Which Dog Breeds are the Most Aggressive?




Beware of THESE Dogs.
The truth of the matter is, all dogs can be provoked or egged on to bite. There's no such thing as a "bad" breed. Practically all kinds of dogs are trainable. Proper training and socialization can make otherwise violent dogs, such as pit bull terriers and Rottweilers, adorable and gentle ones.

Dog owners should have their beloved pets trained to follow basic commands like come, sit, lie and stay. Obedience training school is one way of effectively preventing many dog-biting incidents, but you should try to find time for day-to-day instruction between dog and master, as well. This helps build the bond between you and your dog; when your dog trusts you enough, he dare not attack other people, particularly YOU.

Here's a look at the various dog breeds that are considered potentially aggressive.

Chow Chows are one-person dogs that tend to bite without any warning. They are also a bit ferocious around strangers, and can be quite a tenacious fighter. So make sure to discipline this dog and set right from wrong, immediately.
The Papillon is fiercely loyal of their owners - to a fault. They can be quite possessive and standoffish to strangers.
Old English Sheepdogs are very protective of their owners so they might be aggressive if anybody tends to be too close to its owners.
A Llasa Apso often gets cranky around kids.
Rottweilers are extremely protective of their masters.
Chihuahuas aren't too fond of kids. They'd rather be with adults than play around with tots.
Toy Poodles bite people and other animals out of self defense. Unfortunately, 'playing' according to you may be perceived as a form of 'attack' to them.
Dachshunds aren't known for their patience.
Jack Russell Terriers are feisty creatures who require early training to prevent long-term biting and digging problems.
Giant Schnauzers are very dominant. They often challenge adults, particularly strangers.
Cocker Spaniels often suffer from a dangerous genetic disease known as "rage syndrome." This syndrome causes spontaneous violent action against not strangers, but actual family members. Many Spaniels have been put down because of this unwanted behavior. Check with the breeder to ensure your Spaniel is free from this dangerous dog disease.
The Pekingese isn't all that tolerant of strangers.
Miniature Pinschers usually have aggression issues because they've got this "big dog-little body" mind set going on.
Here's a rundown of breeds that are typically gentle but can't shake off their "bad dog" image.

Boxers are pretty good with kids. They are good watchdogs, but will only become aggressive
Bulldogs are very playful and gentle.
Great Danes, while considerable in size, happen to be kind and affectionate.
Mastiffs are especially quiet and docile.
German Shepherds are great with kids too. These are courageous, fiercely loyal dogs who, if trained properly, will be extremely gentle to family and guests.
Rottweilers are also capable of tenderness and affection. They have a bad rep, but if they trust you, you'll never have to worry.
In truth, most pit bulls aren't really as aggressive as they're made out to be. They tend to be loving, gentle and playful. But there are some that have been raised and trained to be highly aggressive. Such pit bulls tend to be more aggressive toward other animals than people. Aggressive pit bulls often have a history of being abused or neglected, and getting trained specifically to fight. Pit bulls that have been mistreated are seen as being extremely dangerous, so avoid them. If you own one, treat it gently and lovingly.

Whether you've got a puppy or a full-grown dog, what's important is that you give it the attention and care it deserves. Recognizing and heeding the warning signs of potential dog aggression problems will make it easier to deal with them at an early stage. When in doubt about something dog-related, consult with a qualified veterinarian and/or animal behaviorist.

If you are concerned about your dog's aggression issue's and are ready to take action right now, then read our reviews of the top Dog Aggression Guides available online.

that come fromwww.dogobedienceadvice.com

Interesting! I'd be curious to know the circumstances of this study - where they got their data, statistics. How they define "aggressive". Same thing with the "smartest" breeds. I think there's a lot of subjectivity in pretty much ANY study! But I do like the fact that pit bulls and Rotti's are not one and two here! :-) Anyway, if anyone finds the study let me know please! Would love to see it!

Do you happen to know the web address for this list? I would love to post it on a forum that I am on elsewhere. There is ALWAYS topics about "do you think pit bulls are bad dogs" "pit bulls are aggressive" "should we ban pit bulls?"
I get REALLY sick of it. I have a Pit Bull/Rottweiler mix and she is the sweetest dog in the WORLD...
I have to agree with this list. My Chihuahua can get an attitude, but it's NOTHING compared to the craziness I've seen come out of my moms!

I have 4 Rotts all of them are very social. They love company and will not bother anyone who is in the home. Precious does bark when people walk in front of the house but if they come up to the house she is wiggling. There are good dogs and bad dogs of all breeds. I hate it as well when I am out front on the porch with our dogs ( our front yard is fenced as well ) and people look at them like they are killers. Give me a break ! I am sure if provoked or if someone tried to do me harm that they would come to my rescue but they would never attack for no reason.

my dog only likes his family!

This comment has been removed.

I have noticed where I am that the majority of dogs walking around with those leads over their muzzle are labs and retrievers. I had some guy last night get all concerned and not want to ride his bike by me because he thought my dog was going to bite him. I have a boxer. she wasn't even paying him any mind her entire focus was on me. I said she is harmless she might drown you in kisses.. and he just rode his bike by with a not so nice look on his face.

Who are the people who come up with these lists? All it does is add fuel to the fire of all the different breed lovers. Of course the GSD has to be on it.

I agree that the smaller breeds are more aggressive. My neighbor's terriers recently killed two of my kittens.

This comment has been removed.

In my opinion the LEAST mean breed is the Keeshond. I can't imagine a way to make my dog mean..............oops, except if I run the sweeper, he attacks it, because he's protecting me.

Wow. Very interesting. Normally the bully breeds are on top like you said. But even though the very popular dachshund is number one on the list, people will STILL think bully breeds are the mean ones. It's sad had narrow peoples minds are.
The Beagle is on the list? Woah! Every Beagle I have ever came in contact with was very friendly,only a few where skidish but never ever aggressive.

Me and my family have chihuahua mix with bosten terrier and she is very sweet. But when someone knocks she barks but she never had bit any body before she really is a big old baby. Also my Great Aunt Carol haves a Jack Russel terrier and they are always hiper but he is very gentle and a big baby too. Before we had a Dachshund but she was hit by a car but she was so sweet too. Just I can't see how some of the dogs could be so mean or thats what science say. Thats all from me.

A Beagle! This report is BULL! I had a Beagle for 11 years and he would NEVER hurt a child. Alot of the breeds on this list are very child friendly and good family pets. But with EVERY dog comes supervision.

border collies aggressive? . i have had many of these dogs and even though they may do there jobs aggressively i have NEVER known one to be aggressive to people. this is just plain silly

my 100 pound amer bulldog pinkee is the sweetest thing.my only concern with her is that she is so heavy and could knock over a child unintentionally.i trained her from when she was young no jumping up so she would never jump on anyone.so aggressive no way.i had told a story once before about sitting outside my building and a small child ran up and hugged her.she din't even flinch.she just started kissing her.( go pinkee) i also feel that it is irresponsible owners because i also had a staffie that i adopted from a rescue (he passed away 2 1/2 years ago) and he was rescued from an actual fighting ring.he also had his voicebox removed and he was the sweetest gentlest boy with children.and yes , all breeds do need socialization and to learn manners early on.i trust both my dogs with children but even the gentlest of dogs should not be left unattended with an infant.

I guess I should mention that I too have a German Shepherd and not an aggressive bone in her body now any of the other three dogs in my home. I would trust them with my grandaughters life before I would most people I know.

Funny how I just commented my thoughts on this whole thing just tonight before coming across this.
While I understand that some dogs are just naturally aggressive I also believe it has everything to do with the way they are raised and their environment.
something set that puppy off and some irresponsible parent wasn't doing their job.
Sorry I feel for the people who lost their child but I also feel they could have been more responsible in their role as parents.

As a shelter director for 8 years, I can tell you that our most aggressive breeds of dogs are as follows, but in no order.
Husky (was bitten on the face by a husky at the shelter and have had over 10 who were major people aggressive. We are talking pure husky.

chow (a few of them who really wanted to challenge a person), they went to chow rescue who knew how to work with the breed.

sharpei (was bitten by a chow/sharpei mix) This breed is like the chow and needs a person who really understands them.

Dachshunds- Yes, I have agree with this. These guys are a big dog in a small body and are very pissed about the whole size thing. We have had several who also hated being kenneled and was fine out of the kennel, but let's just say when you went to put them back, you had to leash wrap the nose, put them in with the leash around the nose, but not attached to the collar, close the kennel and wait for the leash to come off which it would because they were lunging at the kennel door to bite you.

Black lab mixes- We are talking dogs who look at least 75% lab, but have something else in there.

In my 8 years, we had one rott who was very, very people aggressive, 2pit bulls, 1 german shepherd and a few mix breed dogs that you really could not label them as a specific breed over another. And we just now have a pure boxer who bit a guy about 6 times. The boxer went to boxer rescue and the boxer attacked the volunteer when he tried to get the dog off his wife as the dog jumped up on her and would not get down.

So that is my shelter list of aggressive to people dogs.

Most rentals say no to Rotts, chows, dobs, shepherds, bullies, akitas. A few more have added just any dog over 75 and then a few places are going to 50 pounds and over are not allowed.

The problem is most small dogs don't do the damage as a large dog.

I'm a little surprised by the list. I used to own a trained beagle and he was the sweetest thing ever. He loved anyone or animal that came his way and would even let my baby nephew roll all over him! My friend owns a chihuahua and he can get aggressive at times, but she had no form of training. I currently own a jack russell and he can be a little aggressive depending on who it is. I think it is more of a socialization problem than a breed issue. Sparky is still a pup and has not had much interaction with other dogs yet. I think it does not really matter what breed you get as long as you put the time in training.

I own a dachshund and a yorkie! The dachshund is about as aggressive as a snail and the Yorkie thinks he a Rottweiler with a real bad attitude when it comes to HIS property - yard, cats, his pool, his toys, me, (He owns ME)! The most aggressive dog I ever owned was a pom/peke mix! I have shown Akitas. English Bulls. Dobes, Yorkies, Maltese, etc. and all I can say is each breed has its own personality. Aggressiveness is usually an alter ego of any individual species. Prolonged allowance of the aggressive ego allows it to become the dominant characteristic of the animal and that is why it is very necessary to become the alpha with any animal. I would rather an animal show me the active agressiveness than the passive aggressiveness any day of the week!!! I am off of my soapbox now!

My friend is a trainer at the Humane Society. She said that the reason the smaller breeds are more aggressive has nothing to do with the breed itself. It is the fact that alot (not all of course) of people who have small dogs don't feel the need to take them to training because they are easier to control because they are smaller. I think a well trained dog isn't aggressive no matter what the breed . .just ask Cesar Milan ;o)

i really thought dachshounds were a non agressive breed! I'm glad my dog isnt on there.

I feel it is how a puppy is raised. Friends of mine have 5 pit bulls in their home and they are all friendly but yet they get such a bad rap. I do know that it is said that if you do get a pit as a pup you should start training right aways because the chance of them getting aggressive or out of control is about at the age of 1 and a half years old. I think if they are trained and well socialized they can live in any enviroment Just my opinion. :)

You know, i'm the proud parent of Dobermans, and i've always been a firm believer in the saying "it's not bad dogs, just bad owners!!" I wonder if they evaluated the owners and their behaviors too!! We are such an influence on or pets behavior, wonder if this was taken into consideration.

This comment has been removed.

I wasn't surprised too much by the list. I thought pits might have been lower. Other than that it seems about right. Many of these dogs are more aggressive with children than anything. Also dogs are as people. You MUST ALWAYS REMEMBER that each has their own personality. Therefore stats shouldn't scare you from certain breeds. It depends on what they have been through and how they are raised.

i wasnt suprised to see mine on the list but i was suprised it wasnt first

This comment has been removed.

This comment has been removed.

My pup has no aggression. He is laid back and wants to make friends with every dog and person he encounters. (They often don't feel the same, however).
I think both nature and nurture play a part. I think some owners encourage the instinctual behavior of their breed, whether it be for machismo, or because they use the dog as a working breed, or whatever. It may take a very strong hand, but i think you can make a good pet out of almost any dog.
And, for the record, there are 2 German Shephards in my subdivision, and both are sweeties.

I can't belive it. My dog is a beagle, boxer, and a whole bunch of other breeds and if a Miniture Pincher comes near her she runs away!

This comment has been removed.

I own a JRT and nipping that aggressive trait in the bud is critical. Obedience training and an assertive leadership style helps a great deal. I never, never, never leave her run free off the leash to terrorizie the neighborhood (some people do that here--really distressing!), I have never had a problem with her being overly agressive to anyone or another dog. I was surprised to see that breed as #3 on the list!

1st, wow where do you people all live? You never see an unleashed dog in any of the parks or trails around here, and only once in a great while a lose one around town (usually with an owner running after it yelling). We have several dog parks where they can run free but if your dog doesn't get along with the other dogs you're asked to leave. I can't imagine what you all must go through. Of course I've never seen a little dog being walked either. Once or twice at the pet stores but never in a park or on a trail, they're all bigger dogs.
We had one incident in our last house, the neighbors dog got lose and was growling at us and just being scary. He wouldn't let us get in my truck to leave and of course the neighbors weren't home so I called animal control. They caught the dog, chained him in their backyard and fined them $500.00. The dog was never left outside again while they were gone.

Sorry, but I'm LOL! How aggressive is Wiggles Blue Heeler? He's NOT! Not at ALL, not even a teensy, weensy, smidge of that word is in him!

It is my belief that some traits (like herding, hunting, ferreting out vermin, etc.) are 'bred in' to certain breeds, and may, in fact, provide those breeds with a predisposition to, let's say, "point" a pheasant or gather a group of cattle or sheep (or toys or people!!!).

Another not-to-be-denied factor is how the puppy is raised. Wiggles was raised (well, from nine weeks and three days, on) with kindness, quietness, gentleness yet firmness, and plenty of loving and playing and walking. He never exhibited any aggression and to this day, almost ten years later, remains the most serene fellow I've ever met (of any breed or type, including human!!!).

Our Jack-Chi thinks he can battle the big dogs when they walk by. We put him in obedience training to try and help. He was getting bad about running out the door chasing people, biting at them, and biting someone (the pants). He has gotten better with working with him. Our spaniel/border collie is very protective and does not like strangers. She gets really wierd with people sometimes when we are not around, growling and showing teeth. We are trying to work with her to.

Seems like the smaller dogs are top on the list. I agree that any dog can be dangerous- all in the training- Most small dogs are treated like babies not dogs- I have 2 smaller dogs and you don't think of them as dangerous- I am guilty with not training like I did my boxer- After this article- training starts tomorrow!

I've seen that list before and it's defiantly surprising that there's only one stereotyped 'bully-breed' on the list- the Pitt Bull. Its partly because all those little dogs are allowed to be unruly and aggressive, to do behaviors that are not acceptable for big dogs. I wish more little dogs owners would be more controlling with their dogs instead of letting them run wild

A small breed would have difficulty in pulling a person down to the ground to initiate a deadly attack. And unless blue heelers and border collies are given stimulating tasks and lots of exercise, they turn on family members to "control/herd."

It is interesting that there are only two large breeds on the list. Speaking from my personal experience, I rarely see a Doberman or a standard poodle being taken for a walk on public trails and have never seen a Rottie on a trail in 15 years. My husband had two Rottweilers. Although they are very smart dogs, they're not exercise enthusiasts. In other words, these breeds have little interaction with the general public. When they bite someone, that someone comes to their door to get a chunk taken out of his thigh. That could be why they didn't make the top ten.

Our adult GSD (Roz) hates other dogs, especially the small, yippy ones who love nothing better in the world than to race from their owners (unleashed, of course) to attack (that's a laugh) a dog who weighs 80 pounds and is on a leash. That's always such a fun experience--I love it when I see dogs off-leash. NOT.

I have lost count on the number of times a child in the presence of a parent has started to walk right up to Roz to pet her. Or better yet, the child who asks if he can pet Roz and when I say "No," the parent repeats the question as if in disbelief that her child cannot pet the "pretty puppy." It's as if she thinks I'm punishing the child... Part of this "aggressive" list is due to parents failing miserably to teach their children that ALL dogs should be respected, that a strange dog should be given a wide berth, no matter size.

My boyfriend has a pure bred English Springer Spaniel, and if you count licking you to death then he is very aggressive.

But now let's get to those strangers. If I am with him, he will protect me to the utmost. Jim and I were talking to his neighbor who I'm not to thrilled with. I was the one holding Harley's leash and I thought he was going to take the neighbors crotch right off. (Keeping it clean) I let him stay there when we were talking. Harley didn't move an inch and neither did the neighbor.

Max can be aggressive. He likes to play and sometimes nips the kids in doing so. But mostly he does not like a person in uniform. That's the one thing we disagree on.

When I was doing grooming the worst were buff Cockers OMG they were nuts. Chows were a problem too. Don't get me wrong I had some great Chows and Cockers. I know it was the breeding. They probably came from horrible breeders or people who did not know what they were doing. Believe it or not the many Pits and other Bully breeds never gave me any trouble. I believe like Ceasar Millan. NO breed is bad it's how they are trained and handled.

Here in Mass you can research home insurance companies that will be reluctant to insure you due to specific breeds
such as :Commerce Insurance Company - they consider the following breeds ''unacceptable": Akita, American bulldog, bullmastiff or mastiff, Chow, Doberman, German shepherd, Presa Canario, pit bull, Staffordshire terrier, Yorkshire terrier, ''wolf dog," and any combination of these due to aggressive tendencies - all the carriers seem to have their own lists.(And yup, Cindy, I agree with you - our breed always makes that list)
At the Veterinary office we have people calling all the time to see if we could write a statement for the insurance company about their dogs temperament..
And at the veterinary office 2 of the most aggresive dogs I have ever seen are not present on either of these lists 1. Boston Terrier 2. Golden Retreiver
Obviously BSL are biased against certain breeds, and any breed can have a pet with aggressive tendencies - and I agree with you - the environment they are raised in is the " cause & effect" unfortunately all too often it is the dog that suffers for that.
My girls - especially Hayley - are the biggest babes there are - if I were in a threatening situation with them present - Hayley would be the first to hide :)

This comment has been removed.

I'm just wondering, if pit bull is #6 than why are they the only ones who make the news, along side with rottis that aren't even on this list (and of course they only make the news when someone gets hurt). If thats the case then why aren't they banning Dachshund's and Chihauhua's from whole cities and states? Not to down on these breeds but this just proves that pit bulls aren't their sterotype. My puppy (pit) is by no means aggressive, sometimes he nips but he is still a baby. He just wants to be loved (by everyone) and he loves to lick peoples toes. He will run up to a complete stranger and greet them just to make sure they know that he exists. I hate the bully breed sterotype.

But your baby also made the "Top 10 Smartest Dogs" list. Redemption!

I think you and I read the same study; I posted a journal entry a few weeks back about a study done on aggressive breeds and I believe its the exact same list! Some of them make sense, when you think about it; back in the day dogs were bred for a "purpose", nowdays not so much, but you will still have some of that "instinct". In the hands of the right owners and the right training, many dogs do fine; however, in the hands of the wrong owners and lack of training is when you get problems.

Chi as #2...lol...My Buddy maybe could lick you to death,wow this was suprising.

This comment has been removed.

I mean, I'm sorry . . . but a Dachshund as #1?? Now I'll admit I never owned one, but I have been around one periodically, and viciousness never entered MY MIND!!

I am surprised they didn't put Chow on there.. my apartment complex has stated no rotties, shepherds, akitas, chows, any type bully, any mixes including these breeds.