• About
  • Media

A Husky Life

  • Wordless
  • Training
  • Pet Health
  • Reviews
  • Travel
  • Hiking
  • Vancouver Dog
  • Cats
You are here: Home / Guest / 3 Most Agressive Dog Breeds

3 Most Agressive Dog Breeds

May 30, 2012 by A Husky Life Leave a Comment

In times when two of my beloved dog breeds, Pitt Bull and Rottweiler, are being subject to ridiculous breed specific legislation, I welcome this study with sheer joy.  A 2008 study in the journal of Applied Animal Behavior Science proves that they are average or even below average on the dog aggression scale.

So who are the top 3 offenders? The Telegraph  explains (I’m actually not surprised…)

Sausage dogs are the most aggressive dogs

Forget pit bulls, rottweilers and Rhodesian Ridgebacks, it’s the sausage dog that’s the most aggressive breed.

The Short-Haired Dachshund

Miniatures bite their way to the top: The Short-Haired Dachshund tops an index of canine aggression Photo: GETTY

By Roger Dobson

11:14PM BST 05 Jul 2008

They may be small, but new research 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.

Known as sausage dogs for their elongated bodies, dachshunds have not, until now, had a fearsome reputation, although they were originally bred to hunt badgers in their setts.

However, they topped a list of 33 breeds which were rated for their aggression, after academics analysed the behaviour of thousands of dogs.

Chihuahuas, an even smaller breed, were the second most hostile, regularly snapping or attempting to bite strangers, family and other dogs. Another small favourite, the Jack Russell, was third.

In Illinois last week, Linda Floyd had to have her dachshund, called Roscoe, put down after the dog gnawed off her big toe while she slept. Mrs Floyd, 56, woke up too late because nerve damage from diabetes had left her with no feeling in her toes.

Dr James Serpell, one of the researchers, said smaller breeds might be more genetically predisposed towards aggressive behaviour than larger dogs.

“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,” he added.

Until now, research into canine aggression has almost exclusively involved analysis of dog bite statistics. But the researchers said these were potentially misleading as most bites were not reported. Big dogs might have acquired a reputation for being aggressive because their bites were more likely to require medical attention.

The findings have angered owners of small breeds. Chris Moore, secretary of the Northern Dachshund Association, said: “As far as breeders in the UK are concerned, this is rubbish. It is not in the dogs’ nature. I have never been bitten in 25 years.”

Tony Fitt-Savage, president of the British Chihuahua Club, added: “I have had Chihuahuas for 30-odd years, and they’ve never put anybody into hospital. They can be a little bit stroppy.”

The study, published this week in the journal Applied Animal Behaviour Science, involved researchers from the University of Pennsylvania questioning 6,000 dog owners.

Breeds scoring low for aggression included Basset hounds, golden retrievers, labradors, Siberian huskies and greyhounds.

The rottweiler, pit bull and Rhodesian ridgeback scored average or below average marks for hostility towards strangers.

Joyce Summers, treasurer of the Rottweiler Club in Britain, said: “I have lived with rottweilers for 40 years and they give nothing but love and affection. I am not surprised Jack Russells are up there near the top; they are yappy little things.”

Related Posts

  • A Word From The ExpertA Word From The Expert
  • Hurtful MisconceptionsHurtful Misconceptions
  • After the Snow StormAfter the Snow Storm
  • Wordless Wednesday: ShadowsWordless Wednesday: Shadows
  • Bigger, Better Cat GrassBigger, Better Cat Grass
  • Who Doesn’t Love Cats? #PetSmartLovesCatsWho Doesn’t Love Cats? #PetSmartLovesCats

Filed Under: Guest Tagged With: agressive breeds, Dog Agression

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Be Social With Us

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

Newsletter Sign Up

Search Archives

Recent Posts

  • Subtle Signs of Pain in Dogs
  • How to Get to Know Your Dog’s Body Through Massage
  • 7 Cat Massage Tips
  • 7 Easy Tips to Make Your Home Safe For Your Senior Dog
  • Dog Massage: How To Massage Your Dog’s Paws

Popular Posts

  • Why Some Dogs Don’t Like To Be Touched
  • Do Huskies Like to Dig?
  • Animal Rehabilitation Massage Course at Oregon Humane Society
  • Dog Friendly Hiking in Squamish: The Four Lakes Trail.
  • The Dogs of C Kennel Comic Strip

Copyright © 2023 · Lifestyle Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in