Top most dangerous dogs in the world (with cnologists comments)

Top most dangerous dogs in the world (with cnologists comments)

Animals are considered to be our little brothers. Dogs are certainly on the top of this list. Besides, it’s often difficult to believe, that such a clever and kind type of pet as a dog can bite someone’s limbs off.

The thing is, not all dogs are born to merrily bark at the top of their voices at a sight of stretched out hands. Thus we would like to present you the list of the most dangerous breeds, since, as it’s said, forewarned is forearmed.

1. American Pit Bull Terrier

A combative breed, which is capable to kill almost any enemy. Incorrect upbringing of this dog is suicidal both for passers-by and owners themselves. Be careful!

Cynologists’ Comments: The American Pit Bull Terrier (or just the Pit Bull Terrier) is a popular breed in America but it can be very rarely found in other European countries where it has been put on the list of prohibited dog breeds.

The Pit Bull Terrier alongside with the English and American Staffordshire Terriers is one of the breeds whose international standard regards human aggression as a disqualifying characteristic. In other words, the specimens of these breeds which demonstrate aggression to humans rather than to other animals are excluded from breeding and they aren’t allow to compete in dog shows and canine sports. And as far as Europe and the US concern, such dogs are sold out only as pets with obligatory preliminary or following sterilization. Or they are actually put down.

However there are many dogs whose breeders don’t care a curse for the breed’s standard.  The gloomy rumours about these breeds have gone round because of such bad breeding practices as well as for the reason that unscrupulous owners hunted their pets on humans instead of on animals. Stories about their attacks really look dreadfully since it’s almost impossible to get the embittered terrier off the prey. That’s exactly why their aggression to humans is turned off genetically.

At this point if we are talking about fighting dogs which were acquired in canine clubs where animals have the FCI’s pedigree, then we are talking about the dogs which are almost completely deprived of human aggression. Pit Bull Terriers and Staffordshire Terriers can be endowed with innate aggression to other animals (or they lack it, in this case as luck would have it), but it must never be aggressive to humans. Its development is utterly disapproved by breeders and handlers and although it’s impossible to guarantee the absence of human aggression in fighting dogs, such trait can be considered as an exception, which appears from careless unprincipled breeding practices, rather than the breed’s characteristic or its natural propensity. Unfortunately such exceptions create tragic and ghastly situations so they remain buzz word for a long time. Nonetheless in terms of numbers such dogs take very tiny percentage of the breed’s total population.

2. Rottweiler

Rottweilers are considered to be one of the most dangerous breeds. Devoted and obedient to its owner, a great guardian. The only chance to survive when attacked by a Rottweiler is to be passive.

Cynologists’ Comments: Basically I’ve got no complaints to this part since this dog is really notable for very loyal nature and gentle attitude to the family children, although it can’t take a joke and doesn’t like strangers. Normally the Rottweiler won’t become dangerous for its special people but outsiders (including unfamiliar kids) are quite a different story. The truth is that oftentimes Rottweilers (especially males) don’t distinguish between jocular playful aggression and real aggressive actions so they can bite a strange grown-up or child even if he just wants to joke and play rather than to plan to cause serious harm.

3. German Shepherd

German Shepherd is an intelligent breed. That is exactly why it’s trained to search and catch criminals. If a dog isn’t stopped on time or an offender continues to resist, a German Shepherd as a law-enforcer will turn to a cruel killer.

Cynologists’ Comments: This breed can by no means be attributed to the group of human-aggressive canine varieties in default. Of course the German Shepherd is used by the police force but before they start to serve there, puppies undergo obedience training. Afterwards they get «specialty» so they are trained to aid in convoy or detention (or they pass through other types of training and, for example, learn to run a scent or to patrol territories).

If the puppy of the German Shepherd isn’t baited purposefully, then it will likely grow into the calm and fairly sociable dog which will eagerly interact with the acquaintances and friends of its masters both at home and in the street. The same holds true for its immediate cousins, the East-European Shepherd.

But even if the German Shepherd or East-European Shepherd is trained to defend or detain, each of them remains one of the most manageable dogs which always nicely perform the master’s commands remotely and without a leash. The dog reacts to abrupt «phew!» or «drop it!» by unclenching its jaws and letting go of the person whom it has just caught. Whereby it can convoy him, monitor his movements and of he attempts to hit the dog or its master, then it will bite once again or take his hand in capture (by its teeth) or on a signal it will walk away and leave the person alone. Both German and East-European Shepherds are pertained to the dogs which can be controlled over a distance in the most effective way.

However the real problems can emerge with other shepherds, more specifically with the Caucasian Shepherd and Central Asian Shepherd Dog.  Both of them can be successfully trained into guardians and protectors but it should be performed by a professional dog handler so he will be able to have firm control over the dog. Alternatively the master of such a canine should live in the thinly populated area where the chance that the territory will be invaded by an accidental passer-by is nil. It’s barely possible to stop both of these dogs with remote commands if they start to carry out their duties. That’s why in spite of their high performance they are never used as service dogs by the police, army and etc. The detention of the criminal with the help of such canines will most likely lead to serious injuries or even death of this person, as opposed to the work with easily manageable German Shepherds which serve in the police forces of different countries more than 50 years. 

4. Deutscher Boxer

Ancestors of Deutscher Boxers didn’t lay about in a ring, but seized bulls and even bears. Thus it’s better politely treat not only this type of a dog, but its master as well.

Cynologists’ Comments: Despite the fact that the German Boxer was created with the involvement of bullenbeysers, mastiffs and bulldogs, the main goal of its development (among other matters) was to create a non-aggressive dog with docile nature. The breed was officially registered in Munich in 1896 and ever since several features of the German Boxer have remained unchanged. One of their basic characteristics is excellent obedience. The Boxer can be surely raised as a guard dog but it perceives its duties as a game and lacks aggression. The dog treats the procedure of apprehension of an ill-intended person as an amusement so as soon as he stops fighting back and stands motionless, the Boxer sets him free. Such a game has its own rules and it’s based on the natural animal behaviour of the dominant specimen and the one which accepts its right to dominate. Thanks to its even temper and non-aggressiveness, the German Boxer is used among few breeds which are suitable for the training as a guide dog for blind people.  It’s considered to be one of the most difficult types of training which requires from the dog the absolute absence of aggression as the breed’s attribute in order to be qualified for it.

Of course exceptions do occur, as in all things, but on the whole the German Boxer can be by no means reckoned among aggressive or dangerous breeds.

5. Dobermann

On the one hand, Dobermans are friendly. But if the master is in a trouble, even slightly coming from another person, they begin to display their natural aggression.

Cynologists’ Comments: There is still much to say about Dobermans. They are indeed fairly aggressive and can be dangerous for a man. Large and high-quality Dobermans are serious adversaries because of their agility and specific manner of the attack – they spring on the opponent, bite and then immediately jump back. It’s uncharacteristic for Dobermans to keep its preys; they never bite repeatedly and climb up the body as it does many service dogs. Normally Dobermans were used by the police force in pairs since it’s almost impossible to make a stand against two Dobermans. Currently Dobermans aren’t utilized for detention as it’s considered to be too traumatic and cruel. Indeed, Dobermans fall into the category of dogs which are capable of display of spontaneous aggression. And they just as Rottweilers understand a «play threat» neither to itself or its masters.

ADD MY PET

6. Alaskan Malamute

If a Malamute got nervous or angry it will be difficult to calm it down. Dogs of this breed can practically become out of control if they weren’t trained properly. Weighing almost fifty kilos, Malamutes can deprive any adult of self-control, though it may not seem so. Too bad for you…

Cynologists’ Comments: In spite of its formal resemblance to wolves, the Malamute is one of the most friendly and harmless dogs! As well as all sledge dogs, for centuries they were bred to get on well with both humans and its counterparts. The Malamute which is reckoned among primitive breeds and represents the official symbol of the state of Alaska is generally unsuitable for taking the course of service training since it’s completely deprived of aggression to humans.

7. Chow Chow

Being big game hunters by nature, these «fluffies» without any difficulty will pin on two shoulders any human. The breed’s representatives are grasping, therefore it’s better not to visit the master without invitation. Never judge a Chow-chow by its nice appearance and don’t try to snog the dog, otherwise you’ll feel dashed.

Cynologists’ Comments: These «fuzzy things» were apparently mistakenly taken for Char Peis which were hunting, guard and fighting dogs during various periods of history in China. The wrinkled skin of the Char Pei serves it as a good protection against serious injuries, so they don’t do harm or even any discomfort to the dog. However the Chow is a companion dog and … a dinner. Traditionally the Chinese like to eat canine meet so exactly the Chow has been bred up to the present days, among other matters, as a future delicacy. Naturally during many centuries of such a treatment any human aggression in these dogs was completely neutralized.

8. Perro de Presa Canario

Dogo Canarios were used as perfect big game hunters, in addition helping their owners to stifle cattle. They were also famous for their participation in dogfights, smothering victims with ease. This breed was kept on a chain and butchers were the only ones allowed to keep this breed. Make friends with a Dogo Canario is not easy at all – these creatures are incorruptible.

Cynologists’ Comments: The Dogo Canario is a watch and herding dog which never attacks first. These dogs are non-aggressive and come in action only if provoked by their adversaries. They are very ill-suited for the types of protective training where a dog should spring up on a man upon command even if he doesn’t take any actions – the Dogo Canario simply doesn’t «understand» why it should aggress. According to the standard, they represent steady dogs with predominantly sanguine or phlegmatic temperament which depend on human leadership and treat unfamiliar people warily but non-aggressively.

9. Dalmatian

These guardians, always longing for sweeping everyone and everything off in order to make way for their owners, are often born deaf. That’s why training a Dalmatian does no good as a rule. As a result, the animal grows uncontrollable and wilful.

Cynologists’ Comments: Dalmatians don’t come into the world deaf! The puppies of this breed are really and truly born with white coats and the distinctive coloration shows through as they grow older. Spots appear on the dog’s coat gradually and the pattern can change with the course of its life (these dogs shed continuously). Nevertheless they aren’t deaf from birth with the exception of albinos but black and brown spots will never appear on the coats of such dogs. Albinism is a disease which is associated with the absence of melanotic pigment in the body of the animal and frequently this defect is genetically interlinked with deafness. White puppies of the Dalmatian are born as ordinary dogs with normal hearing.

The difficulties in training of these dogs can be caused by their high activity level and sociability (to such an extent that shyness and uncommunicativeness can become the reason of disqualification of the animal in dog shows). It’s quite a task to explain the Dalmatian that it shouldn’t run and communicate with everyone, but it will run exclusively with good intent.

10. Siberian Husky

Theoretically, representatives of this breed are friendly enough. However, they are very similar to their wolf ancestors, what can sometimes awake fear in people, and fear in its turn arouses the animal instinct in blood of almost any dog.

Cynologists’ Comments: The Siberian Husky is a primitive sled dog and similarly to all sled dogs, the Husky has peaceable character, otherwise it wouldn’t be able to perform their duties. However, similarly to all Eskimo dogs, Huskies are very energetic dogs and if they aren’t walked sufficiently it can make a complete mess of the dwelling.

At the moment the developed breed «Siberian Husky» is used not only as a sled dog but as a companion animal and show dog as well. In all three cases human aggression is unacceptable, so this breed can’t be rated among dangerous canine varieties, although it can be definitely attributed to the breeds which are difficult to train.

And which breed poses real danger for humans?

11. The Russian Black Terrier

This breed that was developed during the 20 and 30-s of the past century is the only existed canine variety that was purposefully bred to hunt human. The Black Terrier was created by Soviet dog experts to guard detainees in camp prisons; its task was to make sure that they wouldn’t escape, including at the expense of detainees’ lives.

Unfortunately the repressions of the 30s also tolerate such an approach.
Nowadays the Russian Black Terrier is recognized by the FCI and has its own fanciers but it’s still unadvisable for a novice canine owner to adopt such a puppy. Although the Russian Black Terriers make great guardians, firstly, they become almost unstoppable if they start to carry out an attack (as all terriers, by the way) so you can’t be sure that you’ll manage to get it off an ill-intended person before he’ll quit putting up resistance.  And secondly, this pitch-black dog can try to boss its own «pack» around and attempt to take a dominative position at home. However it will continue to defend its masters from strangers but in this case the dog will perform this task at its own discretion.

Training of these dogs is a challenging yet interesting task. They suit best for those people who have already kept and trained large dogs.

And if you encounter the Russian Black Terrier with its master (even if he is just a kid) in the street, you’d better not even to believe meanly of them. This dog is a true expert in hunting humans, and you have a very slim chance to cope with it.

It’s well known, that many breeds were raised under certain conditions and with the clear purpose: either to happily knock a ball around or to hunt and to guard cattle. As for today’s dogs, everything depends on good breeding and love. That is why neglected or abandoned dogs can’t help returning to their aggressive ancestors’ pattern of life, which struggled for existence under harder conditions than now. Remember not to make the same mistake, especially when you’re an owner of the one dog’s breeds mentioned above.

Why dogs display aggression you can find in our other article – Why dogs bite?. However it turns to dogs, which don’t normally behave this way.

Read more: Full Dogs Attack Statistics by Breed