As a dog trainer I can assure you that most accidents are caused due to irresponsible owners and bad training. But genetics and prey drive play a big role in dogs behaviour too and should never be underestimated. According to The Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association and their study, these are 10 most dangerous puppies based on the number of fatalities in the last 20 years.
No 10 - St. Bernard
Origin: Switzerland
Weight: 110-180 lbs Height: 24-29 inches
Originally they were bred as rescue dogs, today kept mostly as companions. St.Bernards are big and require quite a bit of space. These generally easy going beasts love to play with children and are very active. 7 fatalities in this study.
No 9 - Great Dane
Origin: Germany
Weight: 90-120 lbs Height: 27-32 inches
This one of the largest breeds of dogs ever domesticated is well known to all of us from our children's favourite cartoon character. Yes Scooby Doo is based on Great Dane breed. Despite being stunning and majestic animals with loving and gentle nature, their immense size makes them an obvious threat around kids and even adults. 7 fatalities recorded.
No 8 - Chow Chow
Origin: China
Weight: 40-65 lbs Height: 18-22 inches
They can be only small little puppies but reports say they are responsible for the death of 8 people. Chow chows originally bred as hunting and shepherds dogs are well known for their aggressive personality. When bored can easily jump at strangers or even owners. They are very active and need a lot of attention.
No 7 - Doberman
Origin: Germany
Weight: 65-90 lbs Height: 26-28 inches
Dobermans have a reputation of one of the most aggressive dogs ever. They are usually trained for protection and defence. The right approach to training can make them very loyal to their masters and very dangerous towards perceived threat. Responsible for 9 fatalities. Most attacks were in defence of their owners. It is important not to engage in any kind of aggressive play and struggle with these dogs.
No 6 - Alaskan Malamute
Origin: North America
Weight: 80-110 lbs Height: 23-28 inches
Even though these dogs are more passive due to their use as work dogs to pull sled and help with manual labour, their size and sometimes violent behaviour might make them unsafe around children. They are very active and need planty of room to play. Death toll in this study-12.
No 5 - Wolf Dog Hybrid
Origin: Prehistoric
Weight: 70-90 lbs Height: 22-30 inches
Hybrid wolf-dog comes from mating a gray wolf and a dog. Even proper cross-breeding, domestication and training might not completely eliminate the pray drive of the wolf, making these animals quite dangerous to keep as pets. 14 listed fatalities:
No 4 - Husky
Origin: Siberia
Weight: 35-55 lbs Height: 20-24 inches
Being one of the oldest breeds of the dogs, Huskies are also known to be very aggressive. However their aggression is probably linked to a poor training because they are proved to be one of the smartest canines in the world. Their relation to the grey wolf perhaps explains their high prey drive and howling at the full moon. They tolerate cold weather very well and are used like their Alaskan cousin malamutes to pull sled. 15 fatalities reported.
No 3 - German Shepard
Origin: Germany
Weight: 70-85 lbs Height: 22-26 inches
These beautiful creatures have very obedient and reliable temper. Their high intelligence and aggressiveness makes them invaluable members of police forces and other guarding jobs. Originally German Shepards were used for grazing sheep. 17 fatalities make them third deadliest breed ever.
No 2 - Rottweiler
Origin: Germany
Weight: 85-110 lbs Height: 23-27 inches
Second place goes to Rottweiler which in this study was responsible for 39 deaths. This old breed requires a lot of training to dampen its prey drives. Their weight can reach over 70 kg and their usually passive behaviour is very unpredictable. Rottweilers are very well known to be prone to aggressive outbursts. They have very powerful jaws, great instinct for protection and usually don't like strangers and other dogs.
No 1 - Pit Bull
Origin: US
Weight: 30-55 lbs Height: 18-22 inches
And the winner is...American Pit Bull Terrier. 66 fatalities. Seeing these dogs freely running around the park without a muzzle usually sends shivers down people's spines. These extremely powerful and aggressive dogs can be quite unpredictable and dangerous. They are banned in many countries due to the amount of attacks reported to police or animal control. Pit bulls will require very responsible management and training approach.
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