Laduns

There is a great debate going on for quite a while now regarding aggressive dogs and whether it is in their nature to act the way they do or whether they are nurtured into being violent.
Unfortunately, we do not yet have an answer to the nature VS nurture argument, but we agree that some breeds of dogs are more prone to aggressive conditioning than others.
Here are the top 10 most dangerous dog breeds out there, the ones that are more likely to pick up on any antisocial behavior that their owners would knowingly or unknowingly imprint on their character.

10 Great Dane

Just as the name suggests, the Great Dane is a large breed of dogs that can grow up to a height of 85cm and weigh as much as 200lb. so this is not a dog to mess around with especially if it has not been properly trained. Fully grown male Great Danes can be particularly dangerous and they need to be properly cared for. In 2003, a little girl of about 2 years was killed by a Great Dane. Another recent case of a vicious attack by this giant dog happened on set of the famous Dog Whisperer TV show. The victim in this case, has since recovered from bite wounds on his hand.

9 Boxer

Boxer is a tough breed of dog. As early as the 1930s, boxers were trained and used as hunting and guard dogs. They have strong jaws and muscular necks and this combination gives them a powerful bite force. A Boxer is not a dog that is easily calmed down and it’s also not very submissive. They are strong willed and stubborn but very good for protection. In 2013, a man in Arizona was killed by his own Boxer. He was trying to stop a fight between his headstrong Boxer and another of his dogs.

8 Wolf Hybrid

This breed’s name is very apt – this dog can easily be mistaken for a wolf. Although dogs and wolves belong to the same family, scientists and geneticists also crossbreed the domestic dog with wolves to make superior breeds of dogs. This, of course, is risky as there is always the possibility that the crossbreed will be wilder and extremely savage in some cases. Their behaviors too, are never easy to predict. The Wolf Hybrid makes a fierce dog and some states even banned ownership of this breed. In a span of 18 years, the Wolf Hybrid has caused 14 fatalities in the US.

7 Malamute

Known for their incredible strength and power, this Alaskan dog was bred chiefly to pull sleds and haul freight. Like other Arctic breeds, the Malamute has a thick double coat and closely resembles a wolf. Even today, the Malamute remains a favorite breed in dogsled races. They can grow up to a height of 65cm and weigh upwards of 45 kg – so this can be an intimidating dog. Because they have lived and endured some of the harshest climates, Malamutes can be really independent and resourceful. However, their basic instinct is ingrained – they have a higher than average prey drive. Malamutes have caused 5 recorded fatal bites in the US from 1966-1980.

6 Husky

Another common Arctic dog in the Husky. Just like a Malamute, a Husky is a strong dog with an athletic body. They are also commonly used as sled dogs to haul small freight. Their appearance is very much like Malamute but with less fur and different coat colors. They were originally bred as working dogs so they don’t make very good pets. Their social skills are not refined. They can be ferocious and their Siberian cousins mauled to death 15 people in the US in a span of just 18 years in the 80s and late 90s

5 Bullmastiff

This is a dog with an aggressive temperament and it makes a formidable opponent. Bullmastiffs were originally bred and trained as guard dogs. They have a strong build and can grow up to a height of 70cm and weigh 60kg. They are big dogs and they need to be properly trained so that they learn how to be obedient. Being naturally aggressive, Bullmastiffs can be hard to train and they need consistency in order to become well behaved. Recently, a Bullmastiff escaped its enclosure and mortally wounded a teenage boy. In a separate incident, yet another teenage boy was killed as he tried to save a girl from a Bullmastiff

4 Doberman Pinscher

When you look at a Dobermans, the first thing that comes to mind is a police dog. This is because Dobermans once used to serve this purpose, though they rarely do so these days. They are naturally aggressive, energetic and fast. Their temperament, bulk size and immense strength make them a potentially dangerous breed especially towards strangers. There was a fatal incident where a Doberman attacked and killed his pet – an elderly lady.

3 German Shepherd

The German Shepherd is arguably the most common working dog. They were originally bred to help herd sheep. It is a very common guard dog today and will be seen helping police units with search and rescue missions among other military duties. It is a very intelligent dog that is easy to train; it is strong and quickly picks up commands. However, it is also one of the most aggressive and ferocious breeds available. It has a bite force of an astounding 1060 Newtons. Studies have shown that this breed has a tendency to bite and even attack smaller dogs. A middle aged woman was recently attacked and mortally wounded by her husband’s dog.

2 Rottweiler

A Rottweiler is large dog, it is intimidating and imposing. To add on to this, the Rottweiler is incredibly strong with one of the highest bite forces in the dog kingdom. In the period between 1993 – 1996, over half the reported dog bites were caused by this breed alone. And its incredible strength and bite force make a potentially dangerous dog that you don’t want to anger. At least 2 reported deaths this year were caused by the Rottweiler.

1 Pit Bull

This is the breed that is considered the most dangerous of all other dog breeds. They are very common and perhaps many dog owners are not aware that Pit Bulls were originally bred for dog fighting tournaments. So they are naturally very aggressive and will not hesitate to attack – sometimes even unprovoked. They need extensive training to make them well behaved members of the family. In the US alone, Pitt Bulls have the highest cases of unprovoked attacks especially on children. So far, this breed has caused 22 fatalities in the US this year alone.