitten by only small dogs and so have my 5 year old daughter its kinds funny because here reading all these input by people who say these horrible things about certain breeds its not the breed its the owner.I myself have owned dogs all my life, all have been large dogs of many breeds and most recent i lost my two rottis to cancer they were the best behaved dogs ever and never bite anyone I am not judging any one here but to label a dog for there look or size is so wrong its like labeling someone who is of different color height or ability … people its comes from the raising and ownership of the dog when will you see this …. open your minds then your eyes cause your walking thru life uneducated and blind….
January 24th, 2013 at 3:31 pm
I have both a dacshund and a rot/bull mastiff. The rot/bull mastiff (Timber) is friendly loveable and loves our childrenand protects the family and the house from fleas, moths and grasshoppers. The dacshund aka: Romeo is not so friendly. He will not snap at me but on occasion has snapped at my children and does not like men at all. We have tried working with him but he is stubborn. It is ashame that some breeds of dogs are demonized in such a manner. For the most part a dog will take the personality of there owner.
January 24th, 2013 at 3:33 pm
I totally agree that how the dog is raised and treated will affect it’s temperament. In the past two weeks, there have been three dog attacks within a forty mile radius of where I live, and one of the attacks was fatal. All of the attacks were by pit bulls. Can’t we just put the owners to sleep?
January 24th, 2013 at 3:41 pm
Our now deceased Rottie was always on a lead and more than once was charged by small dogs and she barked back. I do not blame her, but the owners of the small dogs that were not on a leash were upset, mine was on a 3 foot lead, theirs were on nothing,shame on them. Everybody does not love YOUR dog that YOU do not control.
January 24th, 2013 at 4:02 pm
I’ve been a Lic. Vet Tech for 29 years, They forgot one dog TOY Poodles. And Lhasa’s, they are very bull headed. Shepherd’s are fear biters, but like anything with teeth has the capacity to bite. I love Pitties/Am Staf’s they are sweeties, its all in the human that raises/trains them. Not everyone should have Golden Retriever for example. I love them had them over the past 30 years, but if you can’t handle them being teenagers for 3 years or so… even they can get out of hand. They should also include the Chow. They may be great at home, but when I see them, nooo thanks, I’ve jumped backwards over exam table to get out of the way of their cat-like temper and teeth.
January 24th, 2013 at 4:30 pm
@ lorrane Ok as i have been reading we have alot of breed discrimination. I have noticed that most people are defending the bully breeds and that is fine i love all dogs they all need love attention and training food water and grooming not to far off from a human if u dont like a breed dont rry to push your opinion on some one else u dont like pitt bulls but u should think about this one pit bull did a horrible thing and now u are damning the whole u should try maybe thinking about what the dog looked like and who its owner was and if it was old or not cause with all dogs they tend to get a little grumpy with old age especially if they are not neutered or spayed the dog was just trying to do what it was trained to do and that is protect its owner as much as u dont want to hear pittys are very loyal to their owners and familys and dogs are not as smart as humans if they see something that freightens them they will react they dont have the rational that we have so with that said i love all dogs and as vet tech i see a lot of them and i ha e never been bitten by a dog it is not only how the owners train the dog it is also how u approach the dog if u approach the dog right u wont get bit
January 24th, 2013 at 6:24 pm
First, let me say that I am against any breed specific laws, but I have owned dachshunds (“wiener” dogs) for many years and yes, they can be aggressive, especially when a stranger appears on their territory. But a dachshund will bite (usually on the ankle since that is all he can reach) and then leave. It does not seem fair to compare this “aggression” with the damage a pit bull or rottweiler can do if he decides to attack. The reason bites by large dogs are reported more frequently than those by smaller dogs is because the bites are more serious.
January 24th, 2013 at 6:58 pm
We have a 4 year old minidachshund who was great with my kids and strangers until one day when we had her outside with us during our neighborhood yard sale. We had her on a lead on our front lawn and a little boy who apparently wasn’t being watched by his parents walked right up to her from behind, grabbed her by the tail and started pulling her across the lawn! I heard her yelp, and ran over to see what was going on. The parents came over and accused me of not having my dog under control and biting their son! She actually hadn’t bitten him at all (which I couldn’t blame her if she had!), and she was tied up on MY lawn on MY property! Ever since this incident, our doxie has a tendency to become aggressive around children, especially if they approach her from behind and startle her. She has always been fine with my children. We had recently rescued a black lab puppy and when we brought her home our doxie acted aggressively toward her for the first few days, but after that they were fine. Now they are inseparable!! Getting a buddy for her was the best thing we could have done. She’s become much less aggressive with children and other dogs and barks far less!
January 24th, 2013 at 7:17 pm
I have a chihuahua…sweetest little licker you would ever meet. I was afraid because they are know to be little ankle biters, but I do think it is how they are raised. Socialization from 8 weeks was crucial. had him around kids, adults and other dogs…and he loves them all. He is 13 now, and only recently is slightly aggressive when he is on his leash around other dogs. Take him off, he is fine.
January 24th, 2013 at 8:02 pm
I have now and have raised Doberman’s. I can say they are very loyal dog’s. I think the worst he does is barks at people and jumps. Every new person he meets he likes and sniffs. He has never bite anyone or any of the ones I had in the past had not either. I got bite by a Chow Chow when I was little and left a scar on my face but I don’t point them out as a bad breed. I feel it’s all in the way you raise them. All they are is a four legged child. I get really upset when people name a dog “Bad Breed”. I have had smaller dogs and they tend to be more aggressive then the large ones. I’ve always said they do it to make up for their size.
January 24th, 2013 at 8:03 pm
One breed not mentioned in the Yorkkshire Terrier. My little guy is lovable with people, and playful with other small dogs, 24/7 playpen. But, he becomes extremely agressive towards bigger breeds. He’s been socialized around people and other small dog breeds…toy poodles, Maltese, silky terriers, other yorkies, pekingese, etc. So he’s fine with them.
Why he is agressive towards the big guys, I don’t know. He wants to play with one neighbor’s Yorkie-Poodle mix and the other neighbor’s Maltese all day long; but wants to kill the Shepherd across the street. He’s only 7 lbs. The shepherd must weigh 90 lbs. He barks, lunges, and snarls whenever he sees a big doog, put whines to go out an play with the little ones. But, I love the Yorkshire Terrier breed.
January 24th, 2013 at 8:04 pm
I don’t care what breed it is, it’s the owner, not the dog.
January 24th, 2013 at 9:10 pm
What people should think about; that aggressive, “cute,” ill mannered behavior of little dogs (folks don’t seem to invest in training with little dogs as much as the bigger breeds do) is considered dangerous behavior when exhibited by big dogs. Bad dog behavior is bad dog behavior, regardless the size (breed) of the dog.
Having owned two Rotts and now a Pit, I can tell you they are NOT monsters. All loved kids; my girlfriend did daycare and if she had a sick kid while the others could go to the yard, she would ask me to bring my boy (Rott) over to babysit in the yard. First time the moms had a fit because they couldn’t go into the yard. (Then the light bulb lit up.) And my 5-1/2 year old Goddaughter has been pushing my Pit out of the way since she could walk. Before that she crawled under him or laid on him and got him all snotty and sticky…if she’s in a chair, he tries to be under it. She feeds him and he sits pretty when she give him treats. While Rotts live to work and love, Pits live to play and love. Same goals met, different paths.
And yes, being a pet care provider, the little dogs are more likely to be unruly on the walks and during boarding.
January 24th, 2013 at 11:09 pm
It’s not about the breed necessarily. It’s more about environment and socialization. Granted some breeds have been “line-bred” so much that they are fractious. (Responsible Breeders breed for temperment and then “type”.
More importantly many dogs come from puppy mills where there is little human contact. All dogs grow up best where they are involved with humans as much as possible. This is especially true when the puppies are raised around children.
It’s also best when someone in the home becomes “Alpha” over the dog. Watch the Dog Whisperer for some great ideas.
January 25th, 2013 at 12:26 am
If all is as it should be we naturally should look at the potential harm a dog might cause regardless of breed. Bigger dogs and those breeds that bread for fighting deserve a higher level of scrutiny.
January 25th, 2013 at 1:28 am
My 3 year old Siberian Husky loves people. She hates other dogs. I socialized her a lot, but she became very dog aggressive at around 1 year. Especially to small dogs and female dogs. High prey drive, but is ok with cats. For all of you saying “blame the owner”….sometimes that’s just not the case. Some dogs are just that way. Maybe there’s someone out there that can help, but I have yet to find them.
January 25th, 2013 at 1:30 am
I worked for a veterinary clinic for 3.5 years and I would have to agree that the most aggressive dog breeds were the dachshund and the chihuahua. Corgis were on that list too. I was bitten 3 times while working there, the first was a Jack Rat Terrier that was so horribly trained and the owner condoned his terrible behavior and “babied” him when he was acting that way that there was no physical way we could even examine him. He would have to be put into a cat squeeze box and sedated for us to even get near him…he was my first bite while trying to gently put a muzzle on him and trying to gain his trust. I have never in my life seen a dog with a case of fear aggression such as that. I felt horrible that the poor guy had to live that way. The second bite I received was from a 10 year old golden retriever. She bit me in the face. When your working in a fast paced clinic and doctors are barking orders at you…you sometimes get miscommunication. I was not aware the dog had a sever uterine infection and my fellow assistant an I picked her up to bring her to xray and she snapped at my face in pain
the poor baby. I felt so terrible that she was so sick I didn’t even remember that she bit my face and people were telling me I needed to go to the doctor. The third bite was a cat…ouch…and hospital stay. I was more intimidated by the small aggressive breeds then the breeds that are “tagged” as aggressive. The pit bulls and a very sweet loving doberman were some of my favorite patients 
I think most of this comes from little dog syndrome…also owners tend to BABY the crap out of the small breed dogs. Some of them don’t even know how to walk because they are carried all the time…how sick is that!
January 25th, 2013 at 2:18 am
Okay, okay. We all agree it matters mostly how a dog’s treated by its owner, and “bullies” can be big sweethearts.
But how come everyone seems to think it’s okay to summarily dis the little breeds, and imply that they’re pains in the butts by nature? They will be sweet when treated sweetly too. My personal experience is with a number of sweet Chihuahuas, who were/are smart, lovable, and intensely companionable.
I have also found Dobermans to be calm and patient and devoted. Currently i have an English Setter, and she is an absolute love bug.
January 25th, 2013 at 8:24 am
As a veterinarian, I can tell you that the dogs that we watch out for most are the Dauchshunds and the Chihuahuas. Granted, not all are bad, but more need muzzles than any other breed. Quite a few also bite the owner semi-regularly, and for some reason, the owner thinks that is ok. I have had very few large breed dogs try to bite, and that includes rotts, pits, and dobermans. As mentioned in the article, a bite by a small breed, just by mouth size and jaw design, will not cause as much damage as a pitbull, which has been bred to have massive crushing jaws. A large breed dog bite will almost always do more damage than small just because of size logistics. There have been studies that most of the “designer” breed mixes are more likely to inherit the bad tendencies from the parent breed than the good, including aggression. They have not found the same to be as prevalent in large breed mixes.
Another point- people who adopt a larger breed dog GENERALLY seem to have more dominance and get the dog trained right, even farm dogs, because it is too dangerous otherwise. People get small breed dogs sometimes for the status, or do not think they need training as much as the larger breeds, and end up with a disaster.
January 25th, 2013 at 10:49 am
Guns don’t kill people. People kill people.
No child is bad from the beginning. They only imitate their atmosphere.
Dogs reflect the attitudes and tempers of their owners. If you don’t teach your dog any manners, your dog won’t have any manners.
Pit Bull or Poodle
January 25th, 2013 at 11:01 am
I have a chiweenie, which is a chihauha, dachsund mix. There is nothing aggressive about her, she is sweet and loving. I also have a one month old son and all she has ever done to him is give him kisses. So, I find it hard to believe that both chihauhas and dachsunds are aggressive. If a dog is aggressive it’s not their fault, it’s their owners. Just like criminals are a product of their environment.
January 25th, 2013 at 11:33 am
I have two JRT and they are the sweetest, loving souls in the world. Both rescues mind you. They have a little napolean’s complex, but I wouldn’t stop getting Jacks for anything in the world. And as others have said….it’s the person, not the breed.
January 25th, 2013 at 12:29 pm
Remember The Little Rascals? Petey was a Pit Bull. He hung around rambunctious kids and never showed any sign of aggression. In fact, what he did show was how intelligent and trainable a Pit Bull was. I grew up with dogs of every size and breed. My largest, a Dane, was a pussycat. It isn’t the dog that is bad, it’s the owner!
January 25th, 2013 at 2:56 pm
I have a 5lb Yorkie, and he is asleep far more than he is awake but I must agree with an earlier poster. I think it’s all about the owner of the dog, they take on the personality of the owner. I can also see the smaller guys being more aggressive, lord knows the only time I have any issues walking “Sarge” is with another lil small breed trying to buck up.
January 25th, 2013 at 3:14 pm
My Tree Walker Coon Hound is more aggressive than my American Staffy and my 105lbs APBT. The Staffy and APBT backed down from my sister wiener dog and my mom’s 2 yorkies. On the other hand they all backed down from Walker. But the Walker has been trained as a coon hunter so , yes she is mean.
January 25th, 2013 at 3:25 pm
I am the owner of a rescue Lhasa Apso mix. He has been part of our family for 5 years now, but he is very territorial and instinctively aggressive when he feels something belongs to him. He was just over two when we adopted him.
We are not sure if he spoke the same language when we rescued him, but he was seriously in need of a stable home. Unfortunately, he had serious bad habits already established. He has gotten better with instinctive reactions, but he does bite when you try to grab some thing from him.
Because we made the choice to add him to our family, we do work with his temperament as best we can, and we avoid established triggers. It is absolutely NOT ok when he does bite, but I wouldn’t send my child to a shelter for doing something wrong, I won’t do it to my dog either.
Also, he does not play well with larger dogs. He will sniff and possibly bark at smaller ones, but has never tried to snap at them, while with larger dogs he is immediately pulling at the leash and barking like crazy. It seems to me that he has a bit of a Napoleon complex too.
Other than those incidents, of which the frequency has diminished over time, he is very inquisitive, affectionate and coexists with our cat quite well.
January 25th, 2013 at 5:53 pm
I have been a dog owner all my life and have owned many many different breads Schnauzers, dalmatians, great dane etc. The most mean aggressive dog I had was the Schnauzer and he was the smallest.
In my opinion dogs are very much like children some are naturally more aggressive than others but in the end they will be as aggressive as they are taught or allowed to be.
I would never consider getting any of the smaller breads because they are more high strung and mean.
Bigger dogs get a bad rap because often times they are mis-treated and taught to be aggressive. Couple that with their natural size and power and its now wonder things go bad. The problem is the media and such don’t really focus on the problem which is probably the owner they just focus on the actions of one animal.
January 25th, 2013 at 7:11 pm
Wow… it’s scary to see the inner thoughts of the average ignorant dog owner. Rottweiler do not just go psycho after giving birth, the dog was unstable to begin with, and you shouldn’t be breeding dogs if you couldn’t tell! Now all of those pups have that predisposition! Did you bother to contact the people you sold the dogs to, and warn them? Of course not! So now another dangerous generation can be bred and more idiots like this can breed them, causing further genetic damage to this beloved breed! It’s not just bad owners, it’s lying money grubbing schiesty “puppy pimps” selling dogs for money!!
January 25th, 2013 at 7:56 pm
I must say that I agree 100% with what is being said. I myself have a Jack. He is very aggressive with my husband. We have a squirt bottle that we use when he gets aggressive. It puts him in check, so to speak. But I wouldn’t trade him for the world as he also very affectionate. Loves to cuddle “under the blankets, lying with his head on your shoulder.” He is very talkative. When we say good morning he replies. When we come he says hello. When he starts to talk if we shhhhhhh he talks quiet. He was very easy to train. He is also not my 1st Jack. My last Jack was a little baby. He didn’t have a vicious bone in his body. I have been raised around dogs and I do feel that the dog needs to know who their master is but it does not need to be done in an aggressive manner. The more aggressive you are the more your dog will be aggressive. I truly believe that it is not the dogs fault but the owners and the way they raise them.
January 25th, 2013 at 8:27 pm
I do not care who you are or what kind of dog you have. If you are not in a dog park or private property and your dog is not on a leash… That dog is fare game if it comes after me or anyone near me in an aggressive manner. In other words that is a dead dog.
January 25th, 2013 at 10:11 pm
Our family has had several dogs over the course of my life, we’ve had a rottie, a big mutt, a great Pyrenees, a German Shepherd, a lab and two lab/husky crosses. Surprisingly enough, my lab was the most likely to bite out of all of them. (NONE of our dogs have EVER bitten, but he showed the most aggressive tendencies)
Lorraine, I am sorry about what happened to your friend’s daughter. I have to say though, that this is a result of poor training or a lack of socialization. Not the breed.
I do agree that small breeds tend to be more aggressive, but again this is largely due to a lack of training and socialization because many small-dog owners do not feel it is necessary or that the aggressive behavior is cute. As many people have said, a small-dog bite is vastly preferable to a large-dog bite, but either way I’d rather not get bitten. I would encourage all dog owners to take training and socializing seriously.
January 25th, 2013 at 10:49 pm
I so agree with this study! My daughter’s pit bull was attacked by a chihuahua! My daughter’s dog was on a leash so she quickly walked her dog away from the chihuahua and tended to her dogs wounds. Her dog was dog friendly so this really surprised her dog! Now when she walks to her dog, my daughter will cross the street if she see a small dog, especially chihuahuas. This is differently the reverse of what most people would think! Her dog is dog friend and loves people but my daughter doesn’t want her dog attacked since being that her dog is a pit bull her dog would automatically be deemed the aggressive dog! My son has a female Rottweiler that is a big baby! Loves to play and be loved! She goes on walks and play little or no attention to another dog! She is a real people loving dog! She has been taken to events where there are other dogs and has never been a problem! She is usually to busy look for attention! I really believe that the smaller dogs are more hyper and are more likely to bite for any reason or no reason. But because their bites are small people don’t report them and if they do it isn’t very news worthy!
January 25th, 2013 at 11:52 pm
I’ve raised several Dachshunds over the years and poor treatment is almost always going to give you an aggressive Dachshund..They were originally bred to fight Badgers…ever fight a Badger? Treat them well and teach them not to be quite so territorial around strangers and nine out of ten times you’ll have a well mannered if somewhat independent dog. That independece is really a characteristic of any breed who was bred to hunt down prey without human supervision.
January 26th, 2013 at 7:36 am
all dogs have the penitential to be aggressive if not taught proper behavior by its human friend but i do agree with this study to a certain extent rotties, pits and other bull breeds have had a bad name put on them by people whom have abused them over hundreds of years for fighting we seem to forget thats the humans fault and they were also breed to look like they do its not fair on them when smaller dogs do the most damage !!
January 26th, 2013 at 9:29 am
the bottom line is, it’s all in the way they are raised. People blame the breed but the truth is, it’s the owners. the dogs only learn what we teach them. just like kids, if you don’t teach kids right from wrong and let them run lose with out respect for others your going to have not so very nice kids. another mistake I feel people make is they don’t learn about the breed of dog they get. alot of times people get a puppy cuz it’s so cute but when the cuteness wares off the dog is the one that gets the bad end of the deal. you should find out if the breed is going to work for you and your family.
January 26th, 2013 at 11:34 am
I was attacked by a pit when I was a kid. It was because of a bad owner. That being said, I will never own a pit. But that is simply my choice and I have nothing against people that do own them, as long as they are trained! If a pitbull tries to jump up when it “greets” me I will take that as an aggressive action and leave or defend myself. No dog should jump on people, big or small breed. If your dog does do that, you need to get back to training it.
January 26th, 2013 at 12:26 pm
I recently had a mixed breed that was some sort of hunting dog, medium to large size and beautiful spots. Vet thought maybe a Aussy mix about a year old. He was great at first, got him from SPCA. Then he became very aggressive in his barking and growling and snapping, very hyper too. He got away from me one day when transporting him to my car and was killed on the road chasing car tires like the devil. I’ve had Aussies before. They were not at all like that.
January 26th, 2013 at 3:26 pm
Ever stop to think of why these large breeds are getting a bad wrap? There has got to be a bigger picture. We don’t have any bsl where I live but I just read a story where people on parole had there houses raided and parole agents took there put bulls for no reason at all. I’m telling you this goes right along with gun control the government doesn’t want you to have any way to protect yourself pit bulls included
January 26th, 2013 at 3:48 pm
I had a LLasa apso that you wouldn’t want to mess with…loved that guy….but was pretty sure the breed was going to be # 1 in aggression!!
January 26th, 2013 at 6:04 pm
My dad has 185 pound lapdog, actually a Rottweiler. Biggest danger is that he will turn around too fast and knock you over. My dad has trained him very well, but still, if he decides he wants to be vicious he could easily kill a person.
My 12 pound Dachsie is a nipper, much more likely to bite than the Rotty and though she has never nipped me I am always aware that in the wrong situation she is capable. BUT, when was the last time you heard of a person being mauled by a little dog. They generally nip and even if mistreated or taught to be mean they can still only nip, not knock a person to the ground and maul.
Case in point; I was 13 and a neighbors Doberman wandered into our yard, chased me, bit the back of my calf and shook, wouldn’t let go until my neighbor heard me scream and grabbed a bat and had to repeatedly hit the animal until it let go and ran away. I ended up with 40 stitches and a dislocated knee. Yes, it had to be put down, the poor things injuries turned out to be irreparable but I have no doubt I might have been killed if my neighbor had not come to my rescue. I still consider that violence as traumatic as my own injuries. In reference, I had a friend in school with a little Rat Terrier that would grab my pant leg growling and I would literally drag that thing behind me, laughing at it. I still like big dogs but I will never own a large dog myself because of being attached.
When my Dachsie nipped someone I was so upset I took her to the vet and worked with her to minimize that behavior and I take precautions to make sure she doesn’t get the chance to do it again.
I guess it all comes down to being a responsible pet owner and being cautious around all dogs, not just a certain breed because someone has decided that it has the potential to injure a human. Labeling a specific breed as bad is unfair.
All dogs have that potential but to varying degrees and that is definitely based on size.
January 26th, 2013 at 6:08 pm
Pitbulls, like MANY dogs, are only agressive if they are taught to be that way. My pitbull is a sweet, loving, dog that does not bark, or show any signs of agression. If a dog is bad, it is the owner that has failed, not the dog.
January 26th, 2013 at 6:36 pm
I have had several breeds of dogs growing up.
Our Border Collie took a chunk out of the neighbors kid(the kid kept teasing him through the gate) and a pug lab mix who went after people and eventually killed a neighbors rat terrier.
I now have 4 American Pit Bull Terrier mixes, and have NEVER had an issue.
I find it amusing that the other two dogs I had were well likes breeds and known “family” pets” yet they were the most aggressive, and I know it was from genetics, cause I’ve never trained my dogs any different then the others, and those two were the only ones who ever had issues beyond my control.
January 26th, 2013 at 10:26 pm
This might suggest that the breeds thought to be the most aggressive have OWNERS who fall into the most aggressive. When I see a Pit Bull or an English Bull Terrier or a Rottweiler it’s usually the owners who have the common characteristics i.e. low intellect, tattoos (some), little guys with something to prove. My take is usually big dog small brain. Of course this isn’t across the board and has many exceptions,.. Woof !
January 27th, 2013 at 4:42 am
I have a Jack Russell, the coolest, friendliest dog I’ve ever owned, he just loves people, especially kids. If visitor knocks on the door, he’ll bark like a lunatic, but when you open the door he’s instantly in love with them.
My friend has a Rottweiler, my brother has a Dachshund and another friend also has a Dachshund. All have very different dispositions, but all are very sweet friendly dogs.
Although I recently dated someone who owned a Chihuahua… the meanest mentally unstable dog I ever met. It would take the dog at least 30 minutes to stop barking non-stop at anyone who arrived, even if the dog knew them. Sometimes, the barking wouldn’t stop.
Or, if her chihuahua did settle down and finally get friendly, it would suddenly decide to bite your face or hand. You could be there for hours, the dog sitting on your lap, everything is cool, all face licking “lovey dovey”… then BANG, it would suddenly snap and decide to try and remove your nose with it’s teeth.
Totally insane.
Sad to say, her dog was so annoying, unstable and out of it’s mind I was relieved the relationship ended. Also realized why she’s been single for so long, lol. Hard to date anyone, no matter how nice, when you have to deal with a completely insane dog every time you stop by.
Anyway, my point being, I think it’s not the breed, it’s the dog… although the last breed I’d ever own is a chihuahua.
January 27th, 2013 at 6:50 pm
We have a Jack Russell. We adopted him at the age of 3. He can go from sweet and cute to trying to bite you in seconds. We try to tell ourselves he was poorly socialized but I don’t think that is the case. It doesn’t come as any surprise to me that a Jack’s are in the top 3. You can say it is the dog not the breed but Jacks are breed to be little hunters. He is territorial, protective and aggressive. He has bitten both my husband and I on several occasions. We talked to our vet about behavior modification but there is little hope that he will become less aggressive. Fortunately, he hasn’t done any real harm but I would never own another JRT.
January 27th, 2013 at 7:01 pm
I believe that Doxies, and many smaller dogs, are more prone to bite than other dogs. A bite hurts no matter the size of the dog but having been attacked by 2 German Sheperds while walking to school when I was a kid, I can tell you I would much rather be attacked and bitten by a small dog.
January 28th, 2013 at 12:41 am
I am the proud owner of a boxer-pitt (named Harley). She is the sweetest dog and is not aggressive to anyone (dog or human). My children use her as a pillow, she lays on the floor by their bed and “guards” them through the night, when my daughter was a baby she would pull Harley’s ears and all she would do is look at me with a plaintive look as if to say “momma make her stop” but never once showed teeth, barked, or nipped my daughter. She will go to the door with curiosity when someone comes over, but doesn’t bark or intrude the visitor’s space. The only time Harley has ever barked was when we had someone creeping around our backyard in the middle of the night. I trust her implicitly.
I have previously owned a Black Lab named Boomer. One day he was leashed to the front pillar of our porch while my husband readied the tub to give Boomer a bath. One of the neighbors was out with their dog unleashed and the dog ran into our yard. He attacked Boomer, but Boomer ended up ripping his throat open and killed the dog (don’t know the breed, just that it was of a similar size with our Lab). The owner wanted compensation and called the cops. My boy was unable to escape, the dead dog was the attacker and unleashed, but we had to put our dog down due to municipal ordinance because he’d killed another dog. He had never been aggressive to any other dog or my family and co-existed peacefully with Harley. One bad incident, one stupid dog owner later, and we lost a loving member of our family.
Now we live in another town next to a Chihuahua and across the street from a Chi-Weenie. My children go out to play and the Chi-Weenie is running around freely. It comes in our yard all the time. Once it brought a bone with it (into MY FRONT YARD) that it was keeping away from the cats at it’s own house and growled at my daughter and my dog when they got too close. It frequently chases, growls at, and barks at stray cats in the neighborhood and I worry about my children playing in their own yard. The chihuahua next door is allowed to go outside to potty alone. There are no fences in anyone’s front yard, so it usually goes in my yard! If I go outside (to leave for work, come home from work, check on my children, any reason at all), the Chi will run at me barking furiously. I have had to draw up short multiple times, hoping it would stop a foot away and not bite me. It is a menace. But my neighbors just “pish-posh” it away when I mention that I’m worried it will bite someone. It’s their “grandbaby” and wouldn’t really hurt anyone…pfft!
January 28th, 2013 at 3:11 am
Growing up I had an APBT she was the friendliest biggest baby ever. She was protective and would not let other dogs in our yard. She never once growled or snapped at any other human. She was trained to work cattle and horses on our farm and was fantastic pet and work dog. When she passed it was as if a member of our family died. It is the owner not the pet that makes the animal aggressive or not!!!
January 28th, 2013 at 10:50 am
I had my bottom lip pulled off by a jelous dachshund when I was a kid ….and now I have the most beautiful loving english Bull Terrier, who loves all beings, including kids and cats…need I say more.
January 28th, 2013 at 11:52 am
I just recently lost my sweet pitbull mix, 15 yrs old. She was the sweetest dog I have ever owned. She never threatened anyone and was so gentle and caring of other animals. She would bring baby birds to us when she found them in the yard and she “took care” of the neighbor’s old cat when he came over to visit at our house.
As a Home Health nurse, I encounter many different dog breeds every day. I am most wary of the smaller breeds. I have been bitten and threatened most by Chihuahuas but the Yorkies, Daschunds and Jack Russells are equally aggressive to me. I would much rather go into a home with a larger dog than the smaller ones.
January 28th, 2013 at 12:42 pm
The problem with Pits is not whether or not they are aggressive. The problem is their strength. When they do get aggressive as almost any dog can and will–say, if they think they are being threatened–they have the strength to kill. My sister’s small dog was recently killed by a “nonaggressive, sweet” pit bull.
January 28th, 2013 at 12:50 pm
Aggressive behavior can often be a result of poor breeding mixed with inexperienced owners. These people, many of them posted here, are the ones guilty of creating the ‘aggressive pitbull’ stigma and causing the deaths of tens of thousands of dogs in our shelters. You all should be ashamed of yourselves. Especially thinking that because you have met a breed, that you are some kind of behavioral specialist. Get over yourself and teach people to take responsibility for their pets.
January 28th, 2013 at 4:15 pm
The problem with pit bulls is that they are basically bred to hurt or kill people.
Dogs are kind of like young children. If you have a bunch of 5 year-old kids playing in the yard, sometimes some of them are going to scratch, bite, and hurt each other. Now, imagine that some of the kids have razor blades attached to gloves that they wear when they play. There would likely be serious carnage in the playground. That’s kind of like what it is with pit bulls: massive jaw strength and sharp teeth.
Police forces use German Shepherds, in part, because they have a strong, but not too strong, bite. They are good at grabbing a fleeing suspect’s leg and holding him, without causing serious damage to the suspect (who may, of course, turn out to be innocent).
Small dogs might sometimes be aggressive, but, even if they bite someone, they are unlikely to seriously injure or kill them.
There will always be good dogs and bad dogs, and good owners and bad owners. I don’t think we should breed dogs that are essentially killing machines.
January 28th, 2013 at 8:38 pm
OMG… so ridiculous. I have two dachshunds and they are the sweetest, most loving dogs anyone can hope for. The only way any dog becomes agressive is if they have been mistreated, or have agressive owners. Dachshunds are continuously reported as one of the best family dogs to have. Unless you call snuggling, licking, and kissing agressive behavior, I think we all can relax.
January 28th, 2013 at 11:03 pm
All 3 of these dogs are ridiculously small! There is no valid point any where here as far as I am concerned.
January 30th, 2013 at 9:27 pm
I can assure u the little dogs are aggressive because I have one… But if he was 2 bite any1 (which he never has) he wouldnt have the jaw power as a bigger breed… That said it is the size that frightens people, because the bigger breeds DO have that powerful jaw…
January 30th, 2013 at 11:41 pm
i have owned a few dogs . i grew up with a doberman and then we had a german sheperd. we also had a toy poodle and now i have a rhodesian ridgeback. funny that the big dogs never bit or were agressive to anyone were as our toy poodle bit anyone he could sink his teeth into and was not trustworthy around children at all. give me a so called big agressive dog any day
January 31st, 2013 at 11:44 am
Simply put raise and treat a animal like your suppose to and.you will never have a problem. Pets attitudes come from there owners.
January 31st, 2013 at 7:41 pm
I am the proud momma of a mini dachshund and she is GREAT! She loves to cuddle and loves to run. I can see where ANY dog can be considered aggressive–it would be the owner who is at fault NOT THE DOG!! The dog learns from how it is treated. I grew up with THREE Dobermans(my grandparents had them) and THEY NEVER ONCE were aggressive to the kids in the family. Now the male DID NOT LIKE my father, however, he would irritate the dog and the dog just responded to it. Bottom line–TREAT YOUR DOGS WITH KINDNESS AND RESPECT and you will get a GOOD DOG no matter the breed!
February 1st, 2013 at 5:13 am
I had a German Shepard/ wolf mix growing up. My parents had gotten Banshee before I was born. He was trained by my dad as protection for my mom while my dad was deployed in the Navy. As my parents like to say while my mom was pregnant with me, there was one night where my uncle was coming up from North Carolina to work on my mom’s car and got in late. My dog wouldn’t move from where he lay in front of the door until he heard my uncle’s voice; then he moved so my uncle could come in.
My parents also tell me about how when they brought me home from the hospital after I was born, that Banshee sniffed me then looked at my parents and proceeded to lay down and stare at me. He always slept in my nursery and would get my parents when I woke in the night. He even put up with me putting my feet in his mouth.
We lost him when he was 14 to a tumor in his stomach, but in the years we had him he never barked, growled, or bit any people or animals. In fact, there was one day that my mom and me were walking in through the neighborhood when a dachshund attacked him out of nowhere. He ended up with some scrapes on his nose, but he never retaliated.
I also forgot to mention the he was 3/4 wolf 1/4 German Shepard.
I hope someday I can have another just like him.
I have never owned a small dog, but as with any dog if trained properly, they can be great companions.
February 2nd, 2013 at 11:19 pm
that is the true i have both pit and rott
February 3rd, 2013 at 8:22 am
I have 2 rottweilers plus 5 puppies at the moment they are the most gentlest dogs i have ever had and my male is the softest he doesnt even bark at people who come in the driveway and is so layed back its not funny and my girl is a little proctive at them moment but as i said has puppies but she has never bitten only growled
February 3rd, 2013 at 2:48 pm
I think the bigger issue for people is that if my wiener dog bites you, you’re probably not going to be seriously injured or die. Personally, I think a lot of it has to do with the owner . Some people raise these breeds to be aggressive and it’s pretty sad . There are just as many good owners out there that treat them like a loving member of the family.
February 3rd, 2013 at 4:32 pm
Ive seen different studies with different findings. An animal is only as bad as its upbringing (just like kids but they arent banned)
February 5th, 2013 at 5:54 am
I’ve had many different breeds of different sizes. Labs, Chis, Spaniels, Chow mix, Terriers, Doxies, Rotties, Pits, and straight up mutts. The only bite I’ve ever received was an accident, I was running up to greet my cockerspaniel puppy as she was running to greet me and my knee met with her top tooth and made a small gash. Not even technically a bite and my fault to boot because I wasn’t paying attention to what I was doing. Many bites I’ve heard about have been incidents that could have been avoided by the owner watching the dog and treating it better or the person who got bit didn’t know how to interact properly with a dog, such as pulling their tail or letting kids stand/stomp on them. The only bad dogs I’ve ever known were dogs either ignored, or the ones not disciplined because someone thought they were ‘cute’ when they misbehaved. It’s all in the way the dog is/was treated. Bad owners create bad situations in which the dog doesn’t know how to react, and usually the dog pays for it. Thankfully some dogs get a second chance like my chihuahua. She was a neglect and abuse rescue. She would not let anyone near her tail, and would freak out if she left my side. 9 months later, she wants everyone to play with her or pet her, she is great with small children and elderly, she isn’t glued to my bum anymore, but is the best cuddle buddy I’ve ever had. She works as a therapy dog for my grandfather. All the dogs I’ve ever rescued just needed some love, and structure. The only dog I’ve ever had issues with was a 4 lb chihuahua I dogsat, the owner had ‘cute’ issues and wasn’t consistent on house training which led to destructive behaviors.
Honestly, I think the real issue is that people are treating them as if they are toys, belongings or protection, rather than a living creature you are signing up to nurture, raise, and protect for it’s entire life. Ironically enough the behavior of domesticated animals that have been neglected and abused mirrors that of children that have also been neglected and abused. Seems like that similarity alone should at least hint towards the treatment of the pet being the issue, not the breed.
February 5th, 2013 at 12:50 pm
I have 2 Pitbulls and a Chi/Doxie Jack Russell mix and he is the only one to snap. I find it funny that everyone is afraid of my big dogs and not my little devil. When I saw this article I was not surprised by the results.
February 5th, 2013 at 2:32 pm
Sorry but it is usually 99% NOT the fault of the breed and/or the particular dog. Humans teach them to hate or fear -or- it’s the foolish humans who think it is “cute” when their puppy growls & snaps at anyone else because he/she is “just protecting mama, ha ha”. Then, when the little one eventually bites someone, the foolish owner just “cannot understand why their doggie is so suddenly aggressive”. B.S.!!! In my 47+ years of dachshunds, only one little rescued one with an unknown background (abuse? neglect?) that we wanted to adopt bit me. With what cruel humans perpetrate on these poor angels, it is amazing any of the horribly tortured, abused, neglected and abandoned can ever trust any human again. And yet, even the most despicable, unconscionable sins of dog-fighting and using bait-dogs most often do not dampen the dogs desire to please and love, if they live through the torture. Look beyond the dogs to the morons behind as the cause/effect…
February 18th, 2013 at 12:25 pm
this is a plug for pitbulls and dogs who are bred to be aggressive. check the human fatality reports for the US and you’ll see this article is not factual. misinformation such as this, will put uninformed dog owners at great risk
February 26th, 2013 at 10:56 pm
I have 3 dogs, a pit/boxer/red heeler mix, a doberman mix and a chorkie. None of them are aggressive at all. Nor is my chorkie yappy, as most little dogs can be. They all absolutely love kids and are very good with them, to the point of just sitting there and letting the kids pet them. My dob mix, is the biggest wuss that ever walked on 4 legs lol. Two are rescues and my pit mix I got as a pup, they are all well socialized with kids of all ages and other animals as well.
A lot of people get a dog without researching the breed that they are getting and so have no clue as to how big they may get, protective, and so forth. Please educate yourselves people. And most of all realize that this is not a well if I dont like it I will get rid of it, this is supposed to be for the rest of thier lives..they are not throw away toys !
March 7th, 2013 at 3:05 pm
I KNOW you’re not suppose to read any of the replies, but the a.h. that insists that “pit bull” owners are gangster dogs is as stupid as Kelly Ripa. I teach grade school. By the way, I was bit by my uncle’s “pure bred doberman”. I agree, educate, don’t assume because the old spelling adage is true.
March 7th, 2013 at 10:37 pm
To all that discriminate on Pittbulls and rottweilers you are very uneducated read and learn more i**** You are just a bunch of haters. I have a bully red rose pitbull and a german rotti and they are the most loving dogs ever they are my babies they are wondeful with my children and family. I love the H*** out them.
March 30th, 2013 at 5:54 pm
Maybe the point being overlooked here is that IF a big dog bites — and they do — they cause more injury, scarring, sometimes even death than a little yappy dog does no matter how excited and aggressive the little one becomes. And trusting that the owner has done the right thing in training a large dog is taking a huge risk with your child’s or your own safety.
March 30th, 2013 at 8:22 pm
Pitbulls should be banned and period. The concept of agressivenes is useless. A beta fish is likely much more agressive than any dog, but what harm can it make to a human. Likewise, can a dashhund or a chiuaua kill someone if very very very angry? No. However, a pitbull, which has intermediate agressiveness, can easily kill or seriously injure someone. And we cannot rely or hope every owner will give the ideal training or education to its dog. Having those dogs around is a threat. With so many dog options available that are not life- or severe injure- threatening (meaning, small but potentially agressive or big but docile), why pick a pitbull? I can’t understand…
April 2nd, 2013 at 4:19 pm
I am so tired of people who own pitbulls making them out to be such sweet dogs that would lick someone to death. These dogs were bred to be attack dogs, therefore they have an innate predisposition to attack and harm when provoked. If you are bitten by a weiner dog, I am quite certain you will survive, but a pit can and will potentially kill you. I think these owners are all out to prove something and clearly need some kind of help for their social shortcomings. It’s people that feel so compelled to prove something so ignorant that clearly have other issues. Everyone loves a pitbull until they are in a situation where they are either bitten or someone they know is mauled by one. The fun seems to end when that happens….just sayin.
April 6th, 2013 at 2:44 pm
This does not surprise me at all! The only dog who ever bit me was a little weiner guy because she was jeaolous of my husband holding me hand (she belonged t a friend of ours). The breed people call ‘scary’ are usually, I have foud, the goofiest and loveliest dogs and I love them (had a rotty mix myself). I think the problem is, in teh event of of those big dogs does show aggression and bite, they do more damage. People are not going to report a bite by a little dog. This little cutie that bit me actually tore my jeans and broke the skin….but no big deal. An isecure pit or rotty could tear part of you off with the exact same reaction. But I have personnally never seen it.
I think a lot of people do not know how to approach dogs. THey are a part of human culture and eveery child should be taught how to deal with them and how to treat them with respect
April 18th, 2013 at 6:09 pm
Oh Shelly and Togu, you haven’t got a clue between you!
APBT were NOT bred to be attack dogs, or to attack humans. If you are going to come on her spewing facts, you might want to check up on them first.
APBT were originally bred as farm dogs and companions. They were so good with and watchful over the children in the family that they were referred to as “Nanny dogs”.
APBT were NEVER bred to be aggressive towards humans. In recent years, some idiot gangsters have taken it upon themselves to bred dog aggressive APBTs. These dogs should never have been bred, no matter what the breed! A dog of any bred that does not have a good temperament should be sterilized and never bred. Aggression and poor breeding breeds more aggression.
You cannot fault the dog OR the breed. It is what man has made them. Not ALL of them. There are some very reputable breeders of APBTs out there and wonderful family pets who are APBTs out there. But there are also those who have been bred by these hoodlums who want “bad ass” dogs.
You would do well to EDUCATE yourself on the facts BEFORE coming on here and giving your UNINFORMED opinion.
April 20th, 2013 at 3:05 pm
Wow lots of words about dogs. Here’s my 2 cents; we have had big dogs and little dogs…9big…180 lbs taller than me standing on his hind legs playing with us .. to little 12lbs min poodle springs into our arms when we open them and say up…)My big dog could do serious damage and went ballistic with Thunder and lightening and rifle shots our house took on the appearance of a ghetto during storm season and hunting season. He was a huge outside guard dog and at 3:30 in the a.m when you live alone with kids you want a dog that looks down into the strangers car who thinks it’s gonna be fun to wake up people in the house with loud behaviour. I always felt safe and covered when my husband was gone and I was alone.. his instinct was strong so much better than humans, he had a keen instinct for people and if his giant chest rumbled I looped my fingers into his collar because trust me he would do damage if you tried to come near me, other people could come and go but if he sensed something off of you I wouldn’t trust him I kept a sturdy small hand leash close to the back door where most of the people came too. He was a Hungarian Kuvas..Loved him to death and cried like a baby when we put him down he was our faithful friend for 11 years. Then my husband bought me a what was suppose to be a toy poodle for Christmas a few years after we put our Kuvas down, Her legs kept growing but not her head and she is the funniest proportioned mini(Small mini to be sure)toy (But really a little too tall) to be toy poodle you will see and she is just as delightful to live with as the samoyed or the kuvas ever were. Folks it is all about working with what you have brought home, it’s about being responsible and attentive to your animal and the only blame for violence lies with the handler. You know your dog even rescue dogs with the right owners are able to be watched and read if you pay attention to what you have taken responsibility for when you brought it home. Stop blaming the world for things that happen with dogs and take it on the shoulder that you goofed and the dog did indeed make an error in it’s judgement and work forward from that point. Some people are good with dogs others are cruel with them, some people are good with people others would rather work alone on a project. Know your self and as you know yourself be prepared to work with whatever breed of dog you deem right for your personal reasons, and for the love of all that is holy start treating everything with respect, human children are always and will always be a gift then everything else from: dogs, cats, birds,cows, chickens, whatever fill in the blank we share this earth them, we don’t own it.
April 21st, 2013 at 2:15 pm
wow look at all these know-it-all dog owners
April 21st, 2013 at 9:59 pm
We took in my brother’s dog, an Australian Shepherd-Blue Heeler cross. He had earned a bit of an aggressive reputation (largely, I think, because his natural behaviors were misunderstood and he lacked direction), and we knew he might be a handful. Thanks to my husband’s experience with hunting dogs and their training, our pooch has changed his ways. Regular exercise, consistency from us, and clear expectations have helped him a lot.
He can be a goofy creature, full of mischief, but I’m glad we gave him a chance.
April 22nd, 2013 at 9:34 am
I am a dog groomer and agree with this article. I have found little dogs to be way more aggressive then the bigger ones. Have also been bit by little ones. I also own a pitbull and she is the most loving loyal dog. We still have to be careful with because of her strength and desire to love everyone she has knocked little ones down trying to kiss them. That’s usually the only harm they will do.
April 23rd, 2013 at 12:13 am
Who cares if chihuahuas are aggressive? We can handle it. Maybe lions are less aggressive than chihuahuas. If they bite your head off, let’s ‘blame it on the owners.’ It’s not anybody’s need or God-given right to be allowed to have in the city animals that are capable of killing or seriously injuring people.
April 23rd, 2013 at 4:33 pm
I’ve had dogs my whole life. We had two long-haired chihuahuas then a cocker during childhood(the cocker was evil!)
As an adult, had a lab/retriever mix for 16 yrs and finally put him down 3 yrs ago. Had a retriever before that for a long time, both from a shelter. My husband decided it was his turn to pick the next pet and decided he wanted a Rott. We found out about a litter of Rott/Pitt puppies. I was leary based on what I heard about both breeds, esp a dog mixed with both! Figured it would be psycho for sure. Suffice it to say my husband picked up one of the 9wk old pups who wrapped his paws around his fingers and started licking it. We knew we had to have him. Not “dogging” on my past furry family members, all so sweet and loyal, but OMG, Stymie, our now 3-yr Rott/Pit mix is the most amazing dog I’ve ever had or even known. He looks all Rottie but a little taller and thinner than a full Rott. He can do so many tricks, runs the obstacle course at the dog park like a police dog, hits the bell to go out, recognizes and resonds to a TON of words, I could go on and on. He never ceases to amaze me! If something ever happens to him, I WILL definitely get another Rott or Pit.
The only thing I would change is how “verbal” he is and some assume he’s growling and get nervous. Although I probably encouraged it teaching him to “speak”, say “I love you”, etc. But he’s seriously a big “talker”! Anyone else’s Rottie like that? We all play with him and even get right in his face .. he growls, teeth show, but nub is wagging and licks us. None of us have the slightest concern he would bite us. But if he’s growling and his hackles go up, then he’s being defensive but always been because another dog was aggressive first. Has still never bitten another animal or person. I feel horrible that I ever even had such a misconception of Rotts or Pitts.
But oh, I do remember seeing that documentary on Discovery, A&E or something that tested which breed had the most powerful bite (wasn’t about which breed was most aggressive). They somehow tested the PSI when various breeds bit down on a stick or toy. So yeah, next to a “wild” dog, Rotts were #1, Pitts #2 and Shepards #3. But just because they HAVE strong jaws and COULD cause some major damage, doesn’t mean most will unless trained or provoked. Rotties Rule!
April 23rd, 2013 at 7:35 pm
So everyone with a dog over 20lbs should have them put down? Tom Pir that’s ridiculous. Children should never NEVER be left unattended with an animal. The reason why dog attacks get published and are so shocking is because they are rare. It’s more likely you’ll choke on a balloon.
BSL is just that- Bull SHIT Legislation
April 24th, 2013 at 10:40 am
Boy, I’d like to find out what vet clinic lavamom works at, and avoid it at all costs. And warn others to do so. I have worked in shelters AND at vet clinics for 20+ years. Her statement “pretty much 97% of small breed dogs are evil, and known as Land Sharks in my line of work” makes me cringe. Makes me feel bad for all the awesome small dogs I’ve worked with who were well mannered and sweet. Yes, there are plenty of wee dogs who are very snarky. But 97%? Good grief. No way. Discrimination like that is just as ignorant as bashing the bully breeds.
April 29th, 2013 at 2:41 am
Honestly? Y’all are debating the value of our best friends~ bitchy or not?~ We all have opinions but what do our kids say?
“WE are as individual as you are~Quit your mouthy sheet~ Love US, raise us right with respect and love~ We will love you and others too ~ I heard someone say what goes in…Comes OUT! Epiphany? THINK ABOUT IT!”
My credentials are good and so were my babies…THINK ABOUT IT
April 29th, 2013 at 6:13 pm
I worked at a few of the hospital ER here in OK. the dog that bit and required coming to the ER ? it is the German Shepherd.. But this breed is loved.
May 21st, 2013 at 8:26 am
I had a small dog she was a Chihuahua one of the meanest dog i had ever known I had her for 14 years not one person had said anything about her…Not sure why everyone has such a pick on pit-bulls its not the dog it is the person that brings them up or it’s the damn kid that is picking and hitting or kicking the dog so come on people look at your own actions before you blame the breed