10 MOST DANGEROUS DOGS

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.

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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.