The 10 Most Dangerous Dog Breeds Solely Based on Biting and Fatality Statistics

The most dangerous dog breeds is a very subjective thing to say or even put in the title of an article from a website that loves dogs.  We love dogs!  We consider this to be a fun and educational site so naturally one might question why we’re examining what the most dangerous dogs are. 

We are NOT in any way saying that these dog breeds are not safe.  It depends on a number of things such as genes, temperament and most obvious, how the dog is raised and trained.

So when we’re talking about dog attacks, it’s not always the dog’s fault but we still felt it would be useful to report on biting statistics of dogs just in case it might affect a person’s choice on buying a certain breed.   We’re not posting this article to discourage you from buying these dog breeds.  We just want to make you aware of the statistics out there in certain studies.  The Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association conducted a twenty year study on the most dangerous dog breeds, and here are the top 10 most dangerous dog breeds based on the amount of fatalities they have caused.

Again, this is purely statistical and should not discourage you from purchasing any of these breeds.

10.  St Bernard

Seven fatalities so it’s not like this breed is terribly dangerous.   The real reason for their potential danger is their sheer size.   St. Bernards are actually pretty lovable and affectionate dogs.  So often times they may end up harming someone or something just by bumping into them and getting a little too playful.

9.  Great Dane

Another dog with seven fatalities so again, not dangerous.  The Great Dane, like the St. Bernard can be troublesome because of its sheer size.  These are some big dogs but if groomed and trained properly will be great pets. Just be careful with Great Danes because they require a ton of care so know what you’re getting into.

8.  Chow Chow

According to the study the Chow Chow has been responsible for eight fatalities.  The Chow Chow does have an aggressive personality, especially around strangers and other pets.  Again however, this has to do with ownership and not always a genetic problem of the dog. So as long as they are treated well you shouldn’t have issues.

7.  Doberman Pinscher

Known to be one of the most aggressive breed of dogs ever, the Doberman Pinscher was one of the most recognizable dog breeds as they were used extensively as guard dogs.  Dobermans accounted for 9 fatalities in the study but most deaths were caused in defense of their owners.  This is a great, loyal dog.

6.  Malamute

This breed was responsible for 12 fatalities an is another case of a large dog causing unintended harm.   Families with children need to be careful if purchasing a malamute.  Just be sure to do your research.  We’re not saying not to buy one.  You just need o understand all the risks and benefits first

5.  Wolf-Dog Hybrid

This one is no surprise as half of this dog is wolf.  Even with proper crossbreeding, domestication, and training Wolf-dog hybrids maintain much of the prey drive of their wolf genetics making them quite dangerous to keep as pets.  If they’re domesticated clearly there’s less risk but their nature alone can eventually take effect in which case there’s not much an owner can do.

4.  Husky

With a total of 15 fatalities linked to Huskies in the study conducted, they are definitely known to be aggressive which is why they’re considered one of the most dangerous dogs, but this has been linked to poor training/obedience issues as Huskies rate as one of the most intelligent canines in the world.  We totally recommend getting one as these stats are just unlucky

3.  German Shepherd

Also like the Doberman, their high intelligence and aggressiveness makes them sure picks as guard and police dogs. With 17 fatalities attributed to them, they are the third most dangerous dog breeds.  This is certainly attributed to their line of work.  They’re more likely to get into dangerous situations than other dogs.

2.  Rottweiler

Coming in at #2, the Rottweiler was responsible for 39 fatalities in this study.  Their temperament is usually passive and attentive, but are known to be prone to aggressive outburst.  Rottweilers are more dangerous because of their owners.  They’re perceived as guard dogs and are treated in a more aggressive nature than most dogs.  Is a rottweiler the world’s most dangerous dog?  Almost but not quite.

1.  Pit Bull

To anyone who knows dogs, the American Pit Bull Terrier is no surprise at #1 on a list of deadliest dogs. This is considered the most dangerous dog. In this study the Pit Bull stood far ahead of all the other breeds with 66 fatalities attributed to it.  

However, remember, this is purely a statistic and doesn’t necessarily tell the whole picture.  Most people who have owned a PitBull for pure intentions (not to fight or intimidate) love this breed. 

While these dogs need to be trained due to their strength and ability to injure merely by circumstance, that is part of being a responsible dog owner.  Unfortunately the Pit Bull has been looped into a number of negative situations over the years, dog fighting being at the top of the list. 

Don’t get us wrong, this dog can be an extremely dangerous animal but do not forget that this breed is in general, mistreated more often than other breeds and gets a very bad rap.  While fatality statistics are the reason the Pit Bull is on this list, we at Puppytoob love this breed.

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1,960 Comments

  1. I am incredibly disappointed that someone would waste their time still posting things like this. Each dog is its own individual with their very own personality. Maybe you should do some background investigating as to why these fatalities happened and what the situation was surrounding the attack. Was the dog protecting its owner or itself?

    1. The Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association conducted a twenty year study. As we said, these were only biting statistics. We didn’t say these were necessarily bad dogs. It was simply based on bits and fatalities.

  2. Of course pit bulls are #1 on the list. The reason there have been so many deaths by these dogs is because they fall into the hands of idiot owners who abuse them and use them as fighting dogs. Therefore making them scared and angry which
    results in aggression. I have 2 pitbulls both of which are very well trained and love meeting new people. They’re extremely intelligent friendly dogs. Don’t let the media make you think otherwise. hell, I’ve seen way more aggression in yippy little lap dogs.

  3. I own a pit bull, but unlike the naive dog owners who insist ”my breed is not dangerousl”, I know my pit is much more dangerous than the average dog. I use good training to keep the risk low and ensure she has quality socialization with every human she should to keep her friendly, but most people just blindly ignore that some very lovable breeds do have slightly higher tendencies to be aggressive. If you ignore your dogs aggressive side blindly insistent that ” my” dog is safe, you put people around you at risk. You should not own an aggressive dog if you can’t set your ego aside and at least admit done dogs are higher risk than others, and done breeds are more dangerous than others.

  4. It is so easy to blame the dogs for their actions however I submit it is the irresponsible owners who are truly to blame for the behavior. People think you just go and pick up a dog and that’s it. Home Training is essential to have a truly happy healthy relationship with pets just like kids. You can always easily spot the ones that didn’t any home training……kids and dogs

  5. Was each dog in this study DNA tested to prove it’s breed? I doubt it.
    I’d bet money that most of the “pitbull” bites were mixed breed dogs that people incorrectly identified as pitbulls.

  6. I love my pit terrier! But I know he needs lots of exercise that keeps him happy and not hyper. Sweet dog. ..and I was the first to be leery when my husband mentioned getting a “pit “..I read up on their personalities, and he’s been so mascot dog ever since !

  7. as far as pit bulls being the #1 dangerous dog, well most of the cases its due to poor training among abuse by the owners, i have one and she is the sweetest dog i have i actually trust her more then i do my little dogs,the dog breed shouldn’t be blamed as much as humans should cause they are the ones training the dogs.i hate hearing how pits are so dangerous, when most of the time when a pit attacks if you look into the life of the pit it was mistreated, neglected or abused…. like it or not any dog can be dangerous..

  8. Good work; thank you. No-one SANE can state otherwise – 28 of the 33 dead in the States 2013 down to Fighting Breed dogs, 16 of those were innocent children. Time for people to wake up and realise that dogs are PURPOSE BRED, and that fighting breed dogs are not born ‘evil’, they are born with highly aggressive maul and kill propensities, put there deliberately over hundreds of years by US. Thank you again.

    1. Let’s ban SUVs then. These vehicles cause many thousands of deaths each year, many of them innocent children. SUV’s are built and designed with the idea that they can smash and crash their way through anything in their way. Is anyone surprised when they maul smaller cars and their occupants?

      1. If you had a choice between a make of SUV with a defect that killed 25 people last year and an SUV with no defect, which would you choose? Pitbulls killed 25 people last year; Labradors didn’t kill any. I would choose the Labrador.

        1. A lab attacked The Dog Whisperer Ceaser Milan. It was the only dog who actually attacked him. A yellow Lab. What do u say about that??????????

        2. How odd; since there were only 16 dog-related fatalities that year it’s a bit difficult to understand how “pit bulls” could have killed 25 people? Curious as to the source of that number – the CDC is the nation’s OFFICIAL organization that tracks ALL animal-related fatalities, and they clearly emphasize that they do not and have not since the early 70s tracked dog bites by breed, as it is NOT POSSIBLE to determine that. It is on their website, I daresay the US government’s agency that is responsible for tracking ALL health statistics for our country is a far more credible source for any information regarding dog bites, and/or fatalities than some spurious agenda-driven, sensationalized site that obtains it’s “statistics” from a web-crawler service set to gather all news stories with search terms including “dog,” “bite,” “attack,” “maul,” “death,” “pit,””bull,” and the like, then compiles the results of ALL the stories (which of course we all know are 100% true and accurately reported – NOT) and voila! Huge number of dog “fatalities,” all attributed by the website’s owner to “pit bulls” without any fact checkin, checks for duplicate dyories, accuracy, veracity . . . That’s how you end up with more deaths caused by pit bulls than actual victims of fog attacks in total. It’s astonishing how people can be either so gullible or else lazy that they can’t be bothered to even ask themselves where the information they’re reading is coming from and whether it’s even possible.

          1. Exactly the numbers and breakout of the numbers has a bad odor to it. You need something like a least 5-10 years of study to get a good reading as well as good information gathering. Focusing on just fatalities is not the whole story.

      2. Do to regulatory action by the government and personal injury and class action litigation motor vehicles have become steadily safer. The US death toll in motor vehicle accidents is now under 35,000 per year, about 2/3 of its level just 15 years ago and still declining. Its on course to decline below gun deaths in the next few years.

        So, by your reasoning, government regulation and lawsuits are the way to deal with dog attack fatalities.

      3. Again, a terrific post. IF we were talking about cars. The post is about dogs so your comments are inconsequential and not on subject.

      4. Not totally untrue but don’t forget as long as 18 wheelers and cars share roads, cars of any size lose when you talk about head-one or broadside impacts. I know of a new Mini Cooper Driver who died when his car was hit head-on by an 18 wheeler even though his car slid backwards into the path of the truck. The drivers area was virtually intact but the sheer force of that 18 wheelers mass hitting that car snapped his neck.
        SUVs sales increase ARE an overreaction to the perceived and real threat of crashes but even an SUV driver and passengers die when an 18 wheeler rolls over or into them at highway speeds.

    2. Here’s the thing: if you were to look at stories of dog maulings from 20 – 30 years ago, the dogs involved were mainly Rottweilers. Twenty to thirty years before that, it was Dobermans. Twenty to thirty years before that, it was German Shepherds. Twenty years from now, it will be some other breed.

      There are always people in society who will want to have a big, bad (in their eyes) dog. Some for nefarious purposes, some are image related. People with those mindsets choose particular breeds, to start, and then through “training” and usually bad management, end up with a dog that they really can’t control. I use to live across the street from some folks that had a Rottweiler, a very sweet dog. (I always suspected he was smarter than his owner.)

      Anyway, one day I saw the man I think was his owner trying to get the dog to attack a buddy of his. And the dog was having none of it. He kept backing away from the proposed victim, and looking at his owner like, “are you nuts?”

      Another point: the third most dangerous dog on this list is the German Shepherd. That’s the same breed that’s used quite frequently as a Guide Dog for the blind.

      The interesting thing about fighting dogs is that they were bred to fight other dogs. In fact, a human referee was supposed to be able to separate a fighting pair bare-handed, without being bitten. If any of the dogs in a fight bit a human, that dog was put down immediately. That certainly seems to offer proof that something has gone seriously awry with breeding these dogs.

      If you could snap your fingers and have every “fighting” dog disappear, it wouldn’t take long for the collective bad-asses of the world to settle on another breed. Because there are bigger, stronger dogs out there.

      1. I think the German Shepherd, like the Doberman, are on the list because they attacked protecting their humans. Big difference than a dog running loose attacking innocent people in the neighborhood. German Shepherds and Dobermans can be the most loving family dog there is.

        1. Really? Because when I was 6 I was attacked by our family German Shepard. My face was unrecognizable and I was in the hospital for two and a half weeks. This dog NEVER showed any signs of aggression and we never rough housed it. I was playing fetch with him. I threw the ball and ran with him to get it and that’s when he bite my face and shoot me like a rag doll. So he was not defending his owner. Even though this happened I am not scared of German Shepards. ALL dogs have the ability to do this. I have grown up with pitbulls and they are the only ones that never made me feel uncomfortable. My chow lab mix charged at me through a fence when I was going to pet him. My shitzu bit my brother and put and hole in his lip when he went to kiss him.

          1. Prayers to you. My daughter also had her faced ripped off but it was when a neighbor allowed kids to touch new puppies with mom there. It was a mutt of no specific type. Don’t take this wrong but a word of wisdom…when you chased the ball at the same time the dog did at that point he saw you as competition for his item of possession. Sad I know, you didn’t know but this is what is wrong with people owning dogs of any kind. They are animals…period. Read my article to understand it can be done but you must know the nuances of each dogs personalities. This makes all the difference in the world. God bless.

    3. dogs who are trained for fighting are trained to fight other animals, not attack and maul humans. Any breed of dog can be trained to attack a human. ANY breed. My pittie has an absolute wonderful purpose !! To prove to people like you that it is all the the raising of your dog. Pits are supposedly high prey breeds. My girl lives with 3 cats who run the house. They sleep together and eat together !! Blame the deed not the breed !

    1. The Great Dane and the Apollo of the dog world. Big gentle giants that like to relax on your sofa and try to sit on your lap. Protective, loyal, and have a sense of humor.

      1. I absolutely agree. When I met my wife, she had 3 Danes, and they were all sweet and gentle as can be, and yes, they do try to get on your lap, lol. They can be very entertaining and funny, you said it right when you said “Big gentle giants”. The only downside to Danes is their lifespan is very short, 8,9, and if you’re lucky, 10 years. They have all since passed, but now we have Jack, our 5 year old American Staffordshire Terrier, (Pit Bull). I described him above.

        1. any dog can attack, its all according to how they are trained, how they were abused or not, how they are treated. I find smaller dogs to be much more aggressive than the large breads. If there is any bread that should be labeled as dangerous it is the human breed. The human breed has been known to kill out of pleasure, greed, revenge, discrimination, etc. The breeds that attack usually can be found that they were trained to attack or were abused.

          1. This dog was owned by a family member, trained right, and never abused. The dog just snapped. Any dog can snap and decide to kill. It’s in their nature.

          2. That sort of thing has been caused by over-breeding of popular breeds; a while back there were several cases of Saint Bernards suddenly snapping and attacking people.

            And the Saint Bernard is quite probably the least-aggressive dig in the world – the story goes that the most famous of the original Hospice of St Bernard rescue dogs in the Alps found a wounded soldier in the snow (during the Franco-Prussian War), and was digging to him when the soldier (hallucinating from his wounds and the cold) thought the dog was attacking and stabbed him with a bayonet.

            The dying dog curled up with the soldier and his remaining body heat helped keep him alive until the monks found them.

            My mother had a Saint, and i think that the only time i ever heard hims speak genuinely threateningly to anyone (as in “Touch me and draw back a stump”) was when the vet wanted to check him for worms. (He’d just heard my mom’s Springer Spaniel complaining loudly about the process…)

          3. I had a St. Bernard who was gentle and loving with me and my wife, but dangerous to strangers. From the time she was a puppy she was a “fear biter,” which is particularly problematic, requiring vigilance on our part. She was well trained, and never seriously injured anyone, but was prone to “nip,” often sneakily.

          4. My Saints are dangerous to strangers too and they will let you know that, but my house is the only one in the area that never got robbed

          5. That’s the same scenario with Rottweilers (and a few other big breeds). Rotties have a naturally passive and gentle temperament, but when a huge craze for big aggressive guard dogs became popular in the 80s, they were one of the most overbred breeds in the country, bred by breeders who pay no attention to the breed standards, thus diminishing the integrity of the breed. That has since largely been corrected, of course, and Rotties again are some of the best, most loyal, friendly dogs one could ever hope for.

          6. Cocker spaniels have been through the over-breeding/rescue cycle something like three or four times…

            …and don’t get me started on show collies, with skulls so narrow their brain has to be about the size of a large legume, or shelties so overbred for “delicate proportions” that they snap their leg bones jumping down off the couch…

          7. Yes and yes. A coworker was trimming his shelties toe nails and the thing started bleeding so bad they had to take it to the vet! Apparently they have a very thin membrane that runs much closer to the surface than normal.

            Chow’s with their blue tongues are also crazy.

          8. No matter what breed of dog you have, you have to be careful when trimming their nails. This is also true of birds.

          9. The Shetland Sheepdog i.e. shelies came from Sheltland Island, by natural selection their bred grow smaller because of the terrain or habitat in which it lived.

          10. Well, yeah. I KNOW that. What i was referring to is selective breeding to make them even smaller and more “delicate”.

            My comment about snapping bones by jumping off the couch was because some years ago some friends had one who did it twice.

          11. I like Rotties, I don’t know if they’re good for kids or not. They were Germanys first bank couriers. German merchants would put a sack of coins in the Rottie’s mouth and he would drop them at the bank or so the story goes.

          12. The only two Rotties I knew personally were both delightfully goofy, slobbering softies who lived for chasing tennis balls.

          13. I grew up with a rottie. My rottie was great with me as a kid and with our family. Our rottie did not like strangers at all. She was very protective. But, I think my parents were cool with that because they knew if I was walking her there was no chance of anybody harming, kidnapping me etc. I remember reading some story about a little girl getting kidnapped while walking her dog (it was one of those small yippy dogs) and I’m willing to bet if she’d been walking a rottie her family would still have her.

          14. This is what has happened to the Staffordshire Terrier. The pit Bull, The genetic line has been tampered with, but the dog itself still remains loyal and docile to humans, they however, do not get along with other dogs.

          15. that’s why dogs like cocker spaniel should be on that list they bite more people every year then all dogs breeds combined, I know I see the statistics on dog bites for every year and for the last 5 years the dog you would never suspect Is the number one biter that lovely little spaniel with the sweet face who goes nuts when the owner isn’t standing there

          16. IF YOU LOOKED AT THE BEGINNING O FTHE STORY I TLISTED BOTH CATAGORIES BITTERS AND KILLERS so sorry I knock your precious little cocker spaniel but the truth is the truth

          17. “Dangerous” Based on biting and fatalitys. Cocker spaniels are not dangerous. More like annoying.

          18. Say that after one bites your child because he reached for the dog’s possession.

          19. IS said child alive? Yes.
            Had it been a fighting breed dog, the attack would have been fatal.
            That’s the difference that the Bully crowd just doesn’t get.
            A Chihuahua is never really going to be able to kill you no matter how seriously he threatens you. It does not matter one iota whether every little lap dog in the world is aggressive.

            They cannot kill us.

          20. My little dog is there for rodents. And she is not a lap dog. Big difference.
            I also have a DDR line GSD that will rip anyone into shreds who trespasses.
            I have all bases covered and no need for an untrainable animal that craps in my house.

          21. So again pretty cool that your little dog actually has a job but I fail to see how your having a little dog for rodent hunting and big dog for protection is at all different from me having a cat for rodent hunting and a big dog for protection. Each has one job only in all cases. Seems like we are on even ground here. But again perhaps I am just a lucky pet owner and I would say you are as well. 😉

          22. Go back and re-read. My whole point is that the cat should never have been elevated to the status of a dog, i,e, “cats and dogs”.
            My little dog ALSO sounds the alarm when there is an intruder on my property. Does your cat do that as well?
            The cat is a disposable pet like a goldfish. Don’t believe it?
            Count the number of dead, unclaimed cats on the roads as compared to dogs.
            A goldfish has one job- entertaining the owner.
            The cat can do one job more than the goldfish…… kill some mice.
            The dog can do a dozen jobs in addition to the one job a goldfish can or the 2 jobs a cat can.
            As has been noted, many cats won’t even do their one additional task of killing rodents.
            Cats are more in line with gerbils and pet birds in the grand scheme of things.
            They are NOWHERE near the status of Man’s best friend.
            Period.

          23. again you are an idiot who idolizes one creature and downs the rest, it is little different than racism.

          24. wow! just wow! I don’t think I have ever seen such an ignorant respnonse.
            You have definately drunk the kool-aid from the litter box.

          25. The only idiot is someone who compares animal breeds to human races.
            You sound like a vegan PETA moron.

          26. Actually my cat does do that. Anytime someone approaches the house he runs to the door growling (just like a dog) and puffs up as big as he can get. That said he is the only cat I have ever had that does this and I doubt any intruder would be intimidated by him but my dog has the intimidation and actual protection covered. And I do have to say that I will be just as heart broken to lose my cat as to lose my dog which to be clear is a lot. I am quite attached to them.

          27. That’s not the issue.
            The issue is the overinflation of the cat’s status since the 20th century.

          28. Hmm well if that is the issue you have with it you may want to push that timeline back a smidge because I’m pretty sure they had an even more elevated status back in ancient Egypt. At least we don’t worship them as gods anymore… well most of us anyhow. 😉

          29. Even in ancient Egypt they knew which animal to take hunting….the one that will work. The Dog.

          30. Nice reach, but no cigar.
            Dogs have been with us for perhaps 50 thousand years.
            Cats, 10 thousand.
            There is always going to be some idiot worshipping something at any given time. This has no bearing on the solid fact that dogs enrich our lives in a myriad of ways and cats are mainly a pest animal unless confined 24/7.

          31. Try training your cat or gerbil to lead a blind person down a busy city street………yeah that’s what I thought. Now go stick your head back in the sand.

          32. no, if the dog had been trained right it would not have been fatal, but it would have still been serious because of the animals size

          33. I guess your smarter than the people that wrote this article. It took you 2 days to reply. Next time I will use shorter words so it won’t take you so long to comprehend. Say hi to your dad Uncle Bob for me.

          34. oh wow now that’s original for a girl named woody. sorry I took 2 days for me respond I was like doing something like living my life off the computer. not everyone sits in front of these thing 24/7 making such highly intelligent comment like you little woody

          35. Thank you! That is my choice for the most aggressive breed I’ve ever dealt with. I’ve worked with Rotties, Dobies, and Shepherds with never a problem, but a silkie terrier pup and a male cocker were the only unmanageable dogs.

          36. Your comment, “That is my choice for the most aggressive breed I’ve ever dealt with. I’ve worked with Rotties, Dobies, and Shepherds with never a problem, but a silkie terrier pup and a male cocker were the only unmanageable dogs.”

            Your comment is absurd!

            December 2014
            Portage, IN Edward L. Cahill, 40, Fatal pit bull attack (Christmas Day)
            Corpus Christi, TX Rita Woodard, 64 Fatal pit bull attack

            November 2014
            Robeson County, NC Alemeaner Dial, 83 Fatal pit bull attack

            October 2014
            Stanislaus County, CA Juan Fernandez, 54 Fatal pit bull attack

            September 2014
            Sharp County, AR Alice Payne, 75 Fatal pit bull attack
            Benton County, MS David Glass Sr., 51 Fatal pit bull attack

            August 2014
            Miami-Dade County, FL Javon Dade Jr., 4 Fatal pit bull attack
            St. Charles County, MO Deriah Solem, < 2 Fatal pit bull attack
            Levy County, FL Joel Chirieleison, 6 Fatal pit bull attack
            Butler County, OH Cindy Whisman, 59 Fatal pit bull attack

            July 2014
            Montgomery County, OH Johnathan Quarles, Jr., < 1 Fatal pit bull attack
            Hillsborough County, FL Logan Sheppard, 4 Fatal pit bull attack

            May 2014
            New Haven County, CT Rita Pepe, 93 Fatal pit bull attack
            Kent County, DE Kasii Haith, 4 Fatal pit bull attack
            Lee County, AL Katie Morrison, 20 Fatal pit bull attack

            April 2014
            Highlands County, FL Jessica Norman, 33 Fatal pit bull attack
            Bexar County, TX Petra Aguirre, 83 Fatal pit bull attack
            St. Clair County, AL John Harvard, 5 Fatal pit bull attack

            March 2014
            Kaufman County, TX Dorothy Hamilton, 85 Fatal pit bull attack
            Holmes County, MS Christopher Malone, 3 Fatal pit bull attack
            Terrebonne Parish, LA Mia DeRouen, 4 Fatal pit bull attack
            Maricopa County, AZ Nancy Newberry, 77 Fatal pit bull attack

            February 2014
            Guilford County, NC Braelynn Coulter, 3 Fatal pit bull attack
            Bell County, TX Je'vaeh Mayes, 2 Fatal pit bull attack

            January 2014
            McLean County, IL Kara Hartrich, 4 Fatal pit bull attack
            Comal County, TX Betty Clark, 75 Fatal pit bull attack
            Harris County, TX Christina Bell, 43 Fatal pit bull attack

          37. You missed the words, “I’ve ever dealt with.” I have been around a few Pits, they were gentle and affectionate, but I NEVER trust a pit. The breed was developed specifically for its aggressiveness, not for its social temperament. To me, a pit bull is like a loaded gun left lying around it is harmless, until it goes off.

          38. I am on my third bully/bully mix in my 56 years, and guns all my life too, never had a problem with either. Discipline, love, attention and training go a long way, my current knucklehead may put welts on your leg from wagging his tail.

          39. <3 :p lol..i am 21, and have 2 pit mixes (one is pit/lab; one is boxer/beagle/pit) the boxer/beagle/pit is a handful, yes, but is a snuggler and enjoys running with me on our walks.

          40. ANY dog can and will fight if need be OR trained to do so. Maybe people should look up the history of a breed before posting hate et al.

          41. Any dog CAN fight, true. Some breeds, probably like the one you own, were bred TO fight. Fight and kill. You cannot erase hundreds of years of genetics.

            Oh and before you say your pit bull never hurt a fly, let me add that my uncle had a pet cougar that never hurt a fly either.
            That does not mean cougars make good pets or that all pit bulls are trustworthy.

          42. Not worth replying to, again sorry for your stereotyping of dogs in general. I feel a vendetta that will go nowhere.

          43. i agree with you! i have two pit mixes that are amazing, and will protect my family if the need arises: including barking at people who may or may not be friendly at the door. we usually don’t have that many people who call on our house, but usually it is someone the dogs know (the barks are usually friendly, like ‘we are so happy to see you! let me bark at you to show my excitement’ we have them sit and wait, or sit and stay, but it is definitely a work-in-progress. lol

          44. While true that not all pit bulls are trust worthy, that does not mean that all are bad. For all to be lumped together because of dog fighting and attacks is not right, while most have never been in the situation. Not all dogs of a certain breed are bad. There are a few out there that are though, just like humans. Some good, some bad. Environmental exposure and upbringing has a lot to do with it.

          45. True. But ONE type of dog accounts for over 80% of all incidents in this country. How do you spin that fact?

          46. Probably because most of those dogs that attacked were either horrible abused or emaciated due to neglect. Also, a number of times a person was attacked because they tried to break up a dog fight. A dog that is well-fed and in a loving home won’t generally attack.

          47. I am sorry you are so misinformed. Please do some real research and get back to us.

          48. There’s actually a lot that goes into that calculation that makes its accuracy a bit questionable. For ones lot of attacks go unreported and also a lot of non pits and mix dogs that resemble pits get labeled as pits just because some idiot thinks that is what they are. Happens to mastiff owners all the time (ppl assuming their dog is a pit when it isn’t) and it is pretty darn annoying.

            Anyhow any breed can be dangerous. I take these sorts of articles with a grain of salt and count them as pure entertainment only. The numbers quoted aren’t exactly based on scientific unbiased studies.

            Case in point my dog and I were attacked by a standard poodle while out on a walk last week. My mastiff mix dog did not retaliate even though I’m sure a study like this would consider him the more dangerous breed. Difference is my dog is well trained, was on a leash and has a great temperament and the poodle was being walked off leash and was clearly untrained.

          49. Now add up all the poodle attacks in the country.
            Yours might be the only one.
            Now add up all the pit bull attacks.
            End of discussion.

          50. My point wasn’t to compare the stats. My point was simply that if you give an idiot a dog then that dog can easily become dangerous regardless of breed. I think the difference is typically the type of people that are drawn to certain types of dogs. Most people don’t consider the poodle a tough dog so if they are looking for “tough” they aren’t going to go for a poodle also since it’s considered a showy dog you get a lot of the dog show crowd getting them which means the dog will be trained. Now a lot of people looking for just “tough” aren’t the dog show crowd they are the crowd that thinks its okay to throw your dog in the yard and ignore it and then expect it to behave magically. In other words, idiots. Lazy idiots. So ya I think there is a lot of truth behind blaming the owner and the breed gets a bad wrap because they attract the wrong sorts of people (beyond even the abusive types I mean).

          51. The meanest guy in the world is not going to be able to turn a Chinese Crested into a killer attack dog by abusing it. It ain’t going to happen.
            The nicest guy in the world can own an extremely dominant/aggressive Rottie and no amount of love or hope will change that dog’s genetics.
            A dog designed to herd livestock will nip and heel.
            A dog designed to kill large mammals will do just that….people included.
            It ain’t rocket science.

            And btw, most American dog owners are, and have always been, idiots.
            Unfortunately, many of them these days have dangerous breeds.
            The idiot with a friendly Golden Retriever is not a threat to society.
            The idiot with a aggressive Pit Bull is a menace.

          52. No amount of “environmental exposure” is going to turn a Corgi into a deerslayer.
            A pit bull was designed to do things others dogs wont do.
            Period.

          53. its training not genetics. the human changes how the dog acts, treat it cruel and it will be cruel.

          54. Wrong again. If you know nothing about a topic, it’s wise to keep your mouth shut.

          55. Wrong. It’s both. Genetics lays the foundation of what the dog will be able to do. Please stop spreading your lies and misinformation.

          56. No ammount of training can change hundreds of years of selective breeding. I could beat and starve my schweenie, but it would be impossible to make him a killer. Also, name another breed where it is recommended that the owner carry a break stick.

          57. lol Well you are partially right anyhow. I am not completely citified as I spent my summers and vacations in childhood on a farm with my grandparents. But for most of my life I have definitely been a suburbanite… I wouldn’t care for living in the big city (I need my space) but I like having stuff close enough to visit. Still I would think even among country folk that owning a cougar would be fairly unusual. None of my less urban family have ever owned that sort of wildlife… cows, chickens, goats, sheep, horses, dogs, cats… but no wild cats.

          58. i have two pit mixes. they are well-behaved, and will protect our family-including my niece (2) (whom they love getting fed and walked by). the oldest is 5 and is a ret. therapy dog through TDI. she is just a dog with a sad beginning (stray in Downey, CA) who now enjoys life for almost 4 1/2 yrs with us.

          59. I checked your information and 90% is made up. You need professional help you are a mentally flawed human being.

          60. The fatality stats are spot on and easy to corroborate. Reading comprehension is highly underrated.

          61. It’s a list based on fatalities. I’m not a fan of cockers, but they’re not killing anybody.

          62. I had them all my life and never looked back.For me its a Saint Bernard or no dog

          63. Dogs that “snap” without being provoked (teasing, etc) usually have some sort of physiological reason for doing so such as a brain injury, disease, or tumor. It’s not “just in their nature”.

          64. actually many years ago my Fathers brother (before I was born) was killed by his dog – a St Bernard ironically. He was shaving one morning and it kept watching him intently. What they theorized happened was he had gotten drunk and was never drunk before, this was a one off and the Dog didnt know what to make of this and the dog leaped up knocked him down, hit his head on the tub or sink while still inebriated and that combination killed him. The dog went nuts and its barking led to help being called but it was too late. From what I heard the dog didn’t attack anyone else, Landlord, EMT’S etc…
            My father disdains dogs to this day and my Mother was always afraid of Cats so growing up I was really screwed in the pet dept. actually co-owned a cat for a time with another kid but we had to keep her at his house. A few times I snuck her in for visitation and for as big as that house was/is she found MY room to hide in.

          65. my little rescue wheaten poodle mix snap and kill?….wouldn’t THAT be an Internet sensation….

          66. The dog was originally a wild animal that hunted, chased down it prey and killed and ate it. Even though domesticated for thousands of years, they still have the capacity to revert at any time. Sometimes tumors in the brain, or swelling in it. Sometimes a cruel passerby taunting it when you aren’t home, maybe a wasp stung it. Many reasons why a super gentle dog snaps and attacks a person. If you listen to nearly every person who ends up in court for their dogs actions, it’s the same story ” He’s never done this before”. I feel sorry for those who have to put down their dog because it turned vicious, but denial is a more sad state.

          67. “If you listen to nearly every person who ends up in court for their dogs actions, it’s the same story ” He’s never done this before”.”
            And nearly every one of them is lying. There are usually signs and they are often ignored.
            I had a co-workers Malamute that attacked one of my dogs. While I knew he was assertive, he hadn’t told me of the aggressive incidents the dog had had prior (bit a caregiver, vet warned him of aggressiveness) plus the breeder neglected to inform him that the dog had wolf back a couple generations in his lineage.

          68. The human was originally a wild animal that hunted, chased down it prey and killed and ate it. Even though domesticated for thousands of years, they still have the capacity to revert at any time. Sometimes tumors in the brain, or swelling in it. Sometimes a cruel passerby taunting it when you aren’t home, maybe a wasp stung it. Many reasons why a super gentle human snaps and attacks a person. If you listen to nearly every person who ends up in court for their humans actions, it’s the same story ” He’s never done this before”. I feel sorry for those who have to put down their human because it turned vicious, but denial is a more sad state.

            FTFY

            just wanted to prove that you can could replace dog with any other animal on the planet it what you said would still apply. I just picked the most vicious animal I could think of.

          69. And the fact that is conceivable to mate a human with a primate…would make that Primate the most dangerous animal on Earth..but I see and agree with you.

        2. Dogs, like people, do occasionally suffer from mental illness. The only really mentally ill dog I’ve known was a German Shepard that had washed out of police dog training. It would wag it’s tail and act friendly as a pretext, luring you in until you got close enough for it to bite you! Also, dogs are pack animals. Whenever introduced to a new member of the “pack”, there is a chance they will act aggressive in order to establish their place in the hierarchy above the new member. Best way to deal with this is to muzzle the dog and have the new person bite the dogs ear (gently) or in some other way assert dominance. A friend gave me his only Black Lab because it had become a liability (it bit a lawyer that was visiting). The next morning, when I walked into the dogs room, it growled at me. I grabbed it’s muzzle, got up in it’s face, and stared straight into it’s eyes — and after that, she never had a problem with me, even when I punished her for getting into the garbage. Once you understand that almost all dog behavior derives from their pack instincts, their behavior is quite predictable (this also works for human beings, much of their behavior, including altruism, derives from tribal instinct).

          1. Animals do not just “snap” anymore than people do. There was something wrong to begin with.

          2. Tail wagging is not always a sign of friendliness. It often means you’re stressing them out, and they’re trying to warn you. To imagine that dogs can make plans to dupe humans is just ridiculous.

        3. There’s exceptions to every rule. Great Danes are in fact gentle. And they’re giants. I’ve seen dachshunds attack people. Had one bite my heel and hang on as a matter of fact. Don’t judge the whole lot by one.

          1. Dachshund is #1 on many aggressive dogs lists. I adopted one. He’s good now, but what a challenge he was!

          2. I’d be more worried about being bitten by a neurotic little Chihuahua or terrier than any of the giant breeds, having owned both a Great Dane and a Jack Russell Terrier.

          1. True. I think I read where a cat is capable of understanding upwards of …. I want to say like 28 or 29 words on average! Now…. that doesn’t mean it’s going to act like it understands 29 words, words like NO, STOP, COME HERE, DONT DO THAT, PUT THAT BACK…. Now I think I know why divorced men tend not to be cat owners! 🙂

          2. Since when is it right to be ONLY a dog or cat lover? Animal lovers do not discriminate.

          3. You may love Hippos, but would you want to live with one?
            Cats are a species more in line with Goldfish, Guinea Pigs, and Hedgehogs as pets. The Domestic Dog is an animal that has been genetically engineered for thousands of years to become a member of a Human family, totally eschewing his way of life so that he may serve his new leaders.

            My objection is to this latter day trend of trying to make all of our pets equal in stature.

            Is a cat or a gerbil really going to save your life in the manner that a Protection dog will?

            My terrier is a better ratter than any cat who has ever lived.
            Companionship is the only thing the cat brings to the table.
            Dogs have companionship in spades plus many other assets that enrich our lives.

            Cats are a luxury that we can live without.
            Without dogs, humanity might have gone extinct.

          4. Wow are you off-base! First of all, it’s stupid to say that without dogs we might be extinct! Just idiotic. But cats specifically were domesticated to deal with very harmful pests like rats and mice. You pick ONE thing SOME dogs do, protect houses or families, and pretend that is all that matters? And if you really think a cat is like a fish or a guinea pig, you must be a very unfriendly person, because cats treat me wonderfully! I find that when people dislike animals, it is because of some deficiency in them, not the animals.

          5. Are you really that clueless? Or just a fanatical cat lover? Most likely both.
            Go bird hunting with your cat and see how it takes before you starve to death.
            I never said I dislike ANY animals. Your reading comprehension needs LOTS of work. What I said is that dogs are in a different category than any other animal on Earth. They are MORE than just a PET, which is what cats, gerbils, snakes, and goldfish are. Do I REALLY need to go through the entire list of how dogs have brought us to the point where we are today? Are you that idiotic that you would compare a working animal that has enriched human existence for possibly 50,000 years to a house pet that has been with us for a quarter of that time? Maybe it’s time for you to read some books and educate yourself.
            And by the way, I will repeat myself because you mention the ONE job cats can do ….my terrier is a better ratter than any cat in the world.

            Some people need everything spelled out for them….

          6. You have some serious issues. Too bad that I don’t get a woody over dogs like you do. What a moron. Go fume about some other meaningless issue, you wingnut.

          7. I have serious issues? Pot meet kettle.
            YOU are the one who has a problem with “man’s best friend”(a moniker that will NEVER be applied to your house-crapping, disease ridden, bird killing pet of choice).
            Anyone who hates dogs as much as you do is a serious douche bag.
            I honestly don’t have time to explain the world to uneducated, dog-hating morons. Go lick your cat’s butt and have a wonderful day.

          8. now you’re throwing insult that have no force behind them, build a bridge and get over it!

          9. Doc, you do have a serious issue. Most of the Dog breeds that I know of are breed for a certain treat. There a a few breeds to you can go hunting with, but most are not hunters while most cats are hunters, and yes the cat if you are part of their pack do lieve you special treats.
            How many breed of dog are classified as companion dogs? Which by the way most cat are great companion to their “owners’.

            Before you yout get you panties in a knot I have own Rotts , Doberman, Poms, and all around mutts. Yes I even own several cats also, both makes fine pets and companion. Companion is what most want from their pets.

          10. I hope you meant to say “bred for a certain trait”.
            Cats are not pack animals. You have displayed your uneducated opinion on this topic, however this is not the topic.
            The topic is the mistaken PC ideal that cats are equal to dogs. They are not. Not even close.
            Gerbils and parakeets also offer companionship just like a cat does.
            While YOUR dog may ONLY offer companionship, many of us out here in the world own dogs who perform tasks.
            Tasks that a cat will NEVER be able to accomplish.
            That is why the dog is man’s best friend and the cat is a disposable pet like a goldfish.

          11. whenever anyone gets dogs …… have it get well trained and you be fine if not then good luck having them as pets !!

          12. Doc Savage – btw cool that your terrier kills rats. I typically feel that small dogs are worthless. I’m a big dog person myself. Most small dogs I come across are little more than accessories for their owners.

            I do think my cat would beat your dog in a rat killing competition though. My cat is a vicious killing machine. 😉

            Life is all about balance in my opinion. I have my big dogs and they are great guard dogs and we do athletic competitions together. And I have my cats who take care of the rodent and bug population.

            Also I do feel a little qualified to comment on your cattitude since I am a fan of both cats and dogs. Cats can be best friends to people just like dogs. Not all of them obviously but also not all dogs can be either. 😉

            I have had cats that will try to protect me (as in literally attack people they see as threats). Not their fault that their size makes them less effective at it. Although I can tell you that the can leave some impressive scratches behind on that would be threat (just ask my ex lol).

            I would say its partially the personality of each individual animal and partially how it is raised. Never had an animal that didn’t adore me and work hard for me.

            Maybe I am just lucky. *shrugs*

          13. Big Dog guy here too,,,,but just rescued 3 street strays..all on the same day!!…trying not to trip over them and they’re way more work than the Dobermanns..but as I age I worry that I won’t be able to care for a large sick dog…lifting them cleaning them..wife said “go smaller”…I’ll probably appreciate thjat if I make 80…but damn do I miss those Dobes…LUCI I LUCI II and Gypsy..hope you’re all;; having fun on the Rainbow Bridge…

          14. G-Man – I hear you my s.o. has told me that I must be able to lift and carry any dog we get. That was in response to my suggestion that the next dog be either an English Mastiff or Great Dane. I pointed out that there are stairs and ramps and not much reason for me to be lifting the dog when full grown. But, illness and old age was brought to my attention… so there is that. I always thought Dobes were lovely dogs who get a bad wrap. How are you adjusting to the small dogs?

          15. tripping over them..almost caught their frail little bodies closing a door…they are MUCH more work than larger dogs at least at this stage..if I want to lie on the couch the three immediately jump on me….. face,chest, private areas etc…I’m hoping to teach the heavier one (26lbs) how to do CPR…and I think we’ve taught the little “Woodle” one how to scratch our backs :^)…Maybe start doing foster care for the larger dogs Nik…then all you have to do is “let em go”…not hard at all right ?:^(…..Mastiffs and Danes are just soooooo beautiful I feel I’m blessed by the GODS whenever I run into one on the street…

          16. I truly appreciate your preference for larger breed dogs. I’m easily bothered by a little yapping heel bitter that pays no mind to their owners constant yapping back at them! For most of my life I have preferred the nature of larger breeds – that is until I was introduced, by a friend, to the Miniature Pinscher. I found a great local breeder and chose my first Min Pin. What an ambassador for the breed she was! Highly intelligent, easily trained and obedient. They are loyal – almost to a fault. Even if they are in a family setting they tend to select their one human and will find a way to perch on that one’s lap if they are cold or just wanting comfort. They will choose their human’s side in any altercation, and will admonish other dogs who do not show the proper respect to their human. They have the confidence to be the alpha among other canines. They were specifically breed to catch rats and mice so they are fearless, tenacious hunters. Mine successfully tackles anything from lizards and geckos to squirrels, snakes and opossums much larger than she. I was amazed the first time I saw her jump about four feet up a tree and catch a squirrel that was too slow, and even more when she caught a four foot snake, shake it to a quick demise and then eviscerate it before consuming the poor creatures. Although I have already lost my first two Min Pins, my third continues to prove the consistency of the breed’s attributes. Although they are not miniaturized Doberman Pinscher, as so many people believe, they are still in the Pinscher family and may be the choice you are looking for if you are an ardent fan of “Dobs” and need to scale down. This may be the breed for you.

          17. So kind of you to take the time to write this to me and thank you for acknowledging that Min Pins are not miniature Dobermanns…actually the Min Pin is a much older breed…I had a Min. Manchester terrier and thought seriously of getting a standard size one. in a picture you can’t tell size a lot of the times and these actually are identical looking to Dobermanns..but when you decide to rescue you pretty much take pot luck….of course you could search out rescue sites for the particular breed you want..but my rescues more or less came to me online…read their stories and you’re hooked…I might add that I always use a double “n” when spelling Dobermann because that’s correct..don’t know why it was shortened..but it’s a man’s name and Louis Dobermann created the breed…also if I may puff a little..there’s NO SUCH THING as a Warlock Dobermann…..there was an unusually large Dobermann named WARLOCK..and that’s about as far as it goes…For LUCI BRUTUS DESTINY, LUCI RONNIE DALE, and GYPSY BRENDON St. ROMAINE..I miss you all so much and I’ll go bnefore my tears short oput this damn keyboard..

          18. Thank you for the interesting information on the variation of the spelling of Dobermann. I’ve seen it both ways, and my spell check corrects the spelling to a single “n” so I have always used that spelling. However, now that I am aware of the origin of the name I shall continue to give credit to their namesake. I have seen the Manchester Terrier, and they are practically identical to the Min Pin, but they are about half again the height of the Min Pin. Having only seen the one, it would be unfair to make comparisons between the breeds. I have decided that should I choose to get another large breed, I would definitely look into the Dobermann. I also have two large dogs now, Buddy and Scruffie. Both of them found me when they were puppies, both of whom I feel had been “dropped off” in my area. All I can say is that they are such great dogs that those who abandoned them really lost out! My vet said Buddy appears to have Cur in him due to his blue with brown irises and gold coat, and that Scruffie is a true mutt. Both are around fifty pounds each and worth their weight in gold. Of course Sasha, my Min Pin, keeps them in line!

          19. I’ve had Toy Fox Terriers for the last 10 years and they’re much like your Min Pin in personality and tenacity. They’re breed from Min Pins, Fox Terriers, Italian Greyhounds and some people say the chihuahua. My parents own one that regularly catches birds in the yard. Smartest and easiest dog I’ve ever owned or trained. I love my little dogs. I love big dogs too but I don’t think I want to own or handle one.

          20. I think Dobies are great dogs and protectors of their family. People may have been afraid of them in the 70’s, but they have never killed people like pit bulls have. Please be careful with those rescue dogs. A man in Detroit lost his hands and feet to pit bulls. Not sure if that is the breed you took in but they have killed nearly 500 humans in the past 30 yrs. Many old folks and kids have been their victims because they prey on the weak.

          21. I think Cats have been around for a long time too and while I’m a Dog guy..I like the fact that I can go away for a week or so and not have to worry about a Cat…Dog?..well not so much…

          22. Hmmm….I will tell that to the 4 million people that visit my eco-system each year. Nobody seems to mind.

          23. I would consider an eco-system where you are constantly on the lookout for dangerous animals to be more of a downer than where I live.

          24. lol again stupid, ever see a cat run down a bird?? bet it will catch it before a dog does.

          25. Of course they will. Cats are built extraordinarily different bio-mechanically speaking. They were made for stealth and ambush. It’s their natural instinct to kill things. 90% of the things cats kill didn’t even know the cat was there until it was on them. Dogs taken bird hunting don’t actually hunt the bird themselves either. They flush the birds out of cover that way we can shoot them. Then they bring the bird back. Unless the dog is hunting birds that cant fly like pheasants or turkeys.

          26. actually my dog hunts birds he’s very good at it, along with squirrels and gets them almost every time. He hunts ones that can fly he has even jumped in the air to get some of them.

          27. Why would you think that pheasants and turkeys can’t fly? We have wild flocks of both here and let me assure you, they CAN fly. Nothing is more fun than a 20lb turkey flying into your windshield while you’re driving (except maybe having a red tail hawk do the same thing and leave his bloody rabbit on your hood).

          28. to be fair. a dogs ability to protect a family, not just the man, but the woman and children. the ability of a dog’s ability to get a member of the family out of danger is a much more important function than catching rodents.

            i’m not anti-cat or anything, but cats don’t nearly bring as much to the table as a dog does objectively speaking.

            There is a reason that one is put on the front lines of conflicts and is in law enforcement, and the other isn’t.

            If you are a cat person, that’s great, more power to you. But they are not equal to dogs in stature or ability to contribute to a family at all. outside of companionship, of course

          29. Oh really?..JD?..I happen to know of a recent Navy Seals Mission where cats were used to amazing effectiveness..

          30. That sounds like a pretty interesting story. I hadn’t seen it. You don’t happen to have a link do you? If not no worries I can use the all knowing google.

          31. Not for this..I was just joking and taking a jab at the cat haters Sorry for any inconvenience

          32. I love cats as well as dogs. I have raised pitbulls with kittens, and pitbulls love kittens, they are very gentle with them.

          33. my 2 pits love our cat, and they are very loving dogs, so yes I agree with you…

          34. Beautiful..You can YOU TUBE lots of videos that illustrate your well made point….

          35. I’ve only ever had Belgian Malinois as the only breed of dog for a pet. Can’t really stand any other breed, maybe it’s because of so many years of nothing but Malinois (every one I’ve had is well-trained and hardly ever caused me any reason to be angry with them, cept when they were sick and that I forgive).

            As for cats, I had two cats when I was very young till I moved away (mine died my last year of HS). They were affectionate to me and my dad (so so with my mother), followed me and my dad everywhere (the male slept on my bed, female was my dad’s cat). They were great guards too, they did not tolerate strangers.

            They were also bobcats (we got them as kittens, brother and sister from same litter).

          36. I will have to disagree, As someone who studies and presents aspects of history as a career. The canine has a lot to do with our safety and survival. look at the beginning of our relationship with canines thousands of years ago and you will see a hunting partner, protector, herding support. These are a lot of things humans couldn’t do in history without the dog. Dogs today have little working aspect today but over history, have been crucial to our society.

          37. Your comment, “Dogs today have little working aspect today but over history, have been crucial to our society.”

            Working breed dogs, herding, retrieving, pointing, and even dog fighting breeds retain much of their original instincts. Confirmation to insure the dog’s working instincts are still in tact is typical of working breed dogs and their titles. That also goes for fighting breed dogs such as the every so unpopular pit bull fighting dog.

          38. That doesn’t mean that without dogs, we would be extinct. That’s just an idiotic view of history.

          39. I’ve heard that many animal behaviorists think that the cat will be the next animal to be domesticated.

          40. Actually, there have been historic studies that suggest that without dogs humans would be extinct, and without humans dogs would be extinct. It was a very interesting documentary.

          41. You’re totally right. We never needed dogs to help us hunt, keep us safe, or to help herd our animals. We could have EASILY developed without their help and companionship WHATSOEVER. We never needed them around to pet or hug or play fetch with, let them run around with the kids and play, or even let them cheer us up when nobody else will on a bad day. Those animals have nothing to do with helping us survive. You’re totally right. SMGDH. Tell me what matters more than protecting your home and your family? Because it really appears as if you’re trying to say that protection of family and home comes second or third……. to what?

          42. Actually, we would still be hunter gatherers without herding dogs…not extinct, but still having rabbit and berries for dinner.

          43. My Siamese is a very intelligent, sensitive and loyal cat. He plays fetch with me better than any dog ever has. He doesn’t need a leash & loves to hike with me side by side. I like remote areas & I remember one time, this cat sensed something not good, stood in front of me with hair raised & tried to lead me in the opposite direction. I’d say that is pretty protective. Don’t get me wrong. I love dogs too & have had both. They all have different personalities & individual qualities. Have you ever had a cat as a part of your family too, sir? You may change your mind.

          44. Your cat sounds wonderful. I’ll bet he never even kills birds when you let him roam the neighborhood either.
            I am sure he uses the toilet (AND flushes when he is finished) as opposed to 99.9 percent of all other cats who defecate and urinate in your house like a wild animal.
            If cats are so great, why can they not be house trained?
            You may need to get out more often and play with a dog who loves to retrieve. I guarantee you will find a dozen dogs who are better at that game than any cat in the world in the first ten minutes.
            I am NOT saying cats are not a viable pet that offer companionship and comfort to lots of people.
            I am saying they are nowhere near the stature of “man’s best friend” and should not be put on a pedestal with dogs.

          45. Cats are born house trained. Cats are only capable of catching injured birds. Cats know they are part of the family. Many cats are not friendly with strangers because cats are more discriminating. Those who dislike cats usually have a problem with the cat’s independence. It takes time to get to know a cat. Cats are as intelligent and affectionate as dogs.

          46. Cats are very capable of hunting down healthy birds. I know this because I was lucky enough to actually witness it. Was drinking my morning coffee by the window and spotted kitty all crouched and ready to pounce.. I couldn’t see what she was seeing from my view, but I kept my eye on her.

            She pretty much sniper skull dragged herself close enough to an area on the ground where the Blue Jays like to land and eat the fruit seeds and fallen plums. When that Blue Jay flew onto the deck and started pecking at the seeds on the floor.. kitty launched her ambush and completed caught that bird by surprise. Then she killed it, ate it, and then slept for like 7 hours

          47. I bet your last one didn’t and your next one won’t…..if you are even being truthful.

          48. Karen – Siamese cats rock. Mine is part siamese. I would say they are one of the more “dog like” cats. Mine walks on a leash, plays fetch, and is just as “needy” and human oriented as my dogs.

          49. doc savage – Seriously? Cats have a job. How about killing rats?

            I have cats and dogs. Every animal in my house has a job. My dogs guard our family and our house. My cats kill rats and bugs. And actually one of our cats thinks he is a dog so he kills rats and bugs and also growls at the door just like the dogs.

            My dogs have never attempted to kill a rat btw. You mention one of your’s does but not every dog does. I once caught my dog sharing his food and water with a rat…. The cat later came and killed the rat. I watched as my dog sat companionably right by the rat as he drank from the bowl. I swear it was like they were having a friggin tea party. The moment the cat spotted the rat it was dead. My dog is useless as a ratter but God help the person who breaks into our home or tries to hurt one of us.

            Everyone pulls their own weight in my home.

            Now gerbils and fish (and I would also add reptiles)… I am with you on their lack of purpose as a pet.

          50. Well I suppose I am lucky to not have ever had the misfortune of having any of those cats.

            Really not sure why you are so adamantly anti-cat. But in case you missed the memo it is totally okay to love both cats and dogs. The two are not mutually exclusive. 🙂

          51. It’s also OK to love horses and hippos. One animal helped us build our country, the other kills more people in Africa every year than all other animals combined.
            They are not equals.
            And neither are cats and dogs.

          52. So in other words…..cats have ONE job. One job that they are RARELY called upon to do. One job that a dog can do as well or better.
            This is the same old broken record that cat lovers have been playing for years to justify these pests, oops I mean pets.
            Gerbils and fish are not worthless pets. They provide something to their owner whether it be companionship or relaxation.
            My argument is that cats also fall into this category and should not be mentioned in the same breath as dogs.

          53. Well now I would agree with you if this was true. As I mentioned earlier my dogs don’t kill rats. They would rather have tea parties with them. My cats do kill rats, they also kill bugs and given the area we live in they are called on frequently to do their job and they do it well. I read somewhere that 1 in 3 cats are killers and they kill multiple times a week. I’ve never had a non-killer cat.

            I don’t classify myself as a “cat person” or a “dog person”. I am bi-petual. lol

            Gerbils and fish absolutely have no job whatsoever. We don’t believe in free-loaders in my house. Rodents and fish are food in my opinion not pets (rodents being food for the cats not for us… yuck). I really don’t agree that cats are on the same footing as gerbils and fish.

          54. you are stupid, proof cats can defend as good as any dog my cat can take on all four of our big dogs, funniest moment i ever seen was when the dogs were barking at him and he just jumped up and swatted all four dogs at once.

          55. Did you know that almost any dog could take those jewels away from almost any cat.

          56. Doc I have had rotts, 3 of them, All of them where obedient trained and yes they were smart and I also had cats, I love both of them and to me they a equal as pets. I also had patriots, and they are smart and yes they know wht they says. Each are unique in their own right. Personally I love all of my pets that I have had.
            The lion will hunt in a group i.e. in their pride, while many of the other hunts alone. So, if most of the cat breeds hunts alone then the cat is a better hunters than a dog.

            Here the thing it is apparent that you don’t like cats, and is your right.
            However I have owned Rotts. Dobermans. German Shepherd, Poodle, Poms, Shelties,a Chihuahua, Min Pin, and other mutts. Along the way I have also own cats.

          57. It’s not that I don’t like cats. I am indifferent to them.
            They should not be mentioned in the same breath as dogs, as has become habit over the last century.

            Cats, like gerbils and goldfish, are disposable pets for the most part.
            Disposable pets are not in the same league as a dog.

            Oh, and btw you cannot compare large cats like lions to domestic cats .
            Totally different species…unlike dogs and wolves.

          58. I went back and read the lot of comment and it seemed to me that you had this fixation about the unworthiness of cats. It wasn’t until later that I made any comments on cats, point out to you the the Siamese Cat was bred to watch and guard the royal treasures in Siam. Don’t sell the cat short because of their size. Now, if provoked they can cause alot of hurt on someone.

            Another thing I never mention anything about the larger breed of cats. Just because you say that your are indifferent to cat, although by your comment I would beg to differ with that. Personally, I enjoy having both as pets, The domestic cat is a companion animal the has help with PTSD, so don’t sell them short just because of your “INDIFFERENCE”

          59. AGAIN, I will repeat……..cats are not unworthy.
            They are simply nowhere near the value of a dog.

          60. Yes, with the size of your ego you would think that, how ever because of you ego you opinion only matter to you, everyone else it about the size of a grain of sand, and I am being nice and giving you the benefit of it being worth something.

          61. No, just a realist. Too bad if you don’t like the fact that all animals are not created equal. It’s still true.

          62. Actually if the church and people had not believed that cats were a witch’s familiar then the black plaque would not have killed so many people. The church and people killed tons of cats. Cats were the ones who could have kept the rat,mice population done in numbers which means the disease would not have spread as bad therefore not as many people would have died.

          63. Interesting take. Terriers and other small dog breeds are just as effective as killing rodents as cats in an indoor setting, if not more so because they don’t play with their kill-they move on the the next one. I don’t know if either would have been able to prevent the spread of the plague due to the filthy conditions people lived in at that time…. not to mention the abundance of animals that the fleas could still travel on and keep spreading the disease.

            Still, the bottom line is that a cat is nowhere near the status of a dog and to put cats on that pedestal is a disservice to “Man’s best friend”.

          64. There has been a partnership between humans and cats since we began to keep crops. The ordinary house cat is the most successful predator, they rarely miss. In Asia the original Siamese cats were used to hunt and guard some of the temples.

          65. That is true…they rarely miss the birds at my bird feeder.
            And I rarely miss with my sling shot.
            BTW no cat of any type in the modern , no- scratch that, entire history of the world actually has the ability to guard an object on instruction from a human.
            You do know that, right?

          66. Speak for yourself, and get off your high-horse. Your post is divisive and wrong-headed on many levels.

          67. I never speak for anyone but myself.
            And btw the horse is a more valuable animal to man than the cat is, or will ever be….. as well.

          68. Well, you definitely are stating some opinions & speculations as if they’re facts, and as for a horse being more “valuable” than a cat, it all depends on what you want/need something for. I have no need for a horse.

            As for your 2nd response to me elsewhere on this thread, obviously no one is tryng to say all animals are created equal, and it’s fairly dim-witted (and I’d say disingenuous) of you to attribute that to what I said. Nor do I believe for one minute that youre “sorry” for me. Value & worth are subjective terms, and you are a snob for stating that a cat is less worthwhile than a dog. Plus, it’s rude to cat lovers (I’m 100% in with both) – and THAT was my main point. You have a rather tactless & offensive way of expressing yourself with an ego that appears a bit inflated. You remind me of the school yard kid telling everybody that your Dad is “more important” than or “superior” to the other kids’ Dads bcz he’s the town sheriff. You might want to remedy this if you want to be more persuasive. I think you should get over yourself and stop looking at animals in terms of their relative status of “worth”. Your measure of worth & value isn’t everyone’s.

          69. When your stupid cat saves someone’s life, get back to us m’kay.
            Otherwise you are simply blowing a lot of hot air that no one but you is paying any attention to.
            There is no constitution for animals.

            They are not equal.
            Get over it.
            The political correctness kool aid has gone to your head.

            Your cat has helped man progress through history about as much as the guinea pig.

            The canine has earned the moniker “man’s best friend” by proving himself for tens of thousands of years.
            Case closed.

            Honestly what else is there to discuss except for the insane egos of butthurt cat lovers who REALLY believe their poor choice of pet is comparable to the majestic dog. Oh, the humanity.

          70. LOL – you are truly hilarious!! (read again – I was agreeing with you that animals are not equal.) And uh, I didn’t get a cat to save my life, but that’s a good one! The point is that the VALUE of my cats to me are EQUAL to that of my dogs. I have them for different reasons, but of EQUAL WORTH – to me. I think you’re just misusing terms. Overall, dogs are probably more useful & versatile than cats in a purly utilitarian sense, but not all dogs, and certainly many cats are far more “useful” than dogs – but so what? Whsts your point? To highlught how idiotic it is to love a cat? How insulting. Are you really THAT big s Neanderthal that your can’t tell when you’re being insulting or coming off haughty to people? Your assessment of what make an animal worthwhile has nothing to do with how someone else may value their pet, or why. It’s just your criteria. Maybe though, you’re just too arrogant to see this.

            And I don’t care who sees my post – it was YOU I was responding to. Obviously I hit a nerve! I’d say sorry but you don’t deserve it.

            Btw, cats are ANYTHING BUT stupid! You’ve obviously not spent a lot of time around cats…

          71. The topic was NEVER the value of an animal to the individual, but to the history of human society.
            Throughout history, there are animals that have helped man climb out of the trees and leave the caves.
            The dog is primary among those.

          72. I (mostly) agree with that. It was your other unfortunate rhetoric with the pompous tone, choice of words and some insulting statements regarding cats and their owners I was objecting to (and yes, you DID make it about that, so don’t pretend otherwise. It’s in writing!). I could go back and quote examples from many of your posts, but frankly I don’t care all that much. I run across ppl like you on threads like this all the time, and 99.98% of the time I just roll my eyes and ignore them. Practically by definition, people who enjoy expressing themselves in the manner in which you do (like that stuck-up school-yard kid) really don’t care to hear any personal feedback nor learn to communicate better anyway, and will virtually never cop to anything when called out, except to get even more strident, defensive and insulting. You fit the pattern perfectly. So I salute you for your great & important knowledge about dogs, but as a human being relating information/opinions/responses to other human beings, you suck. Good luck with that, and goodbye.

          73. LOL! Except for one minor detail… you were the one who started out being rude; I just called you on it! (firmly, but I thought appropriately..) I’ll grant that in the absence of blogging anonymity you’re probably ok in conversation and can manage it without insulting people in person, who you can see. You’re certainly no dummy. I think we can all benefit from remembering to consider other peoples’ feelings in the anonymous world of cyberspace. Best wishes to you, and happy blogging. 🙂

            LOL! Except for one minor detail… you were the one who started out being rude; I just called you on it! (firmly, but I thought appropriately..) I’ll grant that in the absence of blogging anonymity you’re probably ok in conversation and can manage it without insulting people in person; ppl who you can see. You’re certainly no dummy. I think we can all benefit from remembering to consider other peoples’ feelings in the anonymous world of cyberspace. Best wishes to you, and happy blogging. 🙂

            PS – Btw.. It’s totally off the subject, but in defense of cats and in the interest of broadening the picture about domesticated dogs about whose superiority and greater “worth” to mankind you are so convinced, I must point out that I’ve never heard of a single person who was ever mauled or killed by a housecat. But we don’t need to get into that again.. ;0)

          74. My dog had been attacked by 3 German Shepherd one bit him, he wasn’t doing anything just minding his own business. We tend to stay away from them now, by the way I don’t blame the dog I blame the owner, they are aggressive and owners need to know how to train and take care of them correctly.

          75. No they didn’t just run up they both went after my dog fighting with him, I was able to pull away twice but the once not quick enough and he was bit! Like I said it was the owners fault but the dogs are aggressive. My dog has played with pit bulls with no issues and they have never fought with him they were loving and playful. They also can be aggressive but they need good owners too.

          76. Actually they only crap about the same amount as a large Labrador retriever.

          77. it’s much better than those tiny little poops that you can’t see and end up stepping on and getting between your toes.

        4. That dog may not have been a gentle giant but that doesn’t mean the breed isn’t that way.
          I’m quite familiar with that breed and a breeder of them and they’re protective dogs but as your own pet they’re great pets.

      2. Was personally attacked by one. Whom I’d brought home for my best friend and was very well acquainted with. Eventually he was so aggressive he had to be put down.

        1. Sorry to hear that. My Great Dane was a gentle, humorous dog whom I still miss. He was very protective of us as well but never harmed anyone.

          1. Canine Behavioral Genetics: Pointing Out the Phenotypes and Herding up the Genes

            An astonishing amount of behavioral variation is captured within the more than 350 breeds of dog recognized worldwide.

            Inherent in observations of dog behavior is the notion that much of what is observed is BREED SPECIFIC AND WILL PERSIST, EVEN IN THE ABSENCE OF TRAINING OR MOTIVATION. Thus, herding, pointing, tracking, hunting, and so forth are likely to be controlled, at least in part, at the genetic level. Recent studies in canine genetics suggest that small numbers of genes control major morphologic phenotypes. By extension, we hypothesize that at least some canine behaviors will also be controlled by small numbers of genes that can be readily mapped.

          2. A dog dies with the same temperament it was born with, no exceptions. Not even the pit bull fighting dog.

            Elements of Temperament – Drives, Thresholds and Nerves
            By Joy Tiz MS, JD

            Yes, it’s true. Temperament is a function of genetics. It is inherited, not developed. A dog’s core temperament never changes. Some behaviors can be modified through training, but the temperament itself never changes. For example, a high energy dervish of a dog isn’t going to learn to be a laid back, low energy dog. But, the dog can be taught to control his energy, to an extent.

          3. A long time ago, where I was living, the owners had a great dane, it was the nicest, lovable dog you could meet, very friendly. I never had a problem with him, I would pet him, talk with him, sit with him, he was just fine, never had any reason to be scared, he was always good with me.

          4. I have had 5 Great Danes. Every single one was the sweetest most gentle animal. When I walk the neighborhood and the leaves rustle he puts his tail between his legs and looks at me like he wants me to pick him up. They might hurt you with their tail while playing with you by accident. Sounds like the dog you met had been mentally or physically abused. My daughter was bit in the face at the age of 8 by the neighbors lab. Luckily he bit, pulled and let go otherwise he would have ripped her cheek off. Even after all of that and drains hanging out of her face she is a dog rescuer and animal activist–actually on her way to pick up an abandoned shepherd right now as I type this. Thank god she is not one of those people that lived the rest of her life in fear condeming animals. Things happen and you move on and don’t blame every animal for what one has done.

          1. I’m in the process of trying to rescue a dog after having put to sleep my beautiful gentle and sweet Rottweiler. I have found that the South has a lot to learn about taking care of their dogs. A lot of people in the South are quick to euthanize and seem to be dismissive of a dog’s needs in terms of training and care. Perhaps I’m wrong but, a great number of abused animals come up from the South and hoarding situations are prevalent there.

          2. you either buy them at the pet store or from get from a friend who had puppies … have them well trained and you be fine …i had german shepard and had her well trained .she was a lovable dog for the family, and a guard dog ,too…. sure missed her a lot

          3. We just put down our 11 year old Great Dane on Easter. Loved him to pieces, one of the dumbest dogs I ever had but had a heart of gold. He was grandpa dog to our 2 younger/smaller dogs. A gentle giant to our granddaughter. I miss him every day.

        2. Going to need more specifics here…your post is vague…”well acquainted” then you were attacked.?..then “eventually” he was so aggressive?….

        3. Ive never met an agressive dane. Scared and friendly but never agressive. Wonder if he had some kind of brain tumor or something that made him that way. (been in customer service 30+ years and still havent seen anythign more agressive than a chiuaua, ever) Sucks that it happened for sure.

        4. Got a female Corgi that was very sweet and once she got spayed her demeanor changed. Maybe the anesthesia could have affected her. She got the chihuahua by the neck and would not release, she was swinging it from side to side. Screaming help break up fights, after that water and once that failed I found a cattle stick, that has a wood handle and two long pieces of plastic. Once she hears that plastic slapping she backs off. To make her behave when I see her starting to act up, all I say is “the stick” and she stops. Another thing that probably is messing up her brain, is that she started to have seizures, whenever she left the property….going to the vet. Inside her domain, no problem, but seeing the vet building, she starts seizing and it’s getting worst each visit, even though we thought meds would help. Now vet will be coming to the house.

          1. You’re an idiot, and should not be getting dogs as pets.

            Please do the world a favor, and do NOT get another dog.

          2. Aren’t Corgies a hunting dog, they are cute and a little goofy looking, but junkyard dogs at heart.

          3. When you see the first sign of aggression give her the command to sit. It is very hard for a dog to maintain an aggressive stance when they are in a submissive position.

          4. Canine rage syndrome might be a possible cause for the aggression. It can affect any breed and onset is usually before age 2. Most common in Springer Spaniels for some reason, but also occurs in Cocker Spaniels, Golden Retrievers, Poodles, Dobermans, St. Bernards, Bernese Mountain Dogs, German Shepherds and Lhasa Apsos more often than in other breeds. It’s caused by partial seizures and IS genetic.

          5. For over a century, pit bulls were bred to kill another dog in “the pit” in the most inhumane way possible. You can’t compare them to Springer Spaniels, Golden Retrievers, or even GSDs.

        5. Two things: Danes are not aggressive. Your friend failed to train the dog. If the dog isn’t trained, the owner is the weaker of the pack and so the dog becomes overly protective and aggressive. And because they are big, even as a puppy, one nip can do more damage. I have been bitten several times by a Chihuahua and also by a Maltipoo. Small dogs are much more aggressive and very difficult to train. And owners of small dogs make the mistake of grabbing their dog and picking it up in fear when a large dog walks by so that sends a message to the small dog to fear the large dog.

          1. Actually he was trained. Both by her and a professional. She was a veterinary technician im the army and professional sectors and raised Akitas And that greats Dane was Still nasty. Still aggressive. Next time, try not to assume.

          2. Just like people, some dogs are just bad. Whether from bad breeding or just a personality anomaly, it happens. Generally the Danes are a gentle loving, protective breed. Very much like a saint, and I have a few friends with them, so I definitely have some experience with them. Sweet as can be. Sorry you had a bad experience..

          3. It’s a shame. I know a couple of his brothers & sisters had to be put down for the same reasons. Eventually my friend found it it was something neurological… and personally I think it was the breeder. I think they were breading for $$, not for the breed. But it turned me off to the breed. They’re too big to be as viscous as he was.

          4. You are probably correct about the breeders. Actually, that is one of the problems with purebred animals. There are breeders who do not provide the necessary genetic diversity by breeding animals with mates that are too closely related – like siblings or cousins – that results in various problems. This is extremely common with the dogs, like pitbulls, bred for fighting. It’s just like the stereotype of “in-bred” humans. But again it is the fault of the humans involved, not the breed.

          5. They aren’t bad there are a lot of factors, its all about the signs and education on dogs.

          6. If he “became more aggressive” then he was not trained. No one had control over this dog.

          7. “nanny dog” aka “nursemaid dog” is a MYTH created by dog fighters to trick people into allowing fighting breed dogs into their communities. It started after dog fighting became a felony.

            Craven Desires – MONDAY, MAY 27, 2013

            BADRAP surrenders to facts

            “A lie can run around the world six times while the truth is still trying to put on its pants.” ~Mark Twain

            on May 20 @ 9:00am PST, BADRAP made the following proclamation:

            It’s Dog Bite Prevention Week. Did you know that there was never such thing as a ‘Nanny’s Dog’? This term was a recent invention created to describe the myriad of vintage photos of children enjoying their family pit bulls. While the intention behind the term was innocent, using it may mislead parents into being careless with their children around their family dog – A recipe for dog bites!

            INNOCENT? the phrase ‘Nanny Dog’ was never used innocently. it was a very deliberate, very deceptive campaign to manipulate people into accepting a FIGHTING bred dog into the community.

          8. I agree with some of what you said but I don’t think smaller breeds are harder to train.

          9. How many fatalities have you heard of from a chihuahua or a maltipoo/ Apples and oranges, my friend. Asmall dog might bite but a pitbull will remove your entire face in one friendly gesture. Thats like saying I’ve been shot many times by a cap gun so they are more dangerous than an AK47. GIMME A FREAKING BREAK.

          10. I said they are more “aggressive”. Dogs who bite like that chihuahua are more “aggressive”. That is exactly what I said. Obviously a chihuahua is not going to kill you. A large breed puppy bite can do more damage.

          11. Pit bull isn’t a dog breed, maybe you should do real research instead of believing what people make up. It’s has nothing to do with the dog breed it’s the people, and this is a proven fact. I just want you to know all the facts before you judge them and make them out to be bad.

          12. No they are not there is no such breed as pit bull. These animals are a mixture of various breeds of dogs and mixed breeds thus they are not consistent in their behavior.

          13. Yes, but the American Pit Bull terrier is not the only dog in the “pit bull” family.

          14. A “pit bull,” is defined as any dog that is an American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, or any dog displaying the majority of physical traits of any one (1) or more of the above breeds, or any dog exhibiting those distinguishing characteristics which substantially conform to the standards established by the American Kennel Club or United Kennel Club for any of the above breeds. Dias v. City & County of Denver, 567 F.3d 1169, 1173 (10th Cir. Colo. 2009)

            THE STATE OF OHIO, APPELLANT,t v. ANDERSON, APPELLEE.

            Pit bull dogs possess unique and readily identifiable physical and behavioral traits which are capable of recognition both by dog owners of ordinary intelligence and by enforcement personnel. Consistent and detailed descriptions of the pit bull dog may be found in canine guidebooks, general reference books, state statutes and local ordinances, and state and federal case law dealing with pit bull legislation. By reference to these sources, a dog owner of ordinary intelligence can determine if he does in fact own a dog commonly known as a pit bull dog within the meaning of R.C. 955.11 (A)(4)(a)(iii).

          15. American Pit Bull Terrier is a bunch of mixed breeds. Look up photos and you’ll see that there is no distinct body type. It’s a term that the backyard breeders came up with so they could charge more for their mutts.

          16. I work with dogs for a living and am pretty educated on dog breeds and types, including all those designer breeds that disgusting puppy mills keep cranking out. ‘Pit Bull’ is NOT a breed. Educate yourself please…..maybe start with the AKC website in the section for recognized breeds. What everyone refers to as Pit Bulls are generally Staffordshire Terriers, Bull Terriers, American Bulldogs, Dogo Argentino, Presa Canarios and mixes with those breeds. Go to pickthepit dog com and see for yourself how many breeds fit the general type.

          17. Only the UKC considers American Pit Bull Terrier as a breed. The real kennel club, AKC, does not!

          18. No there is no such breed as pit bull. These animals are a mixture of various breeds of dogs and mixed breeds thus they are not consistent in their behavior.

          19. You are right on 1 point, pit bull is not a breed. The bull terriers origins are a mixture from the bull dog and the terrier. Those two only. Anything added after is a mutt and you get what you mixed

          20. No, pit bull is not a breed. You need to do your research. No pit bull has ever competed in dog shows… they are Stafordshire Bull Terriers or American Bull Terriers. Period.

          21. I completely agree as an owner of 2 American pit bull terriers both are the most loving caring and affectionate dogs I have ever owned.ALL dogs are animals it has always been the owners that create a VICIOUS PET.SO PEOPLE STOP PINPOINTING BREEDS ITS NOT THERE FAULT…….

          22. Currently, many of these dogs are bred to “guard” or fight. Nature always plays a part, whether with humans or dogs. Of course upbringing often also plays a part. I personally like most pit bulls, but if I were to own one, I would damn well buy from a reputable breeder and want to meet the parents.

          23. The American pit bull is a breed of which there are tons in AZ. I have individually liked them, but as a breed they kill children (have here in AZ) and kill more than any other breed by far. The dog bite site, says 3x the amount. It is more than the owner.

          24. The picture is an American Staffordshire Terrier. They are one of the most malleable k9’s in the world. They require training and attention. It’s the OWNERS fault for their conduct. Not the dog.

          25. American Staffordshire Terrier is the polite name for Pit Bulls. They are not a bad breed, theres no such thing as a bad breed. But they require an owner who knows and understands the breed, proper training, and socialization. I have had German Shepherds and Golden Retrievers. I understand both breeds and treat them accordingly. I never place my animals, including the cats, in a position where they might fail.

          26. Some dogs have known nothing but love and kindness all of their lives, but they are just plain aggressive! On the other hand, for many years I have volunteered with a rescue group where we have seen the horrible, sick side of “humans” and what they have done to dogs, and the dogs recover and are nothing but loving.

            It’s ignorant to automatically blame the owner for a dog’s aggression, and it’s plain stupid to attribute human traits to an animal.

          27. Yeah, we used to groom 3 Malamutes that just kept getting more and more aggressive over time. One of them broke the fence gate in his yard and attacked someone who was walking by and almost killed her. He was euthanized. Don’t know what happened with the other two–one was only a year old and the other was 6 months, and they were so aggressive already that I refused to do them anymore.

          28. Much as I hate the idea of job loss, I really have a problem with people who don’t/won’t/can’t groom their own dogs. With the exclusion of human medical infirmities requiring help grooming, it seems if someone won’t/can’t groom their own dog, they probably shouldn’t HAVE the dog. Grooming is an important part of the bonding and to pass that off to a stranger, no matter how skilled, is a disservice to dog and groomer. Our dogs should know they can count on us, and grooming is a great illustration to the dog that they can. Just MHO.

          29. The outdated debate, “It’s the owner, not the breed,” has caused the pit bull problem to grow into a 30-year old problem.1 Designed to protect pit bull breeders and owners, the slogan ignores the genetic history of the breed and blames these horrific maulings — inflicted by the pit bull’s genetic “hold and shake” bite style — on environmental factors. While environment plays a role in a pit bull’s behavior, it is genetics that leaves pit bull victims with permanent and disfiguring injuries.

          30. Actually, the ApbT was a nanny dog long before any other dog. Pit bull is not a dog breed. It is a broad spectrum of dogs with like builds. Mastiffs, bull dogs, even rhodesian ridgebacks and rotties are put into this category.
            they were bred to be extremely affectionate, attentive, and; above all else, versatile. They have been farm dogs, herd guardians, family protection, family dogs, beloved movie stars, hunting dogs, baiters, even war heros, and drug dogs. They were not originally bred to fight eachother. The term “pit bull terrier” comes from their bully and terrier background. The “pit” comes from an old form of entertainment where people would throw two of these dogs into a pit of rats and whomever killed the most rats first was the winner.

          31. Uh, no. No. This myth of it being a nanny dog were debunked a long time ago. They were never “nanny” dogs. They get the pit moniker from fighting each other in dog pits, as in pit fighting. They were never bred to be ratters.

          32. Look in a book sometime about the breed not just on the internet and you will find that indeed they were known as a “Nanny Dog”! In fact there were a lot of breeds that Parodoxia mentions above that were known as a “Nanny Dog” because of their love of family!! It’s a wonder what you find by opening a book and not just relying on what morons say on the internet!!!

          33. Their genetic history? Do you know what that is? If not, here’s a history lesson for you. The breed, Stafordshire Bull Terrier (not pit bull) was originally a cross breed (mix) between the bull dog (for its strength) and the terrier (for its athleticism). This was done, in all places, England (which has a ban on the breed). The genetic nature for this dog breed to hold and shake is due to the terrier side. Improper breeding has definitely fouled the bloodlines, this I will agree on the genetics can and will cause behavioral problems no matter how good the owner (trainer) is.
            In the 1800’s, during the “Western Days”, pit bulls were the breed of choice. Their tolerant disposition made them perfect family dogs. And got the nick name “nanny dogs”. It was also during this time that dog fighting in actual pits was born. Again, man had to go an mess things up. He got bored or couldn’t fight his own battles, so lets have the dogs solve it for us! The bull terrier got the “pit bull” name as the dogs looked like bulls from their stance and the fighting in pits.
            The bad rap comes from several angles: dog fighting, gangs, and the ever present, one-sided press that reports the negative in EVERYTHING. When a dog attack takes place and is reported, the dog in question is a mix breed and happens to be 1/2, 1/4 or whatever pit bull, it is automatically the pit side that has tainted the temperament of the dog. To this I call BS!
            As for your statement on the debate of “its the owner, not the breed”, I will argue until I turn blue. Other than bad breeding techniques that can cause bad temperments, the owner is the one that has to take responsibility for the treatment and training of the animal. Do we need hold parents responsible for their childrens actions and behaviors? Environment and what the dog is exposed to is a huge factor. Do people not realize that dogs experience anxiety or fear? They too can develop behaviors based on traumatic situations and react negatively when faced with the same situation or something very close.

            I grew up an only child and my best friend was a 90 lb, female pittie. She never once snarled, snapped at or bit me. And we all know how rough children can get with pets. My Dad is on his 3rd pit. I have one in my house and I have 2 daughters. The dog is 2 1/2 yrs old. Another cliché about pits is that they don’t get along with other animals. I have a daushound. There have not been any issues.

            You can challenge me on my facts. I took speech in college and one particular style is informative. This is where you state facts from research and siting those sources (which any good Professor will check). My topic was on pit bulls, with specifics on breed origin, the bad rap and my personal experiences…. I got an A on it. I have done my research and I know what I’m talking about. I did not use Wikipedia or dog bite site as both are unreliable.

          34. You still cannot get around the fact that Pit Bulls outside of England were bread for fighting. And the fact that they can and do go off unpredictably. The breeds in this country are fighting breeds. You have been lucky.

          35. John Smythe, and yet, so were Boston Terriers, one of the first “PIT” fighting dogs! They seemed to turn out ok. Back to your argument, yes, SOME not ALL of Pits in the USA were bred for fighting. Research has also shown MANY of these fighting pits have been able to be rehabilitated as well. Another fact media and fearist refuse to acknowledge.

          36. When we can trust the difference between a “rehabilitated” pit bull and those who are not, your assessment may be worth something.
            Until then people are wise not to turn their backs on them.

          37. A trainer I respect greatly (works training K-9s for police and military) said, in regards to a Pitt Bull you do not know: Decide which arm you can live without and turn that side to the dog.

            And remember, YOUR posture toward a dog can be a big part of how that dog reacts to you. Face to face with an aggressive breed is often considered as a challenge by the dog. Side to dog is less likely to evoke a bad response

          38. Wow.. this reminds me of the difference between violent Muslims and peaceful Muslims!

          39. Aside from the Boston Terrier being a bit smaller there’s actually not that much difference between the two. They both have similar body styles and similar jaws.

          40. Also, the breed was often favored by drug trafficers, same as Rotties and other big breeds. Bred for aggressiveness to make them valuable to bad people doing bad things. That might be why there are so many bad ones in AZ; traffickers made lots of bad puppies and they got out in the general dog population.

            Sadly, so many Pitties end up in rescues when people think they want one then find out they really don’t have the chops to be the pack leader for a Pit Bull or cross.

          41. This is very true, and if you are going to be a pack leader for one of these pups then you need to be a very strong pack leader or they will see you as weak and won’t listen to you.

          42. Not all the breeds in this country are fighting breeds as his and my own experience should attest to, so that’s where your theory is incorrect!!

          43. It’s not a theory. You are pretty despirate to claim your experience is correct to the point of ignoring what I said above.
            You can put as many exclamation points in as you want, it’s not going to change anything as long as Pit Bulls still earn their rep…

          44. Despirate? First of all learn to spell it’s desperate, and the only reason I put exclamation points is to get my point across, plus it makes more of an impact than just a little dot. I didn’t ignore anything you said it’s just that what you said has very little merit because of the fact that there are proven pure bred American Staffordshire Terriers in this country and there are breeders that can prove it as well and that is why there are even therapy dogs that are what most people call Pit Bulls that are very well behaved and very loving dogs because they are pure breeds so yes all you have is a theory and it’s been disproved!!

          45. Always nice to have the typo police around. You must be fun too. Too bad you are so emotionally invovled you can’t look up from your research and prattling to look at the larger problem.
            When pit bull of any mix drop out of the top ten most dangerous, get back to me. Maybe your prattle might have some weight then.

          46. Your “Nanny Dog” information is urban legend marketing magic. That nickname and your information are BS. Go back and do some research. You have been hoodwinked by the propaganda of breeders and should Google “Nanny Dogs”. I have lived with two Pits and I loved them but they are certainly a dangerous breed compared to other breeds.

          47. Actually it’s historical fact and if you bothered to actually do some research you will find that out. They were nicknamed the “Nanny Dog” at one time, and were originally bred as work dogs so it’s not BS as you say you just want to cause drama!!

          48. August Lankford…Did you know, Boston Terriers were one of the first “Pit” fighting bred dogs? Overtime, the Boston breed gradually downsized from 45lbs to 18-25. Like nearly ALL dogs, especially, Pits, German Sheppards, Rotties, Dobbers, Bostons will also get a lock on an item, then hold and shake. A fact you seem to ignore! Like Pitties, Bostons are generally eager to please their owner. They can also be very protective of their owners, which MAY result in aggressive and territorial behavior toward other pets and strangers. The point is, dogs are animals, unless given proper direction (training) they will act on their animal instincts! Two things causes an animal to attack..#1 cause, FEAR. Provoking a animal causes a fear response. Abused animals. Why do they attack? FEAR. #2, trained to attack. This ranges from your businesses guard dog to irresponsible owners who train their dogs to protect their, example drug houses. Simple research will show you this. So yes, the saying still holds true, it IS the owner, not the breed!

          49. I know, right? All those owners of BOSTON TERRIERS, killing people! Seriously, its an epidemic.

          50. I like your response to many of the arguments. I checked your research and.it is spot on, but takes a little common sense sleuthing. I have worked with many different breeds throughout the years and the only dog that makes me somewhat nervous is the Chow. I have worked with vets that refused to treat them unless muzzled. I do think that common sense should be used when people purchase their pet. If they don’t have the knowledge to train a dominant dog personality, they should pick a different breed. Properly socialized throughout their life, trained and loved, any dog can be a good dog. Some breeds, such as pits and rotties et al, need an owner that can be their alpha and understand the importance of immediate response to any dominance challenge. Long story short…. I agree, it is the owner. Yes, there are some exceptions to this when it comes to IDIOTS breeding animals that have bad traits mental or physical.

          51. It is the owner’s and not the breed!! You know what my old pit bull is doing right now? She’s a handicapped therapy dog!! I’m disabled myself and in a wheelchair and she only wanted to lick me and everyone else all the time, and sleep with me in my bed!! She was the best, most laid back dog I have ever had and that includes the rat terrier that I had too!! Sadie was a rescue actually she came walking down the driveway of the assisted living facility I lived in looking for food because some jerk just let her out of his car up on the road. The facility owner told me that I could keep her as long as I got her shots and she had already been spayed, but when the new grass was planted she wanted to dig because that’s what dogs like to do, and that’s when I had to give her away. However until that time no one in the facility ever had a thing to worry about and they all loved her so that’s proof that it’s NOT the breed it is the owner!!!

          52. 3 times amount of any other breed including rottweilers, German Shepards, wolf hybrids, Doberman Pinschers, and any other is genetic, not just training.

          53. I agree to an extent that Pitbull aggression isn’t entirely from environment in every case. Overbreeding and breeding for negative traits, like aggression for dog fighting, has led to aggression in some lines of Pitbulls. However, for the most part Pitbulls that attack people normally come from abusive/neglectful/isolated environments 9/10. In general, according to the ATTS, Pitbulls actually test in the 90th percentile for temperament. I don’t think avid Pitbull lovers should promote the breed for everyone, it is definitely not right for many people, but it is unfair to condemn the breed as a whole.

          54. Nope, actually the past 10 yrs. it has been mostly family pit bulls that were raise right yet turning and snapping. Those test are a joke. One of the biggest shelters in the U.S. got rid of the guy who gave real test to these dogs. They replaced him with a woman who made sure not to push the pit bulls too far. The breed is condemned by their own actions. Most of them are killers and earned their own bad reputation.

          55. On point here Chelsea. I will add that most people do not research dog breeds before getting one. The dog has to fit the family or household they are being brought in to. The dog and family has to match.

          56. Yep, but too many people get dogs based on current trends/styles. Have to have the ‘in’ dog but never think about the fact that it’s a living, very bright mammal, not a handbag or couch.

            Golden doodles are beginning to be a rescue issue of late. Too many wanted the ‘latest designer dog’ or one that supposedly doesn’t shed, cause allergies, etc. Some people just don’t really want a dog and should get a battery operated facsimile instead. When some find out that dogs in the family actually have needs and their own minds, some dogs are fired, through no fault of their own.

          57. 3 times the amount of any other breed is because the police have a tendency to call everything a Pit Bull. I’ve seen Boxers, Great Danes, AmStaffs, Dobermans, Labs, English Mastiffs, American Bulldogs, and numerous other dogs labeled as ‘Pit Bulls’ when they very obviously weren’t. Had someone from our local animal control try to say that my Border Collie/Lab mix was a Pit Bull (he looks like an all black Border Collie except for his Lab ears and webbed toes) when he was filling out a report after the neighbor’s Boxer jumped the fence and attacked my dog. The Boxer was written into the report as a Pit Bull too. My mom’s next door neighbor’s Great Dane and Husky mix both got called Pit Bulls by local police and news stations after they bit the kid who had been harassing them and throwing rocks at them for months. Pit Bull isn’t a breed–it’s a general body type used to describe about a dozen breeds, most of them erroneously.

          58. That’s not the police calling them that. THAT is the supposed journalists trying to sensationalize a story.

          59. American pit bull terrier is a breed. There are tons in Arizona….I don’t know where you live, but here we know what they are..

          60. I work with dogs for a living near Chicago IL. American Pit Bull Terrier is a UKC ‘breed’, which is the exact same thing as the AKC American Staffordshire Terrier according to the breed standards.

          61. This is from Daxton’s Friends Website: Why do we call them pit bull type dogs?

            Why not just call them pit bulls?

            “We, dogfighters, and the law used to. Even the fur-mommy pit bull fans did. When the first laws were introduced to restrict or ban the ‘pit bull’, its fur-mommy fans were alarmed. They suddenly appeared everywhere to explain to us: “You can’t ban pit bulls, because it’s not a breed but a type of dog.” As deaths by this type of dog continued to mount, wise lawmakers listened to the fur-mommies’ wisdom – laws began to specify that restrictions applied to various ‘breeds’ that were of the pit bull type. The laws included all dogs (regardless of breed labels or mixed background) that displayed the main characteristics of this type of dog, and they include any mixes thereof. The American courts have also repeatedly taken this same position.

            Most of the public understands nowadays that the distinction between the various fighting bulldog ‘breeds’ are a fiction, and that they are all included when we say ‘pit bull’. There is still some confusion about the pit bull – mastiff mixes. This is likely partly because they are so much larger than what people generally think of as a pit bull, and partly because of the invented ‘breed’ names that suggest these mixes are some local invention, unmixed with anything outside their area of origin. This is a fiction – the common thread that runs through all of these ‘mastiff’ types is the mixing of already inherently aggressive local mastiffs with fighting bulldog types.

            All of these dogs come from juggling with the same narrow gene pool. In the end, they are all descended from dog types that were used either to maul bears, cattle and humans to death for entertainment, as well as to eradicate native populations in various colonies, and/or from pit fighting bulldogs that were mostly only pitted against each other and wild boar. They are a result of centuries of human selection for abnormally disinhibited behavior, a specific tenacious and deadly bite, grip and shear attack pattern, and the physical characteristics to make defense against an attack almost impossible.

            They are all of them genetically and behaviorally closely related, all of them pit bull type dogs.”

            And they look like pit bulls too. Yes, the public can identify them. Anyone wishing can look up the rest of the article on Daxton’s Friends Website.

          62. Nope not always. What about the loving bit bull advocate Darla Napora who had her neck tore open in her sleep by her own dog. Genetics have an effect on a dogs disposition.

          63. Pitbulls for Dummies is a book that will help you realize how wrong you are in your assumption. It’s available at Amazon. Many of the beliefs people have about dogs in general are from reading what the media puts out (take with a grain of salt) and hearing people repeat what they’ve read or been told. Your best source is a reliable one. Most people just parrot what they hear. I hope you take the time to check out the book. You’ll be amazed.

          64. Oh, Pit Bulls for Dummies? Maybe you’ll be interested to hear what the author of Pit Bulls for Dummies, Dr. Caroline Coile, wrote on Facebook:

            “I am the author of Pit Bulls for Dummies. I will not have another after they, without warning, attacked and almost killed my other dog who they had been best buddies with for their entire lives. One of them choked my saluki unconscious and ran around the house with her like a panther with a dead gazelle while we tried to get her to let go. When they were good, they were delightful; when they were bad, they were deadly.”

            So, uh, you were saying?

          65. Really? And where is this at I have been all over facebook and I haven’t read that anywhere so most likely it wasn’t her at all but someone else writing it in her name!! Check out the source before you actually use a quote!!

          66. Told look up the statistics…dog bite dot org. It has nothing to do with what I have been told.

          67. Valiere, the author has apparently retracted her statements in her book. She says she will no longer own a pit bull. Seems it killed another of her dogs. I’m glad it didn’t kill a child, as pit bulls seem to do on a regular basis.

            Pit bulls are making it harder and harder to be a pit bull advocate. They keep on killing and mauling animals and pets.

            Anyone reading, check out DogsBite dot org. Its a site about catastrophic dog bites. Since pit bulls are six times more likely to kill and maim a person than all other breeds of dogs combined, most of the information happens to be about pit bulls.

          68. DogsBite.org most likely doesn’t have any of the statistics about the packs of wild dogs in this country that attack people and animals either does it? Do you think those dogs are pits, no, they are all either mutts or shepherds, or even retrievers with very few being pits!

          69. Hi Rick,

            I’m not sure there is any proof of that, one way or another. Packs of wild dogs do exist, and they do attack, mostly animals. You’d have to give specific instances on that. Its more prevalent in other places of the world.

            Other dog breeds do attack, but in comparison to pit bull, they seldom kill people. They also kill far less animals than pit bulls do.

          70. Bad Pit breeding = dangerous dogs. Bad breeding + bad owners nearly assures VERY dangerous dogs. In Az myself, and yeah, there are too many uncut pitt bull terriers running amok breeding with too many other dogs, lots of bad genes being spread around this state. It’s a bit frightening, and I am generally very dog competent and loving.

          71. Have you ever thought that those pit bulls just might be the ones who have been trained to attack people? Probably not because it’s obvious that you are the kind of person who blames the breed and not the owner!! Pit bulls are one of the best dogs when it comes to kids, they have excellent temperaments and love being around people when they are not trained to fight or be mean!! They are naturally a very social dog and like to work this is what they were originally bred for to be work dogs look up their history sometime it might amaze you!!!

          72. DNA also comes in to play. You have all these backyard breeders who don’t bother with temperament in their breeding pairs and they inbred a lot. FYI, I have 2 American Pit Bull Terriers. Both are very loving and well trained. No problems from them.

          73. No its not ‘The people’ that make all dogs vicious. I bought a Rottweiler puppy at 10 weeks old,still with his mother an well taken care of until I bought him. He fit n a shoe box when I bought him. He was raised with love an well taken care of an trained n many ways,but from the very beginning of socializing him with other animals,it was a no go he only got along with the family cat I had before I got him. Socializing him with ppl instantly wouldn’t have no part n it an eventually I had to start muzzling him when taking him out. He disliked everyone except me an my children even though he was raised with nothing but love an that love continued til he passed.So no I don’t feel its the people that create vicious dogs,its either n their bloodline or mentally.

          74. He was disciplined sir or mam,as so was i on how to show him i was n control,but not by beatings. He was trained,nuetered (not sure if i spelled that correctly) also but he still had the mean streak in him.

          75. Did you get your Rottie from a reputable breeder or a backyard breeder/pet store? Not trying to be mean but that’s highly unusual in the breed to be aggressive at a young age if you were apparently socializing and training correctly. Rottweilers aren’t aggressive dogs genetically, their temperament is calm and they are aloof with strangers, but never aggressive. Your puppy must have come from a line of overbreeding and that was why he was born with a level of aggression. Unfortunately, overbreeding in any breed leads to neurotic and negative behaviors, even at young ages. My four month old Rottie is the best tempered, most intelligent dog I’ve ever owned. No problems with strangers or others animals whatsoever.

          76. Chelsea is spot on. Too often, a breed becomes popular and anybody with a female of that breed might see $ signs. Not every dog should be bred, but people can be greedy and very stupid.

            I have always known huskies to be really good, calm, reliable dogs, until the past 15-20 years or so. Have seen way too many ‘psycho huskies’ in recent years, and they generally show other deficiencies from breed standard. IOW, people who don’t know what they are doing are breeding bad stock and making dangerous dogs just for the $. Same true with many other popular breeds. That’s why it matters if it’s a backyard breeder, puppy mill, or well documented good breeder.

            Otherwise, go to the shelter and get a good mutt. Sometimes that ‘hybrid vigor’ works to create a better all around dog.

          77. Not true, Rottweilers are aggressive as is indicated by their position on the list. Your rottie may be very gentle but the breed has been subjected to selective mating of aggressive dogs. It is not uncommon for owners to recommend a breed based on their
            dog’s temperament. It takes a study of a population of dogs to determine the true temperament of a breed.

          78. You don’t know what you’re talking about. I’ve had pure bred Rotties for the last 20years and they’ve always been gentle giants.

          79. With rotties I have to agree with Peg that they have behavioral tendencies that have nothing to do with how they are raised. I have seen MANY rotties who were raised in normal households who would only be social with their families. Even well known, frequent visitors to the home were merely tolerated, they were not friendly towards them. Rotties are frequently one family dogs.
            With pits on the other hand, it is ALL about environment. I have never once seen an aggressive pit that was not trained and encouraged to be aggressive, Even the pits that are trained to fight other pits are almost invariably friendly towards humans. Pits have the most undeserved reputation possible. They may have the worst record, but that is mostly down to owners who want and train up a vicious animal.

          80. That may be true. I spent $5000 on training for my 7months old Rottie. However, I believe that his behavior and his eventual blossoming into a gentle giant was as a result of the relationship I had with him. I spent a lot of time with him and I always spoke gently to him from morning till he went to sleep at the foot of my bed at night. He knew from the tone of my voice what I wanted from him and he responded. He wanted to please me and would bury his head in my lap when he knew I was displeased.

          81. Golden Retrievers are safer dogs and you could have saved yourself $5000 and bought something nice.

          82. You could have gotten 2 world class Rottweiler pups for $5000 and very little chance of having temperament and training issues.

            Guess there’s a sucker born every minute.

          83. I think people can learn to understand the relationship needed to have a confident dog and some people are born with a natural intuition of their needs. Glad you made a great loyal friend.

          84. Five thousand bucks to train a dog? Heck, I’ll train your next dog for only six thousand. I can tell you know a deal when you see one Rachel, I’ll even show him how to bury his head in your lap at no extra charge.

          85. I have met some Rotty’s that are vicious no matter what, but most large dogs are vicious because of their owners. Especially with Pit Bulls. They get a bad rap because of their owners who don’t know how to raise them the right way.

          86. U failed to discipline him correctly. If u would have showed dominance over him and disciplined him for jumping up or growling at a guest the correct way he would have eventually learned. Just like people learn a new language. The language is new and it takes hard work and self discipline to achieve your goal of learning a new language. Just like it takes hard work and discipline to train a dog. U have to constantly remind him that u r not going to be harmed and needed to train him when and when not to protect u.

          87. Rotties are more temperamental because they’re a protective/guarding breed. They were literally bred for defense and intimidation. Rotts are more defensive over children and keepers of the opposite gender and they’re also very much one family dogs. Any other animal that may pose a threat to their family or their place within the family is deemed an enemy by a number of breeds, rotts included.

          88. Not true! Our Rotty Sampson was my sisters dog until I came to live with them, then he protected me more than her and wanted to be around me more than anyone in the home, and I’m disabled!! Also when we brought my half chow half timber wolf into the home they got along great so what’s your theory now?

          89. How do you think we got dogs to begin with William? By breeding other kinds of K-9’s with wolves that’s how we got so many different types of dogs in the first place.

          90. Actually Rick, over thousands and thousands of years, we domesticated wolves into dogs. Breeding a domesticated animal back with a wild animal is just stupid!

          91. I have a pitbull and he is one of the most precious animals I’ve ever owned in my life. He was a rescue dog have been beaten obviously numerous numerous times and left unattended and unfair he now is well trained he listens and waits for a command before he does anything he is the most attentive being in the home. Yes his bark sounds agressive and I am glad of that, and yes he will bite you if you come upon his owners property..he loves us and he respects us . We are alpha to him. The training or lack of is key. Train a child to be an idiot and idiots are what ya get.

          92. Sooner or later He will lunge for your throat and wont stop until your dead,and not fighting back,then its not fun for him anymore

          93. There are THOUSANDS of Pit Bull type dogs in my area and we’ve never had a ‘pit bull’ related death here. So how do you explain that?

          94. Gotta laugh at the stereotype of using a pitbull as your example of having your entire face removed in one “friendly” gesture. “Pitbulls for Dummies” is a book you can obtain on Amazon and you will be surprised to find out how little you really know about pitbulls and how all have been painted with the same broad brush. The bottom line is that every puppy is born a blank slate and people who are ignorant and should never own a dog are the ones responsible for ruining them. Very sad.

          95. Your comment, “The bottom line is that every puppy is born a blank slate and people who are ignorant and should never own a dog are the ones responsible for ruining them.”

            Pit bull aggression, the pit bull’s grip n’ rip behavior, and other dog fighting behaviors are not “trained”, it is not learned, it is behavior selectively bred into pit bull dogs by dog fighters for over a century.

            Canine Behavioral Genetics: Pointing Out the Phenotypes and Herding up the Genes

            An astonishing amount of behavioral variation is captured within the more than 350 breeds of dog recognized worldwide.

            Inherent in observations of dog behavior is the notion that much of what is observed is BREED SPECIFIC AND WILL PERSIST, EVEN IN THE ABSENCE OF TRAINING OR MOTIVATION. Thus, herding, pointing, tracking, hunting, and so forth are likely to be controlled, at least in part, at the genetic level. Recent studies in canine genetics suggest that small numbers of genes control major morphologic phenotypes. By extension, we hypothesize that at least some canine behaviors will also be controlled by small numbers of genes that can be readily mapped.

          96. ‎Caroline Coile‎

            Yesterday at 10:10am ·

            I am the author of Pit Bulls for Dummies. I will not have another after they, without warning, attacked and almost killed my other dog who they had been best buddies with for their entire lives. One of them choked my saluki unconscious and ran around the house with her like a panther with a dead gazelle while we tried to get her to let go. When they were good, they were delightful; when they were bad, they were deadly.

          97. Excuse me? pits are the nicest, biggest hearted breed on earth. I know because I used to have a pure pit; and the most he would do is lick your face off…

          98. A pit bull is not a dangerous dog. The only time they r dangerous is when the owner fails to train the dog. Just like any other big breed of dog. Pit bulls r very intelligent and loving. I know this because i have 2 and my 6 year old cousin loves chance and lucky. My cats even love chance and lucky. They r the best breed with proper training. Because just like a pit bull. A great dane can be trained to be a fighting dog. All of the deaths by dog from any breed is because of abuse and the lack of knowledge of the owner.

          99. The reason small breeds are called “ankle biters” is because they go for the ankles to trip larger prey so they can tear out their throats. Literally. Don’t underestimate small dogs.

          100. Pit Bulls are a very good dog as long as they are trained well it’s the owner that makes the dog not the dog breed itself! My brindle Pit Bull Sadie all you had to worry about from her was getting licked to death!! She just wanted to be loved and cuddle with you at night!! The most gentle dog I’ve ever owned, and believe me if a Chihuahua or a Maltipoo were big enough they would bite your face off trained or not!!

          101. Only way “pitbulls” going to remove your face if you’re not supposed to be there or the owner train them that wayI actually rescue all types of dogs mostly pitbulls because no one gives them a chance but I’ve been bitten more by golden retrievers and Labradors and Chihuahuas and other smaller dogs I have never been bitten or attacked by a “pitbull” And the correct term is American STAFFORDSHIRE BULL TERRIER The name pitbull was given to them by ignorant unintelligent people like yourself I’ve handled hundreds of these dogs and never had a problem

          102. Why do people have these blinders on just becz they want ppl to beliEve how they feel about a breed. This research and information is not accidentally put together but based on facts and real figures. It’s so annoying!!

          103. Most great danes are not aggressive. Every breed has the occasional dog that becomes aggressive, sometimes it is nature vs nuture.

          104. When I got my 7months old Rottweiler, he was aggressive and I was a bit afraid. But, I decided that if I didn’t change his behavior he would be put down. I wasn’t going to let that happen. I spent two straight weeks never leaving his side. I whispered to him and showed him pure kindness and gentleness. At first, I’m pretty sure he was confused by all the love, gentleness, and kindness. He was exercised and spoiled to high heaven with love, treats, and a quiet home. By the end of two weeks, I had a big marshmallow who seemed to thrive on love, kindness and…treats. As his vet kept telling me, Buddy doesn’t have a mean bone in his body…he didn’t.

          1. You know nothing of how he was treated. It had nothing to do with his treatment, but the breeder. Eventually most of his siblings had to be put down for the same reasons.

          2. You seem to be intent on blaming the breeder and just because a recessive appears late in a litter it does not mean that the breeder is a bad breeder. Just like people animals can get brain tumors and it has nothing to do with the parents or the breeder. A good breeder tries to make sure that both parents are free of disease and bad genetic traits but recessives genes that don’t show until the puppy is grown make that impossible especially recessives that require both parents to have the gene and they just get unlucky because this recessive doesn’t show up until you breed two together. Animals like human beings are not perfect and many people carry recessives for schizophrenia and many other syndromes.
            Do you go around blaming their parents? I hope not and its time to stop thinking a perfect dog is easy to breed. There are no tests for all of the possible diseases and mixed breeds can have more than 229 genetic problems whereas most purpose bred dogs will be subject to less than 5 – 10 genetic problems. So you are less likely to get genetic problems with purpose bred dogs than mixed breeds. But remember no one can really see recessive genes until they appear. And that can be much later in the life of the dog. Hidden recessives are natures way of changing a species.

          3. Actually it was the breeder. His siblings had the same issues and many had been put down because of it.

        6. That’s probably because the dog wasn’t trained properly.

          Some people just don’t understand that dogs need to be trained.

          I would’ve put YOU down, instead of the dog.

        7. My uncle used to raise and breed Danes. He rescued a female named Satin (not Satan, though some swore otherwise). She was severely mistreated, malnourished, and she’d been used for breeding starting when she was six months old. She was five when he’d gotten her, newly separated from her last litter. There were signs of evident abuse all over her, but she was still the sweetest, gentlest dog you’d ever know, and she understood things like kindness and showed compassion. He was concerned for her health and mental well being and had her spayed, and she got better. She was fiercely loyal and protective.

          My uncle was working on his motorcycle in the garage and there was a gas leak, he was unaware of it and one of his tools sparked and there was a very large combustion. He got out of the garage with a broken arm and severe burns, and ended up falling and getting stuck in a recently dug hole on his property for where they were planning to put in a pool. His two sons were in bed in the house which was attached to the garage, now on fire. Satin broke her dog run, jumped in through their bedroom window and roused them and got them both out of the house. She ended up injured, suffered burns, cuts from the window and smoke inhalation, but she saved those boys, despite being abused and mistreated before they rescued her.

      1. My dachshund is very sweet to anyone she meets. I constantly get comments about how nice or friendly my dog is for a dachshund. And I even have been told on multiple occasions from other dachshund owners how lucky I am to have gotten a friendly dachshund. Luck had little to nothing to do with it. From the day one I exposed her to new people (young and old), new places and new animals. I handled her food and toys to prevent possessive behavior. I think the biggest problem little dogs have going against them are the owners who allow or even encourage negative behavior because they believe their small dog can’t do any real damage. Though I grew up with dogs my dachshund was the first one I played a major role in the raising of. You don’t need to be an expert to raise a nice dog; you just need to put in the time into training and research.

        1. I couldn’t agree more Rachelle! I put the same time and effort into my chihuahua and she is one of the friendliest dogs in my neighborhood. She doesn’t even bark (unless the doorbell goes off). She even plays with a 150 lb shepherd/mastiff mix up the street!

        2. I agree with you to a point. Ask anyone that knows my doxie, she’s playful and there is not one person who she knows that she doesn’t get excited to see. I put her in puppy training class when she was 3 months old, went up 2 more levels and take her with me everywhere that I am allowed to have a dog with me. I can take her to a dog run and she will be fine although she won’t play with the other dogs. I also handled her food and toys from the beginning to prevent possessive behavior. But when we are walking in the street she is very aggressive to strange dogs. And when a stranger wants to pet her I tell them to take it slow and see how she reacts. She has never snapped or showed her teeth, but I can tell by her body language, she’s not happy. I won’t allow strange children to pet her, which I fell bad about because they get excited “a weiner dog” although the children that she does know, there is never a problem. I have done the things that I’m supposed to do. When I’m able to I will go back to a professional trainer to work on what needs to be worked on, although I do read and try, but sometimes it’s something that’s in the dog and not the owners’ lack of knowledge or lack of commitment to training .

        3. Too bad not all people that decide to get a puppy put all the time and effort that it takes to raise a well rounded mentally stable dog. I personally have raised numerous APBT’s that were happy, healthy and mentally stable dogs. I always felt it was MY responsibility to put the time and effort into making sure my dogs were not dangerous. I always felt there were already too many dangerous dogs out there. I have never had one APBT that was dangerous for strangers to be around.and I’ve had the breed for 32 years.

          1. I have owned APBTs for almost 30 years and have enjoyed there sweet personalities. I give them loads of love and kisses. 😉 They are very friendly towards people and most dogs however to some dogs they can tend to object to but I still consider them to be a wonderful breed very loyal dogs. That being said I couldn’t imagine not having this breed in my life they have made this ride that much more beautiful….

          2. Dogs, like other intelligent creatures, have differing personalities and that requires different training and handling depending on the dog. Some dogs need reinforcement of the pecking order, others are docile, it’s nature and nurture.

          3. I don’t care what anyone says, and just like Judge Judy says.. She’s heard people say I’ve owned Pit Bulls my whole life, I put my baby down by my dog, and it licks my babies face, they’re so sweet of an animal.

            The problem is Pit Bulls are more prone to aggressive outbursts than any or most breeds. My buddy lived in an apartment and someone with a little 4 year old girl had the dog all 4 years with no problems, and that particular day the little girl was crying and causing a fuss, and the Pit Bull tore half her face off.

          4. I’ve never had any dog snap at me except Pit Bulls. I’ve had every one of my dogs CGC certified regardless of size so I am used to obedient dogs. A neighbor brought one home and I was out walking my mini mutt, when the Pit lunged at my dog. I got between and yelled at the dog to back off with my pepper spray at the ready. The guy said, “Wow, I was told that he was sweet natured”. I told him that if the dog ever lunged at my dog again I would pepper spray him and report him to the management office. I don’t like the breed mostly because of back yard breeders that bred ill mannered dogs that should have been neutered as puppies.

          5. One, I doubt the dog was even a Pit Bull… Did it look anything like the picture??? Yeah… because Pit Bulls ARE NOT LARGE DOGS! They are thin like terriers! If it was blue, it wasn’t a Pit Bull. Second, you just straight up lied. You said you have never been snapped at by a dog other than a Pit Bull. Yet, you said the dog lunged at your dog?!?!?! So which is it? You’ve just been caught in a lie. ALL BULL BREEDS ARE KNOWN FOR ANIMAL AGGRESSION! THIS IS NOTHING NEW! YOU CAN’T GET MAD A DOG FOR SNAPPING AT YOUR DOG WHEN IT WAS WHAT THEY WERE BRED FOR.

          6. You are a total jerk. You doubt that the dog was even a pit bull? How in the heck would you know? Were you there? So, exactly what makes you think it wasn’t a pit bull? And how was she caught in a lie? She said that she had been snapped at by a pit bull; she never said it was the same pit bull that attacked her dog nor that it happened at the same time. You show yourself to be total moron with your idiotic assumption. You are a pathetic troll, going around threads just looking for people to be a jackwad to. And, yes, you CAN get mad at a dog for snapping at your dog. If it had lunged at my dog, I would have pepper-sprayed it and then proceeded to kick the living crud out of it. Anyhow, just go away pathetic little troll.

          7. The original name for a Pit Bull is Staffordshire Bull Terrier an
            old English breed but breeding standards are different and there are large dogs under the name of American Pit Bull Terriers who are broad and muscular not thin if well fed and cared for. I probably have a better education of dog breeds and their character traits than you do but won’t ague that fact. I do not lie by the way, life is too short to lie about something so mundane. However, all BULL breeds aren’t known for aggression, as there are many BULL breeds that are small like the Boston Bull Dog. However the ones that are aggressive are trained to be that way by people who aren’t intelligent enough to train a dog to obey. I can train any puppy to be non aggressive and to obey upon command, be it by word or signal. However, I can and will be offended if any dog comes at me or my dog when out walking and will pepper spray the dog and hit it with my Bubba Stick if necessary. My dog is trained to behave in public and so should everyone else’s.

          8. Wrong! The American Pit Bull Terrier is the same dog as the American Staffordshire Terrier. The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is a different breed. They are known as Staffies, shorter more stocky build then Am Staffs or Pit bulls. Consider your self schooled. If you don’t believe me look it up.

          9. These people comment and don’t know what they’re talking about. What is wrong with people? So Onward, what’s the first step in training your puppy?

          10. Wow. No. You are HIGHLY uneducated. There are not different types of Pit Bulls. The dogs registered as American Pit Bull Terriers are American Bullies. Staffordshire Bull Terrier? Pit Bulls came from Bull dogs and terriers. They were known as the American PIT BULL Terrier because they were made from Bull dogs and Terriers and were used to fight in a pit. I mean, come on now. You CANNOT say you know about a dog breed if you can’t even get the basic facts straight. And YES! All Bull breeds ARE prone to dog and animal aggression. Boston Bull dog? LMAO! You are so dense it isn’t even funny. Boston Terrier maybe? Notice the TERRIER at the end of Boston. You can’t love and train aggression out of a dog. It is genetic. You don’t train a Pit Bull to fight… they just DO IT! It was the sole purpose of breeding them. That is the reason they created the breed. TO FIGHT! No different than retrievers retrieving. It is GENETIC! Your dog is trained to behave in public? You just said your neighbor had just brought the mutt home. So he’s supposed to have it trained within 24 hours? You are the kind of ignorance that shames 20 different breeds into one and really think you know what you’re talking about.
            Next time, try reading a book. Google isn’t the place to go when you’re trying to look smart.

          11. so my nieces neighbor has 3 pits in a rural area. my niece is out riding her quad and the pits cross her property line and attack her as she is dismounting the quad. she receives 25 stitches in her face and arm. years ago i had a golden retriever. i fenced in my back yard so the dogs wouldn’t get out and get run over on the highway in front of my house. neighbor moved in next door with pit. one afternoon the pit digs under the fence and attacks my golden cornering her in a stairwell. the pit did enough damage to effectually kill the golden before someone could get it off. I’ll never own a pitt bull and if i would have had a gun on those two occasions there would have been two less of them to worry about. the dog warden did get the one that killed the golden and put it down. this is the experience I’ve had with pit bulls so don’t tell me their cute and cuddly. .some might seems that but is it worth the chance. now go ahead and call me a liar but don’t say i didn’t warn you.
            ..

          12. I agree with you in the fact that it’s the backyard breeders that have created this problem… And it’s sad to know that you dislike a breed solely on something that’s not their fault. I hope one day you’ll get to meet a fun loving pitbull that’ll change your mind… They are actually excellent dogs unfortunately there are some unfortunate ones that haven’t been able to receive the love and care that they desperately love to show their best side.

          13. Understandable, OnWard, but then you should not like the owners and breeders and not take it out on the breed. I’ve owned and trained dogs for the majority of my life and I’ve found all dogs to have the same capability for aggression if not properly trained and socialized (of course there are exceptions – like dogs that are badly inbred, etc.). Pits are no different. The problem with that breed is, 99% of the time, always the person not the dog. People have such bad misconceptions about these dogs that lead to the wrong people getting their hands on them, not properly training/socializing them, the dog bites someone and the entire breed is blamed. And it’s not always “bad” people that are the problem. Many good and well meaning people get Pits without fully understanding that they are a breed that needs training, exercise, and a strong leader. The same with Dobermans, Rotties, and Chihuahuas! 🙂 Peace.

          14. I have never had any dog snap at me at all and I’ve met all types of dog breeds, mostly Pitbulls. Pits were the sweetest by far of all the dogs I have ever met. Dogs know whom are good natured humans and those that aren’t.

          15. No, it’s not baloney! Why do you think they call them Nanny dogs? I’ve also never had a pit act aggressively towards me in any way. Blame the a holes who make them fight. Did you know that nearly all of Michael Vick’s dogs were retrained and eventually all were successfully adopted out as family dogs? Don’t believe me, check it out for yourself.
            Oh, and you should watch Pit Bulls and Parolees on Animal Planet, you just might learn something about the breed.

          16. My Pit is a lover. He does tend to get a little rambunctious when playing though but we are workin on that! Plus he is only 3 months old….so terrible 2’s in human terms.

          17. I have avoided pits until recently, I have always been partial to German shepherds and Dobermans, yes the top three on the list, but my daughters had been bugging me for years to get a Pitt. I finally caved in and searched until I found one that I was able to see the parents of. The father was so gentle and non aggressive which was impressive having never seen me before. He was large and intimidating though had the nature of a big puppy which convinced me to give her a try. They were was raised with Chihuahua’s and treated them gently, we have Chihuahua’s so this was a plus. She is by far the smartest dog I have owned in a long time, she learns extremely fast and as she does not fear dicipline, she trains very well. My Chihuahua’s pee or cower if you raise your voice and forget what you are training them. I am still cautious with her around other dogs as well as kids, partly because of their reputation but also because of how others react to her. She is large and intimidating, though beautiful and loving. I do find that she and most Pitts are big chickens, which through experience can bring out aggressiveness through fear. They also seem to have an unexplainable immediate anger toward other pitts it does not know, though if the owner is aware and in control, this should not be an issue. Like someone said before, with proper training, most any dog can be under control. You do have to know your dogs temperament and what sets it off anyway, no matter what the breed, this is being a good owner for his and others safety. MY Pitt is one of the most loving dogs I have ever owned, I noticed that while at dog parks, she does not quite understand how others play, if another dog growls or barks at her she becomes aggressive in a defensive way. If another dog, mostly males try to dominate her, she also becomes aggressive. As she is my first, I am still very cautious and make sure when she hears my voice command, she does not hesitate to respond. It gives me assurance as well as others that she does not have to be feared. She does not feel pain like others, playing rough excites her, both are like myself so we can appreciate each other. I have always insisted she does not use her teeth to play and try to keep her from jumping on others,” still work in progress”. One thing I have always done when it comes to deciding whether to keep a pup or not of any breed is to test their temperament. This can be assessed and a quite early age. Animals are like people, no two are the same, no matter their breed, breeding, size, or history. I will play with the pup fairly rough in order to test it’s stamina and it’s limits. I keep going until the dog either wants to quit or becomes aggressive, I do not stop though, I keep pushing to see if the dog will snap, they will do one or the other. If they want to give up I continue until they eventually will show their belly in submission. This is what I preferr and will immediately demonstrate that the dog id not in trouble by cuddling it. If the pup shows aggression, I will play rougher without break until again, the pup will submit by showing it’s belly. A few times like this and the pup will not likely ever show aggression again unless it has good reason such as a command, to protect another or itself from serious harm. A few will become aggressive and never submit, even an alpha will submit when there is no choice left. One that does not, especially a pup will always be unpredictable and need training and a very strong and alert owner to give it confidence and insures the dog always knows who is in charge.Like most animals, dogs can sense what you feel, fear anger,or other things out of self preservation and some will react, some will not. Most will either feel comfortable around you or not, they may back off, growl, snap, wag their tail, have no interest or many dominant alphas will give no sign, a poker face, which can make another dog or human uncomfortable and even submit. There are animal people and people who are not good with animals. Animals know this, I have two alphas in my time, one female and one male. Best dogs I have ever had, American Eskimo, and a Long haired German Bred German Shepard. Both extremely smart and stubborn, both with just a glance caused other animals to respect them, their space, their place, and distance but not necessarily with fear. My chickens would allow their chicks to crawl all over them, my duck would groom them, they felt secure in their presence that no they were safe as long as they were near. My American Eskimo though would attack any animal that was not ours within her territory, not to harm them but to demonstrate her superiority. She would tackle and hold them until I dragged her off. My German Shepard was even more confident and would not even acknowledge another animals existence unless provoked. Then it would respond in a single massive physical move of domination and control. A Rott annoyed him for too long nipping at him, barking and pushing until he turned and hit him with his chest, taking him off his feet and sliding under a car. It took a bit for him to get back out, but without harm, he knew now to respect his space. This German Shepard did not wag his tail except for me, he showed absolutely sign of his intentions. It was hard to tell whether to fear him or not by others and he was a jumper, he preferred to be above everyone in vantage points. Dogs are like people or kids, they are not as stupid as we think and all different which makes things interesting.

          18. You made several mistakes while dealing in the moment, yet you blame it on the other dog. Nice…..

          19. OnWard get your panties out of a bind and have your boy friend make you a julep or something. Dogs do have their turf and do not like intruders coming there. The dog was just protecting what was in it’s mind theirs, when they let you know they are coming no worries the one you need to worry about is the one that is walking away with your purse puppy in it’s mouth dead! Without a bark!

          20. Probably because the dog knew you didn’t like the breed and the fact that you were a tool.

          21. Then it would be safe to say it is not the breed. It is the irresponsible owner and or the irresponsible breeder.

          22. I’ve had dogs all my life too, ad the only time I’ve ever been bitten was by a mama toy poodle. I didn’t even see her until she had me by the top of my foot. She didn’t hold on long, and she never did that again. Nor did either of the toy poodles I had. As for sweeties I loved and recommend, a Jack Russell Terrier, a Papillon, and a Saluki were all wonderful characters without human aggression whatsoever. I think most dogs are just as in love with us as we are with them.

          23. I was with friends, walking our 4 small dogs, and an off leash Pitbull came after the smallest, an 8 lb puppy. The PB got ahold of his ear (fortunately the pup turned his head in time so the PB missed his neck). It took more than 10 minutes to get that dog to release that poor puppy. Two guys that were with us, plus the owner. I’m hard pressed to think I would ever want a dog that was that strong.
            BTW- Patty J. the article statistics are dog bite deaths. Chiuauas might bite, but they won’t bite your face off.

          24. There is a difference between snapping at you and snapping at another dog…a big difference…my pitbull you could let loose in a room full of newborn babies, however on a leash I would not let her go up to another dog…she has a tendency to posture and bark. Offleash, she is very sweet with other dogs..in fact she is the first dog I always introduce my foster dogs too. The person who owns the pitbull that snapped at your dog needs to be educated about his dog’s behavior…sweet with humans and sweet in all situations are not one in the same.

          25. Only dogs that have ever tried to bite me were one sheepdog and some precocious small dogs like chihuahuas.

          26. Just like any other breed excellent training needs to be put in place… This dog was originally bred for hunting and guarding and unfortunately has turned into fighting so that evil people can profit… The blood lines have been completely damaged… So just like a German Shepard, Rottweiler, and pincher this breed was bred for a specific reason and there for needs to have specific training and cautions… But to make it out like this is the worst breed there is and should be banned is absurred. This breed in my opinion is the most loyal there is…. You can’t judge the breed because of all the things you hear and see in the news or personally. you need to look at the owners behined that breed… They are animals and any type of animal has the ability to attack or act aggressively.

          27. I have to disagree with your post. The pitbull was NEVER used for hunting or protection. They were used for bull baiting and fighting other dogs. Hence the name PitBull. They used a bulldog until it was crossed with a larger terrier breed (because of their loyalty) to produce a fighting dog that would not turn on their master. They were brought to the US on the Mayflower from England when they became the American Pitbull Terrier and The American Staffordshire Terrier (both the same dog but changed the names). Once they came to the US, the Pitbulls were still used for fighting, while the Am Staffs were used as companion dogs with a more strict breeding regimen. This is why the Am Staff is recognized by the AKC and the Pitbull is not. FYI.

          28. I think your wrong about the staff and the pit being the same dog. The staff appears to me to much less muscular than a pit. Significant difference in the build of these two dogs. Also, I don’t believe there are bad dogs, I believe there are bad dog trainers and bad dogs owners, sure way to get a bad dog.

          29. Finally someone who knows the history of Pits. I had one who lived to 14 yrs. He was a beautiful, sweet, smart, dog. However, some are more game than others and can cause harm. Just sayin…

          30. Pits were called “Nanny dogs” because they were great family dogs. Still are and still love kids!

          31. And still capable of killing them in just seconds. I don’t want to take that chance with my daughter. We have a Lab that does occasionally try to lick her to death. No more kisses Daisy!

          32. Labs are just as capable though. I’ve seen a small terrier that nearly got murdered by a lab… It could have just as easily been a child.

          33. Yea labs are just as capable. Go ahead and link me to the data showing that labs are responisble for just as many children deaths as pitbulls

          34. Between my kids who are all dog lovers we have labs, pit bulls, white boxer, mutt, American bulldog, husky/shepherd mix and labradoodle. Around the Thanksgiving table they are seated next to someone waiting for their dinner. Had 9 dogs and 10 people at Thanksgiving last year. Only dog that has ever shown aggression was some lady’s malamute on the trail that attacked and tore the ear off my diabetic/blind lab. I am noticing more and more people who are adopting pit bulls or pit mixes on the trails when I am hiking. Seems to be an abundance of them..pit bulls and labs that is pretty much what I see in this ski town.

          35. Except when one day that kid starts crying and throwing a tantrum and the dog decides it has had enough and bites the kid’s face off.

          36. You can’t judge a breed by all the things you hear and see in the news or personally? How else do you judge a breed?

          37. I agree – my little girl was 65 LB of pure diva; scared of cats, loved kids, anyone who’d scratch her behind and she was easy to train. that’s part of the prob – pits are easy because they’re people pleasers and this is why they’re so easy to teach to fight. Look at Vick’s dogs! they were brought back to 3 different rescue groups, 2 of which are in CA. Ceaser kept the worst (her teeth were pulled so she could teach biting w/out hurting the target dog). Next, Bad Rapp out of Dublin area (ca.) took a bunch; all of them found forever homes and they’re thriving as pets, not fighters. Those of you who have never nurtured and been adopted by a pit, it’s a shame, because they’re only taught what they’re taught. My rescue was used as a punching bag by the prev owner and she adoped our family when she was 9 mo. old. awesome girl; they smile, they love to play and they snore when they sleep on their backs. She was the best Am Staff and companion there ever was.

          38. I have two and they’re the same way. We walk a mile and a half every day and the only problem we have is with the little dogs. Mine are fine with little dogs and most other dogs, but just as with people, there are some they just don’t like. I keep a close watch and if I see any sign at all of them being nervous or anxious when they see a particular dog, we walk on the other side of the street. They are both total love bugs with people.

          39. you are so right our Lucy is just a big lover, she is only aggressive if she feels we are threated, if we tell her it is OK, then a stranger can come in and all is fine, she loves our cats who do not fear her, they are all friends, she is the gentlest dog I have ever known. We are her pack and I am the Alpha male, she is perfect.

          40. I found the article completely slanted against large breed dogs! I am a social worker with 30 years in the field- it was a flippin’ Chihuahua that bit me. I’ve been around majority of the large breed dogs mentioned and own or have owned 4 of them. It is not bad dogs or bad breeds….it is lousy owners who think beating a dog will make it aggressive. Instead, the dog becomes a fear biter and THAT is where the problem is because they are unpredictable. I live with (an am very protected by!) a retired police K9- he is my ‘baby’ and would die protecting me. The pit, rot, shepard, wolf hybrid, malamute, and dobie are all territorial dogs and take protecting their turf and their humans very seriously. The dane and St. Bernard…. aggressive is not in their personality unless a lousy owner made them that way! I find the article to be pure BS. Now look at the bites of small breeds and find out how many have been bitten by dogs less than 30 lbs.

          41. I will disagree–a little. We had 2 chows, litter mates, one the female was mean to little children, strangers, other animals. The male was a sweetheart, loved to cuddle, liked people in general and loved children (we had a 3 year old). We had to re-home the female to a couple without children and she did very well there. The dogs were given the same training, attention and love.

          42. There in itself lies the real truth. To say all chows are aggressive, by your own experience, is not necessarily true. The same with Pits. How they are trained is how they will act. I work with dogs for a living and the most aggressive dogs I’ve come across has always been 10 pounds and under.

          43. I have seen a full grown male Chow, grab a bull by the nose and pull it down. They had to shoot the dog to get him off.

          44. My cousin had a Chow and her neighbor’s Doberman was scared to death of it!

          45. You are wrong about malamutes. They have no sense whatsoever about protecting territory or their humans. They are about the worst watchdog you could have. I have had several, including a current one, and they would gladly show a burglar the silverware.

          46. couldn’t agree more this is the second time I’ve read this one and they still leave out the worst one the BITTERS must be a slow news day!!!!!!

          47. why people spent more time and money on the animals when human been are suffering with hunger , sickness , and more ? they need help and God will rewarding everyone who takes care the images of God , not the animals . where did you get that command ? even the bible didn’t say that ? please change your mind and start love God and their image (human )not animal.

          48. just because you hate animals does not mean they do not deserve love too.. read your Bible a little better there is a St. that is for animals specifically besides you miss understood what I said I give 20 % of my annual income to my church how much do you???? but I still give time to help mistreated animals by ROTTEN HUMANS WHO claim to be GREAT CHRISTIANS WHAT DO YOU DO BESIDES CRITIZE OTHER PEOPLE?????

          49. Uh…. Yaaaa. Alrighty then. I might suggest you go see a doctor about that. You clearly need some help. Best of luck to you.

          50. Because its about fatalities, not number of bites. Can’t you read? Even a little bit?

          51. How many “flippin” Chihuahuas have caused a death due to their biting someone? I’d like to see the stats on that one. The fact is that Chihuahuas are one of the most misunderstood dog breed. If they act out, it’s the lack of training on the owners’ part. They aren’t real live toys that ride in a purse. They’re just as much of a dog as a great dane and need training, not babying.

          52. Our pit is the same way. Spike is so sweet and loves life. Not all people are qualified to own a pit. Only those who, like yourself, get the breed and have educated yourself on them.

          53. They do snore and they also try to talk. My pibble tries to talk to us all the time. Most loyal and easy to train dog I’ve ever had and I’ve had border collies which are as smart as they come.

          54. Thank you, thank you, thank you. A lot of Vick’s dogs are service dogs. Speaking of Vicks, still waiting for some big, bad pittie lover to break every bone in Vick’s body, one break for every dog he killed.

          55. Very true…the person who wrote this article is so off the mark when it comes to pit bulls, and the use of the term here doesn’t make any distinction as to whether the writer is referring to APBTs, Staffordshires, etc. Very misinformed.

          56. Yes, the person who wrote the article fabricated the number of fatal dog attacks by pit bulls. Surely there is another explanation.

          57. Well maybe there have been more fatalities by pitbulls, because more idiotic people (and I use that term loosely) have taken a normally loving and sweet breed and turned them into killers by using them to fight and then turning them loose into the streets to wreak havoc…if those said people took a 1000 golden retrievers and trained them to be killers and then them loose on society the number of fatalities by golden retrievers would rise I am sure.

          58. I agree, but even properly raised by responsible owners pits are more dangerous that most other breeds. When they do bite they cause more physical damage because they were bred to bite with powerful jaws and to hold the bite and to shake to tear flesh. I spent a career as an emergency room nurse, and the most severe dog bite injuries (including one fatality) i’ve seen over the years have all been by pit bulls.

          59. I agree partly. Idiots choose the breed to train to fight because of their ability to inflict alot of damage. I have two pitbulls and they would never bite unless someone threatened me, which is what they are supposed to do. So, I will have to disagree that a properly raised pitbull is anymore dangerous than any other breed of large dog. Their sweet and good natured temparment with humans mean they are less likely to bite. I had a foster dog nearly kill another one of my dogs during a fight and she was a border collie…she was able to rip and tear the flesh from his neck easily. Luckily, someone was able to get to them in time, to break up the fight and he was saved, but it was a very vicious attack. All dogs are capable of inflicting damage given the right circumstances. So, as humans we need to be the ones responsible.

          60. I am 56 years old and on my third bully/bully mix, they become like children and tear your heart out when it is their time, yeah it takes awhile to get another one. Goofy, smart, easy to train, full of energy, big lovebugs that are misunderstood. My present Joey is 74 pounds of knucklehead with a neck like a coffee can and a skull like cement, but that boy would stop a train for my wife or myself. We volunteer at our local bully rescue as in walking the dogs, donating food, bedding, etc. We also will bring home for the weekend a compatible bully and are they tired and happy when we take them back! I have been slammed before by other posters calling them “ghetto hounds”, owning them puts you at risk to commit felonies, I’m as unstable as the breed, etc. sorry idiot haters, all I can say is….BEST DOGS EVER.

          61. Your anecdotes are nice and fuzzy but the plural of anecdote is not data. Statistics show that these dogs are more likely to attack other dogs, other humans, and inflict massive damage than other breeds of dogs. Just because you’ve had a good experience with the breed doesn’t negate the statistics surrounding the dog, which are cumulative of the experiences of the population.

          62. Sorry for your negative image, it is how our dogs were raised, have four other bully/bully mixes in my related family and all have been professionally trained. A dog is only as smart as it’s owner.

          63. Maybe you might look at some other posts from a few months back from some other bully owners.

          64. Yes, everyone has a sweet pit bull that would never harm a fly and would NEVER attack anyone ever ever ever…except that’s exactly what the owners of all the dogs involved in vicious attacks say after the fact too. “OMG he’s never hurt anyone before, he’s so sweet!” They only need to attack once to kill someone.

          65. Why do you think golden retrievers aren’t typically used for fighting? Do you think it’s by magical coincidence that pitbulls are almost exclusively used for fighting? This is because the characteristics that make pitbulls dangerous house dogs are the same that make them effective fighting dogs. They are aggressive, do not release their prey once latched on, annd are incredibly powerful

          66. Literally the first sentence of the article clearly states “American Pitt Bull Terrier”. Yes, they can be trained to be obedient and safe, but the fact is that these dogs are disproportionately responsible for the vast majority of dog-related fatalities. They were bred for fighting specifically for their temperament. The are bred to bite and never let go. This means that unless the owner is a superb trainer (which is not going to be the case for most owners of this ss of dog), then these dogs pose a high risk to the community. Statistics don’t lie.

          67. yes but that’s also because in reality the term pit bull is used EXTREMELY loosely. if it were all broke down to pit mixes, am staffs, APBT, and other dogs that are considered pitbulls the numbers would be much lower. also, just because someone says they raised there dog right doesn’t mean they really did, as well as the fact that they don’t always know how the dog was really treated before the adopted it. my German Shepherd was more aggressive than both my APBT’s before we had to put her down.

          68. a neighbors Pittie took a special dislike to my yorkie-poo and tried to eat her alive. she sipped her leash and charged at us while we were on our evening walk. my dog lied but was seriously wounded.

          69. Maybe you should read my post before you spew that “read the article”, I have had 3 bullys/bully mix in my 56 years and are heart broken when they die of old age. All 3 of my former dogs and my current 5 year old are the most personable, friendly, loving goofy knuckleheads not only to my wife and I but he has actually been called a “gentleman” by others who have met him that have “chicken little” yellow journalism fear of bullys, at 74 pounds, yes he can be intimidating until he nuzzles your hand or leans on you. He is the polar opposite of what you or the uninformed public view as a “Pit Bull”. We also volunteer at a local bully rescue as in donations, walking them and so on. Also some posters quote them as “ghetto hounds”, sorry to shoot someone’s balloon down in flames, but no, we are far from ghetto. As the saying goes….a dog is only as smart as its owner.

          70. On this site, dog bites are compiled and fatalities recorded. See for yourself which dog dominates the list. And it’s sad to hear all the victims’ loved ones saying the same thing that people who defend pit bulls say…”But he was so sweet and gentle…he never hurt a fly…he loved kids…”

        4. I have two long haired dachshunds and both are gentle. One is especially wonderful around children and has never snapped at anyone. She loves meeting new people and is b always happy. The other was a rescue and is more nervous, but she just barks or hides at strangers. It’s all on the breeder and training.

          1. Quote from grandmother of 11 week old mauled to death by a pit. ” The child’s grandmother, Willetta Tate, said the family had owned the pit bull for 8-years and it had grown up with two other children in the household, 8 and 11-years old. “It’s just unexplainable,” Tate said. “You just don’t get it when you’ve had the dog so long, I don’t know what could have happened. I don’t know,”

            Sounds eerily familiar, doesn’t it

          2. The common and frightening theme with pit bull attacks is that for everyone involved, it is surprising because typically the dog has never shown aggression before. This is why it is particularly dangerous

        5. My dachshund is a rescue and he was extremely aggressive… mostly out of fear. He was brought into the shelter as a stray and it turned out he had been abused. He guarded everything and would bite with no warning, except his stiff body language. It took a lot of love and patience and consistency, but he is a really good dog now. Very loving. He just needed to learn to trust. A friend of mine has a mini that is the friendliest, easiest going little dog I have ever met!

          1. Dachshunds are precious. Been bit by one but he was also formerly abused… Sadly they learn to hurt by being hurt by owers. Love them all anyway

        6. I have to agree with you my wife and I own two dachshunds one that is 10 years old and one that is almost two and they are very loving and friendly. They are very vocal but they would rather lick you to death than bite you. We have a 2 month old baby and they are very good with him and have not gotten jealous of him. The youngest one come in his room and checks on him all the time and wants to be close to him at all times.

        7. You are correct. Everyone hates yappy little dogs but, as a rescue person, I ask people who get frustrated with their small yappy dogs “would you allow a pit to get away with what you allow your Chihuahua to get away with?”

    2. You hit the nail on the head! My Yorkie, Too-Too, thinks he’s as big as a Great Dane. Dogs have no concept of “size”. That is why you find large breeds thinking they are lap dogs and the little ones challenging the big guys. With dogs, size just doesn’t matter. Watch out for those little ones aka “ankle biters” and remember, a pet is a reflection of its owner. Training is important, so take time with your furry friends and be patient.

      1. So true….I have had Danes, dobermans, and pitbulls. None of them had an
        aggressive bone in their body! It is all about how the owner trains the
        dog. My dog now is a 10yr old pit and she made milk to nurse abandoned kittens! Grrr

      2. I was a Rural Mailman for 26 years and had to deal with all breeds. I went into yards with Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, etc. Only time I got bit was by a little Dachshund and it was my fault. He was raising a fuss and I put my hand next to the gate for him to smell. Got his nose through and nipped me. Only dog that I was scared of was a little Yorkie. Her owner told me she would bite and from the dogs actions I knew she was telling the truth.

        1. I was a city Carrier, I got tore up by a Sky Shepard, came out from under a car and bit me three times before I could kick it. Never extend your hand to a strange dog, as you learned they bite. I kicked one dog , as it ran through a screen door, it went up and completely upside down and landed on it’s feet again, it just stood there and stared at me. Another time I had to pepper spray a
          German Shepard, the wind shifted and we were both on the ground. A fellow carrier kicked a poodle as it lunged at him from off a porch and it landed on top the house, The lady owner cried “how am I supposed to get her down?” the carrier said ” I don’t know, I got her up there you’ll have to get her down”, this was a long time ago, today people get fired if they protect themselves.

          1. people that are distrustful and scared of dogs probably shouldn’t work at a job where they are required to visit people’s homes. If I witness someone kicking or beating a dog I’m likely to return the favor

          2. really Mike? clearly he kicked the dogs as self-protection.. not simply because they dog was THERE but because the dog was attacking…

          3. A dog that charges me growling with teeth showing gets shot. I’ve had to do it three times and will not hesitate to do it again.

          4. so a person who’s job requires them to deliver to a home with a dog should quit his job because you can’t control your dog. if I saw your dog acting out I would pepper spray it, and if you touch me you would get the same thing only more

          5. I think most pedestrian mail carries now carry pepper spray or a squirt gun filled with ammonia solution, especially if they know of aggressive dogs on their route. I’d avoid actually kicking dogs, though; that is going to piss off owners that may be incapable of sympathizing with your right to defend yourself.

      3. Dogs understand the concept of size very well. Some dogs are just dumber than others and some dogs are just too full of themselves to know what a good azz whipping is all about until they finally meet up with one.

          1. My dogs forget I even exist when they see Mel, my mailman. He’s their daddy with his treats.

      4. I have owned Shepherds for 40 plus years and never have they bit anyone. The time I got bitten was by a Sheltie who came up to me while I was sitting having tea at the kitchen table with their owner. Dog was sitting there, and just all of a sudden charged and bit me. BIT ME! Broke skin, grabbed, and blood. Little dogs are far more of an issue than these big dogs – why? Because people coddle the little dogs, and they are all ill mannered, because when the dog acts up, the stupid owner picks them up and kiss faces them – so the dog continues to get nastier. No one lets a big dog get away with that. So, big dogs are ALWAYS much better mannered.

        1. I grow up with a beautiful German shepherd in Germany in the early 50’s. Always playful. These kids would take a stick to the wooden fence and drive the dog crazy. One day, when a kid was just walking by, he jumped over the fence and severely bite the boy. The kid’s parents demanded that the dog be put down or they would sue. Reluctantly, my Grandfather took him to be put down and dropped him off at a slaughter house. It was very sad. He was heart broken over it. He was actually my father’s dog but since he was in the American Army, my Grandfather took care of him. We traveled a lot back and forth to Germany because my father made a career of the Army but he always stayed with my grandfather. No matter how long we were gone, the dog was always happy to see us, particularly my father. It was believed he was never put down because a farmer saved him. But no one knows for sure. I was only 3 and still remember playing with Rex.

        2. All of the herding breed dogs should have a tendency to bite. It’s almost always a nip. This includes GSDs.

          What people don’t understand is the difference between nip, a bite, a full on mauling, and the reasons some breeds more easily express/prefer some of these behaviors over others.

      5. I agree with your “no concept of size” statement. I’ve watched a pair of Chihuahuas harass a husky and chase it around; the mismatch in size made it quite comical! Generally, younger dogs are quite deferential, regardless of their size. I’ve also watched my female Setter mount a male Black Lab/St Bernard mix, asserting dominance over the larger dog because she was young and spry while he was old and tired. Yes, apparently size counts for nothing in establishing social position for canines.

        1. Dogs understand size just fine. They also understand that territory trumps size. I’ll bet that the Chihuahuas chasing the husky were on their own turf at the time, and the husky respected that.

          1. My Chihuahuas are fearless and I’m afraid someday that will get them in trouble!

    3. Chihuahuas, like small people, have to speak up for themselves. We have one that we took the time to discipline, train, and socialize just like any of our other dogs. She has fit beautifully into our family/pack. She is an amazing lap dog and stays by my side when I’m sick.

    4. I watched one lunge at my 3 year old brother, who was playing on the other side of the room. The dog was just watching him, snarled and lunged with his jaws wide open. The owner was close enough to grab him before he got to my brother. The owner put the dog down.
      Danes are more then just big.

    5. LOL. The most aggressive dog I have ever had was a Chi. I took her off death row where she was placed because she got picked up as an aggressive stray. Darned little thing ( not so little for a chi, 12 lbs of sly street Chihuahua) was so smart that training, including her learning English took a matter of 2 weeks. But I always did take the precaution of putting her up when there were any new kids around, not an issue at all with the Grandkiddos though.
      Darned thing was sneaky smart, at treat time she started running to the door to bark, when the other dogs including 2 ret GSD K-9’s would run to the door she’d sneak back and take their treats too. They fell for it every time.

      1. My GSD would do the same thing to our rescued terrier! Treats would be handed out, she’d bolt for the door, barking like the Mongol horde was coming in, Max would race after her and she’d double back and snag his treat! Way too funny.

    6. I’ve owned chihuahua mixes and never had a problem at all. But a few days ago, I was walking my current mix and a BEAGLE of all things raced out of his yard like he was going to play and immediately clamped down on her and wouldn’t let go. This basically proves that almost any dog breed can be mean. After we got the beagle off our dog, what did its owner do? He screamed at the dog and smacked him hard in the face.

    7. Danes are also used to guard by some, mostly for the intimidation factor of their size, but back at some point they were guard/war/draft dogs. Modern ones are mostly bred for a calm demeanor.

    8. I agree Chihuahuas can be mean little dogs. If they were large animals, they would be dangerous. As it is they can really tear up a hand or a finger.

    9. Yes, my two AKC Canine Good Behavior Certified Lab Staffie and Staffie Dalmatian were ambushed by a long hair Chihuahua. He kept coming at them and finally they started to defend themselves under so much barking, biting by that ChiChi demon.

      All dogs bite BUT bad owners create bad dogs(including breeders).

    10. You aren’t kidding, but even chihuahuas are gentle if they’re given consistent structure and their owner takes the time to ensure they know how to respond properly to given commands.

    11. LOL! As someone who works rescue for chihuahuas and has some. You’re right on! I much rather transporting the larger breed dogs, have never had an issue with one. Give me a small chihuahua or yorkie? I am on alert for getting possibly bit. Haven;t yet, but one came close.

  9. Every breed of dog is breed for a purpose, either for hunting or working. Man created many of these breeds so they could help us out moving forward into modern times.Sadly many of the jobs these dogs were bred to do are no longer needed, but that is not the dogs fault, they are still creating new breeds today, I just read an article about a Russian scientist cross breeding 4 different dogs trying to get the right size, loyalty and smelling ability he was looking for. Yes the dog breed may have killed but as stated many were protecting their owners doing what they were trained to do, others sadly are due to lack of training and obedience. Owning any big dog is a huge responsibility, they are deadly weapons, if you own one you should be held responsible for their actions. I trained military dogs, police dogs and obedience classes for petsmart, I always tell people if they get a big dog be prepared to be held accountable if they attack anyone, training is the key to any dog but especially big dogs that can mame and kill humans.

    1. And that’s the reason insurance co’s charge pit bull owners more on their homeowners policies.
      They ask now, what type of dog you have.
      I had a wolf hybrid, and he was sweet as pie, I treated him like a baby, but, I always worried about what would happen if someone strange came around and I wasn’t there.
      I also had a black german shepherd, she came from an aggressive mother, she was gentle with us, and we didn’t raise her to be aggressive, quite the opposite, but it was in her DNA, and I had to watch her every minute, and one time she attacked a Doberman, fortunately, there was no damage anywhere.
      I now have a chow/golden retriever mix, she doesn’t let strangers in the house, but outside, she’s afraid of her own shadow.

      1. I had a wold hybrid as a teen and my parents and I knew exactly what she would do if a stranger entered the house. They would probably be leaving the property in a hurry because either A they saw her charging all the while barking growling and snarling or B she already bit them and they weren’t going to hang around to tempt her a second time. But as she aged we did worry about her going after somebody unprovoked. The meter reader guy made the mistake of ignoring the warning signs and just entered the back yard to read the meter while she was back there. Needless to say the second she growled he stepped back through the gate latched it and booked it up the drive with her barking growling and snarling at the gate. He went back to the neighbors used a set of binoculars and read it from their yard. I heard the gate latch seconds before the growling then heard it again and saw the poor guy running for the safety of his truck.

      2. Our homeowner insurance asked us one question. Has you dog ever bit anyone? Of course we said “no” because she hadn’t …we have great home insurance and that has been a few APBT’s ago. I liked the fact that they take each dog as an individual and not clump everyone together.

        1. Some carriers are going by the breed, if you have a pit or any breed thought to be aggressive, you’ll be charged extra if they accept you at all.
          My neighbor was turned down, she has one pit who has no teeth,a mutt and a puppy of dubious breed.. She used to have another pit, but it attacked the other dogs twice, badly enough to run up a hefty vet bill. She bit hard enough to have a mouthful of blood.
          The one that attacked, I never trusted, there was just something about her, the one with no teeth is a lovebug, he was a rescue bait dog. He is very grateful to have a good home.

          1. Yes I am aware of that…that is why I said what I said. Thanksfully not ALL insurance companies are that way.

  10. If you look at the fatality numbers here (leaving out Wolf hybrids for which none were given), there’s relatively steady incremental increase from #10 (St. Bernards) to #8 (German Shepards), from 7 to 17 fatalities. Then the number of fatalities drastically jumps. It more than doubles to 39 (#2 Rottweilers) and than jumps again to 66 (#1 Pit Bulls). The pattern is striking. In the top 10 breeds, #’s10-3 are together responsible for 65 fatalities. Pitt Bulls b themselves are responsible for more than this 66 fatalities) and Pitt Bulls and Rottweilers together are responsible for more than 1-1/2 times the number of fatalities of the other 8 dreeds. And keep in mind that these numbers include when the dogs were acting in defense of their humans (mentioned for Dobermans). Also, the numbers for Malamutes and Huskies are this high because they include semi-feral working sled dogs in the north who pretty much run wild over the summer.

    Finally, if you adjust these figures based on the proportion of these breeds in the overall dog population, the Pit Bull fatality rate is much much higher than for any other breed.

    1. Pittbulls are wonderful,kind,loving animals. The problems do not exist within the breed. The problems exist within humanity. The only animal in any breed that has ever hurt any one, are the poor,unfortunate animals that had the horrible luck of getting a poor excuse for a Human Being as a owner. People in general suck. (men)… These people want to fight these animals to the death for money. Beat this animals to teach them to be mean and hateful.Keep these animals as long as they are winning $ for the sick person. Then when said animal looses,the so called human leaves the half dead animal there to suffer more and die. So,as usual man created a monster and then wants to ban it….. GO FIGURE…..BTW, not really an animal lover, just tired of reading about it….

      1. All the population figures I’ve seen give figures of (about) 4-10% of the US dog population being made up of Pit Bulls. Yet, this breed accounts by itself for over about 2/3 of the fatal dog attacks on humans reported in this article. That proportion increases still further if dogs defending their humans and feral dogs are omitted.

        When a breed comprising less than 1/10 of all dogs is responsible for 2/3 or more of all human dog attack fatalities there is clearly a problem with that breed that goes beyond individual owners.

        1. The Pit bull lawyers responding to these facts, don’t want to read the good sense you just wrote.
          They just can’t believe their dog is capable of doing what the stats prove it is. I’m not saying they are all bad, they aren’t. They are just bred to do a job, and that job was KILL.

        2. They may only be 10% of dogs overall, but smaller dogs aren’t able to kill someone unless something really bizarre happens. So take out every dog under, say, 50 pounds. Then the percentages are much closer. Also, the collective breeds called “pit bulls” are mostly dogs bred to be good guard dogs. How many of those attacked had provoked it by being somewhere they weren’t allowed or threatening the dog’s family? How many were in abusive homes or dog fighting rings? Things like this article make the dogs out as the bad guy when most are sweet and innocent. The few who do attack may have mental problems or were even the victim of attack. Because people think these dogs are mean, they do awful things to them like pour acid on them or set them on fire. Every dog I’ve seen things like that done to were “pit bulls” of various breeds or mutts mistaken for them.

      2. My rat terrier is more dangerous than any pitbull or other big dog ive ever owned…its all about how you train and socialize your dog…I would trust a bully breed around my kids before I would trust a small dog to be around them…

    2. One of the reasons “pit bulls” have such a high fatality rate is because of the number of breeds that get categorized as “pit bull”: Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier. Sometimes other breeds get categorized as “pit bulls”. Included are: Bull Terrier, Bulldog, French Bull dog, American Bulldog, Bull Mastiff, Mastiff, Dogue De Bordeaux, Neapolitan Mastiff. I think if they chose one particular “pit bull” type, we would see vastly different numbers.

      So instead of killing dogs based on appearance, how about we educate people. Don’t buy breeds you cannot handle. SPAY AND NEUTER! Follow the leash laws. Train your dog. Don’t allow your kids to harass dogs (which happens). Be careful around unknown dogs. Don’t leave your dogs on chains (promotes aggression). Don’t fight your dogs. Report animal abuse.

  11. Pit Bulls do not have an “extremely agressive nature” unless you mean of course extremely agressive with their love and licks. I have one and she’s about as agressive as a mouse. I call bullshit on this entire article.

    1. The owner and training, and the individual temperament of the dog are more of a factor than the breed. Anyone who knows anything at all about dogs knows that. These dogs are dangerous because of their size and strength…but a badly trained Chihuahua will bite you just as fast, and a scared dog will bite much faster than a mad one will. At least, it’s that way here on planet Earth.

    2. My 8 siblings and I had 2 favorite dogs, a Pit Bull we named Pete because he looked like the Little Rascals dog Petey and a Doberman Pinscher name Van Wycks Saracen the Torch, we just called him Torch. Both great dogs with all 9 of us kids.

    3. 69 fatalities says otherwise, yes, it is how they’re raised, but far too many are raised to be aggressive. I would not take a chance on a pit.

      1. Geez,,so get a pit puppy and raise it yourself! DUH!! I’ve been around too many where the “danger” is being worn out from them wanting to play constantly!

        1. I see you have a pit bull mentality. Did you see where I said I wouldn’t take a chance on a pit? Why would you tell me to go get one?
          The majority of pits are raised for fighting, my neighbor has two, one was a rescue dog that was used as a bait dog.
          That dog is so grateful to be in a loving home, he just lays around like a big pillow, the other one came from a breeder, she’s gentle and loving, but I don’t fully trust her.

          1. Did you say “The majority of pits are raised for fighting”? Interesting. My family has rescued 2 pits over the years and they quite possibly may be the worst guard dogs we’ve ever had. The reason is not their ‘Extremely Aggressive Nature’ but their extreme strength. You know, it’s kind of like pissing off a a big dude. (Like you are right now) The chances for severe injury increase when messing with.

      2. Pit bulls are not a breed, American Pit Bull Terriers are but those 66 fatalities are I am sure attributed to American Staffordshire Terriers, Bull Terriers, American Bulldog, Bull
        Mastiff, Boxer, Dogo Argentino, and Olde English Bulldog as well as American Pit Bull Terriers. Break it down by actual breed, rather than grouping 8 different breeds together, and each breed probably has around 8-9 fatalities. But then the news doesn’t get to demonize “pit bulls” so they will keep labeling them all together.

        Edit: Just realized your post was over a year old. Guess they were recycling articles and this one popped up.

  12. Fatalities is an extreme criteria. I never saw how long a period it was tracked over–assuming it’s a year. Also, I’m surprised the Akita didn’t make the list. I owned one once great dog and super loyal but as far as small animals went, she was a killing machine. Also great with people but poor with other dogs. At 1.5 years old she started greeting other dogs by chomping their nose–have no idea where this came from other than her desire to be the top dog. We had to control her every move after that. All the insurance companies flagged them.

      1. huskies are usually aggressive towards small animals is the first place they have a high prey drive. From working with husky rescue mixing a husky or a malamute with a wolf is darn right dangerous. What you get is a powerful and highly unpredictable animal very few of them survive to a ripe old age because they have to be put down for one reason or another.

        1. for over 25 years I had wolfdogs from very low content to high…the ones I knew but didn’t own were very high to actual pure wolves. They are not watchdogs…they don’t give a rip if the burlgars come in and take away your whole house…if someone says their wolfdog was a great watchdog, it was probably a very low content mixed with something like a shepherd…all of mine were malamute mixed or husky….I now have a malamute. wolfdogs present a whole different issue…

    1. I agree about the Akita. The reason the Akita, husky and malamute are dangerous is they are very close to the wolf on the evolutionary scale. Common sense a must.

  13. Hmmmm, of the above breeds I have owned/own a doberman, rottweiler, wolf hybrid, german shepherd…all great dogs, no problems unless evading the wolf’s territory, but now my ‘chihauhua’ one fesity 4 # stinker.

  14. In this moment as I sit her with my 11 yr old pittie licking my feet, my 10 yr old boxer laying next to me, my 9 yr old sharpie/pittie, my 7 yr old rotweiller/wolf hybrid and finally my almost 2 yr old pit-a-dor. I’ve had them all since rescued as pups. Let me add the wolf hybrid had his throat slit and was hung on a fence to die..a pup. Let me add to that mixture that I have been raising my 5 yr old grandson since birth who is severely adhd. these dogs are our family and we there’s. I made sure Aidan understood the wolf was grumpy, not mean, just grumpy. He gets it. His personal buddie is the pit-a-dor Bear-Bear who is 90 lbs of baby Huey. Total clown and loves his boy. Pitties are the most awesome dogs I have ever owned simply because they love you heart and soul. These are big dogs who have tiffs every once in awhile..never drawing blood. This is normal behavior in a balanced pack. The wolf is indeed very dominate (he thinks…) but I, me, I AM ALPHA! PERIOD! All dogs live at a visceral level you need to be a responsible intelligent and dominate leader. The food bowls are always out so food dominance doesn’t exists. They always get the last bite of my food in order of pack order which is by age. So tell me all the tales you want…it is in ownership. And before you say disaster will happen at some point…reread their ages!

    1. It is possible no one BRED them that way on purpose. Mating does happen without the interference of humans once in a while.

      And, if you read carefully, she says “I’ve had them all since rescued as pups.”. That means she was not the breeder, but the rescuer. Do pay attention if you’re going to seek out opportunities to be snarky or downright insulting.

    2. I love all breeds of dogs and have lived with German Shepherds for decades, with never an incident. I hope you know that with that many innately protective dogs, you have a pack. I would NEVER allow them to be unsupervised with your grandson, because should the dynamic change for any reason, your grandson could be in danger…as kind as the dogs are and as comfortable as he is with them.

    3. I got a lab/wolf as a teen and she bit me on purpose as a puppy as I was training her food aggression out of her but that was the last time she ever bit me on purpose. I immediately showed her that I rank above her in the pack she learned right away biting is a big nono. I did it by immediately forcing her into a submissive posture and snarling in her face as another wolf would do if she were in an actual wolf pack. She bit me one other time because i was going for her collar when she got into a scuffle with my lab and the second I yelped she hit the floor knowing full well she was in big trouble. Then when she got into it with my husky over food all I had to do was yell at her and she stopped she learned the first time that she was not to be fighting with my dogs and If i said stop I meant it. She was a very good dog protective of the property and her pack members but always the lady out of her territory. It hurt to lose her last year.

      1. I never had to yell at any of the wolfdogs I had, I growled, and I lifted the side of my lip…down on their back and if I narrowed my eyes they peed…it wasn’t necessary to do that very often at all because they were raised and handled with care not carelessness…double fencing, double gates, paying attention when moving them and to personalities…some didn’t like doggie dogs and some liked everything…

      2. Many wolf hybrids are not trained properly also because most people only know dog behavior and not wolf behavior and they can have conflicting messages. A wagging tail is not always friendly, as an example, as you would assume with most dogs. But again, this is on the owner to know their animal and conduct their training around their animals personality.

  15. Chances of being killed by a dog are 1 in ~18,000,000… The chance of dying from falling out of bed/off furniture is 1 in ~4,000. We’d better get rid of all our couches and cots before we worry about dogs.

    1. If you fall off a couch and kill yourself, you take the consequences for your mistake. If you own a Pit Bull and it attacks and severely injures someone, they are taking the consequences for your “mistake.” That’s the difference.

      1. Why you make it a pit bull thing? If you own a dog, any dog, and it attacks unprovoked somebody, you should be responsible. I don’t give a crap your mutt is a jack russell terrier or a pom. If your crazy, untrained off leash chihuahua get killed because it attacks a GSD, you are responsible. If you trespass on a private property well fenced and with a clear signs “beware of dog” and you get attacked, its your darn fault. If your prized poodle you bring at your nice summer cottage harasses the livestock and get shot, its your darn fault. If your dogs escape your yard and injured a child, your fault…When did common sense about dogs flew off the window and got replaced by the god darn anti-pitbulls hystericals?

  16. There are dogs with good behavior DNA and dogs that weren’t born with such good traits…Dog owners have to learn where their dogs fit in terms of behavior…Always watch your dog when children are around…You will know if and when you have a good dog and if and when they need watching when other people are around…I was mauled by the neighbors farm dog when I was 5 years old…I was walking across the yard to where my dad was talking to the neighbor when he nailed me…Luckily someone was there or he could have killed me…The neighbor said their dog had never shown any signs of agressiveness towards anyone before this incident…After I was attacked they had to put him down as he had turned agressive towards everyone and the owners had no clue what had happened or why their dog went from being a good dog to being a bad dog…Just saying…Watch your dogs around children as children are defenseless and they need be taught that not all dogs are people friendly!

  17. Anyone with a Great Dane should be laughing at their inclusion on this list. The only way a Dane would kill someone is if they crushed them while attempting a giant hug. Even if they had the mind to kill, they’re much too lazy to undergo the task anyway. “Ehhh, i’ll do it later… this bed is calling my name”

    1. And how many people require hospital treatment or are killed by Scottish terrier attacks every year? What percentage of the dog population is this breed?

      1. You’ve clearly missed the point, which is that dogs that are socialized and raised by responsible, loving dog owners are typically not the perpetrators of violent actions. It just so happens that animals like Pit Bulls attract the type of owner that are the contrary to responsible, loving dog owners. I cannot tell you how many great dog owners I’ve known that own or have adopted pit bulls that have amazingly loving and friendly dogs. The idea that these dogs are just inherently prone to injuring and/or killing people is just absolutely asinine and misguided.

        1. I couldn’t agree more. I have adopted a 2 year old pit that was seized from a home due to abuse. He, and the three other dogs had/have numerous small scars and scuffmarks everywhere. Mine has 10-20 on the shins of his front legs. At one point, he had a very large, deep scratch that extended across his face from the bottom right of his chin up to the upper left of his nose. The scarring usually isn’t too noticeable, but if you know its there, it seems very prominent.
          Even those that would be expected to have a more aggressive nature due to a unfit owner can be the biggest and sweetest babies in the world.
          Despite every hurdle this guy has figuratively leaped over, it has not by any means dampened his spirits. If this guy can be such a great dog, all the others can be, too. I cannot imagine not having him with me, and non-pitbull owners don’t know what they’re missing out on!
          People need to wake up and stop discriminating against a breed, or the way crappy owners have abused them.

      2. Larger dog attacks are more likely to result in death because they can inflict more damage over a larger area. Just like SUV’s do more damage than a mini-cooper. It would be an oddity if small dogs killed more people. It’s a fact that can’t be avoided…ever.

      3. Scotties bite very often as do most small dogs. Due to the smaller sizes and less damage during bites less get reported or go to a hospital for treatmeant. I have raised many dogs trained many breeds the small dogs are the ones you watch as they bite alot. The bigger ones bite less often but you watch yourself as if they do they tend to do more damage.

    2. When I was growing up my Aunt and Uncle had a Great Dane, Max. He was a small horse to me, but as gentle as they come. It’s unfortunate that those larger dogs have a short life span.

      1. When I was pregnant almost 40 years ago, a friend of mine had a Great Dane who would sit at my feet (which were propped up on his back), and growl at anyone who approached me. When my daughter was born, he would sit at the foot of her bassinet, and growl at anyone not my husband or I, or my friend, who would approach. Because of his size, few tried.
        That’s when I fell in love with Danes.

        1. Dogs really are the best at protecting their families. And it’s not about training them; it’s all about love and support. You give a little, you get so much in return.

      2. I agree with you completely. My mom and I had to put down two Danes (litter mates) in the last 4 months because of cancer. The only aggression I have ever seen a Dane have to people was one bite in the defense of his owner

    3. My sister has had Great Danes as pets for over 20 years. They aren’t all gentle giants. The one she has now is agressive, protective, hostile.

    4. A friend’s parents have an adult Great Dane who is untrained and aggressive, and was recently banned from their long-time vet office because of this. He is terribly dangerous and should really be put down. Proof that any dog can be dangerous if not raised and trained properly.

    1. Rule number one with dogs is YOU must be the alpha or leader. If you dont establish this early..it is you who are to be disciplined by them and you wont like it. You know the library has books on this stuff, internet too. I agree, Great Danes are nice dogs but you may have noticed that they are large and also dogs. All dogs are pack oriented. You have nothing to do with that but you must treat them accordingly. They will continue to be nice to you when you are alpha.

    2. I’ve never met a Great Dane who wasn’t lovable and sweet. My Rottie had clumsy moments of excitement when he hurt me just by being a klutz; and I wondered if really big breeds, like Great Danes, Newfoundlands, Saint Bernards, Great Pyrenees had those clumsy moments!

  18. Any dog will bite when it wants to bite. Love my pittie girl and wouldn’t trade her for anything in the world !! I have had the pleasure of being in the presence of all 10 of these breeds at one time or another and I have never seen them act aggressive. It’s all in how you raise them.

  19. i have had ever breed they listed except the pit bull some are breed to protect so if you have small kids it is not good to get this breed. unless you raise it with the kids from a pup most of all it is the human who ownes them they will pick up your habits 90% of all dogs will protect owners or kids

    1. Great observation, Bob. There’s a really interesting book out called “Your Dog is Your Mirror” in which the author, a dog behaviorist, describes how dogs learn by watching us. Even when you’re not consciously training your dog you actually ARE training him. They learned to watch humans all the way back when wolves first began approaching humans as a matter of survival. It’s how they became domesticated. They learn what behaviors will get them what they need (food, shelter, attention, etc) and what behaviors are likely to get their owners riled up. They are also very tuned in to our emotions, and can tell when we’re upset, etc by our body language, tone of voice, changes in facial expressions, things we may not even be aware of, and respond accordingly. Fascinating book; I highly recommend it to any dog owner or indeed anyone interested in dogs at all. The author is Kevin Behan, in case you’re interested in looking for it, Bob. Have a great day!

  20. Pit bulls have kill 66 people, wow, just wow, that sure is a heck of a lot people, NOT! These are just animals, there are single humans who have killed more than that. There are leaders of nations who have killed MILLIONS of innocent people. There are groups of people in America that if the same criteria was put upon them, by the same laws passed for some of these dogs, they would no longer be allowed to breed.

  21. I think part of the problem with the pit bulls is that they simply have such incredible bite pressure that when they latch onto something – whatever it is – they hang on and cause so much damage. There was a case here in central Ohio where a neighborhood pit bull latched onto a child, around age 11, and wouldn’t let go, finally another neighbor (not the owner), after trying to pull or pry the dog off, finally had to take a butcher knife and stab it. The kid barely made but survived.

    1. German Shepherds, Rottweilers, St Bernards, and several other dogs have been measured by scientific testing as having far greater bite force (PSI) than the pit bull grouped dogs. It’s been studied and reported on extensively.

  22. If one cannot look at the numbers and see that Pit Bulls should not exist as a breed then they are incapable of 4th grade math. All current Pit Bulls should be humanely put to sleep and a fine of at least $10,000 on anyone trying to import or otherwise get the breed started again in the US.
    And if you really can’t do the math just Google “Pit Bull Attacks” and read of the slaughter of innocent children who sadly walked in the way of a Pit Bull. I am willing to agree that it was stupid humans who took a decent breed of dog and tortured it until a type of self-protective insanity took over (which was what the owners wanted) and now the breed is unredeemable. Unlike any other dog a Pit Bull has a brain that will “click” into some sort of aggressive “overdrive” and once the agression is initiated the fight isn’t over until it’s enemy is dead.
    You drive through some of the worst parts of town and there are some young punks with muscle t-shirts and a Pit Bull on a leash. All for show and all to say they are bad a**es and got the Pit Bulls and pistols in the waist band to prove it. If I could I would put these types to sleep with their dogs.
    It also isn’t right for groups to extoll the virtues of a known “killing machine”. To me someone like Caesar the Dog Whisper is almost committing a crime with his unrealistic endorsement of Pit Bulls. I am also almost willing to say that if humans would behave the Pit Bull breed could be saved. But you can’t control bad humans….you know, the ones that created the problem?
    And now, sadly, the breed must die.

    1. Obviously since I think Pit Bulls are a dangerous breed I have chosen not to take the chance that one might tear up one of my neighbors kids and, along with feeling guilty that the child was injured or killed, watch all of my assets taken in the resulting lawsuit. So I have owned none. Which still does not keep me from reading papers, looking at news stories and, yes, Googling the Internet to see the latest horror story about Pit Bulls.
      Your singular instances of playing around with Pit Bulls and not being mauled in you job as a certified veterinary technician (read certified dog pooper scooper technician) are not impressive as I was not talking about individual dogs but the breed as a whole. If the person who was reading this to you had read you the whole post you would have heard that I did indeed blame humans for inducing the psychotic rage into the breed that is not in any other breed.
      But thank you for calling me a moron. It indicates how pathetic and inadequate you feel to express your thoughts when you stoop to name calling rather than putting your argument out to be judged on its merits. Have a wonderful certified veterinary technician career. I’m sure it’s most rewarding keeping the cages clean.

      1. Vet techs are not dog cage cleaners–it requires a special college degree with lots of biology and chemistry. Probably something you couldn’t handle. My thought is, if you don’t understand dogs (which clearly you don’t), you shouldn’t have one.
        If you have dogs, it is your responsibility to keep them safe from themselves and their instincts. And you have a responsibility to teach your children how to behave in a safe fashion around ANY animal. I wouldn’t trust you to be able to do that.

  23. It says at the beginning of the article that just because it lists fatalities–doesn’t mean they are discouraging you. There are a LOT of factors. I for one, have two pitbulls. Are they generally dangerous? No. Can they be? of course. If someone attacks me–I have no doubt those two behemoths would attack quite viciously. Even if I’m not attacked out right and they percieve a danger towards me–they do respond aggressively.

    I think the article is very informative. Good Job!

  24. The statistics are quite clear .Pit Bulls are estimated by various sources to comprise slightly less than 5% of the US dog population, with a few outlier estimates up to nearly 10%. This article reports 2/3 of all dog attack fatalities being caused by Pit Bulls. In other words, Pit Bulls are responsible for fatal attacks on humans at 13-14 times the rate of their proportion in the dog population. Actually, the rate is higher if fatalities resulting from dogs defending people and predatory attacks by feral and semi-feral dogs are not included.

    1. False. Pitt Bulls bite pressure is no more than other breeds their size. Plus the media drives the hatred towards this animal. If it’s not a pit bull, it’s on page 27B and the breed isn’t even named. If it’s a pit bll, it’s “film at eleven”, sattilite trucks and they make SURE you know it’s a pit bull.

      1. Work on your reading comprehension and do less cut and paste. I said nothing about bite pressure. I only discussed the statistics of the proportion of dog attack fatalities attributed to Pit Bulls relative to their proportion in the entire dog population.

        For the statistical over-incidence rate of Pit Bulls in dog attacks resulting in human fatalities to be due to mis-identification of the dog, this would have to occur for about 13 out of every 14 fatalities where Pit Bulls were suspected!

        The most noticeable attribute of Pit Bull attacks that do differentiate them from other breeds are that these are not quick snap/nip defensive bites, but prolonged attacks. The damage Pit Bulls do is not from any miraculous bite pressure, but because the attacks frequently come with no obvious warning signals and they are prolonged. Pit Bull tendency to not let go (bite clamp) is one aspect of this behavior.

  25. I’ld like to know what was the criteria and the source material for their study. I’ve seen documentation that the media drives a lot of the anxiety against pit bulls. Whenever there is an incident involving dog bites and attacks, if it’s not a pit bull, the breed is rarely named. If a pit is involved, bet your bottom dollar that’s in the headline. Because the animal has been abused in training for dog fighting, the press has taken up opposition to the animal for the false notion that dogs rouinely kill each other. These aniimals are abused and trained to be aggressive.

    1. Agreed. It used to be Doberman Pinschers. It used to be Rottweilers. Or Akitas, or many others. When will it ever be the humans who do not raise them properly, or who purposely train them to be aggressive?

    2. Well put and I agree with you 100%. Pitbulls have been discriminated against for as long as I can remember by media and the public in general. I bred the dogs for quite some time and have NEVER been bitten or had any of them show signs of aggression towards me or any person for that matter.

        1. Sometimes it’s unintentional, but bias just the same.There are comments at the end of each segment to the effect that genes play a role, but so does socialization, etc. There is no such statement for the pit. Yet most of us have plenty of examples of pits who have been raised well–disciplined, trained, socialized–and who make great family/pack members. There is a different responsibility for people who choose to have large, strong dogs.

          1. All dog owners should be responsible. Unfortunately, pits experience bigotry because of the bad owners out there, but I’ve had many other dogs, and I will have nothing now except for pits. The worst dogs I’ve met have been the ankle biters, why shouldn’t their owners be as responsible. A pit’s natural disposition is sweet loving and loyal. They just happen to be very loyal and the strongest dog pound for pound in the world, and bad owners create bad dogs. Don’t blame the dog, blame the owner.

          2. I’ve always been a BIG dog lover we have some neighbors that have somewhere around 6 or 7 Jack Russell terriers that I can honestly say I HATE these dogs! To start with the owners leave them outside on their front porch that has got a railing around it to keep them in. They never walk these poor little dogs and all they ever do is yell at them for barking and believe me they bark constantly. All the yelling does is make them bark even more.There are a lot of days that we try to keep our windows open because the weather is perfect but we can’t do that most of the time because these dogs bark constantly. The way their front porch sits and the roof on it makes it a direct line for all of their braking to be funneled right into our front windows.

          3. Couldn’t agree with you more. These little dogs need someone that will take them out and spend time with them. And they need exercise and someone who knows and cares about them. I know it’s not these little dogs fault. I feel sorry for them. Most people don’t even know I have a dog. She’s an inside dog and gets all the exercise she needs. She has the run of our 45 acre farm. Plus she has manners. I would LOVE to see someone take the neighbors little dogs and give them a loving home. And everything else that they need.

          4. People really need to understand how little it means when they say “Well I have a Pit Bull and they never etc etc etc”. This is the very definition of anecdotal evidence, and this type of evidence is the very definition of useless. Statistical evidence trumps everything, so long as it isn’t a sample size. You’re one person and your dogs are a few of hundreds of thousands. These statistics aren’t.

            Now, one may point out that the stats are flawed because it doesn’t appear that they’re weighted against amount of breeds for that particular breed. In other words, a rarer breed may have a higher percentage of attacks but don’t get the ink because there are far more Pits. While true, that point is only applicable for a scientific study. This article seems to basically tell you what your odds are of getting injured by the breeds. A Presa Canario may be more dangerous, but many of us wouldn’t know because we’ve never encountered one running around in a park unleashed.

            Article is very forthcoming in how and why these attacks occur, and gimme a break with the media thing. There’s no money in targeting specific dogs. The Presa Canario got national press for killing a woman and the owner received a murder conviction (later tossed out for inept defense). This wasn’t a murder spree, it was a single person. This is anecdotal evidence of my own. See how useless it is? What isn’t useless is the fact that singling out Pits does nothing for the media. “If it bleeds, it leads” they say. Any fatal dog attack can provide the press that portion of their story. That’s just simple logic. I’ll take that and statistics over anecdotal evidence any day. If you don’t know the owner or do know the owner to be a complete a-hole, avoid their dog. Anybody with a hint of morality understands training and abuse is what causes the violence, and it just so happens these immoral people target certain breeds. So while it may not be the breed’s fault, it’s nonetheless the breed that you should avoid encounters with at all costs if you’re short on information.

          5. Indeed. America’s young stuff doesn’t know their history of the Pit… “America’s Dog”. The most decorated military dog in U.S. history, Sgt Stubby. Personally honored at the White House by President Woodrow Wilson, his remains are in the Smithsonian. Petey, the Little Rascals dog. The RCA record label dog listening to a grammafone. Helen Keller’s 2 dogs. The “Little House on the Prarrie” dog from the original books. President Teddy Roosevelt had, among others, pits. Pits are America’s “nanny dog”. In our house, our 3 rescue pit-mixes ALL live under the tyranny of our two 12 lb black cats. And at the same time, back on our ranch, the smallest of the 3 fought one of our 700 lb yaks to a stand still.

          6. To continue… the other half of the problem is people in general. A great many people are ignorant, arrogant, and lack respect. NO animal is a toy. People get that when they stand in front of a bear. But for some reason, they don’t when they see a dog. Some warped sense of entitlement kicks in, and people resent an animal that stands its ground demanding a degree of respect… and has the physical power to enforce it. That’s not a dog problem. That’s a people problem. Never fear a dog. RESPECT the dog, and claim your own space and respect.

          7. Also incorrect. Three children were critically injured in Baltimore by Chihuahuas…one had her nose pretty much bitten off..that’s pretty serious…my mother was bitten by a Jack Russell Terrier and needed 22 stiches in her leg…get real..

      1. Yeah poor pit-bulls being singled out….http://www.wafb.com/story/25077600/4-year-old-dies-after-mauling-by-familys-130-lb-pit-bull#.UzRetJd6j2A.facebook

        People say only pit-bull attacks make the papers which is BS it is just most attacks are made BY pit-bulls.I have seen stories where dogs other than a pit were involved.

        http://www.myfoxorlando.com/story/25101433/american-bull-dog-attacked-small-dog-and-woman

        http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/News/Three-dogs-savage-pet-in-horror-attack-in-Cambridge-park-then-turn-on-terrified-owner-Liz-McKintyre-20140328055027.htm

        You were saying? Yeah poor pit-bulls.

        1. Firs of all, I think certain large dog breeds, not just pits, should not be kept around small children to begin with. Secondly, I did more research on that first article and now they are trying to say the owners possibly abused the dog. They also changed the “classification” to a “dog attack” rather than a pit bull attack because tests and observance of the dog are indicating it may not have been from a traditional pit bloodline.

          I am nervous around pits. I just don’t like being around them because they LOOK scary. But I feel like a lot of cases for any dog attack, regardless of breed, are due to either abuse, poor training or neglect of the animal. Not all of them, but a lot. People let these large dogs run around neighborhoods, or show them zero compassion and then are surprised when they attack someone. Some people just shouldn’t have pets, or be smart about what kind of pet they have when they have kids. Not just pits. The blame can’t only be put on the animals that attack, who usually end up dead one way or another. So yes, I think less blame should be put on the breed and more on the people who 1. Create environments that could make these dogs unstable and 2. Expose young children to dogs that, targeted by media or not, have been reported for these kind of attacks. Same if you had a german shepherd or a doberman around a baby.Owners should do their research first and take the necessary precautions. If you want a dog, care for that dog. I have seen people who have three or four dogs who stay in small cage in the yard ALL THE TIME. What is the point. They don’t use them for hunting, they don’t play with them and they aren’t really guard dogs aside from just being able to bark at something.

          1. none of our dogs ever even snapped at us our my children we have had a German Shepard mix , a pom , and a Pitt our Pitt is the only one left sadly and we’ve had him for 10 years.

          2. I get really upset by people who generalize about pits. I am on my 4th pit, and my 3 young children have always been raised around my kids from the time they were born. We have also had other dogs such as shelties, an English Pointer, and a Golden Mountain dog (Bernese Mt. Dog/Golden Retriever mix). The pits have easily been the best family dogs, they are absolutlely wonderful around kids. The shelties easily the worst; terrible dogs for kids. Every sheltie I’ve ever met has bitten a child, my parents have had those awful dogs for years as well as my sister. The owners (parents and sister) write it off as something the child did wrong, oh isn’t he so cute though. My niece hated dogs and was deathly afraid of them, until we brought home my current pit, Aiko. After 1 minute they were best friends, and my niece named her pet dog after my dog.
            Pits are the sweetest, most gentle, loving dogs there are, they only have one drawback that makes headlines. They are fiercely loyal and the strongest dog pound for pound in the world. If you train them to be a fighting dog or attack dog, they will be the best damn attack dog there is to please their owners. That is why you see every drug dealer owning a pit. Unfortunately, many of the dogs you see in the shelter are ruined and I wouldn’t trust them either, but my family is done with all other dogs, we want nothing but pits.

          3. Just about every Michael Vick dog was rehabilitated and that’s been several years ago. I’ve had this breed for 31 plus years and I firmly believe they can be rehabilitated in the right hands. Of course like any other breed there are without a doubt a few cases that might not. But for the most part I really do believe they most can. We feel the same way you do we’ve had just about every breed out there once you’ve had a APBT other breeds just don’t compare do they?

          4. I 100% agree. I’ve had just about every breed known to man and the last breed we ever bought was an APBT and that was in 1983.

          5. Actually, one third of the Michael Vick dogs were too dangerous to be adopted out. One of the dogs escaped from his enclosure and killed two other dogs.

          6. Really? Two of the seized dogs had been euthanized – one for aggression, as mentioned previously, and one due to health problems. Of the 47 remaining dogs, 22 were sent to an animal sanctuary at the Best Friends Animal Society in Utah because of aggression toward other dogs, and 25 were placed in foster care. Several of the latter have been adopted.

          7. Shelties are herding dogs — with nothing else to herd, they’ll try to herd children…. nipping at heels and lower legs to do so. Having ANY herding dog with small children is a very bad idea.

          8. Dogs are a lot like people. All are born pretty much good, but are taught, based on their environment from which they are raised, good and bad traits (love, compassion, aggression, racism). This doesn’t mean that bad dogs or people cannot come from good environments, obviously they do, it just happens a lot less. Big people or dogs can do a lot more damage than small people or dogs (also stating the obvious I understand) thus creating more “headlines”. It is common sense that a pit bull can do more damage than a yorkie! THIS IS WHY THE PIT BULL IS NO 1 DANGEROUS DOG BREED. Simply it can do more damage than any other dog. This also attracts the breed to dangerous owners, who enable and encourage the breed to do dangerous things. Then these dangerous people breed the dangerous dogs with similar dangerous dogs. But lets all get one thing straight, these people are not PET owners, they are just scum doing disgusting things to innocent animals. I have a pit that I saved from a poor environment as a pup. It is the most loving creature I have ever seen, but I still know it could rip somebody’s face off. If you own a pit as a PET you need to understand and respect what it can do and always be on guard. BECAUSE IT IS A DOG, AND DOGS DO OCCASIONALLY BITE! a pit just bites the hardest and most violent.

          9. Get informed at Dogsbite.org. Many kids that were raised with their pits and the dog was sweet until it snapped. These kids lost their faces, tongues, limbs and were scalped to death. In one instant your pits could snap and there is no way to stop the damage once it is done. After a few minutes of research and viewing gory pics, how can any parent risk their precious childs life with this demon dog?. How can any dog be worth that?. How do you not sleep with one eye open at night?.

          10. Yes, we see many of these faces on FB with babies, then when the baby losses it’s face or is scalped to death, the owners deny it was ever a pit bull.

        2. They only focus on the fact that the dog attacked. I got a pit bull, best dog ever. Better than any dog I’ve ever had, and I’ve had a lot of dogs. But hey, if someone breaks into my house and starts attacking me, dang freaking straight my dog is gonna attack them. They had it coming. They say they had tons of fatalities, but they don’t address the specifics. I’d trust my pit bull over any other dog any day. What about all the or her dogs that are deemed viscous? They are even explained as having only killed because the were protecting their owner, but on the pit bull, they just said they had 66 fatalities. No further explanation. Pit bulls have a bad rep because of STUPID ABUSIVE OWNERS 🙁 makes me sad.

          1. Totally unfair! My sister has a Pit that is a certified service animal. He is an angel and would only hurt somebody to protect his loved ones.

          2. Well hey then that makes up for all the kids scalped to death and those who lost limbs and faces. Sorry but those fake service dogs are also snapping. I read two different stories of this happening.

          3. Pits are attacking grannie in her garden, taking in her groceries, joggers, bike riders, kids eating ice-cream etc…most attacks are unprovoked by these lands shark demon dogs. Most are now owned by families who raised them right, yet they still snapped due to their breeding. We can no longer blame the dog fighter or the owners.

        3. Chuck Dougherty, NOT TRUE!! I live in Aurora Co, just outside Denver where Pit Bulls are banned. In one year there were 55 reported dog bites to the authorities. 5 of these dog bites were by Pit Bulls and every single one of them made the news. That left 50 dog bites that failed to identify the breed or even make the news. Pit Bulls are news. The classification of “Pit Bull” encompasses 5 other dog breeds and a variety of mixes, not just one breed. Also, in a study it was proven that 80% of dogs identified as Pit Bulls were in fact not Pit Bulls. If a dog is attacked or in a fight people are quick to say the dog was a Pit Bull. Also, you do know that there is no “BREED” Pit Bull right? They are a mix, a Heinz 57, a mongrel. Pit Bulls and American Staffordshire Terriers are great loving dogs, but like all dogs in this article the owner should recognize there is a higher level of responsibility with them.

          1. Nice try, but on Monday it’s a Pit bull on Facebook with the baby, then on tuesday after it kills the baby, it’s not a pit bull, but a lab mix, boxer mix etc….lies lies lies!

        4. Careful Chuck, facts are not welcome here and for many they don’t faze them. Normal people have a hard time looking at innocent kids ripped apart by pit bulls. That is enough for normal people to NEVER take a chance with their kids. But there are many who turn their eyes to this culture of death that should be denounced. Every life should matter but this dog gets a pass.

    3. Relax! These are merely number of bite, fatalities, for a certain period and do not differentiate the circumstances or actual percentages for any particular breed .

    4. Pitt bulls are also pretty common (at least where I live). Listing number of fatalities is almost meaningless if you don’t adjust for base rate.

      To make this more concrete, imagine 10 documented attacks by breed X, and 1 documented attack by breed Y. Makes breed X seem much more dangerous. But if there were 10 times as many of breed X out there as breed Y, the interpretation would be entirely different.

      1. Thank you for pointing out this mathematical problem with “statistical analysis”. Very well put – and I bet many people (myself included) would not have thought of this without you pointing it out.

        The problem with “dangerous dog breeds” is the OWNERS.

        1. You are right, 100%. Dachshunds are well documented to be higher on the aggression scale than pits, yet simply due to level of damage a pit can inflict when pushed there makes it a more headline-grabbing event.

          1. My husband actually had a dachshund and a pitbull when I first moved in. The dachshund (Bud) was the aggresor , nipped at me and even bit me once ( I bit him back on his ear and that was the end of that!) But Shy (the pitty) quickly became my love! She was the sweetest thing! Even let Bud boss her around lol! She was always there when I was sad, she knew when I needed her! I honestly don’t know if I would have gotten through my PPD when I did if it wasn’t for her! They are very intuitive and emotional dogs. Very loyal and loving! Pitty love for life!

          2. My daughter has a pit bull and he is her companion dog. He knows exactly what to do when she is feeling down or in any type of pain. It is amazing to watch them. He is an indoor dog only and when it is raining outside he won’t go out because he doesn’t like the wet grass. My daughter has to put out pee pads when it rains so he doen’t have bladder problems. The dog loves people and is afraid of other dogs. When another dog comes near him, off of their lease, he sits down and expects one of us to protect him and make sure the dog doesn’t get near him. Most of the time its a chihuahua that comes around. Those things try to nip at him but he won’t react. Most of the time they go away because he doesn’t engage with them. He is a big softy and the most loving dog I have ever seen. I’m so glad that she has him. He is her nanny. I definitely believe it’s all in how you raise them. I had Akitas and those dogs were so loyal and I never had an agression problem. Treat them like your family member and they are family for life.

          3. why were there no Cocker Spaniels on the list due to inbreeding for the AKC they were the number biter for almost 20 year straight

          4. My first vivid memory was of the family cocker biting my back end as I toddled past her. Duchess was rehomed within days, that much I know.

          5. Yes, it was sent to Uncle Stanley’s home for wayward and reticent spaniels for rehabilitation. Or so your folks told you.

          6. Paul, if they explained anything about the disappearing Duchess, I don’t remember it. I was maybe three. What I do remember is ten years (at least) of Boston Terriers, the first of whom was Buster. Then Ginger, and her pups Butch, Bitsy and Tuffy. As you can tell, the Bostons were a perfect match for us and I still love the breed. On the rare sighting of one in public now, I can’t help but approach the person with a smile and ask permission to pet the dog!

          7. I recall that about Cocker Spaniels. For the longest time they top the charts for biting, sending more people to the hospital than any other Breed.

          8. I don’t recall reading of a Cocker Spaniel Scalping or dismembering anyone like the Pit bull has so many times. Get informed at Dogsbite.org

          9. Because BOB the article was bout deaths. Show me one example of a Cocker ever killing anyone. Yes the are the top of list for biting, they simply dont have the power or the aggressiveness to kill.

          10. I suppose scalpings and dismemberments would be headline grabbing as you call it. Sorry but pit bulls are attacking grannie in the garden, taking in groceries, joggers, kids riding bikes, eating ice-cream etc….all unprovoked attacks, not pushed as you say. A dog that can do this kind of damage belongs in a zoo or the breed to die out. The fact that you use a Dachshund as an example shows your ignorance. Dog fighters don’t seek out that little dog do they? no they seek out the pit bull because he already knows how to kill thanks to his genetics/traits. Problem is, we have people parading this dog around as if it is a normal pet and getting others killed. Letting this beast escape way too often out of it’s yard, and not walking it on a leash.

        2. Amen! Who, primarily in the past owned pits, rotts, dobs? This, dog fighters, people that wanted to look impressive but had no clue about proper training.

          1. I have grown up around pits my whole life and never once been attacked or seen anyone get attacked. It is all based on the way they are raised. The only time my pit had ever gotten aggressive with someone was when someone broke into our house, no one was home he didn’t hurt the guy but pinned him up in the attic until we got home and we’re able to call the cops.

          2. You are right i have four pits of my own. They are sweet, lovable, and gentle; they get along with every person we walk by and dogs. They protect my baby sister from people, when a man comes to close they keep their eye on him till he leaves. They are my babies, I love all breeds of dogs but pits are by far my favorites.

          3. Awesome, I’m surprised the idiot broke into your house with a dog like this. I’d rather have a dog any day than a gun. I am not anti gun at all but I’d rather my dog scare someone off before I have to shoot them.

          4. I have a pitbull myself and two young boys and I never have fear of my dog going after one of them or another animal, they could go up to him while hes eating a bone and take it from him and he wouldnt even growl at them they get a bad name from people training them to be mean they are incredibly strong and powerful jaws making them easily turned into killing machines but a 10 year old kid could be trained the same way ie. IRAQ but I wouldnt trade my dog for any other. I wouldnt hesitate at getting another when his time is up

          5. Do you homework if you love your boys. If you love them, you will be curious enough to research the facts. Numbers don’t lie. Pics of kids and the elderly mauled to death, scalped and dismembered don’t lie. Get informed at Dogsbite.org or anywhere on the web will show you the truth if you open your eyes. It cost you nothing to do a few minutes of research, but it will cost you everything if you chose to bury your head. You will not think the same once you find out the truth. I do realize some people know the truth and still put their kids in harms way, and there is no hope with them. Even after pit bulls have killed peoples kids or their mother, they try and save the demon dog. Read about Katie age 20 that was scalped to death. The little girl from Cincinattii that lost her tongue to a pit bull. Read about Daxton, Caroline, John,Kara, Isaiah, Braelynn, Beau. All those names are of kids under the age of 5 that were mauled to death by pits. They are real, and the media cannot be blamed, the pit bulls have earned their own bad rap.

          6. I’m not saying it doesn’t happen because it does. I’m just saying if you respect your pit and raise it well 98% of the time they will not attack unless provoked or threatened. I can tell you when I was little I was 8 I was personally attacked by a German Shepard while on a walk with my family. I don’t see articles about the dangers of German Shepard out there. It can happen with any large dog.

          7. In fact, in Germany, almost all dog attacks are from German Shepherds or German Shepherd mixes. In Canada, it’s mostly from Husky type dogs.
            In every country, it’s whatever large breed is most common in that country.

          8. Actually pit bulls only make 6% of dog population in the U.S. yet own up to 64% of attacks on humans a year. There are many more larger dogs then the pit that don’t even make it to the top of the list in killings. The Rott is in a distant second behind the pit bull. They got the number right with the Rottweiler but failed miserably with the pit bull death rates. We are close to 500!!! humans DEAD!!! by pit bulls in the past 3 decades.

          9. By experience I have found Pits totally unpredictable. Three different Pits have killed three different pets. No more!!!

          10. That’s your training then I have 2 pits and they haven’t hurt the German Shepard the two cats and are not aggressive with other pets even puppies there around don’t blame the breed because you don’t know how to properly train them

          11. I really do resent you saying that their viciousness is my fault. I did NOT train them to kill my other pets. You are most fortunate and I hope you continue to be so. But stop casting aspersions where they are unwarranted.

          12. If true, I think your statistic of three out of three being vicious killers does say about your training. You can resent that all you want, but maybe a little self-searching is in order.

          13. Why do you not take a hike! You are a deluded person who thinks he knows everything. I truly hope you are right but do not believe it for a minute.

          14. You sir are so full of it! Two of these pits killed two of my other dogs at different times. Both times it happened we got rid of these dogs. Gave them away and did not put them down. I was asleep when the first one decided to kill the sweet little puppy and had not clue there was a problem. And I agree that self-searching is in order and I suggest you start right away.

          15. Sorry, 3 out of 3 tells me the problem is… you! Maybe you just have too many pets? Can’t spend enough time with the Pitties?

          16. So by your own judgement, then you are saying most pit bull owners train their dogs to kill because that is what they are doing. With pits owning 64% of attacks on humans a year and killing on average 42 people a year, attacking every 11 days then we have some very bad pit owners. The truth is, most raised them fine, but they are still turning due to genetics and traits. Too many news stories where the owners said the dog was sweet, a family pet raised with their kids, yet snapped.

          17. Then how do you explain all the attacks by pit bulls that were raised in good homes and treated right?. There are more family pit bulls snapping that were raised with the kids, yet still mauled them to death. You cannot train their genetics out of them just as you cannot stop a Beagle from wanting to hunt, a Collie from herding and so on…

          18. You are so right. Too many stories we are seeing on a regular basis where the family pit bull that was RAISED RIGHT turns and snaps. In 2013 over 12,000 dogs were killed by pits. That same year over 8,000 cats were killed by them, and over 6,000 livestock!

          19. Stay away from Pitties with your pets! Jeez! Maybe your pets were a-holes to the Pits?

          20. Two stray pits attacked and critically injured two of my postmen, my two friends were attacked by pits that broke free of their leashes, and my fiends dog was in his own yard when the neighbour’s nasty pit broke its fence down, jumped my friends fence and completely tore the little dog to shreds. Yeah, great, sweet “pitties” (or now they call them “pibbles” perhaps in a poor attempt to make them somehow sound less dangerous, what a joke).

          21. Yea, but that 2% can’t be ignored. Especially if it involves the permanent injury and disfigurement of children. My nephews wife was permanently blinded at the age of six by a neighbors pit bull. The facial scars (even after massive plastic surgery) were hard to look at even when she was 40 y.o.

          22. So sorry to hear this. This is happening at an alarming rate, and if people would just do their research or even get informed at Dogsbite.org they will see real stories and real tragedies. But sadly some people don’t care even after seeing the truth. I encourage you to go to this website and order their laminated cards that show a list of victims by dangerous dogs. Most are by pit bulls of course. There are faces of little kids that are dead now by that so called nanny dog. You can order a big stack of these flyers and pass them out and maybe save a life. Any donation is welcome.

          23. If you are reading the news, the stories prove you are wrong. How could an old lady provoke an attack just gardening? taking in groceries? How can a jogger provoke an attack? a kid riding a bike? A baby in a stroller that lost half his skull to a Pit bull! took the claw end of a Hammer to pry his jaws off the babies skull! No one is safe and they loose their freedom thanks to this land shark being paraded around like a normal pet.

          24. Hey, 98% is good enough for me. I mean, yeah, I want to introduce something into my home that has a 2% chance of maiming my kids! Absolutely.

            The lack of logical thought in the dangerous breed crowd just amazes me. You were freaking attacked by a German Shepard and even you can’t see that owning dangerous breeds is a bad idea? Even if it’s only a .01% chance, NO THANK YOU!

          25. To everyone putting a bad name to Pit Bulls, until you own one don’t talk bad about them biggest baby I’ve ever had. Just because you hear or read about something means it really happened just like it reads right Lola Guin

          26. John you have been most fortunate. I have owned three and have stopped owning them. They are unpredictable!!! Period.

          27. I was attacked by a pit bull. My son’s dog was also attacked by one and nearly killed.

          28. Blood line matters in any breed, some pits may have an aggressive gene as people do. But in all pits are just as gentle as a lamb.

          29. You must not know how to train a dog then I have never meet a mean pit in my life and they are great with children. A lot of my friendsfriends and I have owned multiple pits and would never trade them for the world.

          30. As usual you only read and understand what you want to. I said, and I stand by it, they are totally unpredictable. If you own a pit bull and have had none of your other pets killed nor anyone attacked you are most fortunate.

          31. You should see what they can do to a hamster. On the other hand just erase the mental image and forget I ever said anything, sorry.

          32. That’s crap. My nephew has a pit and two other dogs, they are a happy pack of obedient, loving, playful and happy buddies. They know all their commands and are completely comfortable together and with people, including me who they only see every couple of months. You can only speak for your own experience, not generalize as if you’ve got stats that prove your point, because I’m confident that you don’t.

          33. “You can only speak for your own experience”? Yet, you are speaking from the experience of your nephew? Are you mental?

            I’m pretty sure you can learn from other’s experience. Take this lady for example. Are you telling me we can’t learn anything from her experience? That we should be just as afraid of chihuahuas as we are pit bulls because we don’t have personal experience with both of them? Pure idiocy.

          34. Dogs are absolutely NOT unpredictable; there are always cues in behavior before a dog attacks.

            If they act overly protective of a certain person, or aggressive around food, the owner should bank that and work with the dog to correct that behavior.

            This is with ANY dog. And it takes work, consistent work.

            Any large or powerful dog breed can inflict damage in a split second.

            My sister owns a dachshund, a Sheba Inu, and a German Shepherd. I own an American Staffordshire Terrier/ American Pit Bull Terrier mix.

            The GSD and Pit are under 2 years old, the Sheba is 5, and the Dachshund is 9. The puppies rough house, like puppies do, and the older two worry and try to “help” and attack them to get them in line.

            Knowing this, we look at the cues that the dogs display before the attack, and intervene.

            Totally predictable; totally avoidable.

            Note: the “aggressive” (not actually aggression) dogs are the dachshund and Sheba Inu, not the #3 and #1 dogs on the list.

          35. True enough on the Sheba Inu. Bred originally to hunt and kill alone, this can be one tough breed. I like them but, as I owned small dogs, was always careful around them and their bigger cousins, the Akita. Smart dogs. loving dogs but not always patient with other animals.

          36. The pit bull was bred to not show signs, and even can have a wagging tail right before an attack. Educate yourself on the breed and genetic facts and stats of how many people this dog has actually killed. The number is nearing 500 in the past three decades.

          37. All dogs communicate via body language. Socialization would be impossible, otherwise.

            As a responsible dog owner, and owner of a AmStaff/APBT mix, I am constantly educating myself about both dogs in general and “Pit bulls”. There are ALWAYS signs. ALWAYS. Just because an owner or victim of a dog attack (any dog attack) doesn’t recognize or even know how to recognize physical and behavioral cues, doesn’t mean there were none.

            I have yet to find a single credible, unbiased (not from an “anti-pitbull” site, or blog), science based determination that pit bulls are bred to show no signs prior to attack. The closest thing I have ever found is that families and owners say that the dog “has never shown any type of aggression before.”

            I would agree that that is probably true, most dogs that attack probably never were violently agressive; they were family pets, so, duh. But many attacks come about from people (most people, even dog people) having ZERO idea of how to approach a dog, or how to behave once a dog gets excited or agitated.

            Many people walk up excited and speak high pitched, causing excitement. The dog jumps up at them, the person back, flinging their arms up, and the playful dog’s prey drive can kick in and it goes for the “prey” and now we have a bite situation.

            There are always signs. People just have to know how to read them.

            You also mention the breed’s “genetic facts.”

            Original fighting pit bulls and current fighting dogs are bred to be DOG AGRESSIVE. Signs of HUMAN aggression have always been dealt with by killing any dog showing those traits, so that human aggression is bred out of the breed.

            The reason for this is that the dog fight operators and owners have to maintain total control of the dogs at all times, ESPECIALLY during a fight. They need to be able to to jump into a pit or pen and separate the dogs without getting attacked, themselves.

            Please don’t mistake this to mean that I believe pit bulls are incapable of human aggression. I am simply stating that, contrary to popular opinion, they are not predisposed or more likely to be human aggressive.

          38. Then you kids walking down the sidewalk and one of these land sharks jumps the fence.

          39. Your entire argument is based on every dog owner in the world being responsible?

            If I’m walking down the street and I come across a pit bull, I can’t use the owner’s knowledge of his behavior to predict his behavior. Most dog attacks are not on the Alpha owner, obviously. So, your entire argument being based on the fact that the owner must figure out the dogs warning signs and also “work with the dog to correct the behavior” is pretty stupid.

          40. I must be the luckiest man alive. Been raising/training Pits for over 30 years. None have ever harmed my other pets or children no matter what their history was. When show them nothing but love, they will show the same in return. Completely predictable.

          41. To the owners. Not to others. The world doesn’t revolve around you, David. People like Riley here matter also.

          42. And if they want to kill them they can and maybe will. They are an aggressive dog breed and are bred to kill

          43. Have some common sense, will you?? I have to ask – and on what “superior authority” do you “know” this?? (This I’m sure we are all waiting with ‘baited” breath to hear. Indulge us…

          44. Oh, I’m so glad you’ve never met a mean pit. That totally convinces me that they are completely harmless. IDIOT.

          45. So what? If I’m walking down the street and I come across a pit bull, do I have any idea how predictable the owners are? No.

            The fact that the dog has the capability to do such damage and is unpredictable to strangers is enough that they should be eradicated.

            I think Sebastian here is much more important than a breed of dog.

          46. It’s kinda like a gut feeling. You know, like when a pit bull tears your abdomen open and grabs one of your intestines and wraps it around a tree three or for times. That’s what I’m talkin bout.

          47. No, this is a baby. Or was. As of March 20144 Mia is dead. It was her family’s dog and the police said “the dog didn’t have a history of being aggressive with the family. There were no signs of abuse or anything related to dog fighting”.

            Yeah, just big lovable babies.

          48. Yeah pits happen to be popular with ghetto rats (sorry not to say everyone that is low income is a ghetto rat, I’m talking about people who are trapped in a cycle of crime and recidivist incarceration (over two million more than any other country). So these dogs are purchased and trained to fight and kill other creatures, including humans. I am surprised the number of humane fatalities in less than a hundred. Clearly many more people kills other people (including adults killing children), than dogs, including pitbulls trained to harm, do. I bet almost all of these incidents occurred with dogs that were abused in the way mentioned above before they were rescued by nice families.

          49. Not feeding dog flesh and meth to Pit Bulls = abuse, aye, causes them to take down their own prey, including humans.

          50. Forget the killings, review the stats on maiming attacks and a whole new picture takes shape.

          51. You are right, the number is much higher, and it is nearly 500 DEAD in the past 3 decades. Pit bulls killed 72 people in 2013/14. On average they kill 42 people a year. In 30 months 33 kids were mauled to death by the so called nanny dog. Those were family pit bulls raised right yet snapped. They were raised with the baby from a puppy. People keep trying to make sense of it by assuming the dog was mistreated, or raised by dog fighters, which isn’t true. They won’t simply look at breeding/genetics. This is the only dog breed where his traits are ignored. Owners go on about how their Beagle hunts naturally, their Collie is a good herder, but denies the Pit bulls traits and breeding to be a killer.

          52. No, twatwaffle, they were never bred to kill people! How stupid would that be for a fighting dog owner?

          53. Romans used them to kill people. Their handlers were often missing fingers and sporting bite scars. Try looking something up.

          54. Since pitbulls didnt even exist during Romaon times thats a really idiotic comment from you. The ‘fighting dogs’ of the Romans are an extinct breed but are most closely represented by mastiffs.

          55. Exactly! They are trained and used as a weapon by idiots. The saying goes “guns don’t kill people, People kill people” Well same thing here in the vast majority of cases.

          56. No, I’m pretty sure there’s never been a death from a chihuaha mauling. I’d be very surprised if there were one from a retriever, lab, weimaraner, etc.

          57. Rottweilers and Pit Bulls are stereotyped. People that think ANY single dog breed is “mean” is a naive idiot.

          58. I would never say it doesn’t happen, but just as I have seen many statements about people hating the breed solely on what they read, pitbull owners are entitled to feel and say how their dogs behave based on their experience with the breed.

          59. Your an idiot they are the happiest and most loving dogs apparently you have never owned or been around someone who owned one. You really should not comment if you do not even know the breed but just go off of stories you hear. Cocker spaniels are one of the top dogs that will bite and so are chihuahuas talking about mean little ankle biters.

          60. There is a reason dog fighters seek out the pit bull and never a chihuahua. People can kick a Chi, and survive. This example is stupid when people are loosing their limbs and face and life to pit bulls on a regular basis!. When was the last time a Chihuahua scalped someone to death? NEVER! but a pit has many times. Of course they don’t have locking JAWS and that is why it took the Claw end of a HAMMER! to pry a pit bulls jaws off a Babies skull! That Baby lost half his skull just for sitting in his stroller. Katie age 20 was scalped to death trying to get acquainted with 2 pits she was about to watch. A little girl in Ohio lost her tongue to a Pit bull she played with everyday. The list goes on and on….Nearly 500 dead now and many others disfigured for Life!.

          61. I know right! I’d much rather have a dog that is capable of shredding a little girls face in seconds than one that is only capable of nipping at your heels!

          62. My grandma had a big chow. He would let you come in, but God help you if you tried to leave without a family member as an escort. I still get the cold sweats at night dreaming about that thing.

          63. Well then that surely makes up for all the kids and elderly mauled to death by them. Nearly 500 humans are dead now by these land shark demon dogs in the past 3 decades. Many others left disfigured for life. Google Scalpings and dismemberments by your beloved pit. Look at the true gore if you dare. They are a ticking time bomb.

          64. Unfortunately I have seen pits turn on their owner. But this also stems from humans due to line breeding. We rescued one as a puppy and she turned on me around a year old. She was never mistreated as I love my dogs. I attribute this to her breeding probably being very intensive line breeding

          65. My nephew has pit that I confidently lay my head on when we’re in their backyard. He has two other dogs and they are a blissful pack of goofballs with manners. Whether playing, walking, or basking on a beautiful day, that dog is sweet, happy and generally perfect.

          66. Our 50 lb. pittie puppy is afraid of the cats. He cuddles on my lap when we watch TV.

        3. My friends have a giant pit-boxer mix. He’s rough and tough and goofy. He thinks he’s a tiny puppy when he’s a big, muscular dog.

          But when I visit, I have absolutely no fear that he is going to purposely try to hurt me. He’s a truly sweet and friendly dog with no aggressiveness at all.

          And, while I love my friends and they love and take care of the dog, he’s not particularly well trained at all. They’ve been very lax on that. Still, he’s got the sweetest disposition.

          You are so right with the numbers being extremely skewed. I really think we need to know how many dogs we’re comparing over what periods of time and under what circumstances. Since pits are a favorite dog for dog fights, how many of these fatalities have stemmed from a dog that’s been trained to be aggressive?

          1. My ex girlfriend had one of those. I knew our relationship was in trouble when the dog began humping her leg and instead of scolding it, she whispered “later” in its ear.

        4. That is very well said – thank you. I’ve never owned a pit but absolutely adore them! And you placed the blame exactly where it belongs – with the owners!

          1. Not true, Most of the stories on the news in the past 10 yrs. has been family pit bulls that were raised right that have snapped and turned on their owners or the kids. They were raised right, yet still snapped. Why, because of breeding/genetics. We can no longer blame the dog fighters because the average person is now owning these dogs. Get informed at Dogsbite.org. Knowledge saves lives.

          1. That is all sweet, but genetics plays a big part in the pit bull and that is why it is turning even in good homes where it was raised right. Every story ends the same, he was so sweet, raised with our kids, then just snapped. Even Cesar Milan says pit bulls are different.

        5. BS. Most other dog breeds may bite unlike pit bulls that will, when and if they attack, can and many times will go in for the kill. That is what they are bred for.

        6. If you didn’t immediately think of the fact that there are different numbers of each breed in the world when looking at a list of number of fatalities per breed, I feel very sorry for you. How do you make decisions?

          When you go to the grocery store and you see one bag of potatoes that is $3 and another that is $5, do you automatically buy the $3 just because it’s cheaper even though it may have 1/4 the amount?

        7. AMEN – MISTREATED dogs – dogs taught the WRONG things – are the ones that become dangerous. The OWNERS are at fault – the dogs are only doing what they have been TAUGHT.

      2. Im glad someone else gets it. If you do adjust for base rate it becomes a completely different list. APBT’s would not be anywhere near #1. I have two that are the most gentle, loyal and obedient dogs you could ever ask for. My male is mixed with American Bulldog and weighs about 120 pounds. He is my 3 yr old daughter’s best friend. I wouldn’t own any other breed personally. They are highly misunderstood and all to often pay the price for their owner’s mistakes.

          1. And there are some people who aren’t bright enough to own a yorkie that own APBT’s that give the rest of us a bad name…LOL

        1. My husband bought my first APBT puppy back in 1983. From the very beginning I decided to educate myself about the breed and learn as much as I could by reading AND talking to some of the “old dog” men that’s families had been instrumental in making this breed what it was back in the early years. One of the very first things that amazed me about the breed was my son was born with cerebral palsy and was 3 when we got our first. This puppy appointed himself my sons body guard and would position himself when my son would pull himself up to walk and stand there until my son learned to walk. He also would not allow a strange dog or person approach my son without letting the stranger know they were not welcome. He never bit anyone or acted very aggressive but he did get his point across. And here it is 32 years later. I would not have any other breed. I have never been without an APBT and I have never stopped learning about the breed. I will tell you something and that is the first puppy I bought (in ’83) is not the same breed of today. Back in the early 80’s a big APBT was around 60 lbs. now any of the current dogs that I’ve seen are 100 plus. You know as well as I do you cannot change the size of a breed of dog without changing other things that you probably didn’t intend on changing. Whenever I look to buy a puppy I do a lot of in depth research on pedigrees and look for some of the old bloodlines, There are some bloodlines that I wouldn’t have if they were given to me free of charge.

          1. Well said, and well put… I would take any of the older bloodlines over the new overblown, over grown ABPT’s being bred now.

          2. Wasn’t “Petey” from the Our Gang comedies a pit bull. I hear that Buckwheat had the seat of his costume torn out every day while on set with that dog.

          3. In my opinion, if a dog is 100 lbs, it’s not longer an APBT, by definition. Regardless of ancestry. We need a new name for some of these dogs that are now in vogue.

          4. I bet I know what you look for. Wise, Weaver, Mason. Feeny in the bloodlines when APBT were bred only by the real dog men of the time. Thank the Animal Welfare Act of 1976 which made it illegal to put the pit bull in the pit.Most dogs then were under 50#. ( Ours are between 35-45 pounds )

        2. This list is purely what dog kills the most….notice they are all large breed dogs. If you want a list of aggressive dogs you would see a list of very small dogs. Its purely numbers does not take into account any variables.

      3. Well said. I am an owner of 4 pit bulls and two of them show some dog aggression but none have ever shown people aggression. This breed loves people and are breed to please them. They are protective of their owners and in most of the cases that I know the person that was attacked was causing anxiety for the dog or was a cause of distrust with their owner. This will cause the breed to be protective and will react if there is any type of argument.

        1. If you’ve ever done and research on the breed you’ll find out that in the early 1900’s they were bred specifically to NOT be people aggressive. Back in the day when dog fighting was done you had to be able to get in the pit with everyone else’s dog. So people aggression was not tolerated. As a matter of fact all the reading I did back in the day said that the people aggressive dogs were not allowed to be bred. Some were even killed. No one wanted a people aggressive dog.

      4. Yes the ASPCA has documented the over reporting of Pit Bull attacks! Also in the US there is no such breed as the Pit Bull it covers several breeds!

        1. Ron I would have agreed. My friend had a permit to raise them and find homes for them. She had 2 females and 1 male, after deciding to keep them because they were good dogs.. had a bbq at house and the male walked up and bit into someone’s arm. Out of no where ! I do not trust them ….

      5. pit bulls aren’t even in the top 10 for most populous dog in the US. If we’re saying its the owner’s fault if a dog kills someone then why is it happening nearly 10x more often with pit bulls? Unless we’re assuming pit bull owners treat their dogs worse or are more irresponsible then other dog owners then the only explanation is that pits are not misunderstood but are in fact more dangerous. So…not entirely the owners fault…

        1. I just looked up most populous breeds in the United states, pits aren’t in the list probably bc they’re talking about dogs people own, not ones in shelters.

          1. Probably doesn’t cut it. You were talking about the numbers of bully breeds not being in the top 10 most common breeds. You cannot throw out stats and say this is fact and this other is just probably. Real facts don’t work that way. Go back and look at dates and see when the top 10 you were talking were the top 10 they change all the time. If you look at some places they only list registered breeds. AKC doesn’t even look at the APBT as a breed. Other registries such as ADBA and UKC do recognize them.

        2. Look
          on Petfinders and see which bully breeds are available for adoption. It doesn’t
          take a rocket scientist to realize that the dogs that are available are the ones
          that are at rescues and shelters. Totally bully breeds are 26,898 that includes
          APBT’s, American Bull dogs, Am Staffs and Staffordshire bull terriers. Labs are
          2nd with there being 18,168. You’re not half as intelligent as you “think” you
          are. The stats do NOT lie.

          1. Glad you amended that comment as its a bit ridiculous to start insulting my intelligence just bc I tried to add something to the conversation. Either way, there are only about 50% more bully breeds (which encompasses multiple breeds not just pits,as you say- meaning there are many fewer pits than 27000) in shelters than retrievers. So all things being equal you should see 50% more fatal attacks by bully breeds. But you don’t, you see at least 66/7=943% more from pits, totally ignoring other bully breeds. I can only think that this means pits have a tendency to violence and that most of the reports of an attack being entirely the owners fault are rubbish

          2. You know that a lot of bully breeds get labeled as being a pit people( maybe like you) who knows… don’t know one breed from another. And then the only reason I changed my mind about insulting is it had nothing to do with me not meaning what I first said was you can find just about anything you want on the internet depends on how long you want to look and the fact that everybody knows you can’t believe everything you read on the internet. If you really are so closed minded to think that most dog bites that are bully breeds are really Pits and that it is only because of the dogs “snapping” is because they are prone to snap is utterly rediculous. There are as many reasons for dogs biting as there are dogs. It’s not a cookie cutter reason. I use to have a Boxer and most people that saw him always asked me “Is he a Pit Bull”? Most people do not know one from another. Just to add to the conversation there are exactly 18,198 Pit Bull listed up for adoption not half of whatever stat you used. And there are just about the same number of Labs.

          3. Well said! I get so irritated when someone says things like ‘yea did you hear about that pitbull attack?’ Turns out it was a kab mix or golden retriver(a baby a couple if years ago was mauled by a retriever..) That’s how these ‘stats’ get so ridiculous! Breed ignorance and inability to determine different types if dogs!! If you can’t tell the difference between a retriever and a pit bull (*excuse me) shut your mouth!!

          4. I never said there were 27,000 Pit Bulls what I said was there are 26,898 Bully type dogs on Petrinders. I also said that they were Am. Staffs, Staffordshire bull terriers, American Bull dogs and American Pit Bull Terriers. That is exactly what I first said. Most people do not one from the other and that is true. For some odd reason my first comment was deleted not by me and I do not know why Discus would have deleted it. And for your information APBT’s are no more prone to turn violent than any other bully breed. If you knew anything about the breed you’d know that to be violent toward people was NOT tolerated. If a dog was aggressive toward people they were usually killed or at least never allowed to breed. That was one trait that was not tolerated. That is why they were labeled “the baby sitter dog”. They were excellent around people and children. Also back in the early days when dog fighting was done you had to be able to get in the pit with each others dogs. If your dog was aggressive toward the other handler that was a BIG “No No’!

      6. Statistics can pretty much communicate what you want them to by whoever compiles and presents them.
        This list is practically meaningless without a more comprehensive evaluation of the numbers.

      7. Naming pitbulls at the top is obvious to me. I am 60 years old and have been around dogs all of my life. I have been attacked five times, and bitten once. Four of the attacks involved pit bulls or pit bull mixes. (the fifth was a doberman) I have met nice cuddly pit bulls, but for whatever reason, these dogs are the most dangerous.

        I do question the inclusion of huskies and malemutes. I live in Alaska and I agree that these dogs can be dangerous. However, up here, it seems somewhat situational, when they get loose and run in a pack in the outback villages. I wonder whether these unusual circumstances influence the stats.

        1. What were you doing when you got bit? In six years of animal-related work, I was only ever bit by a chihuahua. The only dog besides that who ever offered aggression was a shepherd taken from a fighting ring. Almost no dog will bite that isn’t being provoked. But sticking a hand through a fence or going into their yard without the owner there will get you bit by any good guard dog. If you’ve been attacked that often, you either live by a person abusing dogs or did something to provoke them.

          1. Nope. None of that. Just unlucky I guess. Two of the attacks occurred while I was on my bicycle riding on the road. Like I said, pitbulls can be nice. Unfortunately, unlike most chihuahua’s I’ve met, they can be lethal. I’ve got the ER bill to prove it.

          2. Well you shouldn’t have been trying to ride your bike now lol. Heck the rest of the world shouldn’t be trying to live, enjoy life or the pursuit of happiness because pit bull nuts deserve to own their land shark beast. Everyone should just stay inside so they can parade their cool dogs down the street.

          3. And most likely even that Chi bit out of “fear biting” and not total aggression( though I have had a very aggressive chi).

          4. Fear biting doesn’t lesson the loss of the parents that are now without children thanks to pit bulls.

          5. What did the old ladies do to deserve being mauled to death? they were gardening, true story. look it up. How about the women taking in groceries, yeah I suppose another trigger for pit bulls. Or the hundreds of people jogging, riding bikes etc…wasn’t aware those were all triggers to deserve an all out gory attack by pit bulls but they are. Pit bulls are jumping fences, and even into cars to attack people.

        2. Malamutes and huskies in the U.S are very vicious. I have yet to meet a friendly one and when I go to the dog park there are never any malamutes, huskies, chow chows, dobermans, german shepherds, cane corsos, presa canarios or rottweilers lol. Why? Because they’re not social. Surprisingly I see pitbulls at the dog park regularly, playing and having a good ol’ time with the other dogs, including my own pitbulls. But there’s a reason you never see certain breeds at the dog park, they’re not social and we all know anti-social dogs are a danger, just like anti-social humans are a danger.

          1. I’ve had malamutes, huskies, GSDs, and rotties. All have been very social. Please stop labeling dogs by breeds. But hey, your pittie is welcome to come on over and play with my GSDs anytime

          2. Pit bulls have made dog parks pit holes. In 2013, it was the pit bull dog that killed over 12,000 dogs! They are part of the culture of death and so many young naive girls are falling for the lies and their babies are paying the price.

      8. No no, you’re missing it. Pitbulls being number one is based on total fatalities, not dog bites. Off ALL fatalities, pitbulls are responsible for an overwhelming 59%. Meaning of all the people who have died from a dog attack, pibulls were involved in 59 percent. So in this instance there’s no need for counting the number of breeds. Now if were based on dog bites then yes, you’d have a point but if you read it, it said “responsible for 66 fatalities” which is 59 percent of all fatalities. No other breed was anywhere close to that. Rottweilers came in at number 2 with 14 percent of all fatalities. So not even close. By the way my pitbulls are softies too. I’m pro-pitbull but idiots breed them to be aggressive, which is why they’re responsible for so many fatalities. Either way, according to statistics, pitbulls only make up 6 percent of the dog population in the U.S so based on what you’re saying that makes them seem even WORSE!!! They’re not the most popular breed. Pits are not even in the top 10 most popular large breeds, so there are LESS pitbulls than other breeds, yet pits are responsible for MORE fatalities, even though they only make up 6 percent of the US dog population. So there’s no getting around it my friend.

          1. Pitbulls are the #1 dog bred for fighting so it really shouldn’t come as a shocker to these people. I’ve had pitbulls all my life, not one of them was/is aggressive. So I believe it’s all in how the dog is raised.

          2. They are not allowed in my county. Also, I want a rescue doggy and it’s pits pits pits everywhere. Sigh.

          3. Pits are banned in several countries, which is unfortunate. They make wonderful loving dogs. All my dogs do is play with the neighborhood kids and go to the dog park and play with other dogs and go hiking and lots of fun social things. My dogs love people and other animals, they get along with cats and just love to play and have fun. I wish they didn’t have such a bad reputation.

          4. They have earned their own bad reputation. Where they are banned there is a good reason and it is the blood trail they leave behind. Where there is BSL dismemberment and death rates go down dramatically, proving that when the pit bull is taken out of the equation, people live. Hopefully your dogs never snap, but most of them do no matter how they are raised. The damage they do is hard to even look at it is so gory and bad.

          5. Reasonable and responsible, I’m on my third in 56 years. Best buddy any man or woman could want, and goofy too.

        1. There are no official or verifiable statistics in the USA of dog caused deaths by breed. You got your info from dogsbite .org, didn’t you. Their “statistics” are unverified.

          A recent study by the American Veterinary Associationof nine years of dog caused deaths found that in 85% of dog caused deaths, the breed of the dog could not be verified. In those cases where the breed was verified, 20 different breeds were identified.

          1. So true Rivka, not only are the stats on dogbites.org not verified but it has been proven time and time again that a lot of their info is pure lies just to make pits look bad

          2. Prove those stories are lies. All of them come from official News stories, with names and faces and Police departments and so on….You actually believe Cops, nurses, people are all in on making up all these pit bull attacks and deaths?. Every face and every death happened and they matter and count.

      9. Which was exactly what the American Veterinary Association said in that study mentioned in the article. The article writer “conveniently” left that part out.

        1. Many Vets have stated they saw pit bulls snap even after raised right. They knew the owners to be good people. Plastic surgeons say this breed does the most damage to kids faces. They would know. Nurses and cops all agree that the pit bull is always involved in attacks.

      10. My 98 yr old mom has a pittie. I am not knowledgeable enough to tell what kind. 65 lbs of muscle. He is the most lovie dog ever. Lets the cats jump all over him. Wants to be a lap dog. This I have experienced.. I have never seen this my sister says that if a stranger comes into the house JUNO gets between mom and the stranger, no barking, growling. Just a large intimidating dog.watching every move.

        1. Take a few minutes if you love your mother and research how many old people have been mauled to death by pit bulls that are nice until they weren’t and snapped suddenly.

      11. Jefferson dont let anyone tell you pits arent dangerous. When you have a 90 pound mutt who knows – KNOWS there really IS room in mamas lap if she’d just co-operate, it ensures severe nuzzling, cuddling, snuggling and puppy kisses. I have two pits, a pit mix and a German Shepherd. My greatest dangers are dog jams, obstacle courses, and dog hair on everything. I wouldnt trade them for anything.

      12. The stats show that Pit bulls only make up for 6% of dog population but make up for 64% of attacks on humans. So NO your answer isn’t good enough. They are attacking on average every 11 days in the U.S. and killing 42 people on average a year. They are snapping in homes where they were raised right as family dogs, not fighting dogs. It is no longer the fighter that has them, but the average family, yet they are still turning. Why?, because of genetics/traits. In 2013/13 alone, 72 people lost their life to pit bulls. When BSL is implemented, DISMEMBERMENT AND DEATHS go Down dramatically proving when the Pit bull is taken out of the equation, people LIVE.

      13. In the 60’s German Shepards were the deadliest . In the 70’s it was Dobermans. In the 80’s it was Rotts you are 100% correct. Add in the fact that any remotely blockhead dog is automatically a pit. and you get the meaningless result.

    5. I had heard about two dog attacks in my county awhile back, both in the same week, one by a pit bull without serious injury or death and one by what I was later able to determine was a golden retriever that did cause death, can you guess which one made the news? (it was the pit) It is clear to me that there is a bias and that bias sells newspapers and ad space on television

      1. Nearly 500 humans are dead now in the past 3 decades by pit bulls. The Golden doesn’t even make the list. The Rott is in a distant second behind the pit. Scalpings, dismemeberments are real, look up the facts. Every life should count and not dismissed as a lie. It is not hard to do your homework, a second grader is capable. Goodle pics, heck go to Pinterest and you will have trouble even looking upon the gore inflicted by pits to innocent children and the elderly. They have earned their own bad reputation! owning up to 64% of attacks even though they are only 6% of dog population. Attacking on average every 11 days in the U.S. and killing on average 42 people a year.

    6. I was the proud owner of a Rottie that I rescued as a senior. She was obviously trained as a guard dog – much like you see online with German Shepherds with military training. She became protective in public – but what a mush!!! Honestly, if you left the room and came back 10 minutes later her tail was wagging (the rottie shake!) and she would whine till you acknowledged her!! I have a parrot that walked passed her face without the slightest hint of threat…I have 2 westie rescues that used to boss her around (in a cute way). She was defensive and protective in public, something I had no experience with until I got her and I had to adjust. But her private side was outstanding. That’s when I realized the issue with bully breeds like pit bulls that is mentioned in this article.
      Bully dogs are bred to be extremely strong, obedient, trainable, etc and that ATTRACTS bully people who train them to be aggressive…But all those characteristics, in the proper environment, can lead to an outstandingly well behaved dog.
      The first time I ‘punished’ my rottie – I gave her a time out in one of the bedrooms – she came back and licked one of my westies in the face! As if she was sooo relieved not to be severely punished that she couldn’t contain her relief. Rotties, like pits, can attract abusive behavior due to their reputations…
      Thanks for the forum!

      1. I agree totally with you! Some people get the rotties assuming theyre a big mean dog and when theyre not, they make them mean 🙁 (I have a senior rescue rottie too!)

      2. Rotts only come in a “distant” second behind the pit bull in attacks. The blood trail they have left behind is nowhere in comparison to pit bulls so I don’t think the focus should on them. However, pit bulls kill way too many people to ignore and it is no longer just dog fighters owning them. Almost every week in the news, it is a family pit that was raised right, yet snapped.

    7. You read my mind. Of course when you have a million APBT’s and a hundred thousand of other breeds the stats are higher on the APBT. I’ve had APBT’s for over 30 years. I’ve raised a few litters and until a few years ago I stopped. There are too many and they have been so over bred. That’s why they are usually at the top of the list for the first dogs to be euthanized. I know most people that have them go on and on about how good they are. And I totally agree. I have never had one that was the leaset bit aggressive toward people. I have noticed that since 1983 when I got my first they have changed a lot…genetically. They’ve had other breeds introduced to make them larger and in doing that they really did change. Anytime you change anything genetically you have to take the bad with the good. Back in 1983 the biggest APBT that I had ever seen was around 50 to maybe 60 lbs. Now they’re over 100 lbs. There are certain bloodlines that I wouldn’t have if they were given to me free of charge. Like anything else humans touch they ruin. If it’s not the APBT it would be another breed. Oh and you’re correct about headlines. It’s ALL about the shock factor and getting people’s attention.

    8. i am a veterinarian tech, i have had pets of all kinds and sizes my whole life, just wanna say i see aggresion in every type of dog, you have youre good and bad in ALL, my 15 year old daughters first dog was a pit pup, she was raised with my daughter and theyre will never be a dog to top her good disposition,nature, attitude or demenor, she is excellent and it saddens me all the time that pits have a bad name, but truth is attacks are just as common in all other breeds, speak your voice roger smith somebody has to stand up for our babies…

      1. Shame on you for spreading lies. You could tell the truth about all the kids that have been mauled by pit bulls. The scalpings, dismemberments, faces torn off, etc…but you choose to spread lies that get more kids and old people killed. The only excuse you could have is ignorance, but in your field of work you don’t get the luxury of ignorance. Get informed because knowledge saves lives. In 30 months 33 kids were mauled to death by pit bulls. 72 people lost their life in 2013/14 to pit bulls.

      2. 42 people on average loose their life to pit bulls a year in the U.S. they are attacking on average every 11 days and make up for over 64% of attacks on humans a year even though they are only 6% of dog population. Nearly 500 people are now DEAD by pit bulls in the past 30 years and you still continuer to regurgitate the lies.

    9. Exactly! In the 40 s it was the German Shepard in the 50s the chow then the rottie…..they gotta have someone to pick on! My pitt plays with my cats and looses!

      1. Actually, the German Shepard had a bad rap in the 70s (I remember it well and wasn’t born in the 40s, thank you very much) and I remember it being Dobies in the 80s, Rotties in the 90s….. now it’s Pitties…. and all 3 breeds are wonderful dogs if people know how to raise them as they should.

    10. I have to say, I own a pit-lab mix, and he is the sweetest dude ever. But, there was that one time he was going for the football and got my hand, and man that hurt! I don’t think it’s that pits have a particularly violent nature, I think it’s their sheer bite force. We had been playing so I let him know I got hurt, and I know I have to be aware of his play-time around small kids. But I can only imagine if someone had abused and mistreated him, and he decided he was fighting for his life, just how much he could hurt someone.

    11. I agree 100% media is a major influence on the public’s perception of everything. I know Doberman, pit bulls and rotties that are the sweetest and most well behaved animals. I also know many small dogs – Maltese, yorkies, and Chihuahuas that have bit their owners and family members as well as running after strangers to attack them. Those are rarely reported. If a pit bull bites it gets the death sentence but a York’s gets another chance? Discrimination b err ing fed by media. Just the same as the media bowing up police relations, ebola etc… the public gets nuts…

    12. Don’t buy it. Labs retrieve almost anything and love the water. Pointers will sniff and hunt for hours. Hounds will chase a racoon for hours. Why do Labs, Pointers and Hounds do the things they do? Training? Owners who understand the game? No, but because they have been bread to do these things. Years of breading creates the drive to retrieve, point and chase animals.
      Why do Pitbulls attack and kill? Because they were bread to. It is how they are wired. Proper training may help, but it won’t eliminate the drive to fight in that bread.

      1. Sorry, but you’re wrong there. My white Lab HATES water and won’t go near it. My uncle had a black Lab…same thing. When I was growing up, we had a Lab/Shepherd mix—not even treats would tempt her to play in a puddle, much less a pool, pond, lake, etc.. So, no, based on my personal experience, your “because they were bred to” argument doesn’t “hold water” (no pun intended)…

          1. Now find pointing or retrieving Pitbulls.

            I’ve never said that no other dog bites. But a breed has tendencies.

          2. http://www.gopitbull.com/general-discussion/25801-do-pibulls-point.html

            There you go. First under “pointing pitbull.”

            Pit bulls have no “tendency” to bite. They’re no more likely to fight than any other dog. It’s all training. Dogs are individuals, and some individuals may be more prone to something than others, but no one can make a blanket statement like “all pit bulls bite” and be taken seriously. It’s about a racist as saying all black people like chicken. Don’t be a dog racist.

          3. Sunday, June 7, 2015

            Pit bull myths: “forced to fight”

            That pit bulls have demonstrated an enormous appetite for the blood of weaker animals comes as no surprise to anyone who knows of the of centuries of breeding by the animal abusers of the old UK, in order to produce a type of dog that would eagerly, happily and relentlessly tear apart weaker or more vulnerable animals which posed no threat.

            Ironically, now that dog fighting is outlawed (supposedly for humane reasons) the number of animals harmed by put bulls every year is at an all time high, which begs the question: what is the point of outlawing dog fighting while allowing these fighting dogs to proliferate?

            So we now have this oversupply of “working dogs” whose “work” is now considered a crime, so long as it occurs in a formal setting. If 2 willing pit bulls are allowed to square off in the ring, it’s a crime. But if a pit bull “goes to work” on an unwilling animal, tearing the victim apart, it’s not a crime. How is that in any way humane?

          4. lol No, you’re wrong, Bobo. Only dog fighters breed dogs to fight. Pits have long since been family dogs, hence why they were nicknamed “nanny dogs” and the favorite household pet of the US for decades. They still have the muscular build, but their most defining trait is loyalty – the same as all dogs, really. Again, they’re individuals, so there are plenty out there that WILL bite, but it’s only because of how they were raised, treated, and trained, NOT from how they were bred. Pits have shown time and again that even after being trained to fight, after living that nightmare for years, they can still bounce back and be family pets and even therapy and service dogs. Ever heard the term “Vicktory dog”? After Michael Vick had all his dogs taken away when he was caught fighting them, they were given a second chance, rehabbed, retrained, and are now service dogs and family pets. NONE of them have ever killed anything since to my knowledge. Check it out. You might learn something: http://bestfriends.org/The-Sanctuary/Explore-the-Sanctuary/Dogtown/Vicktory-Dogs/

          5. Nanny Dogs aren’t Pit Bulls – they are Staffordshire Terriors.

            That’s a big miss. It’s like me taking a rat terrior duck hunting.

          6. Craven Desires – MONDAY, MAY 27, 2013

            BADRAP surrenders to facts

            “A lie can run around the world six times while the truth is still trying to put on its pants.” ~Mark Twain

            on May 20 @ 9:00am PST, BADRAP made the following proclamation:

            It’s Dog Bite Prevention Week. Did you know that there was never such thing as a ‘Nanny’s Dog’? This term was a recent invention created to describe the myriad of vintage photos of children enjoying their family pit bulls. While the intention behind the term was innocent, using it may mislead parents into being careless with their children around their family dog – A recipe for dog bites!

            INNOCENT? the phrase ‘Nanny Dog’ was never used innocently. it was a very deliberate, very deceptive campaign to manipulate people into accepting a FIGHTING bred dog into the community.

    13. The other problem that exists is a lack of knowledge of the actual breed-quite often dogs are labeled as being a pit bull when in fact they are not. There are quite a few dog breeds that exist that very, very closely resemble the pit bull in looks and temperament, but in fact are not pit bulls. And the media does not distinguish facts from sensationalism!

    14. I completely agree with you. I have a Pit/Bloodhound (Emmy) and I rarely tell people she’s 1/2 pit unless they truly know her. The media has made me too nervous to disclose this fact to strangers. When she was about 4 months old we had brought her to the park to play in the creek with our son (only to find that she is terrified of bodies of water). As my family romped and goofed around, another family of 5 came over. The kids asked if they could pet Emmy, after having her sit I let them visit with her. After a few minutes their mother asked me what kind of dog she was. This was the first time that a stranger had asked me this question so I immediately answered truthfully. Within seconds my son and Emmy lost their playmates. I have spent countless hours training and socializing Emmy. She loves other dogs and people, knows many commands and has NEVER shown signs of aggression. It breaks my heart that pities have gained such a misleading reputation to the point that even saying their breeds name evokes fear. People need to finally accept the fact that no matter the breed, scratch that, no matter the species, the leading factor in aggression is training and the compassion you show towards the creature. Sorry about my lengthy reply!

      1. People deserve to know the truth so they can protect their love ones and kids. The stats show they have good reason to stay away from pit bulls. With 42 people dying yearly by them, and they own up to 64% of attacks on humans a year. Attacking on average every 11 days in the U.S. Scalping and dismembering their victims to death. Yeah people that are informed stay away from this dog. There is no hiding the dead bodies, pits are telling on themselves daily and proving their owners to be liars. In 30 months 33 kids were mauled to death by the so called “nanny dog”. Old ladies mauled to death just gardening, taking in groceries, joggers, bicyclist etc…all unprovoked attacks. If you cannot handle the facts, and reputation they earned get a different dog.

    15. Pit Bull is just a commonly accepted description of certain physical characteristics. I’m with you on doubting this crap “study”

      Staffies were originally bred to be good herding dogs that doubled as a baby nurse and valued for their gentle interaction with children.

    16. I couldn’t agree with you more, Roger!! I love my pit bull! He’s the sweetest, most loving and gentle dog. Loves kids and other dogs. Couldn’t be happier. I’d have a dozen of them if I had the room.

    17. Thank you Roger! This article does not sound credible to me, and I have worked with dogs for the past 17 years. Pit bulls, can be the sweetest dogs if owned by decent people.

    18. Roger Smith….thankfully there is a voice of reason in this morass of undocumented and unsubstantiated data put forth by the au TN or if this tripe…whoever it is….the specious claims (“well they are highly dangerous but…not if you train them right”) are way too idiotic to dignify with a response …it is garbage like this on the Internet that infuriates me….why am I not surprised what is #1…just proves that anyone can print anything on the Internet without an iota of truth….signed…a lover and supporter of the beloved PIT BULL! (BTW…referring to all of that breed as “American pit bull” is a gross misnomer….there are three main varieties of the bull terrier which the author of the article obviously never even researched….jackass…thanks for your input Roger

      1. Oh please, a second grader could google search or go to Pinterest even and see the gory bloody trail left behind by pit bull demon dogs. The number is nearing 500! humans now DEAD by pit bulls in the past 30 years! How many people must die?, how many must loose their limbs, faces, or be scalped before it is enough?. Why does this dog get a pass?. It is attacking unprovoked, even when raised right.

    19. There was a dog attack that killed an infant ( more due to owner negligence, but the baby was just sleeping in a swing..) The news kept saying pit bull mix.. I finally see a picture of the dog- its a freaking golden retriever!! maybe mixed with something but zero sign of pit bull!! The media def. has an influence on these things!! I am a pitty lover for life! Its the abused and neglected dogs I worry about!

    20. So true Roger, also most of the time they are guessing at what breed the dog is. As far as the media is concerned, any stocky dog with broad shoulders is a pitbull. Fact is most people can not tell the difference between a pit bull and a bull dog and any dog that they suspect is mixed with a pit is automatically a pit. Adog could be 75% lab 20% boxer and 5% pit and they call it a pit mix. It is a shame this website put out this article, it is such a disservice to 10 great breeds of dogs. As I type this one of my female pits is laying next to me snoring and my male and other female are playing in the yard. All 3 are big babies and run away from birds, cats etc.

    21. Not all Pit Bull’s have been trained for fighting Roger Smith. The Pit’s started getting a bad rep when they became the popular breed and backyard breeders were indiscriminate. Dogs were bred that had a mean disposition and line breeding was popular to get a smaller sized dog. There are dogs that have mental health/behavioral issues just like people and those animals should not be bred for pets. There are also the idiots that get dogs like Pit’s and put them on log chains fastened to a house or tree and that would make me biting mad! It isn’t the breed’s fault but people haven’t been good handlers like they ought to be. I for one wish backyard breeding would be against the law with stiff fines and penalties.

      I had a Chow/Besenji that had panic attacks when non family members approached her. The dog would cower, shake and drool. Just to show you that animals do have behavioral issues.

    22. The website dog bite dot org documents dog attacks and links to the new reports. No breed is close to pit bulls in attacks, injuries, and deaths.

    23. As with any breed it is how they are raised. I have a Pit mix that is the sweetest, gentlest dog ever. My brother has a full pit that is also a wonderful dog. Also son-in-law.
      Most pits that are aggressive have been trained to be or chained. A chained dog no matter the breed is a dangerous dog.

    24. WRONG! You need to read up on the history of this weapon of war. Dogs were created by man. Each breed created for a purpose. The purpose of the pitbull, War, is no longer needed and neither is the breed. Do some reading.

      1. I think they know, they just don’t care. Ignorance shows they would still have a heart but when they know and still don’t care then that is something all together worse.

    25. WRONG. I KNOW FROM A SITUAITON LAST YEAR, THAT INDEED IT -IS-
      THE PIT BULL THAT PLACES A GENIUNE DANGER TO OTHER DOGS AND PEOPLE !

      This false theory of yours, that the media is placing focus on the PIT BULL breed
      for reasons of hype are a bad joke. Pit Bulls, regardless of the trash owners.. (which maybe are) still posess a VERY real danger to law enforcement, people on the streets where a PIT is near and frankly any living thing.

      These DOGS can TURN on a fueken dime. I know full well what I speak of from
      personal experience sadly. Your words are to appease other Pit owners and yourself! But it non based on reality.

  26. Dogs are just like kids. If you raise them the correct way around people they will make for great pets. All dogs that have teeth can bite given the correct set of circumstances. To have a good dog means that you invest the time to train them and above all love them. Mistreat them and the “wolf” will come out in any breed.

  27. Pit Bulls are some of the sweetest dogs on the face of the earth. The problem is clearly with the owners that don’t buy them to be a loving pet, but buy them so they can have a killer and be macho or tough. Their jaws are so incredibly powerful they are capable of causing extreme damage with just one bite. They are easily the most dangerous breed because when owners turn a sweet pet into a killing machine, their physical characteristics are now the only thing that matters.

    1. I have a dog that’s half boxer and half pit bull. I call her a “bullox” or a “box bull.” She doesn’t seem to care; she just smiles and wags her tail.

  28. Thank you very much for your work in defending pit bulls. My sister worked for a pit bull-exclusive dog shelter for the better part of a decade and my family has adopted no fewer than three dogs that are at least part bully breed. Right now I own a shelter dog who’s a boxer-bully hybrid, and a pure-bred APBT. My sister owns a mutilated Staffy who used to be a bait dog.

    These are largely wonderful animals who are frequently abused, whose history both as a breed and as individuals are rarely understood, and who need more protection from us than we do from them. And yeah, the American Temperament Testing Society’s research needs more publicity; a sample size of 870 is very, very respectable—as are APBTs’ results.

  29. Very, very few people realize that having been bred to fight other dogs means that pit bull terriers who bit human beings were immediately killed in order to remove them from the gene pool. Pit bulls were bred to be loyal to humans and aggressive to other animals—and today, anyone involved in ethical dog breeding is raising them to be safe around both.

    Thank you for your efforts to defend these dogs.

  30. Pit bulls were never bred to fight human beings. In fact, they were specifically bred NOT to bite human beings. But hey—if the news is telling you that pit bulls are all time bombs, why not believe them? It’s not like they try to sell you a hundred thousand batteries and a bomb shelter every time someone’s computer crashes, or an oil tanker spills, or a teenager gets ahold of a handgun . . . right?

  31. It’s nice to see an article on this topic that doesn’t attempt to whitewash the nature of the pitbull: a breed that shouldn’t be permitted in residential neighborhoods.

    The idea that pitbulls are only aggressive when they are mistreated or trained to be that way is simply not true. Most dogs that are mistreated actually become far more docile than they otherwise would be. And there’s a reason why people who want to train dogs for attacking purposes mostly use pitbulls: they were bred to be highly aggressive in the first place. The pitbull’s nature (which includes being highly loyal to its master, which is why they almost never turn on the people they live with) makes the job of training a dog for that role much easier.

  32. I agree with the Wolf. You can call it half dog all you want it is still wolf. I agree with Doberman because we had one we raised from a baby and then she had pups and turned on everyone! She almost killed my mom and little brother. I am a firm believer in the German Shepard as I almost lost my leg to one when I was ten, it also tore up another man who saved me and severely mauled a little girl in the house next door. No we didn’t mess with the dog. It was a neighbors retired police dog and broke its METAL chain and ran wild through the neighborhood and mauled anyone in its path! I am a little afraid of pits and rots but only because they are intimidating to look at but I have had friends that had some of both and they were always sweet. CHows are witchy little pups and I wouldnt have one around children. I think shepherds should be number one!

  33. I have a 5 year old pit mix. smartest, most loyal, most athletic dogs. i think any purebreed is bound to have issues- go with a pit mix. ive seen my dog in a couple scraps and believe me if he were the instigator or overly aggressive, the other dogs would have been bleeding out on the ground. pits have such a bad name because of bad training. raise your dog so that it is comfortable around other dogs and people. pretty simple. and it is also a security knowing that my dog could hold his own against any dog his size

  34. All dog breeds can be aggressive, some are breed to be more aggressive. What people who say their pitbull/Rottweiller/Chow/Doberman is kind and gentle and would never hurt some forget is that dogs also have triggers. I have been around dogs all my life, and worked at a number of kennels, shows, and shelters. The most calm, trained dog in the world only needs one trigger, a color, a type of person, gender, gesture, etc to make them snap.

    The big difference between a large aggressive breed that was breed to fight or kill large animals and a toy dog like a Chihuahua is that a Chihuahua is easy to defeat and not likely to take huge chunks out of you or snap your neck.

    People who relax their attitude and expectations of their large aggressive breed dogs because that dog at the moment is soft and gentle are the people who are the problem. They are the ones who put everyone and everything around them at risk.

    1. I agree with you that pit bull owners should be extra vigilant and responsible and not let their guard down, but that is mostly to protect the image of the breed and ensure the dog behaves in all situations. Pit bulls were not bred to kill, they are often dog aggressive, but not with humans. Supposedly, they were bred to allow the owner or other human to put his hand in the ring to control the dog fight and to separate the human from the dog they are fighting. They are VERY human friendly and bond deeply to their human. Unless of course they are victims of human abuse…which is sadly often the case.

      1. the problem with the pits is they are very eager to please. So it is not rocket science to train one of these powerful dogs. The the next problem is these thugs (anybody that fights dogs is a thug) are usually back yard breeders they breed these litters from aggressive dogs they keep a few and sell off the rest to the unsuspecting public. Then if they have a super aggressive dog again they breed that one to another super aggressive dog then once again the puppies they don’t want get sold to the unsuspecting public. Then the public not knowing about the parents of these pups learn that there is money to be had because the pit has become a status symbol to criminals start breeding these dogs just for pure profit. So now you see the problem with that breed that we are seeing today.

      2. pitt bull owners have to make sure their dog is 100x better behaved than any normal dog, just simply because of how much prejudges are against them.

  35. As a Veterinarian’s daughter who was trained by my Dad at a young age how to act around animals, especially aggressive ones, I believe most vicious dog attacks could be avoided if people trained their children how to behave around dogs. (and cats) Squealing, poking, jumping around, running, are not appropriate behavior around strange animals. Children should be taught to greet strange dogs very slowly, gently allowing the dog to smell them and know they aren’t a threat. Running and squealing has the ability to stimulate some dogs hunting or play instincts and may cause a dog to chase. Some dogs, especially pit bulls, will make grumbling and growly sounds when they are playing with humans that may be misunderstood as aggression. People need to know this. And running from the dog screaming is definitely a way to make the dog chase you, even if its just to growl and play.

    1. No, the rest of us shouldn’t have to be trained to by around your dog. It’s your dog and your responsibility alone to ensure it’s either locked up or safe to be around other people. As a dog lover I know it’s solely an ignorant or lazy owner that results in a dog hurting someone.

      1. As a dog lover and volunteer at a canine rehabilitation center I KNOW it is NOT solely an ignorant or lazy owner that is at fault. It’s also ignorant and lazy parents. It is the responsibility of parents to teach their children how to properly interact with animals. Yes, all dogs should have adequate training, but so should children (and adults). The reason many children are bitten is because they view a dog as a play thing. Dogs aren’t play things. They aren’t there to be climbed on, have their ears pulled or to be ridden like a horse. It’s your responsibility to make sure your child is under control and is safe to be around dogs. If the owner bears the responsibility for their dog shouldn’t you bear the responsibility of controlling your child?

        1. Agreed. I have a Rottie/Boxer mix and am amazed at the people who allow their children to come running and yelling up to me and my dog. Children ,for their own safety,should be taught the proper way to approach, pet,and play with a dog. My dog has not been aggressive with any of those children but he is always visibly disturbed. It’s a two way street, I train and control my dog, parents should do the same with their children.

        1. Partially, but limited. Kids are kids, just like dogs are dogs. You can teach a kid all you want, but they will still make mistakes. Let’s switch to guns for example, you teach a kid not to play with guns, but if you’re at a friends house and he leaves a loaded .45 on the kitchen counter unsupervised – it’s the gun owners fault if the kid shoots himself. Why? Because it’s a human child and they are young, imperfect, and can’t be held to the standard of an adult. The gun owner is an adult, so they are the ones who can be held responsible. They are in charge of that gun, they are responsible for the gun being kept in a safe location. You can keep your loaded gun on the kitchen counter all you want, but if a child comes into the home it’s the adults responsibility to put the gun away. The only difference between the gun and the dog is the dog is a living creature prone to, just like the child, behaving unpredictably. So again, the adult owns, is in charge, and is ultimately responsible for the dog and it’s actions. Let your dog have the run of your house, but if a child comes in your home, it’s your responsibility to monitor the dog, not the responsibility of the child.

          1. Ok, I have to speak up on this one. First of all dogs aren’t guns. Dogs are animals that live and breathe. Guns are inanimate objects. Second, depending on the age of the child 6 and under they should know better then to play with guns or run after a strange dog.

            Case 1: My cousin’s kid shot his first deer at age 6. No, his father didn’t leave guns lying around the house, but the child knew how to handle a gun if Ryan hadn’t put the gun away yet.

            Case 2: My little dog doesn’t like strangers. She will flee and not fight, but it’s still best to not rush up at her if you don’t know her. One day while at Petsmart a young child ran at my dog. It scared my mom and I because we weren’t sure what Sadie would do to the child. But she hid under the bench as best as she could while on a leash. That child should have been punished or at least trained to NOT rush strange dogs!

            In both situations, it’s the parent’s job to train the child. Yes, they make mistakes, but if the parent trains the child properly then there will be no case of child dying from playing with guns or rushing a dog.

            (And I DO agree that guns shouldn’t be lying around for no reason.)

      2. While I agree, in general, that a dog’s human must properly socialize and train the dog, I have seen far too many children run at a stranger’s dog without parents intervening. I spend a great deal of time with my friend’s pit bull, and I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to put my body between the sweet, loving, gentle dog and some rampaging child, because I knew, if the child got so much as a scratch, the parents would be screaming to have the pit put down. I try to teach each child I encounter in this way that not every dog wants to be grabbed by a stranger. I tell them to first ask if they can approach a new dog, and then pay attention to what the dog’s person says to do: be gentle, be quiet, go slow… And I try to teach the parents to teach their children not to run at strange dogs, screaming and squealing. It’s worse than bad manners — it puts the dog in danger of acting like a dog, and then suffering the consequences brought on by lazy, inattentive parents.

          1. But it shouldn’t be. Until we require a license to have a child we will never solve any of societies problems….

        1. I have a sibe that is scared of children and a black lab that just loves children. But guess which ones the kids come running up to the most….the sibe. The kids see a small pretty dog when they see her but see a big scary dog when they see the lab. Luckily she is light enough I can just pick her up to get her out of reach of the kids. 75% of the time mom and dad are not even paying attention as their precious child goes running and squealing to a dog that just might bite them. Luckily my sibe all but tries to jump in my arms when a child comes running and screaming so I can easily get the child out of harms way. But there are good parents out there that see that the sibe is clearly scared and my lab is just sitting there nicely wagging his tail waiting for attention and will direct their kids over to the lab and have their kids wait for permission to pet the sibe.

      3. Although I agree to a point, we have established that not all dogs have responsible owners. Regardless of the situation, YOU need to do your part to ensure you or your child’s safety.
        MY dog is always secured if there are children around. It’s not due to aggression, he gets excited. While jumping and attempting some kisses, he can easily knock a child down and scare them. Even though I know he would never hurt one and doesn’t need to be crated the entire time, he is. Safety is my #1 priority. Safety for others, and safety for the dog. There are no exceptions.
        Most of us do our part, you should do yours.

      4. Yes, you should teach children, and yourself, how to handle a situation with an unknown dog. If approaching, or approached, by an dog you never want to trigger instinctive behaviors. You as a human should have enough sense to understand that. You would want to be knowledgeable on handling an unsafe environment with rattle snakes or jellyfish and the same should be with dogs. Despite who is responsible for the dogs action, you have to understand it is an animal and it has the natural instinct to act like an animal. So… if you want to but all your faith in trustworthy dog owners than go ahead. I’ll be glad to teach my children to act properly around a dog their not familiar with.

        “Maulings by dogs can cause terrible injuries and death—and it is natural for those dealing with the victims to seek to address the immediate causes. Serious bites occur due to a range of factors in which a dog’s size and temperament are known to be the risk factors. Also important are dog management factors such as neutering and tethering, and child care factors such as supervision around animals.”

        1. Partially agree. You should teach your children that dogs can be dangerous. But that fact is the kid can’t hurt the dog. If the dog loses it, the kid might die. The burden is on the dog owner to make sure the dog is not dangerous. Let’s face it, we’re talking about situations where the pit bull gets out of the yard an mauls someone. We’re not really talking about a kid poking at dog with a stick and the dog protecting itself.

      5. No, she makes some very good points. Stupid people have dogs that they end up abandoning or putting down for all the reasons she states. STUPID, ignorant people who are committed to remaining that way. Do you also believe that children shouldn’t be trained? – that’s what you’re saying.

        1. Children can’t be held to the same standards as adults, that’s why we call them children. And while I whole heartedly agree far too many parents don’t teach their kids to behave – it’s still the burden of the dog owner to keep the child safe. Why? Because the dog owner is the only adult human of the three involved parties. Neither the child nor the dog can be held to the standards of an adult. Are human kids a pain in the rear? Far too often the answer is yes. But no one, dog or human, has ever been mauled by a 6 year old.

          1. You’re right, children cannot be held to the same standards, BUT their parents can.
            It’s not so much that nobody has been mauled by a 6yo, as it is about the dogs perception of said child’s actions. Dogs attack when they feel attacked themselves. We know a 6yo couldn’t maul a dog, but those dogs don’t.

          2. Maybe you shouldn’t let your children run all over unattended if they don’t have any training?

    2. I agree, people have though my pit was showing aggression till they saw his tail wagging. We growl and grumble at each other when we play, for him it is natural, and I make sure people know this.

  36. The American Pit Bull Terrier like all of it’s ancestors that were bred for the sport of pit fighting were specifically bred to NOT bite a human. These dogs had to be handled in the pit during the course of the fight, when the dog was putting all of his heart and soul into a life and death struggle. His adrenaline was at it’s highest level and his brain was focused on survival. When either dog’s handler chose to call a turn, both handlers stepped forward and took hold of their dog and with the use of a breaking stick unlocked the dogs hold on the other. Then both dogs were picked up and the decision was made by the handlers whether or not to continue. If a handler decided to withdraw his dog it was customary to allow him to put his dog back down to see if the dog was game enough to come back up to the scratch line and scratch. This proved the gameness of the dog and that had he been allowed would have fought to the death. Thus the term “Dead Game”. If on a rare occasion a pit dog did not recognize the hand of his owner when engaged in the fight and turned and bit the owner/handler, that dog was eliminated from the breeding pool immediately. Usually by death. That is why for many many years there were no pit dogs that would bit a human. When these dogs began to be kept for reasons other than fighting some were crossed with other breeds that would bite humans. Some guard dog breeds are bred for the purpose of biting humans. Others were kept in the breeding pool that would otherwise have been eliminated. And some are now bred for the purpose and are actually trained to attack humans. This can be attributed to a segment of people who for various reasons have become unreasonably ignorant and even incredibly stupid. Of course the dogs as always will pay the price for this human behavior. This change in the dogs has taken approximately 70 years and even now the vast majority of them still have an innate aversion to biting humans.

  37. The work of an ethical breeder is so important in setting the foundation of a good dog. Yet I am still amazed how so many dogs with an “unhappy childhood” turn into great dogs. I would say that hold doubly true for the pitbull.

  38. Dogs are only as dangerous as the owners allow them to be. Proper training and socialization is key to ANY dogs nature. I’ve seen pitbulls be fun loving animals even around children while small dogs were left barking and nipping at your feet. It’s not the dog it’s usually the owner.

    1. Small dogs are more likely to bite, but they don’t kill when they do it.
      Having had family members mauled by dogs with “responsible” owners, I disagree that dogs are only as dangerous as the owners allow them to be. Breeds EARN their aggressive ranking and are so by nature. Some will be less so, some more.

    2. For the most part, I agree with you. There are extremely rare cases–which may involve physical abnormalities, such as brain tumors–in which a dog becomes dangerous *despite* the owner doing all the right things. These cases are exceptionally rare, and the majority of canine aggression is because of human error. However, in those rare cases, loving, responsible owners sometimes have to do the right thing and euthanize the dog to prevent the dog (or innocent human beings) from suffering.

      1. Best friends granddaughters had 2 pit bulls. They showed no signs ot aggression. They were playing, when an older lady walked past them the dogs attacked her for no reason put that poor old lady in the hospital for several days. No reason for attack. I had met and played with them. They had never been abused, never showed aggression.I admit I am afraid of pits.

  39. Owners are responsible for their pets.Somebody looking to buy a dog should be aware of their personality and physical traits and be prepared to harness those in a productive way. The dogs on this list are all great dogs, except the chow(personal prejudiced). I feel the ignorance of most non owners of these breeds is well on display, I guarantee most people who have a fear of many of these dogs never had or been around one and also are emotional driven people absent of logical thought.

  40. People are more dangerous than any dog, and more dangerous than Pitt bulls.. About 15,000 murders in the U.S. in 2012, not to mention other violent crimes, rapes, robberies, etc. You’re better off with any dog, including a Pitt bull, than a person. Think about that for a few minutes. Then go get yourself a German Shepherd or a Pitt bull to protect yourself.

    1. My preference has always been dogs. Dogs have never lead a nation to war for profit. Nor are they capable of being deceptive for selfish gain. I prefer dogs to people,…… Dogs are honest .

    1. Agree! My favorite childhood dog, the favorite of the neighborhood, too. She pulled our bikes uphill in the summer and our sleds uphill in the winter. Of course, she wasn’t a dog, she was dad’s other daughter!

  41. I wish people would stop demonizing pit bulls. I am not sure if anyone noticed but in almost all of the entries poor training and human error were to blame for the other dogs and with the pit bulls it was just a straight forward “fact” that they killed 66 people…a bit biased I believe. Just like the other dogs it is the way it is raised and human error. Pit bulls were bred to be working class dogs, territorial and protective. So if a human is injured or killed I am willing to bet my house that it was 99% human error!

  42. Many times dogs are misidentified as “pit bulls” after bite incidents occur. Many times it is the victim or a police officer who does not know much about dogs who identifies the breed so the dogs are often not pit bulls at all. Additionally pit bull is a term that describes a type of dog, not a breed, and can be applied to several breeds so it is like saying “retriever” and lumping all retrievers into one, or “terrier” or something so when you at including multiple breeds under one name of course the statistics are going to be higher.

  43. Firstly, for the record, I am sorry you had to deal with this horrific experience. Such attacks are horrible, indeed.

    However, no owner of a pit bull type has ever denied that these attacks happen, which is what you seem to imply. No one has ever said “because my dog doesn’t attack people means that it never happens, never has happened, never will happen, anywhere, any dog, ever.”

    And sorry, statistics can always be interpreted in various ways to fit the point one is trying to make.

    You say it is erroneous and wrong so assume no Maytag dishwasher ever explodes just because yours doesn’t. Agreed. But it is also erroneous and wrong to say or assume or imply that, because there are statistically 66 deaths due to pit bull type dog attacks (“Pit Bull” is such an over-generalised, abused term) per year, that ALL Pit Bulls are bad, and ALL Pit Bulls will attack, and ALL Pit Bulls will kill people. The truth, of course, is somewhere in the middle, and highly circumstantial and situational. Just because any dog MIGHT attack a person, doesn’t mean all dogs WILL attack a person. It is an illogical and erroneous and incorrect statement to make.

    Pit Bull type dogs used to have the best reputation as America’s Nanny Dogs. By nature, they are loyal and so eager to please. That is one of many reasons so many irresponsible owners having taken to training them in highly unsocial and inappropriate ways.

    It is too bad the author did not make any of the same kinds of “well, this is the statistic, but here is a way to rationalise it” comments about Pits that he made for all the other breeds. That, in itself, lends an underlying judgement of the breed. If you make excuses for some that you won’t make for others, you inherently imply that “that one” is bad and not worth making excuses for.

    Chuck, I don’t deny that there are bad Pit types, just as there are bad Poodles, bad Labs, bad anything. Every animal descended from predators has SOME degree of predatory instinct, even if relatively miniscule. Does that make them all bad? No. More often than not, it has as much or more to do with how the animal was raised, trained, and socialised, and that falls to human beings. We domesticated them. We need to be responsible for them.

    Again, I am extremely sorry you and Scotty and your son had such a horrible, terrifying, life-altering experience with that one dog. But that doesn’t mean it is the only experience anyone can ever have with these dogs.

  44. In regards to the wolf-dog… I call BS. I know many many people who own these animals and who have spent years of research and commitment to them. It is true that they do have a prey drive, particularly your higher contents, which is why no children or small animals should be left around them. But for those people who know what they’re getting into, know the animal itself, and have experience with wolves and wolf dogs themselves do not find them dangerous. It is sheer ignorance and lack of knowledge that makes them so. I suggest you talk to Northern Wolfdogs and Stop Misrepresenting Wolfdogs on Facebook to get your facts straight. Also, one more thing. True wolfdogs are never pets. They are kept as companions.

  45. It all has to do with how YOU train the dog! It’s not the breed it’s the owner. Pit Bulls used to be called the Nanny breed. But since some people decided that they would fight them that’s how they got a bad rep. They aren’t dangerous if trained properly.

  46. To all the “DEBBIE DOWNERS” on the Pit bull breed, or any breed for that matter! Most of the downfall is due to Human’s and Human error keep that in mind, either from abuse, cross breeding, and yes inbreeding as well, can ruin this breed or any breed for that matter! I raised pit bull’s for many years and NEVER had a problem with the breed. They acted like my children. I have had a purebred Pomeranian for 15 years that is more aggressive than any Pit Bull I have ever owned. Just a fact!

  47. The only reason WHY these dogs are considered dangerous is because their OWNERS don’t understand HOW to handle these guys! Please don’t consider having one of these dogs be apart of your family unless you understand their breed!!! I on the other hand, will continue to have my Rotties be apart of my family because the way I love them and train them, they are big teddy bears!

  48. I have a pit and an ol’ English bull dog. My bulldog is more aggressive them my Pitt. Dogs smaller them her watch out. My Pitt is a love bug. they love to play and they are so jealous of each other when I give one attention. They shove each other out of the way for my attention. It is fun to watch.

  49. ….that isn’t even a pit bull, though.. of course if you are going to lump 5 breeds of dog in together and call them all a “pit bull” you will have higher bite statistics attributed to that “breed”

  50. This is a good article when considering what type of dog to get. It all depends on you, your temperament, and what size/type of child you have in your home. If you don’t have the patience,placidity, or the life for a known-aggressive dog, or a big dog, then don’t get one. Get a dust bunny instead. 😀

  51. I own 3 pit bulls I wouldn’t own another breed besides that they group all bully breed dogs as “pit bulls” none of them by themselves make the top 10 another bash against the best dogs in the world btw I have a 2 year-old I dare u to mess with then protection mode kicks in other than that you have a better chance of being licked to death they’re not called nanny dogs for no reason

  52. I think pits are one of the best dogs you could ever ask for. I have 4 pitbulls and 2 kids and geuss what my kids can jump on them sleep on them pull on their tail and Do whatever they want to my pitbulls and you know what those “mean dogs ” Do? Not a thing besides lay there. And the best part of it all is ppl think once a pit has been abused.they need put down well got mmore interesting news my two oldest pits were rescue dogs and they are so well behaved and friendly loving caring and my kids bestfriends. Sorry but pits are a wonderful breed ppl just listen to rumors and start hating the breed for nothing. Ohh one more things well I’m at it. They did a temporment test on a 102 different breeds of dogs and you wanna know something pits got a 86% of well behaved and the other 101 breeds got a average of 76%. I don’t agree at all that pits are “mean” unless raised that way just like any dog would be mean if raised that way. OK rant is over

  53. These numbers are skewed – mainly because they do not take into account the number of dogs for a particular breed vs. the number of fatalities. Percentages would tell a different story. Also, for those of you defending a certain breed – thi sarticle is not decrying any breed specifically(these numbers came from vets. after all) – just facts on bite and fatality numbers.

  54. Ok I’m sorry but I have to say something. The majority of Pit Bulls that are ever involved in some sort of attack or incident are usually the result of extremely poor breeding (over breeding/inbreeding from any idiot looking to make money), poor or lack thereof training especially from a person who is not experienced with any type of “Bully” breed, and/or poor identification. Most people can’t properly point out a true APBT (American Pit Bull Terrier) which leads to finger pointing. Chocolates Labs, English Bulldogs, Dogo Argentinos, and many other breeds are easily mistaken for Pit Bulls (let it be know the “Pit Bull” isn’t really a breed but a generalization of breeds with the same characteristics. I.e Large head, strong jaw, and muscled body). Lack of training and proper education, which is the responsibility of the owner, is what makes any dog dangerous. Giving numbers but no information of those situations does nothing but spread hate and false information.

  55. Hm. Been around nearly all these listed breeds and lots of others, and all I can say is that the most aggressive, snappy, biting dog I have ever encountered was a friend’s Toy Poodle. A not-so-close second was a Cocker Spaniel.

  56. Dogsbite.org has all the documentation you will ever need. Despite what pit bull worshipers try to debunk dogsbite with, there are literally thousands of links to pit bull attacks that you can click on to read the stories…and you will see us there, the victims, the ones who are affected by pit bull attack….real people, real children, real pets, real stories, real deaths. We know from our growing number of people joining us following attack that the issue is fighting breed dogs.

    Every imaginable owner, living space, socialization, training….none of that matters in pit bull attack because the only common factor is pit bull.

    Go to a news engine and type in pit bull attack. Go to Facebook Pit Bulls Shot By Police. go to Facebook Protect Children From Dangerous Dogs. Go to Facebook Daxton’s Friends. Go to Facebook babybeau foundation.org. Go to dogsbite.org.

    Go to 17 Barks, Craven Desires, dogsbite.alabama.

    Go somewhere other than pit bull praise sites to learn the truth. Trusting every other pit bull except the ones who already attacked is like putting your children in the car with a drunk driver because they haven’t crashed yet.

  57. Pitbulls are extremely lovable and loyal dogs- not extremely aggressive. Get our facts right. Pitbulls are bred to fight for dogs fights, so that’s why they’re “killers”. Raise them with love, and they’ll harm never anyone. My uncles pitbull was smashed in the head and almost died, but you know what? She hasn’t hurt anyone, even after almost being killed by a human. This is just adding to their already horrible name.

  58. Stick with me here, okay. My son’s certified service dog is a golden retriever/yellow lab (aka. Golden Lab or Goldador). The most commonly used service dogs are Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers and German Shepherds (aka. GSD’s). Someone just posted that a golden/lab was the most aggressive they’d ever seen.

    Do you guys remember the massive scandal & trial of former NFL player, Michael Vick, and the dog fighting ring he was involved with that included over 100 pit bulls that were trained to extreme aggression, abused and starved? Not one media outlet did a story that 1/2 of the dogs were rehabilitated and used as Therapy dogs in children’s hospitals, on cancer wards, in nursing homes, hospice facilities and more. The other half had to be put down due to the results of the severe abuse and how long they’d fought.

    Now, we’ve always had Chihuahuas. They can be loving and protective, sweet babies. But, on the other hand, you must be an owner that understands they can and will bite mail carriers, strangers, and other dogs.

    C’mon, how many gazillion books/magazines are devoted to each breed and explaining that breed’s personality traits, etc?

    Mail carriers, from US Post Office national statistics, are bitten by small dogs by a large margin over other dogs.

    Also, Rescue Shelters for each breed will know their rescues are safe. They are a great resource for finding your new pet.

  59. I’ve known 2 rottweilers in my lifetime, and they were both very friendly dogs. The chihuahua that lives with my family now used to be a sweet little guy. That seemed to have ended the day he caught me playing with the cats first.

    1. Haha, if ours feels they aren’t getting their due we will get the cold shoulder for a while. They have big personalities for such little dogs. 🙂

  60. Thank you for sharing the truth. It seems as if there is any bull terrier , (even small margins) it still gets labeled as a pit. Like I said before all studies and surveys are flawed and bias. Even this whole article, no matter if taken from some dug up statistics is biased. It was placed to draw viewers and controversy.

  61. I would like to know if the German shepherd statistics include law enforcement use of the animal? From all the information I am able to find it does and that makes these ratings VERY biased.

  62. Is there a problem with including comments that disagree with the writer’s premise? I’ve heard of censorship, but this is a little much.

  63. I’ll have to agree with Mr. Roger Smith. I have a pit bull (male), a boxer female, a boston
    terrier (female). The p[t Bull is the smartest of these three. You only have to tell them one time if they did something wrong. The other two have to be told & retold several times before it finally gets through. Why don, these cities counties & states put a law up banning dog fighting & gamecock fighting, that way when the people have to either/or pay a fine or jail time this might stop all the badmouthing of pit bulls and get to the real problem of this problem. Paula Hibbitts

  64. Pit bulls get a bad rap. If they are aggressive i tend to believe it’s the owner’s fault. I know several Pit bulls and they are ‘THE SWEETEST’ dogs I know and are full of love and very obedient.

  65. the main reason all the dogs are big breed dogs on this list is because on bite from a big dog does more damage then a little dog but imo i think little dogs bite more often but never get reported cause often the injury isnt life threaten or people feel bad cause its a little dog and fyi every time i was bitten it was by a little dog i have yet (knock on wood) to be bitten by a big dog

  66. If this were a while back, I’d have strongly disagreed with you. I’ve now witnessed this type of problem first hand. Too many people simply do not believe it’s possible. Yes, any dog of any breed can snap at any moment.
    Even one that is generally gentle and loving.
    My aunt had similar situation with a dog before. The dog seemed to get worse as time went on and was ultimately put down a few years later. Tons of extra love, attention and training. Nothing worked.
    I can certainly sympathize with the separation anxiety and yet experiencing relief at the same time.

    1. Dogs, too, can suffer from brain trauma, early onset dementia, forms of “mental illness” and the like. It’s unfortunate and although rare, does occur. My sympathies for your loss.

    2. There’s never a time where what he or she did is disagreeable. They obviously went through an arduous, borderline torturous process to save the dog until it became a matter of the animal vs a small child. Even then I’m not sure I’m strong enough to let go of my 13-year-old poodle even with those stakes if I she were a potentially deadly dog, but this person was able to. I may or may not have done the same, but never would strongly disagree with them. I’m pretty heartbroken and wish that I had gotten to this article in better time rather than a year-and-a-half late. What people do to dogs has a lot to do with my lack of faith in humanity and how little I value their right to live over a dog’s, but it was probably the right choice and, again, one I could barely bear to read about. This must have been nothing short of horrifying.

  67. Any animal can be raised from birth to be loving and gentle. These breeds are picked because they can be ferocious if trained to be. They are great protection and guard dogs, however, the dogs do not have any say in how they are raised or trained. Pit bulls can be one of the most loving breed of dogs in the world. I have 3 pit bull friends, all females, and they are the most loving dogs I know. My friend’s brown pit bull, cookie, makes a cooing noise when she sees my car pull up outside of her house. She knows I’m coming to see her and she loves me to peices!!

  68. Pit bulls are more often miss-identified than any other bred. Since police and e.m.t.s are not trained in identifying dogs they often report any medium sized short hair dog as a pittbull

  69. true. Usually golden retrievers attack more then pits becuse they have had the brains bred out of them for a shiny coat. sure they can do tricks, but what about behavioral wise? Pitbulls are intellegent and us dumb humans do dumb things or don’y understand dog behavior/language and get bit. It’s our fault. We make the dogs dangerous, all dogs are dangerous they are predators that we used to fear, but in a domestic enviorment, it’s our fault when somthing happens we control everything wether we know it or not.. But if anyone is going to take on any dog, they should be knowledgable about dog behavior or not own a dog at all.
    and too much love as what happens most of the time, shows the dog he is leader, and creates an unstable enviorment were aggression, territorial, or too much submission take place which is dangerous.

  70. It’s a shame that pitbulls are viewed so poorly as a breed. Society should be ashamed of them selves. For manipulating the public into thinking they are all bad.

  71. Pit bulls are a reflection of their owner, much like other breeds. I’m sorry but this is a dumb rating. everyone bullies this breed without actually knowing the truth.

  72. you obviously have on understanding of the world statistics. how many wolf-dog mixes are there? absolute numbers, instead of rates, is a completely misleading metric. and it is not a “statistical” metric as your title states. if you want to report metrics based on numbers you must have a basic education.

    1. perhaps not a bad dog breed, but just like with humans, sometimes dogs are wired wrong…don’t know why, but it happens. And I’m not pointing specifically at any one breed of dog. The only dog that has ever bitten me was a sneaky little Chihuahua who came from behind (not on leash) and attacked…I wasn’t the first. I was the last.

  73. Why does it not mention that pitbull breeds are very sweet, loveable, intelligent, and used to be the all American family dog? Yes, they can be aggressive towards other dogs if trained to fight. But, by nature they are super sweet and very friendly. I have a lot of friends with pitbulls and friends with smaller breeds and other types. Guess which ones attacked and bit me? A chihuahua, a black lab, (full on attack) along with a yellow lab at the same time, a bull mastiff (full on attack), and a weiner dog (dog has known me for many years, loves me and then one day decides to try and take a chunk off my face). But no ones pitbulls have ever acted in that manner, they are big mushes.

  74. Just like labs are very common family dogs, pitbull breeds have become very common as well. But overall as a breed, they have a great temperament. I believe they rank as one of the highest in best temperaments, along with labs and poodles.

  75. looks like the big breeds made the list mostly due to accidents. people have to be careful when the pony size dog plays with kids even when they are happy. really if you think about it the pit bulls have pretty low death rates too. there is more of a chance of death by car, cancer, or even a case of the flu than a dog attack. also little dogs bite more frequently but it rarely makes the news since they do a lot less damage!

  76. Maybe states should ban aggressive breeds of people too. You know, identify certain external characteristics of people often associated with violent crime and then ban everyone with those external characteristics. Then talk about the gene pool and breeding behaviors of those people. Maybe even ” put them down” if they show early signs of aggression in childhood. Yeah! That’s the ticket. How about an article on the ten most aggressive breeds of humans.

  77. The best dog I ever owned was a Chow Chow. He was smart and lovable. No, he did not like strangers and did not mind expressing this. He never attacked anyone but guarded his area (he would not bother you if you did not bother him). I even had to paid extra insurance because of his breed, but believe me it was worth it. Not only are they smart, but one of the older breeds. I miss him dearly.

  78. I have had a Saint, Rottie, Shepherd Chow Wolf mix, a Poodle, and 4 Samoyeds. I also ran a bark park. The only breed we had problems with, was the Pitbull. Our current fur child is one of the Samoyeds. She is a rescue. All of our pets have been rescues but one. Don’t shop, ADOPT

  79. You gave the reason why the dog acted as it did. Your father allowed the dog to roam as you said killing animals in the county. He let the dog begin to feel as the alpha and that all areas were her territory. You were playing with the dog and exciting her and she decided to show her dominance to you..my toy…my area…back off.. You did right and she felt no need to further it. Basically your father poor dog training and ownership let this trait come to surface. Again usually abuse or bad owner training. Your dad may not have even known he was training his dog to do this but he did. Not the dogs fault just careless inexpirenced ownership.

  80. that is true and many dogs that look like pits are not pits they are mixed breeds. My hometown did a special on that it showed 5 different pictures of dogs 4 out of 5 looked like pits but had no pit in them the 1 pit mix in the bunch looked nothing like a pit. If I remember right one was a boxer mix, another ended up being a mastiff mix, and I can’t remember the other 2. Maybe a rottie in there as well.

  81. I have always had what’s considered large breed dogs. Grew up with a rott, I then had a Alaskan malamute, sweetest dog imaginable, and now have a Kangal. Most people haven’t ever heard of these dogs, but is not a dog for someone without large breed dog experience to own. They have a bite strength greater then any other dog, the size of a Great Dane or bigger, & generally very family oriented and protective of their family & environment. This large dog is known as the “guardian dog,” & has been more afraid of small dogs, & best friends with a lab & a cat, lol. I only hope my msg reaches people based on, larger doesn’t mean more dangerous. The list on this article is almost ridiculous to list the Alaskan malamute, by far the best large breed dog ever (in my opinion). The problem is never the dog and is always the owner, regardless of size or breed!

  82. It is not the Breed its is there training or lack of they get while growing and yes the media plays a major role in all this ( we are talking on there line right now)

  83. i always have had pit bulls. they have always been loving gentle and goofy. the stats for their agression is due to poor training and bad owners

  84. well people kill way more people then dogs i will keep breeding pits the fact is pits out number all other breeds so of course u are going to have more bites and deaths show all stats not just what u want too

  85. I have a German Shepherd(50%)/Pit Bull/Australian Shepherd mix that I’ve had for going on five years. We got him when he was 3 months old and he has NEVER bitten ANYONE. He has the sweetest, most gentle temperment and is wonderful with our kids (now 7&5). He was raised with them and loves them.
    My other dog was obtained about a month ago. She is a wolf-shepherd mix. She is also very sweet and kind. She is only four months and is very hyperactive, but still has not bitten anyone.

  86. So lets deny the fact there are 4 different breeds that people generally consider a pit bull . When attacks are written about in newspapers, very rarely do they mention the breed unless it’s a pittbull.

  87. I thought of a handy solution to aggressive, dangerous dogs with people and especially small children. Make the dog wear a muzzle. That way they can’t harm anyone. One can argue until the end of time what dogs are most dangerous. If you’re unsure how safe a dog is with strangers make muzzle her or him. Now if your using the dog as a guard dog remember no matter how rough the dog is, what’s stopping an intruder from shooting the dog first? I think you’re much better off with a security system. Much more effective or no lawsuits.

  88. What makes pitbull dogs scary is the owner not the animal itself. These dogs are very loyal and loving. What does make the scary is there loud bark and also that they are very loyal if family is in danger they will attack as well as any other dog will try and protect there family.

  89. i had a full blooded staffordshire pit bull for 15 years that was one of the best dog i ever seen she was great around babies,kids,cats,outer dogs she never showed aggression to anyone or any thing its sad that the dog fighters gave the pit a bad name that sticks to them even today

  90. The story of how Michael Vicks dogs were rehabilitated and are now Therapy Dogs is a testament to the resiliency of the breed. That wonderful story needs to be covered by the media too! I don’t think there is any other breed that has been so abused. And yet they have the potential to recover in a loving home.

  91. I had a coyote husky mix I rescued in Santa Fe – she was the most gentle dog, was a graduate of Pet Therapy School and helped so many children with trust issues – totally awesome. The problem with “dangerous dog breeds” is the OWNERS.

  92. I have had several of the dogs that are supposed to be the most dangerous. We have had Chow Chow’s, Husky’s, German Shepherds ( 8 or 9), and i have friends who have Pit Bulls. None of our dogs has ever bit anyone and has never tried. A dog is only like it has been trained to be, unless threatened. Pit Bulls get a bad rap too. My friends have 3 and they are the sweetest things. I am a Shepherd person. Have had one since I was a child. They have been wonderful with our children and a very loyal to their owners. I have one now that is almost 14 years old, and still going strong.

    1. These are great dogs. I would not recommend “just anyone” get an Akita. They can be a handful to say the least. Dog ownership requires learning about dog training. You don’t just automatically know how to train a dog. Do your homework before you pick a dog breed. First time dog owners, this is not the dog for you.

  93. My parents have 2 Great Danes and they are big babies. My 3 year old daughter calls them her circus horses lol She walks them around and waves. They love to give hugs and whine and cry like babies if you don’t.

  94. If you see a chow or husky, you know what the dog is. Alot of lab mixes look like pit bulls. Too many dogs are called “pit” for the numbers to be correct.

  95. ok now I have a pit bull mix and she is the sweetest dog ever. she loves to cuddle and loves new people as long as they don’t try to harm us. when we first got her she would fall asleep curled up in a ball next to me. and any dog can be dangerous so why do we put numbers on them?

  96. I have never met a mean pitbull. ANY dog can be trained to be mean. My aunt had a scottish terrier that had to be locked up anytime someone visited. That was the meanest dog I ever seen.

  97. Sorry for you loss. We had a similar experience with one of our dogs. She was a rescue who had been abused as a pup. There was some damage we were not able to overcome, even with professional training.

  98. i loveeee how they tell us why the other dogs are dangerous but name reasons why they really aren’tt, but they didn’t name one for the pitbull. It’s not the dog, it’s all of the owners who treat those dogs wrong, who raise them as bad dogs, thats why they are dangerous. They may have a bad temper to begin with but I’m sure being raised in a bad environment doesn’t help.

  99. My last dog was a Wolf/Samoyed hybrid. Got him when he was 12 weeks old. Extremely loyal, friendly, calm. My daughter and her friends would use him as a floor pillow. He lived to be 2 weeks shy of 16 years. His best buddy was the cat.

  100. Dane’s are NOT dangerous, unless you count being hit with there tail that there wagging because there happy to see someone!!

  101. I have had German Shepherds in my life since I was a child and have never had one offer to bite anyone. Have a Chow Chow too, and she was the sweetest thing, never hurting anyone. My friends have Pit Bulls that are very sweet too. It is how the dog is raised that determines most of their behaviors. Just like people it is a learned behavior. Have had a Husky too. She never harmed anyone or anything, but like it said they are very, very smart.

  102. I have 5 pit bull terriers, 2 male and 3 female and i have never had any problems with them or any pit that came before them. I guess I’m one of the lucky peoplethat has never had a negative interaction with the dog that happens to be a pit bull. now my min pin on the other handis the most aggressive dogs I have ever been aroundhe not only attacks other small animals but she attacks big animals as wellyet they all live happy together I guess maybe it’s the way I raise them

  103. I also own a Great Dane and mine is about 140 lbs and she is now 7 yrs old. One of my pit bulls is dog aggressive and due to some poor decisions by some family members they have gotten into fights. The Great Dane is not naturally aggressive however they are much more dangerous when fighting. They are very large and very hard to get off another dog. My pit bull did not stand a chance against her. I however will get hurt before I let them hurt each other beyond repair.

  104. Any strong breed can be dangerous. And for no apparent reason any dog can do what you dad’s dog did. I have been around dogs my whole life. I’m 54 years old. I never trust any dog 100%. Especially when it comes to small children. I was bit in the face when I was around 10 years old by a big dog he was a pointer bird dog. I am to this day not afraid of bird dogs. Dogs are animals plain and simple. And should never be treated like they’re human. I’ve had APBT’s for 31 years and have never had not one biter. I LOVE the breed.

  105. I do know and I was soooo glad that almost every single one of them was rehabilitated. They are so resilient. That just goes to show how loving and forgiving they really are.

  106. What you guys are missing is its the most popular breed at the time that results in the the most attacks. Pit Bulls are really popular now so there are more attacks, they said the same about Rottweilers and Dobies too! Ignorance on parade.

  107. Number of fatalities isn’t as helpful as number of fatalities compared to number of registered dogs of that breed. If there were seven dogs and they all caused fatalities it would mean more than if seventy thousand dogs caused 100 deaths. (These numbers are absurd on purpose to emphasize I am not making any claims for the number of dogs involved in the first place. We don’t know, and that’s my point.)

  108. I have had Danes for over 36 years; would bring home our babies from the hospital and lay them in bed with the Dane (monitored of course) so they could smell them and make them part of the family unit. We have NEVER had an aggressive Dane, no bites, but a few broken bones just from playing with them and having a foot, hand or forehead in the wrong place at the wrong time. All accidental and immediately after the incident, everyone has come over to see if I (or my wife) was OK. Yes, they are “dangerous” because of their size and size alone. There is a reason their nickname is “The Gentle Giant”.

  109. “To anyone who knows dogs, the American Pit Bull Terrier is no surprise at #1 on a list of deadliest dogs.” This stated after making such an effort to say that ‘you love all dogs’ and do not have any breed bias (paraphrased)

    Really? I know pit bulls quite well (I have adopted two) and they are great, loving, loyal dogs. Any breed, raised by hood trash to fight can be aggressive. The American Pit bull was considered to be a family dog and very popular at the turn of the 20th Century (little rascals, various presidents, etc). It has only been in the last 20-25 years that popular culture has emphasized the breed as a fighting breed, which has led lowlifes to mistreating and abusing them so that they can be used as fighting dogs. of course they have certain physical characteristics that make them adept as fighters, but so do many other breeds- after all we are talking about an animal that is descended from the second deadliest predator on earth after humans. they are also descended from the second most intelligent terrestrial predator, which is what makes them so loyal and SAFE to be around, so long as they are not abused.
    Can the prejudice!

  110. Parents should watch their children. That’s why they are adults and children are children. Parents should also teach their children how to act around dogs or out in public for that matter. It might be the difference between keeping them safe and sound.

  111. My very first was a “self appointed” therapy dog. He was my sons stablility to stand and protector. My son was born with cerebral palsy. He just knew what my son’s limits were. We raised him from an 8 week old puppy. We had him for 10 years. We had to have him put to sleep because he had heart disease. To this day I still cry over him. He was an awesome dog.

  112. Oh, yes my blue nose and red nose pits are so so dangerous. They have been accused of licking a few people to death already and don’t tell them they are not lap dogs because they will try to prove you wrong!

    1. It’s so hard to believe that pit owners are the only owners that dont know how to train their dogs. Labs as the most popular breed, far more labs than pits and yet you cant tell me there are not any bad lab owners. It is NOT about training, it is about instinct of the dog and a pit has been bread to be aggressive, you cant train instinct out of a dog.

  113. My husband and I raised German Shepherd Show Dogs in the 1970s and ’80s and raised them with our two small children. We had champions bred for conformation and temperament. I trusted my dogs with my kids and they loved the kids. One of my dogs saved the life of a neighbor’s toddler in 1982. The child had wandered into a nearby pond, unnoticed by her family until it was almost too late, the dog broke through the screen door, went into the pond and pulled her out. This was total instinct. The dog was never trained to rescue. It pains me to see this intelligent, beautiful breed carry a negative reputation because of stupid, irresponsible people who own them, breed them just for money and haven’t a clue how to train them. When bred by a reputable breeder/show person, I would trust this breed over most humans.

  114. “Pit Bull” is a generic term that covers several breeds and many breeds are mistakenly lumped into that category. I notice that you gave excuses for every single breed that you mentioned (size, owner not responsible, lack of training) EXCEPT for the Pit Bull. REALLY? Just keep on perpetuating the myth. Biased media every where you turn. Do your homework more thoroughly in the future. Check out behavior studies. Most aggressive dogs based on fact are not even on your list.

  115. No. I knew that it would be the infamous PIT BULL. and yes~I agree more people are either hurt or killed by them. BUT be reasonable. A) they are the most popular breed for a status symbol right now.( not good status) They are extremely over bred, they are extremely abused, they are in the hands of violent people. B) they are very loyal, so they fight other dogs to win their masters love, c) they are strong!!! And idiot people let them run in packs. Teenage humans running in packs is dangerous! How much more so a dog!!! Sooo. Get educated on this beautiful breed. Stop poisoning the public, but teach them how to care for dogs. Or else get a real job!

  116. Had a Chow that we got at 9 months that didn’t get the socialization that she should of as a young pup, but we immediately started working with her and she was great. She lived in a house with about 7 cats.. she loved the kittens.

  117. I have studied the “Pit Bull”…First off their is no official name “Pit Bull”. They are called Nanny Dog! They are the first Police & Fire Dog! In addition, they used the Nanny Dog around children in the Little Rascals. Two Nanny Dogs. They were the only breed that they could put around the children! I spent my life not understanding this breed. I currently have a rescued Nanny Dog! He has saved my life! I wanted to leave one last statement. The most decorated dog of World War 1…… A Pit Bull… Sargent Stubby! This breed is a breed to be respected! However, they are a breed that longs to give love!!!!!

  118. The absolute worst biters are all the terrier breeds, which are bred for aggressiveness. The fact that they are often small dogs means that the bites are less often fatal, but if you were to make an honest tally of the sheer number of dog bites inflicted, these little buggers would be at the top of the list.

    I got torn up pretty badly, twice, by a Westie, and this dog was a best-of-breed winner at a number of big shows.

  119. Pit bulls, eh? How about we factor in how many PB’s there are vs how many other dogs. Just like when people say the rich people pay more taxes, (because they have all the money) more pit’s are responsible simply because there are so many more of them.

  120. I have had a Rottie and a Wolf hybrid. Also a Siberian Husky, Saint Bernard mix, and 4 Samoyed. All have been rescues except the first Samoyed. Samoyeds are pussycats. the rottie the same way. The wolf was amazingly smart and the Saint a great dog. The siberian ate a mattress. None of them bit anyone including the grandbabies and children. It is all in the training.

  121. Ppl need to stop having so much prejudice towards Pit Bulls!!! A dog is only as aggressive or as nonaggressive as it is trained to be. It is up to the owner of the dog to ensure how a dogs’ behavior is!!!

  122. Any dog can become mean if you chain him to his dog house long enough. It all depends on the owner how the dog’s temperament develops. I’ve seen really lovable pitt bull (American Staffordshire Terrier) dogs, and I’ve seen really mean and rotten snarling collies.

  123. I’ve had two bully breed dogs – and both have been the most social and non aggressive dogs I’ve ever had. My In-laws had a Lhasa and Pom – both would attack without provocation.
    We’re more worried about dogs than the people that own them. Not unlike children – you abuse a child and that child will be abusive and untrusting.

  124. Pit bulls, in general, are very sweet, loving dogs. We have had several in our family and have seen nothing but love from every one of them! Of course their stats are high due to scum of the earth people, training them to be aggressive. Shame this breed suffers at the hands of humans.

  125. No dog turns on their owner without provacation, regardless of breed. just because the owners didn’t recognize the signs, doesn’t mean the dog didn’t give them

        1. Mia Derouen was four years old when the pit bull pictured with here in this pic yaned her from the couch where she was watching tv with her mom and destroyed her and there was nothing her mom could do to save her.

          1. Beau Rutledge was two years old when KISSY FACE, the family pet of eight years decapitated him.

          2. Another? Nephi Selu, pictured uppter right corner of this pic with his pet pit bull, was killed by the pit bull that he thought loved him because, up until it killed him, it acted like it loved him.

  126. The most common dog bite is actually from Labrador retrievers. this is for two reasons there were more labs than any other dog. And people think that because the labs have a reputation as being lovable they can just walk up to any Lab and start petting it not a good idea with any dog

  127. All these dogs are large and many are working as guard dogs – not really fair to judge trained behavior as negative. Many small dogs are waaay more aggressive – they just don’t have the capacity to cause the same damage.

  128. I have a dog that is mixed with 2 of the breeds listed here but she is the most loving dog.. I mean she don’t like strangers coming in the yard but she hasn’t bitten anyone and btw she is pitbull/German sheppard

  129. When will people realize that “Pitbull” is NOT A BREED!! It is a term that was coined for a dog who was used in a “pit” to go against a “bull”. The true breed belongs to the Terrier group and consist of The Staffordshire Terrier, The American Staffordshire Terrier, The BULL Terrier and The Miniature Bull Terrier. If you don’t get your info correct from the beginning then your wrong from the start.

  130. well put on the rottweilers, they’re not born aggressive they’re made aggressive.When socialized and trained they’re a wonderful companion. I have a rescued rottie and she loves everyone, but don’t think you can hurt me and get away with it. She will protect me I’m her mom, but that’s situation, not her nature. My two rotties have changed alot of peoples perceptions on what they thought they were like, they have quite a fan club to say hi to when we go out for a walk including a lady who was deathly scared of rotts after being bitten. She now sits and plays with mine and shares her lunch!

  131. Danes are lovable but they can be very aggressive…i have two….and i have seen my male tear into a few dogs and ppl for coming to close to me or my kids….dont get me wrong…he does not go looking for a fight but they can be very protective of their family which is a good thing…just remember if u are looking into getting one they become very attached to the family and because of their size when they get aggressive it is a very scary thing to see

  132. I’ve raised a couple of Pit Bulls now. They are great, sweet, kind, smart dogs. Here is the thing though; they need a lot of attention. You cannot get one and leave in the backyard or Kennel for most of the day.
    Also, when you look at this statistic, please realize that are way, way more Pits than Rotts and German Shepard combined.

  133. Having owned several of the dogs on the list here, and reading the narrative, there is one aspect I see that is left out….Provocation. I recently lost a dog because I live in a neighborhood populated with parents who do not discipline their kids, and kids who run amok through the neighborhood. The kids have no respect for anything and seem to take great joy at throwing rocks, sticks, and other debris at any animal within their reach, and just generally tormenting the dogs, and when a dog happens to break free and defends itself, according to the local government, “its the dogs fault”, because “Our kids would not do that”.

    It is my experience, that in many cases, dogs are better people than most humans.

    1. I’m sorry that happened 🙁 and I agree. I mean, if a dog randomly came up to me and started attacking me, I would defend myself… so why is it so wrong for the dog to defend itself when a human starts attacking it in any way? Makes no sense to me. Poor dog gets punished because of other people’s mistakes.

  134. As a rescuer of Pit Bulls, and other large breed dogs, all I can say is, your dog is what you teach it to be……My BF’s chiuahua is so much more aggressive than ANY of the 12 pits, the one great dane, and the shepherd we care for…any large dog can be dangerous, if thats what the human teaches it!!! Monsters are real, but they have 2 legs and are disguised as your neighbors, co-workers and friends..

  135. Funny I have never met a Pit Bull that was mean to anyone or anything. My pit bull, adopted out of a shelter at age 4 has been nothing but a mush to my 3 young kids, every dog it has ever met, and to every person he has ever seen. Then again, most people don’t realize that the dog they are thinking is a pitty is actually not a Pit Bull at all.

  136. I found a young chow chow walking in our neighbor. She was absolutely ADORABLE! I found her owner, who was a neighbor of ours, who said she instantly saw the connection the chow and I, had. She also said, she could not care for her, so she gave her to me!!! A full blooded, purple tongued, fluffy 10 wk old puppy. I named her Pookie. She was by far, the smartest, most loyal, loving dog I ever had, and I’ve had many! She lived to be 16. When she died, I was devastated, because I know I will never find another, sweet natured, baby like her.

  137. Pit bulls are only aggressive due to the owners. They are loyal and some have died protecting its owners.many of these statistics are just bad opinions.

  138. There are several things not brought into play in these statistics. A Saint Bernard should never be in the attack category but back in the late 60’s some fools decided (probably not helped by Redd Fox’s comments on his) needed the biggest baddest dog and settled on the saint. Like many poorly bred for the wrong reasons, there became a problem with bad temperaments in the saints and most of these fatalities were around that same time period. No real saint afficianado would tolerate such a move. I worked as an animal warden in the early 70’s and those saints turned in at the shelter did not have good temperaments. I also worked a vicious dog case where a saint had bitten 13 people. That fad has passed and today’s saints shold not have temperament problems.

    As a warden I can tell you nearly every black and tan dog that didnt have hound ears, cropped tail or pit characteristics was pretty much logged in as a mixed sheperd. It tended to skew the bite statistics. Another breed that shouldn’t have been in the high bite category was labs – but if it’s the right size and all black, it goes down as a lab in the paper work. We wouldn’t adopt out huskies or malemutes (usually mixes, not purebred) without 6 ft. fences as they often were bad for attacks on livestock and other dogs. These two breeds are not for people who have never owned dogs before as they are willful and need someone who garners thwir respect or they will gladly be the alpha of the family. It is also to be noted that these are the breeds often mixed with wolves for wolf hybreds – and they all sit close on the list. In my experience with these breeds, both as a warden and years of showing dogs, I would not use either to cross with another large breed. Chows have always been classified as a one-family dog and they are generally stand offish. Even at a show, one watches themselves around chows. The shelter here in town doesn’t adopt them out (or didn’t the last time I checked). The dane, rottie, dobe and sheperd are all working dogs who for the most part are used as guard dogs. Improper training and control can lead to problems, but they are bred to be secure and solid, not needing to attack. Their mere size puts them in the danger zone, especially if not bred for good temperaments and properly socialized. Pit bulls get their reputation because when they do attack, their propensity to be severe is high.We also found they tended to go for the face if “challanged” by a stare. Now, when you look at the figures – far more pits are bred than all of the others. of the 1.2 million dogs euthanized per year, nearly a million are pits. At any given time 35,000 are available for adoption in shelters across the country. They aren’t necessarily being bred by people who are looking to make nice family pets and with genetic care. Yes, they are going to top the list because of all those things.
    You will note that these listed dogs aren’t classified as the dogs most likely to bite, but as having fatalities, and being large helps put them there. When we were transferring our records to disk, I kept track of identified dog bite breeds. Mixed terrier, shepherds (see what I said before about identifying nonsheperds or mixes as sheperds) and dachsunds led the list. Dachsunds and terriers generally aren’t afraid of anything. Ask groomers and they’ll tell you cockers bite the most (another breed that fell subject to bad breeding for temperaments) Springers went through years of being influenced by rage and had some bad bite numbers. Small dogs get away with biting because they can’t usually tear you up and owners spoil them. You can’t afford to do that with big dogs (and frankly should allow it in small dogs either) The bottom line is to try and acquire dogs where you meet their parents or have a temperament test done before adopting one, then socialize it and give it basic canine good citizen obedience training based on rewarding, not punishing and realize they are dogs that have only so many ways to show their fear or displeasure. Allow them quiet space when they need it and don’t let them be pushed by kids or strangers, just to be safe.

  139. Why wasnt there a a cute little note about pitt bulls being more used for dog fights and trained for mal intentions thats the reasons thier numbers are so high. All the rest you say just do your homework not saying dont get one. I have had a total of 6 dogs in my life span 4 being pitt bulls, none of the pitts showed any aggressive nature. My Rottweiler and Labrador were the two who became people and/or animal aggressive. And even those were likely from kids in the neighborhood taunting them.

  140. My dad got a Chow Chow from some man, and from what I heard, he was supposed to be a police dog. He’s the best dog I’ve ever met. It’s kind of funny how people just assume a dog/person is bad, just by what they’ve heard and such.

  141. I have a pit bull and she’s the best dog ever! She loves other people and is so nice and cuddly! I think it’s stupid how people hate pit bulls for being so viscous. They’re a reflection of their owners, and people only like to report on the negative stories on pit bulls. They honestly aren’t bad dogs at all. Hey, I’ve met labs more dangerous than my pit bull. Because the owner was abusive and made the dog aggressive. So stop picking on pit bulls dang it!!!

    1. Oh but not any dog scalps and dismembers their victims to death but the pit bull. Not any dog snaps at this rate or kills as many as the pit bulls has. We are nearing 500 humans dead by pits in the past 30 yrs.

  142. I agree with 1 and 2, but the rest could be most any breed. Hard to believe the Belgian Malinois isn’t on there as they can tear Pit Bulls apart in most cases.

  143. Not true about chows. Ran into too many during my years working at an animal shelter. Never saw a good one. The vets I knew back then thoroughly believed it was inherent to the breed. Definitely do not want them around children.

  144. I’m so sorry for your loss, and I applaud you for doing the compassionate (examining and addressing potential causes for her aggression) and responsible thing. You did all you could. Sadly, not all broken creatures can be entirely healed (same is true of any species, humans included).

  145. I have known several Pit owners who family raise these dogs and have Never had a problem. BUT there are several other people who i know who have had problems. Like a friend who family raised them from puppies. He had 6 Pits and then It happen one day their 4 year old who was raised around these dogs. Pick up a toy that the dogs had and that was it they tore her Arm off and her Face. All 6 dogs Join in the attack her father was able to get her away after he was bitten. She was alive but lost her arm and most of her face, the next day her Father shot all 6 dogs. I had several arguments over her being around the Dogs it mad them Really Mad at me. 50 years ago my Grand Father told me Owning a Pit Bull is like having Dynamite you Never Know When It Will GO OFF.

  146. I would like to see what the non fatal statistics are for biting among different breeds. Fatal is one thing and size is indicative of why certain breeds end up being on the list, but how many of you agree that the majority of dogs that seem to like to bite are smaller dogs and in my experience they seem to do it more often.

  147. Any dog raised with hatred and meanness will bite, or even kill, but I can guarantee you that if those dogs were raised by decent humans they would never bite; much less kill. Pit bulls are not a bad, mean or dangerous breed. Properly raised they can be the kindest of any dogs. It is the evil, treacherous and untrustworthy humans that are the problem; and in many ways. First we don’t punish animal cruelty. Take the football player Vick. Many of his dogs were rehabilitated, but no matter what HE says the cruelty and viciousness that allowed him to do what he did will never go away. The day will come when what he is will be revealed, but he is only one of many. Evil is evil, in any guise and until we, as a specie recognized the rights of animals to exist wherever there place is, then we will continue to slaughter each other and our animal friends. And no, I’m not a PETA nut. I have spent forty years rescuing and rehabilitating abused animals. I did my discertation on child and animal abuse. Want to guess which specie gets worse when abused?

  148. If only this were more accurate. It’s not pit bulls- it’s any breed that sort of looks like it might have pit bull in it that are pinned for the deaths.

  149. they state that the pitbull is number one and highly aggressive but they do not state all the facts. I own a pitbull and he is the sweetest. the reason for their aggression is not their fault almost always. its their need to please their owners and them wanting to save their lives.

  150. I think this study was a bit incomplete and I know of many very aggressive breeds that were not even mentioned It was intersting but I believe it was very prejudicial

  151. It’s really doesn’t matter what kind of a Dog it is. You have to research the do’s and don’ts of training them. Pitbulls can be aggressive if not socialized with other dogs or people. If you address these things early on when they are puppies you should be fine. AGAIN research they’re behavior first. All dogs have to be trained in different ways because of where they came from and what the breed has been used for. I own I PitBull. There’s lots of things that happen to these dogs that lead them to becoming aggressive. People think it’s ok to yell at them. Punch them in their heads, kick them, not bring them around other dogs and people. The list goes on. My PitBull is very friendly. He loves children, adluts, and other animals. He’s a really happy dog. He has also been socialized and has never been hit. Their are other ways to train a Dog and show it them it’s doing something wrong without hitting it. That’s one of the things people do with them. They think “oh this Dog look mean and I’ll look cool walking it” they know nothing about the breed and that’s where the problems start. I also trained my PitBull NEVER to put his mouth on a person even if he is just “play biting” or playing around and getting excited everyone should teach there Dog this no matter what breed it is. I also have a Chihuahua puppy that plays with my 90lbs PitBull. Lol yea. With Chihuahua’s it’s also important to socialize them with people and other Dogs. Some people let little Dogs bite them because they are small and think “oh it’s ok. They can’t hurt anyone”. WRONG if you let them continue to bite and never show them it’s wrong that turns into a huge problem. You also have to socialize them early on and teach them being aggressive towards people and other dogs is not ok. AGAIN research. Know what your buying. Also Pitbulls have saved a lot of people. Everyone focuses on the bad things that happen and normally the news doesn’t tell you EVERYTHING about what happened because they want ratings. Go on YouTube and look up Pitbulls who have saved people. You’ll see what I mean then.

  152. Its pit bull owners that make them aggressive. I have a sister with disability & my cousin has 2 large PURE BRED PIT BULLS. One day while my sister was throwing a fit she kicked at my cousins larger pitbull, wanna know what he did? Absolutely NOTHING. He just stood there looking confused & then after trying to give Bella, my sister, a kiss with no success, he went & laid down on his bed. During the same fit, my sister slapped the other pitbull in the head as she was closest to her, wanna know what she did? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. She just stood there wagging her tail taking the slap as my sister petting her. I also know a PITBULL & A GREAT DANE who live on the same property as 8 chihuahuas, 2 cocker spaniel & St . Charles spaniels mixes, 2 annoying parrots, 2 miniature horses, 3 normal sized horses, 1 draft horse, 2 ponies, a goat, a pig, & 3 cats. GUESS WHICH ANIMAL RUNS THE FARM? The smallest chihuahua, a teacup named Tiger Lilly.

  153. Got a almost 5 year old 70 pound staffy/lab(we think) mix and yes he is the goofiest knucklehead but the most personable “bully” mix. He is an outside(backyard) dog but we do walk every a.m & p.m. We live in “suburbia” in Central Ca. and our neighborhood is kid central, but when Joey is out in the front yard when we are doing yard work he becomes a lawn ornament, the kids walking or skating by all range from 8 to 15-17 years and it’s always “Hi Joey” We live on a corner not more than 50 feet from a park that we get a lot of walkers with & without dogs and everybody knows Joey, he rolls on my neighbors lawn with his 5 year old daughter like they were litter mates, plays with their year old male shepherd like they were cousins. I could go on but bottom line it’s all in the training and teaching.

  154. I don’t think the German Shepard is a bad dog at all now it is when it protects its owner now that is a different story but I dont think it needs to be the 3rd dangerous dog

  155. Of course the bull dog is number one. i love how there is no mention of the 66 death most likely because of poor owners like with the other dogs.

  156. Ummmmmmm “pit bull” is not technically a breed. It is a grouping that several breeds are often wrongfully inked into such as Staffordshire, American pit bull terrier, dogo de argentino, and several others. Get your facts straight.

  157. I hate to see pit bull labeled like this. It’s not the breed! It’s the owners! Any dog can be dangerous if you do not know how to train it. My heart hurts for this beautiful breed 🙁

  158. Pit Bulls are only as dangerous as the owner makes them and breeds them to be. As to Great Danes……..pft……German Sheppards, we had a retired police one when I was little. I used to lay on him, get in his dog house…..

    Any dog can be dangerous, even a little teeny tiny one…….you get in their face and act a fool, guess what……you will most likely get bit. The bigger the dog the bigger the bite, treat a dog with respect and love and they will be your most loyal friend.

  159. Most articles stating pit bulls as the reason for death only say it because they do not know the true breed. Also how dare you say you love dogs and then say that pit bulls are they are known for their aggressive behavior. If you truly loved animals you would not believe the crap people spread about pitbulls. I adopted one from a shelter and I know she is better than almost every dog. Huffington post did a study and found pit bulls to be one of the least aggressive.

  160. Ok…don’t like that German Shepard is as high as it is because of “Its Line of Work”.

    Yes I own a German Shepard, and yes she will protect the family and is aggressive if you come in our property. But I can have anyone come in my door, kids, adults, and I do all the time and she is fine…smell ok…”my owners aren’t afraid”.

    My point is you have to exclude the stats for any dog that is a Police Dog and the event occurred during being a “Police dog”.

  161. In this article, they say pit bull terriers are number one on the list. I disagree, I have raised and trained this breed for 12 yrs. I have been a vet tech for 18 yrs. So with that being said i have interacted with all the breeds mentioned, and i would rather ( in my opinion) handle a bully breed than any other breed. In other articles such as the chow chow it mentions how they are raised. This goes for the bully breeds as well. The biggest mistake is not researching the breeds and understanding your needs. Just because it looks cool doesn’t mean you need it. Dogs were predators before domestication always keep that in mind when choosing a dog for one’s self and or your family.

  162. Ok well now states can’t put bans on Pitt bulls because it is known as breed discrimination. Also I have had 3 pittbull and not a single one ever bit or attacked anyone. We have never had problems with strangers but the dogs havery stood their ground and barked and growled when strangers visited due to them trying to protect us.

  163. My sweet and loving Rottweiler was one of the most gentle animals I have ever had contact with. My then 4 yr old son was her “baby” and she slept with him, and was his “playmate”. She never met a person she didn’t love and want to lavish affection on. On the other hand, our Chihuahua, which my mother purchased from a breeder as a” puppy” (who lied about the age of the dog by 4 months or more) bit 3 family members on her 1st night at home. Although the breeder was contacted immediately but refused to refund the money or take back the dog. My husband and I took the dog from my Mother, who was frankly afraid of the dog. We have had her for about 10 yrs, as long as you are an immediate family member and she sees you often you are safe, if not she is going to bite you. We trained and took care of both dogs the same. Just like people, you have good ones and “bad” ones. We have loved both dogs, but they are very different dogs with very different behaviors. Thankfully it was the 8 lb Chihuahua and not the 140 lb Rottweiler with the biting issue, one could hurt your ankles, fingers and toes, one could take your life before we could save you. I believe any dog can be dangerous, and caution should always be used around them, especially with children.

  164. I have had Chow Chow’s for more than 35 years. I have yet to have one turn on me or anyone else. Chow Chow’s are social dogs. The more you socialize them with people you want them to know so much the better. My vet told me treating my Chow’s was like treating a cocker spaniel. My dachshund likes everybody. He thinks people come to the house to visit with him.

  165. I have two danes and a pit. The two danes are as nice as can be but my pit is even nicer. Pits have a bad reputation because of bad owners. Any dog has the potential to be vicious if not raised properly.

  166. Most of these are due to owners. People let their kids climb on and wrestle with big furry dogs and eventually they snap back when some kid yanks on an ear, pulls a tail or otherwise hurts the dog. Others are used for protection and again, not dogs to let kids and others be around who think they are just pets. Unfortunately a few though are genetics and while we want to claim the pitbull attacks are all because of owners, the simple statistics show that’s not the case.

  167. Let me tell you WHY these large breeds are deemed “dangerous”. They are either bred that way or trained that way and where does the fault lie with that? HUMANS! Which, in all reality, means that humans should be deemed the most dangerous breed! Dogs are not born aggressive, they are TAUGHT! And for you to say that pit bulls are naturally aggressive, YOU my friend, need a lot of educating on your dog breeds! And chows….chows are NOT calm by nature! I have seen more CHOWS turn on people…including their owners! Because that’s how they are ! If you want to let people in on the top 10 most dangerous, aka aggressive breeds, then you should’ve listed heelers, chihuahuas, corgis and some other SMALLER breeds !! Just because they are bigger in size, does not make them anymore scary than a small dog!! It ALL lies in how they are raised and taught. Just. Like. Children! That’s my two cents and I hope you and some people who read this take this into account.

  168. I do believe this article forgot to mention that “pitbull” is a group of 20 plus breeds grouped together based on similar body types the American Pitbull Terrier alone does not have 66 fatalities attributed to it. Since people even some so called “experts” cannot tell the difference between APBT’s, Cane Corso’s, Dogo Argentino’s, and American Bull Dogs this needs to be stated somewhere. So i call B.S.

  169. I would trust a pit bull over any other dog. I have grown up wi y h pit and still own a pit. My daughter has done more to my pit then u could imagine and she never moved a muscle. I would list a dalmatian as having a high fatality before a pit. And yes i own a Dalmatian too. My dogs have gotten in a fight and my pit hid in a corner and got hurt bad and my dalmatian had no battle wounds. Vets never belived me until i brought them in and my piy had a hole on the top xof her skull and under the eye and 1 ear shredded. So no pit do not belong as number 1 on here

  170. People should check their facts before publishing. The American pitbull terrier is an actually breed on its own with standards and lumping “pitbull” type dogs together with the American pitbull terrier is irresponsible journalism and gives the actual breed a bad rep. While I agree that “pitbull type” dogs are aggressive and dangerous because you can’t dispute statistics, there should be great care in separating out the actually “American pitbull terrier” and the “pitbull type” dogs as such public stigmatization is unfair and unjust to the actually breed of dog itself.

  171. I made a very honest post and it was removed for no reason, so here it is again. Rather disappointed with the conclusion to this article. With other breeds, the author took note of how the owner disposition and lack of training can make a good dog bad, but no such statement was made on behalf of pit bulls. Pitbulls do not naturally have an aggressive nature. They are often bred to be aggressive because they are all muscle and their physical attributes make them great guard dogs. However, when pit bulls are raised by caring owners to be a great family pet, they are one of the most mild-mannered dogs out there. There aren’t bad pit bulls, there are only bad owners. And for some reason, bad owners seem to be drawn to pit bulls.

  172. I have an American pit. Got home from a shelter. He is very submissive. He is about 90lb. All though he isn’t male dog friendly. He loves kids and people. He lays down if a child wants to pet him. I don’t even have to tell him. Very obvious someone owned him before and spent allot of time training him. He stays where he is told and won’t move until my husband and I say so. He gives high fives, shakes, he heels and more. If you train a dog (any kind) right, they will be submissive. It’s all about the owner and the genes of the dog. We had a German Shepherd mixed with pit terrier…. it turned out she had neurological problems because of her breed mix. She bit everyone, she ran around like crazy, she never listened, she ran away all the time, we tried to get her trained. Failed. Like I said. It depends on owner and breed. It’s usually a bad idea to mix breeds. If people could afford to really take care of their dogs, they would check blood lines before breeding. That can be very useful. I love dogs… all kinds. I got attacked by a mini doberman. Yeah, had to get stitches. I got bit by a wiener dog too. Haven’t got bit by a large dog yet.

  173. The Chihuahua bites more people every day than any other breed does in a year. The problem is, they don’t do much damage, so they are not reported. Anyone notice how every large breed of dog that has a “mean or aggressive” look that has been used as either a guard dog or police dog over the years has at some point been in the media limelight and everyone wanted banned. Yet, for some reason, no one talks or cares about those breeds anymore and are not afraid of them. Why? Because the media no longer tells them they should be. Dobermans, Rottweiler’s, Chows, German Shepherds etc etc, once all feared and wanted to be banned because of the media. Now the media is onto the “Pit Bull” kick, so now everyone wants that breed banned. Get a clue people, the problem is the owner, not the breed.

  174. Any dog of any breed with an owner who doesn’t understand the breed, is untrained, has been improperly socialized, or abused can be dangerous. The issue is compounded with large breeds due to their size! Whomever wrote this rubbish should be ashamed! Bluntly put, they are ignorant and uneducated about at least three dog breeds listed. Danes are phenomenal family dogs. The most dangerous aspect of a Dane is their tail, as any owner will tell you! They are dopey, lazy, and placid. Well trained adult Danes are very conscientious of small children, will let children climb on them, etc. Shepherds (GSDs) are not aggressive! Due to the nature of military and police work they are trained to aggress on command. They are fearless but not hostile. Like Danes, phenomenal family dogs and conscientious of small children. They are also fiercely protective of their people, especially children, when given cause. As for Pit Bulls, certain lines have been corrupted, bred for aggression by degenerates who use them for illegal purposes (fighting, guarding drugs, etc). A Pit from a reputable breeder is true to the breed standard -aggressiveness towards humans is uncharacteristic, great family companion, loves children. Danes and Shepherds have been our breeds of choice for over a decade. I have friends with Pits. The absolute menace at our house is the Jack Russell. He will bit and ask for attention later. He is a rescue and has made great progress -he no longer tries to eat our inside cats.

  175. Many deaths get attributed as pitbulls when the dog only looked like a pity. I was disappointed this article did such a good job pointing out it’s based on how a dog is trained, except for the pitbull. Because they have a tough image, “tough” people own them and don’t raise them correctly. They can be fabulous dogs.

  176. i had a pit bull mix with chow chow i had him since a puppy and she was by far mean if anything he walk away from someone being mean to him i loved that dog

  177. Funny they had something nice to say about all the dogs except pitbulls. But I bet that most people didn’t know that they Where used as nannies at one point! Look it up and quit discrimnating.

  178. I take offense at the Doberman being listed in this group. Yes, Doberman’s are guard dogs, but they are very intelligent dogs and if properly trained, they have the sense to know who is a bad guy and who isn’t. I just recently lost my 14-year old Dobie who was so gentle, he slept with the cats and became a lovable goof around any child. And although he never had to prove it, I know he would have given his life for me and my family but, that didn’t make him a ‘dangerous’ dog.

  179. Some of this article is on point, but other parts I must disagree wirh. Pit bulls are not “known for their extremely aggressive nature”; this is a reputation that has befallen them courtesy of the wrong kind of owner, who abuses the animal so as to actively encourage viciousness, or neglects to train the dog properly. I cannot speak for any of the other dogs on the list, but I presume their case is mostly the same.

    Although some people contest anecdotal evidence, let me just say this: like most dogs (I would imagine most anyway) pits require a responsible, experienced owner, who is not afraid to exercise dominance. My aunt (R.I.P) owned pitties for 30 years (10 in total), and towards PEOPLE (unfortunately not always animals; 3 were dog aggressive), even absolute strangers, all of them were the most wonderful and well mannered dogs you could imagine. I attribute this to my aunt training them properly. She always treated them with the utmost love and respect, but she was never afraid to tell them who was boss.

    Any dog has the potential to become a dangerous dog if certain conditions are not met. A dog can turn aggressive, and ‘snap’, even for the most loving owners, if [the owners] don’t know what they’re doing. Whilst it’s true each dog has its own disposition–of which some are naturally more willfull and headstrong–people need to consider numerous things before blaming the dog entirely. Is the dog getting enough exercise and mental stimulation? Are its owners rigorous in setting firm boundaries for it? Are they asserting themselves as the pack leaders? Do they realise when to say no? Are they training it beyond a 6 week run of puppy classes? Are they educating their children how to behave around it? A lot of aggression, and bad behavior in general, could be avoided simply by learning about dog behavior and applying that knowledge accordingly; and I’d presume this goes for the vast majority of dogs, even daschunds and chihuahuas.

  180. The world’s first full face transplant was performed on a woman in France whose black Labrador Retriever that she’d had for several years attacked her and ripped off her entire face. I saw the photos, it was pretty horrible. these are the “gentle, family” dogs. In other words, ANY dog can and will bite under the right set of circumstances.

  181. Yes, every single occasion I’ve witnessed where a small dog bites someone or another dog, without exception, the little dog’s owner has laughed because it was “so cute;” I’ve even witnessed numerous incidents where OFF LEASH little dogs will attack a big dog on a leash, sometimes even drawing blood, and the little dog’s idiot owner actually PRAISED it – “oh, did you attack that big, scary doggie? You’re so BRAVE!” That is not only rude and vile behavior on the OWNER’S part to allow their unruly and aggressive little cur to HURT and/or injure another person’s pet, but by praising and encouraging these darling little acts of “bravery,” they are literally TRAINING their dogs to be attack dogs and go after large dogs specifically whenever they see them in order to earn their owner’s praise again. Stupid individuals like that are asking for trouble; someday their little darling will inflict pain on the wrong big dog and it could end in tragedy – of course the big dog will get the blame when the entire fault lies at the feet of the little dog’s owner. It’s happened to me several times in fact, where the owner of a smaller dog will attack my SERVICE DOG even while she’s wearing her HARNESS and all the signage identifying her as a service animal and clearly leading me around/supporting me.The jerks get snotty with me when I ask them to leash or pick up the dog and explain that my dog is working. The posters here who say humans are the problem have hit the nail squarely on the head. People are a-holes.

  182. Pit bulls are only dangerous if treated badly and without proper training…I’ve never met one that wasn’t a complete baby when raised right in a loving home and I hate that you said that for all other dogs but them…they all ways get a bad rap for it but alot of times it’s for inbreeding and poor handling. ..I’ve been bit by more small annoying dogs then anything else. ..id pick a pit over any other dog every day of the week and that will never change cuz they are loving loyal and smart…Don’t stick up for 9 out of 10 dogs saying it’s only training problems and not say it for them…ppl are highly misinformed about these dogs and don’t need anyone else giving them a bad name…they have enough misleading info about them so don’t add to the problem

  183. This list is ridiculous. Obviously the only bites that are reported are ones from large breed dogs…. No one ever hears, “child was bit in the face by chihuahua/dachshund/Pekingese etc.”

  184. Pitbulls are great family dogs, amazing companions and they are the most loyal breed I’ve come across. We cherish our special girl. Training and love goes a long way! Like you said in the Husky section , I believe APBT stats are unbelievably unlucky As well. Unfortunately for APBT Many people who have an eye for them have unsavory intentions. I love my dog and since six weeks old she’s been my little ambassador, Traveling with me just being cute and sweet. If we make someone smile or change someone’s perception of the breed we have had a great day! We have a long long road ahead but we never lose hope that someday BSL (Breed specific legislation) will be abolished. #dontbanmybestfriend #BSLisBS

  185. I hate when people name Pitts as the most violent I have a 75 lbs pitt and he is my registered service dog and everyone loves him. The first time the maintenance men in my apartment complex met him they wouldn’t come in until I had a hold of his harness now they love him and pet him each time they come in.

  186. My neighbor’s dachshund is one of the meanest, nastiest dogs I’ve ever met. And this is about par for the course for dachshunds in my experience–although I have known nice ones. Consider what they are bred to do—hunt BADGERS. (‘Dachs’ is German for badger.)

    In my experience, little dogs are often the worst as their owners don’t bother to train, discipline, and socialize them properly. They think their behavior is ‘cute.’ IMHO, if you wouldn’t let a German Shepherd do it, you don’t let a Chihuahua do it.

  187. I have a G. Shepherd/Chow/Husky that comes in at 140 lbs and a Chihuahua that comes in at under 5 lbs. The big guy (Bear) is a lovable baby and scared of his own shadow so I do worry about fear aggression. The little girl, Jass, is a mean spirited self willed little punk. I’m just glad they can’t swap personalities. I’ve owned a number of large breeds and have never been bitten or have had an incident of biting. Still, I worry because of potential. When I was a young man I had a mail delivery person that wouldn’t come to the house unless he saw the dog in the window. I told him that the dog won’t bite. His response changed my outlook from then on, “If he has teeth he can bite”.

  188. Couple of problems. Every mutt out there is listed as a pitbull when there is a dog attack. Cops and animal control folks really haven’t a clue! And backyard breeders are morons. Everyone has to have a Pit and most of them have some X, haven’t a clue about the temperment of the parents, and quite honestly, don’t care.

    Second, instead of deaths, how about bites and damage. The Chihuahua and other small terrier breeds send more kids to the plastic surgeon for facial reconstruction than the total deaths from all breeds. We saw a minimum of 2 to 5 kids a week in the ER with bite cases and the little ones were usually the face. And it wasn’t Pitbulls, it was little lap dogs. And almost every single one of them had to have plastic surgery. They never get listed on any list of “bad” dogs.

    As to size, our little Sheltie X, Minnie Mouse (less than 20#) beats the tar out of our 4 Pits/Pit Xs and Mr. Pugsley (American Bulldog/Pit X) is 112#! And she plays tug-o-war AND wins with Tyson (Mr. Pugsley son, mom is a Staffordshire Bull Terrier, 80+ #). All our Pits are rescues. All brought home at different times. Contrary to the stuff that comes out of Pitbulls and Parolees, you can bring males and females together that are adults. AND, we also have 6 rescue cats. Only Minnie Mouse chases the cats, well one of them. The others have “educated” her on not chasing cats 🙂 Oh, and they go in the chicken yard with us to collect eggs.

    It is all how you raise them AND they have to know who is boss, which, btw, does not translate to beating it into them. Also, unlike all the dogs on Pitbulls and Parolees, not one of our furbabies pull you down the road. I’m 5’2″ and I take ALL FIVE dogs for walks at the same time. They know “mom” is the boss and they listen to “mom.” They go to the beach, the park and the farmers market.

  189. Pit Bulls are great pets, just like the others, when trained right, treated right and brought up with kids. We have NEVER had an issue with any of the 3 we have owned, and we had 4 kids and 5 grands during those times to current. The little dogs are far more aggressive, they are just so small, they can’t hurt you!

  190. We have five Pitbulls, 4 live in our house and three of them sleep with my three kids. The fourth sleeps where ever she decides. Number five does not like the house and prefers his dog house. My question is, Dalmatians. Has anyone researched these dogs? Bred to fight dogs that chased fire trucks, wagons etc… and the only dog I have ever been bitten by.

  191. Sadly the ‘study’ is very biased. It only views ‘deaths’. Not if the dog was the starter of the event/defending their home/in a dog fight situation. Pit bulls are amazing dogs. They can be sweet and gentle and forgiving of very stupid owners. However they are a POWERFUL dog, and sooo many people get them who can not handle them properly. They have become the poster child for dog fighting and that is just sad. Aggressive dogs are bred to aggressive dogs and you get more aggressive dogs all because some loon thought it would be awesome to have a pit bull ‘guard dog’ or fighting dog. The pit bulls have their reputation because of the way humans have treated them.

  192. I do have to agree about chihuahuas. I have worked with many of them, and they tend to be very aggressive by nature. But it does depend on the individual personality. My chi Nika loved everyone and went to the playground with us all the time when my son was little. But Cookie, one of the chi’s is have now, has full blown small dog syndrome. I have had her since she was a baby, and she was raised the same as my other dogs. But no amount of training has broken her of going after every other dog she sees. She chased a boxer right out of our neighborhood, with me running behind her, being totally ignored. She even tried to take on a pitt bull, but I managed to catch her in time. She was still barking and snapping at him as I carried her away. The look on the pitt’s face was clearly “you’ve got to be kidding me”. lol

  193. I notice there are a lot of “ifs” associated with pit bulls. “If you raise them right,” “If they feel threatened”, “If they have a bad owner,” “if they have a good owner.” etc. The difference between the “ifs” in a pit bull and the “ifs” in a border collie is that, when all the “ifs”go wrong, the border collie won’t end up killing you. THAT is why pit bulls are a dangerous breed.

  194. And you clearly don’t know anything about dog pack behavior. Our shepherd was aggressive until he was trained that he wasn’t in charge. Now even our chihuahua can play with him safely. Once he knew he wasn’t alpha, he became totally docile and harmless to anyone and anything. Dogs who think they are dominant are dangerous. That’s why those spoiled little dogs will bite and bark – since they don’t look threatening, owners let them get away with dominance behaviors until it’s too late. After six years in animal-related jobs, I was only EVER bit by a spoiled chihuahua. Dogs need proper leadership, not just a yard and food.

  195. You keep mentioning “buying” a particular breed… how about adopting?? Tell people to consider before they “buy” is simply uneducated and a bad idea. So much for trying to rid the country of puppy mills… when sites like yours encourage biting. 🙁

  196. Never mind… the site is a waste of time. While I agree that the Pit Bull Terrier is the most dangerous breed, according to fatalities, you fail to mention the sheer number of pit bulls being bred and sold, compared to the other breeds, would only make this “finding” common sense!

  197. Pit bulls don’t have an “extremely aggressive nature,” as the truth is quite the opposite. What they DO have is an insatiable desire to please their owner. If that means through aggression/violence, or even the dog’s own death, unfortunately that’s what they will do in attempt to please their owner. There are no bad dogs, just bad owners!

  198. The only reason pit bulls have the highest is due to dogfights. Rottweilers because of their guard dog nature and German shepards due to their police dog nature. My father had a pit bull mix and he was the sweetest thing on earth. My family now has a German Shepard mix and she couldn’t be nicer. You get out of a dog what you put in, you train them to be ferocious, they will be, train them to be loving and they will be. They are only a reflection of their owners.

  199. My Cocker Spaniel,Honey, was murdered by a pit bull. The owner was irresponsible, neglectful and did not train her dog. I now warn people that pit bulls and other large aggressive dogs are lethal weapons if they are not trained and cared for properly. I am very alert when I walk my Cocker Spaniel, Chocolate. When I see pit bulls, I do not know if they have responsible owners, so I assume the owners are irresponsible and I move to a safe location. Before my Cocker Spaniel was murdered, I assumed the owners of large, aggressive dogs were responsible. Now, I protect me and my dog, First.

  200. I have had 6 Rottweiler’s and we have raised 8 puppies and they have been a great dog. I also had a Doberman and he was very loyal. I have had several German shepherds and they were beautiful dogs. I do prefer the Rottweiler because of how they have been with my grandchildren. They watch and protect them. In fact none of them would have hurt anyone but the size alone scares people.

  201. I fell in love with Great Danes when I was in the 5th grade. I’ve owned then for 60 years and have done occasional breed and have shown then for many years. They should definitely not be on this list at all. They are gentle and loving and they bond deeply.
    Are there sometimes bad apples? Sure. That’s true of any breed, but it is rare and one needs to look at the owners in many of those cases. People don’t realize when they purchase one, just how large they’ll get and danes are put up for adoption (or left tied to a tree) more than most breeds. When I was breeding, I carefully screened the buyers of my dogs.
    It’s the people who are the dangerous ones.

  202. How bout they study the owners of those pit bulls and see what their criminal background is or look at their behavior towards their own dogs. I found my pit to be sweet and gentle. He does forget he is 60 lbs and he truly believes he is a lap dog. He follows our female boxer around and he has to cuddle with her all the time. Since finding out we are having a baby he lays with my wife and protects as if he knows he has a new little brother coming. These studies are flawed beyond belief.

  203. Pit Bull owners are quick to (correctly) point out that other breeds of dogs are much more aggressive than the APBT. It’s true. My little lap dog is far more likely to bite you or me than a well-raised Pit. However, when was the last time a child was killed by the neighbor’s Pekingese? And you can bet if it happened it’d be all over the news!

  204. As a former K9 officer, I can tell you that K9’s, and all dogs for that matter, react to Situations as how they are trained. I had a Husky-Shepard mix K9 that was the most intelligent, skilled and well trained dog I have ever seen. He had exemplary hearing and eyesight, a sixth sense about people, good or bad, never agressive towards kids or other animals, and loved to work. He never bit anyone he wasn’t told to, was loyal and protective of his partner, and was as gentle as a pet puppy at home. It was a sad day when he retired, and eventually went off to that big pasture in the sky. I quit working K9 when he retired, because I had the best partner anyone could have. I couldn’t bring myself to work with another dog. Thanks, Luke, you were the best, buddy. I’ll never forget you.

  205. I’ve had Dobermans all my life and they are sweethearts. Never had one attack anyone except in a training exercise. I was a trainer for 30 years and a more loyal, sensitive, and loving dog can’t be found anywhere. No dog is born aggressive or mean. The dog is trained or ruined by the owner. When a dog attacks and harms someone, the owner should be euthanize not the animal.

  206. I have homeowners insurance. They have a list of dogs considered a higher liability, which automatically raise the cost of this insurance. Great Danes are not on the list.

  207. You gave lots of excuses for aggressive breeds saying their aggressivness was due to the owners. You didn’t give the same courtesy to Pit Bulls or didn’t do as much research. I believe the same is true about Pit Bulls. A more loyal and friendly “aggressive” dog I have not seen. Have had several and never fought them against other dogs. I treated them like I would any pet and they always behaved well. Unfortunately owners can be very ugly towards their dogs. There was a time in which they were considered the “Nanny” dogs. would make sure that your child didn’t fall into harm. Too bad that a lot of current owners think that this breed needs to be mean so they treat them accordingly. JMHO

  208. Hate to bust the myopic bubble of the bully/bully mix haters, I am on my third bully at 56 years old, too bad they only have a life span of 10 to 12 years All were gotten as pups or at a young age and all were the most personable dogs you could meet, all were outside dogs but only came in upon request, cats?, no problem, other dogs?, no problem, other people?, no problem. They are smarter than people think, loving, sweet, goofy, but it all stems from the training, discipline and attention they get and they give back, loyalty is so much that they would stop a train for you if they could. My Joey is a star in my neighborhood, EVERYBODY on my block knows and loves Joey, he becomes a lawn ornament when we are doing yard work in the front yard, will not leave the yard to go say hi unless told to, lots of walkers and dog walkers in my area because we live right next to a park but he just looks at you and wags his tail. Dog park friendly, loves my neighbors 5 year old, they play on the lawn like litter mates, does not leave mine or my wife’s side when walked in certain areas off leash unless told it’s ok, you couldn’t give me a million bucks for my current knucklehead or convince me he will eat you.

  209. Pibbuls are the sweetest dogs. They have awesome temperments and are huge love bugs. I worked 10 years in veterinary medicine and would take a Pittie over a Chow-Chow any day, heck even a cocker can be more aggressive than a pittie! Pitties get a bad rap. It’s all how they are bred and raised.

  210. A true animal lover knows that there are certain attributes you do not want to pass along to your new litter. I have taken ownership of a female mix breed dog that has a genetic tell-tale and an attitude I would never want in a dog. She is part american pitt, part black lab, and akita. She is smart and well behaved. The problem is the people who had her before me taught her some nasty behaviors that has so far taken me near 4 years to work out of her. As much as I love her, she will never have pups, these are traits that will cause the pups to be ill tempered and dangerous. This dog here now will get close to people and plays with children. Adults still can not touch her except for our family. I used to raise pitts, but I gave that up. It really is hard to find good homes for them, too many people want to fight them.

  211. Too many dogs are labeled as “pit bulls” simply because they are muscular and have a squarish head. I have seen articles about “pit bull” attacks then see a photo of the dog and it is obviously NOT a pit bull. In the wrong hands an American Pit Bull Terrier can be dangerous. In the right hands you will not find a more loving, loyal family companion in the world.

  212. Why is it with breeds other than the pit bull, they attribute some of the aggression to the owners? Its this kind of survey that gives pits a bad name. Its a shame that 66 people died but I would like to know the circumstances. Was it purely the pit’s fault?

  213. Nothing useful in this entire article, not impressed. Seriously hope that this is not representative of Puppytoob’s general knowledge of canines..

    By the way, before you continue to contribute to the public hysteria over ‘pitbulls’ it would be a good idea to do a little more serious research on the ‘statistics’. Any dog that resembles a ‘pitbull’ – including mixed breeds that have no bully in them – is often misidentified as one, which unpardonably skews the stats.

    There are no ‘dangerous’ breeds, there are only uninformed / uneducated owners.

    You’re not helping here..

  214. Are the 66 pitbull fatalities otherwise sweet pets that just turned on their owners out of nowhere, or are they counting the poor dogs who are trained for dog fights and through that become extremely aggressive towards people? Because in all honesty, I think they are extremely sweet dogs. They don’t seem to have a naturally aggressive nature, not the ones I’ve been around. They are big and powerful and can inadvertently hurt someone just by thinking they are smaller than they are. But they aren’t necessarily aggressive dogs.

    People train them to be aggressive and then harm people or dogs.

    And where are they getting these numbers from anyway? Is this from one year? Five? Ten? All of history?

  215. Through selective breeding, Pit Bulldog’s an Rottweiler’s have developed enormous jaw strength, Pit Bulldog’s also have a ruinous “hold and shake” bite style, designed to inflict the maximum damage possible on their victims. This bite trait delivers winning results in the fighting pit and that is why they are sought for fighting.

    When the Colorado Supreme Court upheld the Denver pit bull ban in 2005, the high court set aside characteristics that pit bulls displayed when they attack that differ from all other dog breeds. One of these characteristics was their lethal bite: “[pit bulls] inflict more serious wounds than other breeds. They tend to attack the deep muscles – (to hold on, to shake, and to cause ripping of tissues).
    Doctors often compare similar damage in Pit Bulldog attacks to shark attacks.

  216. Pit bulls are the MOST LOYAL OS ALL THE BREEDS. THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR FATALITIES, their OWNER ARE !!! Any dog can be aggressive. With proper training… all is well. Would LIKE to say that ABOUT most HUMANS.

  217. Pit bulls were do you think they get there name? from being put in a pit to flight. these dogs are useless look up the stats and you will see more people are bitten by these dogs than any other.

  218. This study is flawed on at least two counts. First of all, the breeds represented are breeds that are popular so the incidents will naturally be higher. A breed like the Cane Corso that does tend to have a more aggressive nature is not represented because there are too few of them to make the list. Secondly, much information comes from people who identify breeds incorrectly. For example, the pit bull and husky are generic terms for any mix that appears to have those breed characteristics.

  219. Sounds more like she had actually developed a brain tumor. Those can cause personality changes. I have known 2 cases in older dogs, one a Dane and one a Dobie. But to find out they had to pay for autopsies. It just may have been something medically she had no control over.

    1. BULLDOGS were bred way before the bull and terrier breed for bull baiting. The bull and terrier breed was bred from the Olde English Bulldogge and the English White Terrier, ;among other small terriers of that time. When animal welfare laws were passed in England in 1835, the bloodsport of bull baiting was difficult to carry on, as it required the transport of a large bull and the use of a large arena, neither of which could be easily hidden from the authorities. Pit fighting required only a small pit and two relatively small pit bulls. Many of these “matches” took place in the coal pits of Staffordshire, England. I could go on, but it doesn’t seem your IQ is up to par.

  220. This writer doesn’t know what she’s writing about. The smaller the breed, the more likely to bite (because they’re paranoid). The bigger breeds? They’re like…. Whatever!

  221. To be meaningful, these statistics need to adjusted based on the percentage of each breed in the overall dog population. Even so, its really clear that Rottweilers and Pit Bulls are responsible for both far more fatalities than other breeds, and at a far higher rate given the percentage of the overall dog population that they comprise.

  222. Based on these statistics, for Pit Bulls not to be far more responsible for fatalities than can be accounted for by their rate in the overall dog population, they would have to comprise nearly 40% of the population. I’m sure the Pit Bull apologists will not like this, but that is what these statistics show.

  223. The American Veterinary Association did a more recent study that found no connection between dog caused deaths and dog breed.

    And there are no official or verifiable statistics in the USA on dog caused deaths or dog bite by breed.
    Please do better research, article writer.

  224. Unfortunately many of the dogs on this list are either trained to be aggressive or are trained as guard dogs, which would account for many of the fatalities, as the majority of these dogs generally have very sweet & lazy temperaments. I have been a vet’s asst & a groomer and the highest biting incidences were all smaller dogs incl: Chihuahua, cocker spaniels, various small terriers. Not sure why but they are much more prone to bite & not always good around kids. We’ve had multiple Cocker spaniels so aggressive they’ve had to be sedated to get groomed. This seemed like poor breeding to me. Big dogs you can sit on, pull their ears etc & they’re like whatever………….unless their family is threatened & then that’s another story. But smaller dogs biting very often don’t get reported & are usually not fatal, so they are ignored. My little Doxie/corgie mix is more aggressive & snappy than the pitty/hound mix & the little guy has drawn blood on her before. They have both been very good w/our cats & non-aggressive & sometimes cuddly w/them. I get mixed reactions w/the big dog, people either can tell she’s friendly & will let their toddlers pull on her & let her give them kisses to people who are so afraid they give us a wide berth. Unfortunately I think this article did not do these dogs any favors, big dogs do more damage but I think if there were actual & real statistics of all dog bites, smaller more nervous/intolerant breeds would show up as biting about 20 times more often, just usually w/less damage because you can just knock a 15lb dog aside when it bites.

  225. I have a problem with #1.
    I own a Pit bull. Granted he is a mix, but much of their “aggressive nature” is due to poor training. Not to mention, MANY Pit bulls are used in dog fighting rings, leaving much room for FEAR aggression, rather than RANDOM attacks. How #1 was described, was purely biased.
    Please do further research on the history of Pit bulls.

  226. This study uses language created to completely misrepresent Pit Bulls. Any person that has any knowledge of psychology should be able to see that. With all the other breeds they never said “deadly” until they got to Pits….and they made every effort to excuse the behavior of all the other breads while completely ignoring the facts and history behind the Pit breed including that they are also used primarily as guard dogs (which was used to write off the aggression of several of the other breeds), as well as the blatant disregard for the fact that this breed is by FAR the most abused breed of dog that exists due to the prevalence of dog fighting. Way to spread ignorance and fear for a breed of dog that is in the same boat several of those other breeds have been in in the past. The fact that pit bulls are a popular breed for the majority of some very horrible people is not a reflection on the breed itself, oh wait…you know that…since you pointed it out for the other breeds…

  227. Pit bulls are not the most dangerous dog! Rottys have cause more damage than pit bulls and ppl should not keep spreading this rumor! Pit bulls are very loving loyal dogs and are easily trained, that is why they make such great fighters. It is not the dogs fault ppl are jerks and train them to fight!

  228. I wasn’t going to comment, but when I saw the blatant discrimination against Pit Bulls, I had to say something. I, too, was one of the uneducated people walking around most of my life afraid of this breed of dog because of what I had “heard” about them. In 2004, I became the owner of one because I married a man who raised them his entire life. I now have three and wouldn’t get any other breed. Your article dismissed or explained away all the other breeds’ aggression as being the fault of the owner, yet in the pit bull article, it was left to read as these dogs are naturally aggressive. Do your research; pit bulls were used as nanny dogs in the early 1900s. They rank among the highest when it comes to tolerance and they are only as aggressive as any other dog. Ignorant journalism such as this only fuels the negative sterotypes about this breed.

  229. The biggest problem with “dangerous” dogs are the owners not having their dogs properly trained.
    I used to have a job where I would go to people homes during the day. Once I started to open the gate and a German Shepard comes running around the house is barking and snapping at me, the owner comes out says one word in german and the dog moves about five feet away from me sits and everything is good.

  230. I’ve owned most of these breeds. Human ignorance was more of a problem than the dogs. Most were overly playful and that was taken as aggression. My Rott was shot by a an ignorant Neighbor only because he was a Rott. Just proves how stupid people are

  231. Pit Bulls get a bad rap because of their owners who usually train them to be aggressive…I have a 8 year old female that wouldn’t hurt any human, however I must say she doesn’t do well with other animals at all…I’m not sure if this is just in the breeding or in just this one dog …

  232. Bull manure. You cannot just single out one breed of dog as the most dangerous based on bites. If that were true then Chihuahuas would be the deadliest dogs on Earth because they bite more people than any other dog. However, most Chihuahua bites don’t get reported because they are so small and their bites don’t do much damage. So much for those bite reports being some kind of a measurement for dangerous dogs.

  233. I’ve had a Rottweiler and a Chow Chow and both were gentle lambs unless you raised your voice at me, then they tended to show their teeth. Both were CGC trained and the Rottweiler a trained therapy dog. The Rottweiler was raised with miniature poodles and thought he was little like they were and he totally obeyed our old dog who was 14. I had nieces that could use hand the hand commands to make him do whatever it was they wanted. Both dogs were two of the best companion dogs I’ve ever had.

    I would never get a giant breed dog again though because their life expectancy is short and the health issues are expensive. I’ll stick with a small dog who will live a long time even though I do prefer a large dog. The heartbreak is just too much for me anymore.

  234. I have to argue on the wolf-hybrid from my experience. I own one that 50 pounds and he’s not aggressive at all. So temperament alone plays a part, but if raised from puppy hood, they can make great pets. Siberian Huskies, they are good pets, my hybrid has been around two and their good friends.

  235. Interesting, when my kids were little, more than 30 years ago, I got hold of the AKC to ask which ones they recommended for little kids, they recommended 3. The Malamute, the Standard Poodle and I forgot what the other one was. The theory was they were very good natured dogs that were large enough that small children couldn’t hurt them. Now the Malamute is listed as one of the 10 most dangerous. Reminds me of eggs and coffee, one week they’ll kill you then next week they make you live longer.

  236. Just do not ever leave a pit bull alone with a baby or small child. For some reason they see them as snacks. A father found out the hard way. The pit bull was brought up with his infant son. At 8 months old the son used the dog as a pillow while laying on the ground. The ONE time the father left the pit bull alone with the baby, he heard a scream and ran into the room to see the pit bull with the babies head in his jaws shaking him back and forth. Of course the babies neck was broken along with the teeth in the babies head. The Father could not understand why the pit bull did this since they grew up together and seemed to be close. Pit Bulls are bred genetically to kill and it is not their fault. Small children make easy targets and the breed in the dog takes over. DO NOT EVER leave babies OR small children alone with Rottweilers OR Pit Bulls! Many parents found this out the hard way!

  237. Two of my favorite dogs were the top two! I’ve had rotties, and would not trade the love for anything! I currently have a pit bull mix and she is the love of the house! I can guarantee none of these dogs would kill if treated right themselves!

  238. This is a joke. Danes are an oversized lap dog. Mine is sleeping on the sofa as I type this. They are loyal, protective of our family, especially my kids, and have a great sense of humor. Where are the Chihuahuas, and all the ankle biters who bite more than pits? I guess because they just require hospital visits and stitches they aren’t dangerous?

  239. i HAVE 2 DOBERMANS THE BEST DOGS EVER, NOT AGGRESSIVE NEVER EVER MEAN TO ANYONE FOR 14 YEARS, HAVE HAD THEM FROM BABIES, THESE STATICS ARE WHY DOG GET A BAD RAP.

  240. Now, who didn’t see number one coming? It’s all in the raising, however there are some breeds that have flaws later in life that can cause aggression, one being the Doberman. I’ve had 2, the first, literally went nuts and took a smaller dog by the throat, a dog it had been around numerous times and just shook it until he ripped out half it’s throat. Now I have a red Doberman now and he curls up the sofa right next to me like a baby deer. It would just break my heart of he were to unfortunately have that brain issue later in life, only time will tell I guess.

  241. Never met a bad dog yet.Only Ruined by humans. Have some of all breeds and all live in peace on this farm.Yes there are signs posted and they know their job. Yet for safety and liability reasons.No one is welcomed here and told to leave.

  242. I am a Chinese Christian woman and live my teen son as single mom. we first time adopted a female Amstaff (pitbull) name Wendy from shelter without any breed knowledge . my Wenday is so adorable, good heart never bit us, any persons or any dogs. I deeply it is God to send her to become our best friends and my fur daughter

  243. We have had 6 Greyhounds and never been bitten by them. Some can be aggressive or are mixed and called Lurchers. They like to be petted and our cats are not bothered by them.

  244. This is a piece, by a supposedly knowledgeable source, about dogs. I have a problem with them labeling the worst offender a “pit bull”.

    What is a pit bull?

    Is it an American pit bull terrier? Is it an American bulldog? Is it a bull terrier (they’re different than the APBTs). How about the Staffordshire terrier or the American staffordshire terrier?

    “The term pit bull is often used loosely to describe dogs with similar physical characteristics, and the morphological (physical) variation amongst “bully breed” dogs makes it difficult for anyone, even experts, to visually identify them as distinct from “non-pit bulls”. While mixed breed dogs are often labeled as “pit bulls” if they have certain physical characteristics such as a square shaped head or bulky body type, visual identification of mixed breed dogs is not recommended by the scholarly community.”

  245. The “pit bull” is not a recognized breed. The AKC has a list of 187 breeds and “pit bull” is not on the list. The “pit bull” is a mongrel combination of aggressive type dogs which were bred to fight in a pit. Some of these dogs were originally “slave dogs.” They were used to chase down runaway slaves and tear them to pieces as an example to the other slaves. A “pit bull” is like a hyena. It doesn’t just “bite.” It takes a hold of you and rips a chunk of flesh out of your body. Children have had their face ripped off by their parents sweet little “pit bull.”

  246. I had a little mutt when I was a kid. His name was Robert but we called him Bob. A Heinz 57 if you will. He was extremely smart and died at the ripe old age of 15 human years.

  247. they should do a study on per capita, there are a ton of pit bulls, so since there are alot more of them there is more of a chance for failure. If there was 1000 red cars and only 100 white cars, which one do you think would have more accidents? Red duh, would you then go around saying dont get a red car because there are more accidents in them. No duh. I have had 4 pits and there were the most lovable dogs you could ever want

  248. I owned a wolf/shepherd male that I purchased in NC. He was a very good dog but, very protective of my wife and son. He also did not get along with other dogs. I tried to breed him with a German shepherd but he bit her while doing the doo on the neck and she died a month later from an infection. I’ll never have another one, mutts are fine for me now.

  249. So, more people were killed by Adam Lanza than were killed by all but two of these breeds. More people died on US roads TODAY than have EVER been killed by dogs. But MY dog is considered a “dangerous breed”?

  250. Pit bulls are the best. And they weren’t bred to fight so quit saying that. That’s media talk they were bred as Nannie dogs for guess what?? Children !!! What a shocker. My apbt is great with my kids and loyal to my family. Remember it’s the owner not the dog

  251. Most nasty dogs are a reflection of the idiots that own them. I have raised Dobermans and Rottweilers for years and none of them had an aggressive bone in their body. Because we do not allow it. Train your dogs and they will not get a bad rap.

  252. So the most “dangerous” is because over a 20 year span it has 66 deaths? More people died in the same amount of time from trampoline accidents. Sensationalism at work in the title.

  253. Not real sure I should even comment but am. I am not surprised that our Pit Bull is number 1 on this list and with no real facts in the posting. They will remain number 1 for as far as I can see. Not because they are a bad dog at all. It is because they are over breed and mid treated. If there was as many Labs (or any breed) as Pits in the US they would probably exceed them on the bite list. I work with lots of Pits and have owned or been around them my whole life, they are very loving and tolerable animals.

  254. Back in the early 50’s my dad brought home a German Shepard a customer gave him for payment of a bill. He was a great dog and really playful and friendly to us kids. However, if he saw anyone in uniform especially police he’d want to rip them apart. Apparently the former owners were some sort of hoods who had trained the dog to attack police. We eventually had to get rid of him. It’s really bad owners not bad breeds.

  255. They should specify non-provoked bites or attacks. Shepherds and Doberman are trained to defend. Also the numbers of those dogs out there are much higher so the numbers are skewed.

  256. Pit bulls and rotties along with any other dog are only What they are trained to be. Number one on this list should be human beings,we are the one’s that turn innocence into aggression,loyalty into liability. Were are the one’s that take the absolute love of a dog and corrupt it,and as usual were point the finger and put the blame on something without it’s own voice. How bout we stop blaming dogs for being vicious or children for being out of control and put the blame on those who were entrusted with teaching and molding then into What they become.

  257. The sad part is that despite the statistics and the absolute certainty that there will be more people killed by pit bulls we allow them to be owned. A lot of people won’t like that statement but the fact is having them sentences innocent people to death that could be saved right now and they won’t be. Every single pit bull in the uS should be put down to save those people but we won’t and many people would choose the pit bull over those peoples lives. sick

  258. This article is ridiculous. It doesn’t account for the population of the breeds in it’s statistics, the location (is this only in the US or around the world?), etc. Pitbulls are number 1 in this article because they are BRED in increasingly higher rates and are ABUSED, trained for fighting other dogs, and because of the owners. I’ve never owned a Pitbull personally, but would in a heartbeat. I currently have 2 bulldogs that are cousins of the Pitbull and they are the sweetest. Every Pitbull I have ever met were sweeter then my dogs. I had a German Shepard and he was the most loyal dog to us (his pack), but did not like other people. And we never trained him to be aggressive, he was naturally aggressive with other humans, so we had to lock him up. My American Bulldog/Mastiff rescue is dog aggressive, but has never shown any signs of being human aggressive at all. It all depends on the dogs past, the dog’s relationship to the owners and the owner’s actions!

  259. I’ve had dogs for years, most of which were Heinz 57s with the exception of one Doberman which was a sweetie, and a Beagle that was stubborn but lovable. What I’ve found is that all dogs if trained properly make great companions. It all depend upon how they’re trained and how they’re taken care of. Right now my wife and I have two rescue dogs, Maggie is a beagle lab mix and is the most loving intelligent dog I’ve ever had, second only to our other dog Saber, don’t let the name fool you. He’s a Besengi, Mini Pincer mix and is very loving and extremely intelligent. Both dogs are well trained and completely spoiled. There are no bad dogs, just bad, lazy owners.

  260. Oh boy, the Pit Bull defenders will be out in full force! Both my son and I have been attacked by dogs, and bitten. My son was attacked TWICE — by guess which dogs? PIT BULLS. Sorry I know they can be sweet too, but why take your chances?

  261. The whole idea that wolves are naturally aggressive really irked me. Wolves would rather run from a fight than get into one, and are even less likely on their own. They are pack animals. I have a wolf/Husky hybrid from a 13 generation line and he’s more docile than my cats. Little children pull on his ears and tail and little dogs beat up on him, he never fights back. Now he does get a little aggressive when a stranger comes into the yard but that is to be expected and praised, he is a guard dog living in the city after all. There’s plenty an owner can do to control their dog, by the way. Ugh I hate that stereotype sooooo much!

    This is Antaneq (“king” in Inuit), he turned 4 this April and is the biggest baby in the world.

  262. The vet clinic where I worked as a tech always took extra care around Rotties, Chows and dobies. A woman brought in her rottie, saying the dog would walk up to her husband who was sitting in the recliner, and show his teeth and growl, which meant GET OUT OF MY CHAIR! The husband did. The dog won.

  263. Oh those poor sweet gentle loyal lovable nanny-dog pit bulls. How could you pick on such a loving breed? It’s not the breed, it’s the owner!

  264. Pit Bulls have a bad name because they are relatively cheap to own as opposed to some of the other breeds and many people living in borderline neighborhood use them for protection. Hence, the larger number of attacks on record. Lower the price of owning the other breeds (by over breeding them) and the number of the attacks by many of these breeds will rise significantly. It is not a dog problem. It is a people problem

  265. Well I have own a rott, a pit and German shepherd. Rich now we have a husky. Not ones did any of my dogs bit anyone. The pit is known to be a nanny dog. Which they we always great with my kids. My rott lived 16 years. We got her when my oldest daughter was a year old. She would always stay beside my daughter. And when my youngest daughter came along five years later my rott was always let her climb and pull on her. So to believe that any of these breeds are dangerous. Is hard for this family. And now I have a two year old and the husky is great around him. Why don’t they talk about the little dogs that bit children and how many have been fatality. Really.

  266. The author of this article may have done extensive research, and for almost every dog EXCEPT the pit bull, has stated reasons why you should still own one of these “aggressive” dogs. When treated humanely, the pit bull is loyal, dedicated, and an EXCELLENT family dog that will provide years of love and devotion to it’s owner, their family, and anyone else they happen to encounter.

  267. The 66 fatalities caused by the American Pitbull Terrier may be a little misleading. I highly doubt that all of these fatalities were caused by this particular breed. I’m willing to bet it includes any and every dog, or mix of dog breeds, considered “pitbulls”, such as Staffordshire Terriers, Mastiffs, Cane Corso, etc…

  268. I think they should put out a list of 10 most ignorant races to own dogs and see how that plays out. You can train a dog. But you can not train the owners..

  269. Then they should also have the 10 most dangerous guns on the market based upon wounds and fatality as it is the gun that did it, Not the Owner.. No responsibility..

  270. How predictable, of course the Pitbull had to be at the top of the list. What I find even more disturbing is that any dog that attacks anyone is automatically deemed a “Pot Bull”, or a “Pit Mix”. I will take my XXL Bully over any other breed any day of the week.

  271. Small breed dogs should be on this list, they cause more injuries than any other breed on the list that I’ve had the pleasure of working with

  272. I find it interesting that the writer justified all the other breeds statistics, blaming genetics, lack of training, etc. but just called pits aggressive and didn’t justify or explain anything along with it.

  273. Dogs are scent motivated, they smell you before they see or hear you, that is what sets them off more often then anything else then how you react to them, jump and run the game is on! The sound you make if you scare them they react to being scared which is to protect themselves, People should be smarter than dogs, most people who get bit asked for it, (sorry mail persons, but you are in someone Else’s yard). The exception are little kids and why are 2 and 3 year old around a dog without mom or dad there? Do people blame water for people drowning ? Think about it what is the difference? By the way I have a boxer pit mix and he is just a baby the only person he chews on is me when we are playing and when he bites a little too hard he jumps back and the look on his face is ” I’m sorry” one of the nicest but not brightest dogs I have had!

    1. I have to take issue with one of your statements. While the mail person may not live there, if the owner of the dog is not sure if the dog will bite or not then they should have to dog inside if they want to get their mail. That is an issue of a bad owner, not the dog nor the mail persons fault.

      1. Dogs that are on “their” turf will defend it mail persons need to enter these places, that does not make the dog bad but just makes the dog a dog. Bad owner I disagree if they are not training the dog to attack it is just following it’s nature. I have never been bite by a strange dog and spend a lot of time on farms so , when I see one that I am not sure of the owner lets me know it is ok if they are not there I leave unscathed!

  274. Were the 66 total fatalities actually attributed to only American Pit Bull Terriers or did they include all the other dogs that are routinely called Pit Bulls but are entirely another breed. I have seen news stories where the attribute an attack to a pit bull and then when I see the picture it is clearly a boxer mix or bull mastiff or am staf.
    If they are including American Staffordshire Terriers, Bull Terriers, American Bulldog, Bull Mastiff, Boxer, Dogo Argentino, and Olde English Bulldog as pit bulls they are once again doing an injustice to the dogs as well as misleading anyone that reads the article.
    Split out the 66 fatalities over each actual breed and you probably have each breed in the 8-9 fatality range which would make them not very dangerous and the fatalities attributed to poor owners rather than the breed themselves..

  275. This is total garbage. Puppy Toob calls themselves dog lovers, then uses incorrect information and distorted facts to bring “dangerous dogs” to people’s attention. Dangerous compared to what? Sensationalizing media hacks?

  276. So basically this was just an article to say that every breed of dog except the pit bull has a legitimate reason or justification for their fatality stats. Pit bulls are NOT known for their extremely aggressive nature. They are known for being people pleasers and doing what is asked of them. Why didn’t you just leave off all of the other business about the 9 other dogs and just get directly to what you set out to do……..destroy the chances of the 1000s of loving, dog friendly, loyal pit bulls being killed every day in shelters from ever having a chance to get adopted into a loving home. Nice.

  277. my 20 pound neutered male dog was attacked out of the blue by a female PIT BULL two weeks ago, just walking down the street. she saw him while she was sitting with her owner in an outdoor sidewalk cafe, and lunged at him. she clamped down on his neck and tried to kill him! it was HORRIFIC!!! there were 5 guys there all trying to get her off of my dog! they were bashing her on the head!! finally her owner got her to let him go! he had a massive neck wound. $600. on vet bills. he could have/would have died if she had not been there. I DESPISE THESE MONSTER DOGS. they SHOULD BE BANNED! of course, her dog was a “good dog” who “NEVER acted like that before” and was “great with children and other dogs” til she wasn’t. I HATE THEM. i feel sorry for her owner who had NO IDEA her “rescue” pit was capable of doing such damage. now she has a very dangerous dog to contend with.

    1. the problem with pit bulls is the bite down and DON’T LET GO. they are SAVAGE. monster killers. should not be allowed anywhere. like having an alligator running around. same thing.

  278. I’m sick of these pitbull fanatics going on and on about “it’s not the breed, it’s the training”, because that’s nonsense. Pitbulls were bred to be aggressive dogs with powerful bites, and used for hunting, not being pets. This is the reality. You can train them to be docile, but being a family dog is not what they’re intended for.

    1. Idiocy shows when you speak.
      ‘Pit Bulls’ were not bred for hunting as you claim. They were bred as arena fighting dogs and used for ‘bull baiting’ in the ‘pit’, which is where the name ‘pit bull’ comes from.
      Further, ALL dogs were multipurpose and had many jobs to do for their owners, including companion. Labrador Retreivers are bred to hunt and fetch waterfowl (and so was the poodle) yet they still are considered pets, correct?
      That is a REALITY, which some would call the TRUTH.

  279. Pitbulls are NOT known for their extremely aggressive natures. This article is BS. Many people who own the breed instill aggressiveness in them. Dogs all have personalities, just as people, and just like with people, upbringing is everything.

  280. So, a list that finally places the Pit Bull at the #1 spot, exactly where it should be. These dogs possess DNA that can make them aggressive without warning, despite how they were raised.. Sure, some may never display aggressiveness but for the ones that do, they are deadly. Too many people defend this breed and refuse to believe the dog can be dangerous UNTIL something bad happens.

        1. And further proving you know nothing by insinuating that I’m upset and a bull terrier owner, which I’m not and never was. I have trained many dogs including bull terriers and they aren’t any different than any other stubborn breed. Many people that can’t understand that shouldn’t own one of the stubborn breeds.
          You, however, shoudn’t own ANY dog since you’re obviously a fool and have no idea about how any dog should be teated.

          1. OH, you get upset and call people names it gets printed. I say too bad you are upset and my comment gets removed. Next time we meet believe me, I will call you what you are.

          2. Go ahead, VI, I can take your playground mentality and lack of any adult sensibility.
            Until then I stick by my original reply…..it’s still above so I don’t have to repeat it.

          3. Rude, arrogant, self-praising, and a few others that are not printable. Of the 13 comments you have, all are personal insults to someone else. If that is your record, it doesn’t say much about your communication skills.

          4. I also checked your reply that got removed.
            Although a reply isn’t necessary I’ll give a short one: MY ‘opinion’ is backed by many years training dogs, mostly large powerful STUBBORN breeds.
            Yours is founded in inane internet gossip.
            I win.

          5. Your replies are personally insulting, not just to me, but to everyone who disagrees with you. That alone is a violation of rules of protocol on most sites but somehow your replies are overlooked. It doesn’t matter WHAT the comment is founded on, opinion or fact, it should be civil. The only “win” you have is the your opinion of yourself, a “win” not shared by other people. Just your comment about “winning” shows a low level of what communication is about.

          6. Wah Wah Wah…..Your attempt at insult seems to have fallen flat and your whining about ‘civility’ is inane.
            It’s also telling that you make your argument on whether it’s ‘opinion or fact’, basically admitting your post has no factual merit.
            But allow my words to get into your head even more. It’s occasionally fun to poke holes in someone’s egotism.

  281. Stupid article…it puts ALL large breeds as dangerous when in reality most small dog bites are NEVER reported!
    Remember, a full on vicious attack from a toy poodle or chihuahua will require a bandaid while a warning nip from a malamute or a GSD can require stitches or more. I’ve been around most of the breeds listed and can say honestly they’re all great dogs.

  282. I’m not good at math, but I know that the number of dogs of a given breed compared to the number of fatalities is where the actual statistics are.

  283. misleading and ignorant article…. they should get pictures of the owners of the dogs who attack and call it “Worst Dog Owners and Stupid People”. The reason Pit Bulls top the list is mainly because of the disproportionate amount of irresponsible Pit owners compared to other breeds. Also, you don’t see all the small breeds on the list because no one reports an attack by a Chihuahua or Yorkie because they don’t cause as much damage when they attack. Yes, big dogs can be dangerous, but no one entire breed is inherently more dangerous than another. It is the training and socializing that makes the difference. The Animal Humane Society, American Humane Association and the ASPCA agree with me and recommend AGAINST breed specific bans. I have raised 3 Pits, been around many more and have never seen a dog who is raised responsibly turn on a human or animal. I have however, been attacked and bitten by many other “family” dogs of all shapes and sizes. STOP WITH THE SENSATIONALIZED AND MISLEADING INFORMATION!!!! BREED DISCRIMINATION OF ANY KIND IS WRONG!!!

  284. This article is a joke…..just because a “big dog” has a strong bite, they aren’t dangerous. In fact most “restricted breeds’ is a joke. Dogs are dangerous if they are brought up wrong, bred wrong, and in the wrong hands. Dobermans and shepherds are 2 of the most intelligent dogs out there, and the most loyal, yet are restricted. Great danes are just big lap dogs. Little dogs tend to be more aggressive, stupid, but aggressive (Napoleon complex). There is no dangerous dogs, just idiot owners.

  285. You can’t buy insurance coverage for your dog attacking someone. Your “never nasty” dog could cost you your house, the ranch and then some when it “all of a sudden” reverts to its behavioral norm.

  286. As usual, someone with no knowledge of dogs writes an article that makes absolutely no sense. The only reason any dog is aggressive towards man is because of man! Dogs like the Doberman, Rottweiler, German Shepard were bred to be man aggressive due top the fact that are used for protection. When it comes to a Pit Bull, this is a very touchy subject. These dogs were bred solely for the purpose of fighting for human amusement. Now these dogs are being persecuted because of idiotic humans. I have had 3 pit bulls and NEVER have they bitten, growled or shown any aggression to a human. It’s the people that fight, neglect them and throw them in the back yard and forget about them that produce the dogs that attack. Normally these dogs would never hurt a human, they were used as a nanny dog in the 40’s and actually baby sat kids. They were the most popular breed in these times and now, due to a**holes that mistreat them, they are public enemy number 1. Humans really suck!

  287. A lot of Pit Bulls are mean because of their stupid owners. Some people should not have any dogs. Their stupidity shows in their dog’s behavior.

  288. You gave the husky and German sheperd the benefit of the doubt but nothing for the pitbull.. What happened to dogs being dangerous have a lot to do with there training and owners? You think the stats could be a little off since consideration for the fact that pits are in many cases trained to be fighting dogs. I don’t know for sure but do you think that may make them a little more aggressive then other dogs?? Well at least you weren’t biased with the other dogs..

  289. The reason pit bulls are number one on this list is because pit bulls are abused at rates far greater than any other breed, at least in the US. Legislation aimed at limiting pit bull attacks is ill conceived unless focused squarely on human beings!

  290. In my 62 years the only time I was bitten by a dog, it was a pitbull. had been around the dog all day. My take is that if any dog bites any human and they are not confined to a fence, dog dies. No exceptions. Your dog bites, your dog dies.

  291. how about we narrow it down. If you buy a poorly bread dog of any breed and then don’t bother training it right and socializing it, it will be a problem. If you can’t take the time to train and be your dogs friend and you think you can “buy” a good dog you are sorely mistaken. Some of the worst animals I’ve dealt with are from puppy mills.
    Go to your local pound, find a pooch that is comfortable with you and you are comfortable with and understand that your four legged friend needs your attention.
    If you don’t have the desire or time, buy a stuffed dog.

  292. 1st of all, the “nature” of pitbulls is not agressive at ALL. i have 3… all 3 love children&playing with them. my youngest one is a bit like ‘Marley’ (honestly, he’s kinda dumb, he tries to walk through ppl, i have no idea y lol) i think maybe that has to do partially with the fact that we stopped training him as much as the siblings&because my daughter babied him alot so he’s a brat now.
    The ‘agressive’ ones are those behind the leash.

  293. However, again, more horror stories related to wolves. In America, pet dogs kill as many as 30 – 35 Americans per year, while in all of history, a wolf, maybe without eye-witnesses and in the redneck states, kill all of two people with no one witnessing the event — in all of American history! Second-hand cigarette smoke kills multi-thousands of Americans every year but the wolf and big dogs are exactly now, what? The badies? Why not demonize cigarette smokers, duhhhhhh!

  294. They make excuses for Huskies, Dobies, German Shepard’s fatality statistics, as either poor ownership problems, or being in “situations” that caused them to kill. But when it comes to the American Pit Bull terrier it’s another story. They put the blame entirely on the dog. And in the case of Pit bulls, there is no mention of owners or situation having anything to do with it. IDIOTS! Dogs of ALL breeds are products of their environments and act upon what they learn and are taught. Pit bulls are like any other dog in that regard. They made excuses for the St. Bernard and Great Danes “size” and being overly playful causing them to accidentally do harm. Well the Pit bull happens to be short, stocky, very powerful, with a LOT of heart and tenacity which gives them the POTENTIAL to do great harm – just like Rottweilers for the same reason. OBVIOUSLY a dog with these physical gifts could be lethal. That’s why these dogs are put in SITUATIONS where they can harm people, being used by many criminals and people up to no good as watch dogs. Writers have a responsibility to be even-handed and not put their own spin on what they write. Pit bulls are GREAT dogs when loved and taken care of by people. I am tired of people trying to make villains out of these dogs and not laying the blame at the owners.

  295. I do not own a pit bull. I never have and probably never will. However, the article is misleading regarding pit bulls. They are not known for the aggressive nature. The pit bull is not typically an aggressive dog genetically. They are bred to calm, companion dogs. In fact before they began to get a bad reputation because the drug and gang culture they were known as nanny dogs. The were used to babysit children. For a pit bull to be dangerous it normally has to be taught to be aggressive are they are the result of some bad inbreeding. Yes they were and are being used as fighting dogs. But they were chosen to fight because they are not human aggressive. A fighting dog has to be able to be handled by humans safely. The problem was that because they were used to fight and often did this well drug dealers got them to protect their drugs. Gangs got them to increase their street cred and to fight them. As a result them became very popular. Many had to have one. People that have no business breeding dogs began to breed them. People that don’t know anything about dog training began to train them. They were taught to be aggressive through abuse. That made them dangerous. The inbreeding also has an affect. Being the most popular dog on the planet and outnumbering every other breed by a large margin lead to more dog bites from the breed. It is the number of dogs that causes it have more bites and having more bad owners.The other reason for the high numbers are that if there is a dog bite they label the dog a put bull. When in fact they have mislabeled boxers, mixed breeds, German shepherds, etc as pit bulls. Then the dog bite or fatality are linked to a breed like pit bull when it is something other than a purebred pit bull.

    I have nothing against the pit bull. it is just not my breed of choice. They are great loveable dogs. I do like many of the traits that I see in pit bulls. But I prefer a bigger dog. They are producing pit bulls that are much larger now. But the reality is they had to cross a larger breed dog in their to get that size and therefore it is not a real pit bull. Then they have to lie on the dog’s paperwork and say it is a pedigree dog.

  296. PITBULLS ARE TAINTED TO BE BAD DOGS, BUT THEY ARE ADORABLE AND SWEET. THE PITBULL TENDS TO BE DANGEROUS WHEN THEIR IGNORANT OWNERS TREAT THEM TO BE VICIOUS. THAT IS WHY THEY NAME THEM THE #1 DOG THAT IS BAD. I DONT AGREE WITH THIS AND I SHALL STAND BY MY BABY OREO AND ALL OTHER PITS THAT ARE THERE.!!!!!!!! 🙂 <3

  297. My Pitbull Sturgis is so dangerous everyday his about licks me to death – real killer – LOL

    He is a rescue that was rough around the edges – but has turned into a GREAT dog!!!

    His brother Buster (a cat) likes his brother too………………..

  298. Dobermans are a loyal part of your family, they are highly intelligent and loving. Any breed of dog is what you make it, if
    you dont socialize early, teach them proper behavior early and give them lots of love, then you may end up with a dangerous dog if train it for that……

  299. A friend of mine was riding his motorcycle and found a dead pit bull with a just born pup. He put the pup in his shirt pocket and brought it home. That pup grew up to be the best dog I have ever been around.

  300. Socialization of any dog breed is a necessity. The reason Pit Bulls are #1 is that drug dealers, etc. train them to be aggressive. Most of them that are socialized from an early age can be wonderful pets. The whole breed of Staffordshire Terriers gets a bad rap for this unfortunately. We have a Doberman/Weimaraner mix who weights in at 86 LBS. When we travel in our motorhome, all the little dogs in the parks will bark like crazy when they pass our site, and Barkley will just lay there on his doggy bed and look at them like they are crazy..Best dog we have ever had!

  301. I have to say, it definitely depends on the breed of dog AND the personality. You can have a well trained dog and provide a loving home but ANY dog can become aggressive or even turn on it’s owner. My daughter who was 10 at the time was staying at a friends house and the Great Dane they had seemed to have been completely fine around my daughter since the house had 4 kids all under the age of 13. The parents were not worried at all about their dog being around other children. My daughter was sitting on the sofa minding her own business and this dog just came up and bit her face! Her friend witnessed the whole thing and was horrified and completely shocked that her dog did that! Another example is my parents had a Rottweiler, named Cheyenne, that was well trained, smart and loving. Never any problems with her. One day my dad’s friend, who’s been over to their house numerous times in the past and has had plenty of contact with Cheyenne, was just talking to my dad and Cheyenne for whatever reason came over nonchalant and bit his hand. She didn’t even show any signs of dislike or that she was about to bite him. It was so strange! Needless to say Cheyenne became unpredictable and couldn’t be trusted. My parents could not explain why the dog as she got older was becoming more aggressive except that we found out she had cancer and it might have affected her mentally. Just like people, dogs too can have mental health problems that go unnoticed or undiagnosed until they do something out of the ordinary.

  302. great Danes are just big. my parents ( almost in their 70’s) have one named Harley. never had a problem. Now some strangers takes a bit to warm up but once you do its like hes your friend for life. Hes just intimidating.

  303. I was a groomer for many years. I had contact with all the breeds on this list, and I disagree. All these breeds are fine, the bigger dogs I’ve never had a problem with, ever. It was the small breeds that we had to be on guard every minute! My coworker was bitten hard by a Bishon (hospital trip, stitches involved). And I was bitten by a small poodle that was incredibly painful, also had stitches. I agree with the mailman’s version of Yorkie’s, too. But, all in all, it is in how a dog is raised that determines its demeanor!!! I cannot stress that enough! This list is bull, though.

  304. How about they do a study on the owners of these breeds and not the breed themselves! Any dog can be aggressive but most of the time its the idiot owners fault. I have had 2 Rottweilers, one Rotti mix,one Shepard mix and my sister has had 4 Pit Bulls all were excellent dogs not aggressive to anyone. How about a study on how well all these 10 dog breeds can be with the right family intead of calling them dangerous?

  305. Remember this is a 20 year study. Even 66 deaths related to a bread of dog is actually really low and without more information we don’t know how these deaths occurred. We have a Pit Bull cross that is protective of its’ surroundings, but once a person is okayed by us, she is the most loving animal. I can see were if not treated and trained right, how the pit bull can be considered aggressive, but that falls on the owner and not the individual dog.

  306. Listing Great Danes really made me suspicious. Yes, there are Danes that will bite, and a bite from a Dane would be worse than a bite from a Chihuahua. For a more balanced view, see (also from the AVMA) https://www.avma.org/KB/Resources/LiteratureReviews/Pages/The-Role-of-Breed-in-Dog-Bite-Risk-and-Prevention.aspx

    At the end of the AVMA article is this statement: “Breed is a poor sole predictor of dog bites. Controlled studies reveal
    no increased risk for the group blamed most often for dog bites, ‘pit
    bull-type’ dogs. Accordingly, targeting this breed or any
    another as a basis for dog bite prevention is unfounded. As stated by
    the National Animal Control Association: “Dangerous and/or vicious
    animals should be labeled as such as a result of their actions or
    behavior and not because of their breed.”

  307. Pit Bulls are NOT aggressive unless you train them to be that way. They used to be well known as “nanny dogs” because their temperament makes them so very good with children. I’ve owned one and known several others and I have never met any Pit Bull that wasn’t incredibly sweet natured. They simply get a bad reputation because some people train them to be mean.

  308. The article stated correctly on every other dog that aggressive nature was due to the owners and how the animals were trained EXCEPT the Pit Bull. Why? PREJUDICE! These are loving caring loyal animals if brought up and trained correctly! My 12 yr old pit bull has never so much as snarled at anyone! She greets all other dogs with a sniff and kiss, even strangers.

  309. A lot of comments about dog brains on here. I’ve got news for you, any dog is what you make it. When you see those gang bangers allowing a Pit to drag them down the street on the end of a chain big enough to tow a tank he is sending a message unfortunately the dog is getting a message at the same time.

  310. I read this article knowing what the end result would be but in these statistics you didn’t talk about the ownership of these dogs-the pit-bull. These dogs are raised by most owners to fight and guard. I have a pit-bull who is the sweetest dog I have ever had and we know the potential of aggressiveness. He loves to cuddle and lick and in the end he is the most lovable dog I have ever had. Sorry you didn’t say that in your article.

  311. I have had several breeds on this list as pets. I currently own a pit bull and a catahoula pit. My previous dogs were a Chow, a chow/lab cross, a german shepard, and a rotweiler. I also once owned a Irish setter, one of the stupidest dogs I ever saw! My rotty was a puppy when we got him, he was “trained” by my pekenese! She was boss, and he obeyed! He was protective of us, but not mean. Once when we were gone a friend of my son’s came into the yard, played with him a while and then tried to leave. He wouldn’t let him. Didn’t hurt him, just blocked him from leaving. When we came home he was still there, getting loved on. Our chow was sweet, a loving girl who wanted to mother ever other animal. Our shepard was a sweet, intelligent boy and our chow/lab had a chow’s coat, lab body and lab atitude. Our current dogs are rescues, as were all the others. The pit has to be contained in a electrified run, not because he is mean, but because he kills cats and lost his last home when his neighbors were up in arms over it. He is a big lover. Our catahoula/pit was rescued from a puppy mill, had given birth, was only a year old, and can’t control her “licker”! She just loves to lick you everywhere! Both are obedient and sweet. I never left little children with any of my dogs unsupervised. One of my neighbors kids was badly malled by a English springer spaniel. Oh, and I also used to have dachsunds and of course my Contessa, the pekenese. She was my top dog, smart, sweet, good traveler, lived to 11 and died of cancer. The dachsunds were sweet til you turned your back. Then they would tear up the house.

  312. 1) how does a well-groomed Great Dane pose less of a risk than a smelly one?
    2) I take exception to the placement of ‘pit bull’ on this list because, now pay attention hopeless feeb who wrote this…a PIT BULL IS NOT A BREED!!! When you say pit bull you are referring to any breed of dog that was used in the days of pit fighting when various breeds of dogs, including English Bull Dogs, Staffordshire Terriers, English Bull Terriers, etc.

    So when you classify ‘pit bull’ on your list, you are basically displaying you have little or no idea of what you’re talking about. Now back to the statement regarding a ‘well-groomed’ Great Dane…?

    And the 66 fatalities you attribute to ‘pit bulls’ are often the result of negligent/abusive owners who permit their dogs to run at large or come into contact with an unsuspecting public. These are strong dogs with a terrier’s tenacity, but their temperament is far from aggressive and if you research the temperament testing that’s been performed on this breed you’ll see that it scores higher than many of your ‘family friendly’ breeds.

  313. A really stupid list. There are over 100 pitbulls for every St. Bernard. By this logic the pitbulls should have killed 600 people to equal St. Bernards.

  314. German Shepherds are not dangerous dogs! They are great family dogs, love kids and are very loyal. The only dangerous GSDs are trained to be dangerous: to bad guys!!

  315. as a chihuahua owner i’ll say that chihuahua is the most aggressive breed of dogs. The only reason you don’t hear about it is because they don’t do much of a damage and some people even embarrassed to say they were attacked by Chihuahua.
    but if you’ll get pitbull with the Chihuahua mentality, you got a killer on your hands

  316. A pitbull isn’t really that bad I knew #1 was going to be a pitbull so many people discrimante these dogs and I just don’t think it’s right why blame the dog when it’s the owners fault for how they raised the dog yes there fighting dogs but thats bc when they’re young they’re around dog fights and they learn that dog fight are good a dog is basically like a child if your raise it around bad stuff or teach it to do bad stuff then they’ll think it’s right to do that I’m not saying y’all are blaming the dog I’m just saying for anyone out there that thinks Pitbull are the worst dogs out there and discrimante these beautiful dogs for what people teach them to do these dogs (Pitbulls) are my favorite dog breed and I just think it’s wrong how many people discrimante these beautiful dogs

  317. My 3 Rottweiler’s surrounded the fed ex driver, He said wow what do your feed them? I said the ups driver. He laughed and gave them treats. They have never hurt anyone. Best dogs I have ever had

  318. Pit bulls are dangerous as they turn on their owners more than any other breed – GS, and I have owned many over the years are very protective of their area and fatalities are usually criminals that have no business trying to harm their owners –

  319. I find it interesting this article defends each breeds “aggressiveness” by pointing out it comes from poor training from humans, then when it comes to the “pit bull” the tone changes. It is the dog’s fault and it is naturally aggressive, which is incorrect.

  320. Typically large dogs are dangerous because they can go for the throat. Little mutts you just kick them if they try to byte. I’ve had a rot lunge at me good thing the stupid owner had a leash on it. I’ve also had a Shepard stalk crawl to byte with the stupid owner holding him. Ive also had this weird lab mixed with something try to byte me and I fought it off with an umbrella then the next day I got the owner in trouble with the law. I also had a chow come at me witch I fought off with a street cone. Dogs are just stupid animals that’s all there highly territorial and any dog can byte.

  321. Any dog can be dangerous given the right circumstances. Much of it is in the ownership. Dogs tend to take on the personalities of their human companions. If the owner is mean and aggressive, chances are the dog will be, too.

  322. There’s only one dangerous dog breed. It’s one bred by hateful and evil people. All dogs living would be loving and great children if raised proper. Cats too. 🙂

  323. I am a doberman owner. I also know several other dobie owners and without exception, they state that the doberman is one of the calmest, loving and playful dogs to own. They love to stick to their owners. And I do mean stick – like velcro. I agree with the loyalty statement. The only time my dobie acts the least bit aggressive is when he senses that I’m being threatened. Then he barks (loudly) and shows his teeth and that scares them off.

  324. A completely inaccurate list to start with and the “author” should have put some deeper thought into what they classify as dangerous. But what they seemed to miss completely was the No. 1 most dangerous dog in the World and it doesn’t even require much research.

    The worlds most dangerous dog is the one with a bad owner.

    It’s terrible articles like this that terribly inform the wrong people (those going to yahoo for their information) and it’s those people that seem to have an effect on legislature and local law. Sad display of irresponsible journalism if you ask me.

  325. What I get from reading the thread is that too many dog owners are dumber than their pets, and have no blooming idea how to handle them. They conveniently allow anecdotal information and wikipedia to be their sole source of information, then act all surprised when little Cujo acts out.

  326. Most dog bite victims are children. It’s not just dogs that need to be trained, it’s also kids that need to be trained. Too many times I’ve had screaming children run up to me and my dag while we’re out for a walk. They want to pet the doggie. Children should be taught to never approach a dog they don’t know and that includes those out for a walk on leash. They need to understand that the world is not their petting zoo and people out for a walk may not appreciate being mobbed by screaming kids.

  327. I’m sixty-five and on my third Pit Bull. All females.
    It took me a while to see it, but my first one wanted to intimidate people. At eighty-five pounds, she was good at it. Otherwise, very friendly to everyone. I don’t think the second one ever so much as barked at anyone. There’s a neighbor several houses down who has a Pit and she’s just a baby. Incredibly friendly. The one I have now is very protective around the house. What she wants is to run everyone off. Her attitude is assertive.
    The problem with many people is they can’t tell the difference between a dog that is being assertive and one that will bit you. If it barks at you, you think the worst. And, not recognizing a dogs behavior, you can make matters worst.
    If a dog runs at you, do not wave your arms, shout, or kick at it. If a dog absolutely intends on biting you, there is ‘nothing’ you can do to discourage it. On the other hand, you can create conditions to cause a dog to bite you.
    If dogs could speak, what most dogs would be saying is, “Leave now”. Do just that. Calmly. Being calm is a key here. Anything beyond that just excites the dog more.
    Ya’ll have a nice day.

  328. The dog I knew that’s bitten the most people by far was a bishon. That thing was evil. Yet we have a pit bull/lab mix that is a real lover. The only danger she’d pose is if she licked you to death. We had a rabbit in the yard the other day that ran out of a bush–the rabbit ran one way and Shadow ran the other! She hardly fits the stereotype!

  329. The only dangerous thing I see here is a writer that knows nothing of dogs. This is written in such a manner that is says stay away from these dogs. I know many people with every breed listed here and not just one or two people. I would not hesitate to leave a child of any age with any of these dogs. The kids would be far safer with the dogs than without. Another meathead trying to be writer and gets it totally wrong.

  330. ALWAYS PUTTING THE LABLE ON PITBULLS!!!! You want to really know the most dangerous dogs. They are the ones on the other end of the leash, THE OWNERS. You can put any dog breed on the end of an irresponsible owner and they can make that dog into the most aggressive dog breed. This article is bull crap. I’ve been bit by my former Rottweiler, I was chased and bitten by a Dalmatian, my buddies face was torn up by a Chihuahua but the two PITBULLS (one an American Stratfordshire Terrier) and the other my current dog (an American Bulldog/Pitbull mix) never once went after a human. They will both defend their owner & their property but have never “attract” another human. Put it this way, what’s the most dangerous gun??? The one in the hand of an irresponsible owner.

  331. and to think the pitbull was considered the nanny dog back in the day and was the dog on the little rascals around all those kids. love that they didn’t mention that it’s the owners who turn them vicious and yes i know some dogs are just vicious no matter what you do

  332. When you think about, even at 66 for a pit, guns still kill more innocent children than any dog whether by accident or murder. I bring this up because so many communities what to ban certain breeds because so many children/people die from these dogs. 66? Guns kill more than that but no one would dare to ban guns. Stop breed specific legislation!!!!

  333. Im not sure who makes up these lists, or what the situation was when the person was bit. If it is not your dog or or if your child should approach a strang dog, as a parent do not let this happen!. I have own a lot of these so called dangerous breeds and have never had this problem. You must train your dog and peple need to use their heads if it is not your dog.

  334. So why do you put a disclaimer about other breeds but not the pit bull. There owners are the reason for there aggression. Did you know the dog on the little rascals was a pitbull. They are extremely loyal. They were originally called the nanny dog until we humans screwed it up. As a dog person you should know this. Maybe you shouldn’t be writing about dogs.Some of the smallest dog are a lot more aggressive than all the dog you’ve mentioned. they bite.

  335. Guess I’m lucky. Mine’s a red heeler mix but since she is unique looking and has a fairly wild dog appearance (she’s part dingo), people can’t quite place her and are wary when they go by my place. I think that’s a good thing. Truth is, she has no aggressiveness at all. The barking she does is a greeting and a wish to play which she does constantly.

  336. figures they would put the Pit Bull as #1. They used to be what was called a Nanny dog, for babysitting children. When will people learn that it isn’t the breed, it’s the owner. I have 3 large breed dogs, Ger. Shep, Chow Chow and Husky/Shep mix and not one of them would dare bite someone. They are also very good with the 7 cats that live here. Seems to me that a small dog is more likely to bite out of fear than a large dog will.

  337. dogs are only mean and agressive if you train them to be that way! if any of these deaths occurred when the dog was protecting his master it shouldn’t count, i have 2 chihuahuas and they would fight to the death for me!!!

  338. i agree its not the breed its the deed! Owners need to take more responsibility for the actions of thier dogs and how they raise them. A parent is responsibile for thier children and how they behave and they should be with thier dogs also. Of course with the proper training, socialization and care any dog can be a great pet. That is without saying that the breeds line is good. Some breeders are not so ethical, they do a ‘line breeding’ (which is nothing more than a watered down version of inbreeding) and they dont do it correctly. Some places i have heard just try to preserve the look to much, like La Historia dogo argentino mastiffs. They do a line breeding and try to preserve the look of the dog to much. My nieghbor down south got one and it was supposed to be a family dog but came to them very aggressive as a 10 week old puppy. They are not suppossed to be that way at that age unless you encourage that type of behavior. Some breeders dont care they are just out for the money no matter what they say, these people from what i was told very rude and nasty, not professional in any would never buy dog from them. So it just shows that the line of dog is just as important as the rest of it. But a good line and good training all types of dogs can be great family pets.

  339. Pit bulldogs should be bred out of existence as there is no need for this animal at all. It is bred to kill and makes a very poor guard dog because it will attack anything and anyone in an instant if they even appear to threaten them. Once it attacks you, it will not stop until it is satisfied that you are no longer a threat, which usually means that you are dead. It is irrational and cannot make a good judgment as to what your intentions are and any odd movement will set it off.They should destroy all pit bulls and ban them from the planet.

  340. At least this article put the blame where it belongs……on the dog’s owners! We have had 3 Siberian Huskies now and I have never seen any aggression in any one of them because we trained them correctly!

  341. This was the most poorly written and biased article I have ever read. Basically, the writer has excuses for every single breed’s aggression, and in the case of several breeds that made this top 10 most FATAL list, the writer considers those dogs NOT dangerous because their fatalities are under 10! Unbelievable. He recommends owning ALL of these dogs, basically, and blames any fatalities on other circumstances.

    You don’t have to be dog-hater to realize this article was absolutely useless. I love dogs, but Jesus, be honest, and be even-handed.

    Also, I’m sick of these other people commenting that little dogs like chihuahuas are the aggressive ones. We hear this frequently, but it is b.s. Not only do they attack less than the big dogs, but of course, they are not capable of causing the damage that the larger, stronger, dogs can cause. Stop knocking, and lying about, the little dogs, as if that makes your pit bulls and Rottweilers and Great Danes and German Shepherds any safer.

  342. It’s all in the owner except wolves. They need their pack. They will guard family as ‘pack’. They start off okay and then slowly revert to their wilder ways. Like try to take my sons bike, that’s pack properties… I once saw some uppity people with a small dog in a baby stroller outside a bar on a patio. Being the biker type that I am I ask ‘does it bite’? ‘Yes’ I said ‘I figured so, looking at you two yuppies’

  343. Whoever wrote this doesnt nkw much about dogs, especially pits. The fatalities include ‘pit mixes’ and just about any mongrel will be called a ‘pit mix’. I have two pits, a pitnard (yes some moron bred a pit with a st bernard) and a german shepherd. The biggest danger they pose is as tripping hazards and dog-jams, or when a 90 pounder decides there really is room enough in the chair for mom AND him. All you can see is the top of my head and my feet.

  344. i finally got a english bulldog i had 6 dogs and they all love to walk this dog after 1 month of walking now hides every time it sees the leash.Love my pitbull hate the bulldog useless

  345. Ok as a previous owner of wolves and wolf dog hybrids I have to say wolves I never had a problem with even with my very young children and would trust a wolf over any of these dogs any day as long as raised from a very young age and treated with love. However the cross is not good with a dog. Wolves are very intelligent and when crossed with a dog you have the natural prey drive of the wolf but sad to say something about the dog part seems to make them not so intelligent ( not to try to upset any dog owners and not saying that dogs are not smart because they are) just some how the dog part can’t manage to control the prey drive. But then again it goes back to the owner you have to understand what you have and how to handle it and treat it. Miss treat a wolf and you will pay dearly for it they can be a killing machine. But the hybrid cross is very dangerous. Would never have one around a child you never know when that dynamite stick will go off.

  346. I’ve owned many dogs over the years, and some big ones. I’ve had mixed breed airedales, shepherds, huskies, and now a pit bull mix. All have been “snuggle bunnies” that think they’re 70 lb. “lap dogs.” None of them has ever even barked at another dog, even when the other dog was barking at them. They’ve played with cats, and even sat placidly while rabbits and squirrels move around them. Show a dog love, and it will be a loving critter.

    The small dogs are the most annoying, with their “yip, yip, yipping.” They all seem to have the “Napoleon Complex.”

    The problem with pure breeds is just that: their breeding. They are so in-bred that they are virtually retarded. That’s why I’ve exclusively owned female mutt rescue dogs for the last forty years, and I’ve never had an issue with any of them.

  347. As someone who owned two pit bulls, who died of old age and who were both terrific dogs, I wonder if the stats on the bites were limited to family dogs or did they include dogs that were trained to fight and/or attack by drug dealers for example. I find pit bulls to be intelligent and people friendly. They were bred to fight dogs, not to attack people. My dogs were great around small children. In fact, people who did not recognize the breed (because their ears and tails were not clipped) always commented on friendly their were and were shocked to find out they were hugging pit bulls.

  348. This article is a joke and the writer should be ashamed of herself. Where exactly did she get her “facts” in her study? All this article is going to do is feed into the stereotype of the pit bull. You say you love dogs, but then you post this BS article? There are no such thing as dangerous dog breeds and all your doing is giving these wonderful breeds of dogs a bad name. Shame on you Ali Waller.

  349. I hate articles like this for this reason. It does nothing but feed the hype that pit bulls are dangerous.

    Pit bull is the common name for a TYPE of dog. Formal dog breeds often considered of the pit bull type include the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier and American Pit Bull Terrier. The APBT is the only breed with the word “Pit” in it. The American Bulldog, Bull Terrier (Miniature) and Bull Terrier are also sometimes included.

    The term pit bull is often used loosely to describe dogs with similar physical characteristics, and the morphological (physical) variation amongst “bully breed” dogs makes it difficult for anyone, even experts, to visually identify them as distinct from “non-pit bulls”. While mixed breed dogs are often labeled as “pit bulls” if they have certain physical characteristics such as a square shaped head or bulky body type, visual identification of mixed breed dogs is not recommended by the scholarly community.

  350. Shouldn’t the numbers be adjusted to take into account how many of each dog breed exists? If all dog breeds had the same human agression you would then have the most popular breeds at the top of the list. There are many more pit bulls than Great Danes, so of course pit bulls are going to be on the list. But in temperament tests pit bulls were among the least human agressive breeds. Chihuahuas were among the most human agressive breeds. The reason big breeds are dangerous isn’t that they bite more, it’s that their mouths cause more damage per bite.

  351. I like the fact that at the end of each description, they put that their reasoning for being on the list was due to their size or poor handling and lack of training of their owner. The aggressive nature of the pit has probably earned his spot at number 1. But part of it is not the dogs fault. It’s largely because of how the owner chooses to use the dog and how he treats it. We have a pit. He’s white and his name is spike. Previous owners named him that. He is the sweetest, well natured dog that you can imagine. My husband and I educate our kids on how to respect the space of a dog and how to treat them. From the biggest to the smallest. Our dogs have manners and know their place. Spike is great with our other dogs, I have boxers, he never bothers our cows or horses or any of our neighbors various animals. But the difference with Spike is that he was raised right from the start. I do realize there are dogs that are just off and won’t ever make a good family pet. God has been so good to us and blessed us with the best natured dogs.
    Below is a picture of spike. He’s bird watching while we are taking our walk. No leash or collar needed.

  352. I was waiting for the very vicious pitbull to be on the list….when I go home tonight I must tell my very loving and sweet pittes that they are slackers.

  353. This morning my pittie was trying to “bite” her 12 pound beagle sibling who happens to be the top dog in the house. Everytime the beagle gave my pittie the evil eye she would jump back and spin around with her legs tucked under her butt…I just shook my head…I said you do realize you weigh like 75 pounds right? Terrified of a 12 pound beagle…lol

    1. We call that Joey’s crazy boy run, he does that when he plays with our neighbors petite Bichon female. She will “stalk” him when he lays down while playing with her, and then comes the crazy boy run in the front yard. Yep, a real threat and ghetto hound.

    2. I said in a previous post that our 50 lb. baby pittie is afraid of the 12 lb. cats. They hit him on the head when he gets to close. He plays nicely with the younger female rat terrier, the older rattie just stares at him like he’s crazy, and she saunters away.

  354. You DO realize that “Pit Bull” isnt a specific breed… its a General Term used for dog fighting… Rottweilers, German Shepperds, and Dobermans are also known to be “Pit Bulls”

    The dog you CLAIM is the “Deadliest Dog” is actually a Staffordshire Terrier and if you did ANY research youd know that they arent actually all that aggressive, and it has to do with the raising of the animal and the training. Just like any other dog..

  355. This is just my opinion…so take it with a grain of salt if you wish.

    I’ve seen “aggressive” breeds that are as sweet as can be, and I’ve seen “gentle” breeds as mean as can be. I’ve seen this caused by people who don’t socialize with their pet, abuse their pet, and where people treat their pet like a human.

    A dog is an animal and should be treated as such. This means it should be most importantly socialized and trained. You cannot abuse a pet or not socialize a pet and expect it to act or re-act in a gentle manner. They eventually will re-act aggressively in self-defense or mis-interpreting an action taken near it. You treat a dog like a human, and you are setting an unrealistic expectation of how an animal will act in any given situation. All of these are simply irresponsible.

  356. The fatality statistics are based on how long of a time period…10yrs, 1 year, 50 years ? The author should have cited that and from where the stats were taken.
    I have a small 15 lb Westie, he would be a force to be feared if he were 100 lbs.

  357. I have owned German Shepherds for my entire life. In the 9 dogs I have had, all of which would have laid their lives down for me and the family, not one of them bit anyone. Two did connect with a hand when the person holding the stick did not let go of it, but that does not count. But GSD and Rotties and dobermans are bred to be protection dogs, and as such, they will protect and the main way a dog knows how to protect is with their teeth. Good dog!

  358. This is ridiculous. No where did it mention that Pit bulls get bad reputations for the kind of people who want these dogs as pets, and train them to be mean! Dogs are like children, they come into the world innocent. It is their owner, their environment, lack of training that causes them to get a horrible reputation!

  359. Why is the Wold-Dog hybrid the only one without the number of fatalities? Also they should have given the population of each kind of dog relative to the number of fatalities . I would be more interested in knowing the number bitings by each breed relative to their population. In the 1970’s Cocker Spaniels were responsibe for the most bites. They were also the most popular breed.

  360. I don’t understand why you explain away all of the other breeds statistics as being something other than being a dangerous dog breed EXCEPT pit bulls. Why such a small bit of info on pit bulls? You really should provide some of the positives about this incredible breed of dog.

    I’m sure this article will help convince people that are adopting a dog to consider adopting a pit bull. It’s not like the dog pounds aren’t brimming with the breed. A breed that consistently tests very high on the intelligence scale and also make very loyal and gentle companions based on my 25 years of owning them.

    Ridiculous article.

    Dr. Stephen Sardino MD

  361. BULLCRAP!! The only dangerous breed is man. Dogs learn from their owners and if you encounter a bad dog…there’s a bad owner close by. Truth Hurts

  362. I have a Malamute/ Wolf mix named Chewy who’s about 4 years old. I rescued him from a shelter a year ago. I also own a terrier mix and 2 cats and a turtle all of which interact and even play with Chewy. He has never once shown signs of aggression towards anything tho he is skittish towards strangers. I guess my point is that it depends on the dog and how you train them

  363. This article’s title is a misnomer. It says BITES and fatalities. No, this is only about fatalities. If bites were included, the list would be completely different.

    It would also have been nice if the writer had mentioned that pit bulls are another breed where bad treatment causes bad behavior. Pit bulls are typically very sweet, loving dogs. The problem is that their bite is so strong, when one goes crazy because of a bad owner, the results are almost always tragic.

    1. I might have missed why you are calling owner responsibility ridiculous but in general when you raise and teach a pet like a dog you do hold the responsibility. If I said every time I hear of a jerk their name is Shelley than I would also be a fool. The reality is certain people take advantage of an animals attributes like willingness to please and use it for bad. I apologize if I misunderstood what you meant but if you are meaning what I think you are a bigot in training.

    2. Th owners of the dogs are most always to blame,Just like guns.My mastiffs have never harmed a soul and none of my 30 plus guns ever committed a crime,much less a murder.
      Mike Vick’s dogs would not have set up a dog fighting ring o their own,they would have simply sniffed each others arses,and moved along.

  364. We have a Saint Bernard, along with a Newfoundland, an English Mastiff and a Bernese Mountain Dog. Over the years, the wife and I’ve owned one other Saint, three other Newfs and a Great Pyrenees. All giants and all as gentle and friendly as can be. With my ex, I had several Malmutes. My son has German Shepherds. The only dog bites any of us have suffered have all come from little yappy dogs.

  365. Dangerous in what way ??? because they are huge ??? what a lame and stupid statement.. Have you ever been brutally attacked by any of these dogs you are condemning ?? Liar.

  366. They animals and have teeth so any of them can be dangerous and they can be gentle n I trust no pet around kids unattended period including humans but I love my pits

  367. Why is it that Pit bulls are so dangerous in just the USA? I think articles like this make all of the idiots I work with scared of my dog even though my Pit bull hasn’t ever even growled once and he’s 3. People make rotten animals like this idiot makes rotten articles. Skeezer

  368. Let’s put into consideration the fact that maybe there are so many pitbull attacks may be because they are over bred. The more pitbulls, the more reports of bites there will be. I see way more pitbulls then freaking wolf hybrids or chows out there. We have had many different breeds of dogs in our family with pitbulls being the most well behaved and loyal of them all. The writer of this article defends every breed except pits. Originally known as nanny dogs, they are great with children. As with any animal, raise it right and you will have a wonderful pet.

  369. I have owned 3 Rots and 2 Dobs, each of which were loyal family dogs and would gladly die for any family member. only problem came a vets office when told the tech to muzzle my big rot cause he hatted being there, she refused and went to pet him and it was on. my wife and I took the bites though and when he saw what he had done he stopped,

  370. For all of you who know all ther is to know about pitbull’s may I suggest The book The Pit Bull Placebo: The Media, Myths and Politics of Canine Aggression by Karen Delise. A well researched book that looks at the reporting and then reports the truth. She goes through a 100 years of dog attacks in newspapers all over the country. She goes over the story and then delves into what wasn’t reported.

    This is available on Amazon as well as a few free downloads on other dog ( not pitbull) sites. This dog needs a press office. If you hate and fear them perhaps this won’t change your mind about them, but you will, at least this once, read some honest reporting about this breed.

  371. odd that they don’t list fatalities for the Wolfdogs, oh wait maybe cause there haven’t been any. Bites yes, deaths no. so why are they listed in this? Your more likely to get bit by a bird, hamster, or other small pet than a dog anyway.

  372. I’ve been around dogs most of my life – I’m near 50. In my experience – most dogs, if bred and socialized and cared for properly are capable of being good companions – some more capable than others of course. A lot of dogs that become problematic have been neglected – dogs need exercise and attention – or they’ve been abused. Or they have not been socialized properly – starting as a puppy they need repeated and varied supervised experience around all sorts of people of all ages, and other animals.

    I’ve had Huskies in the past. They are not a good choice for a pet for most people. They are smart but they are also independent and head strong. They need TONS of exercise or they will develop behavior problems. Also, I don’t know about death stats, but the two times I’ve been bitten by dogs, they were both Standard Poodles. So, I don’t trust them. And my experience with Dalmatians leads me to not trust them either – the ones I’ve encountered were unpredictable and seemed half crazy.

  373. So tired of pitbulls getting a bad wrap! they are the second most friendly dog next to labs! It’s the owner not the dog! Number one most dangerous dog is a chihuahua. More people are bit every year by those little rats than any other breed. think you need to do some better research

  374. As usual for these dog paranoia articles, they always quote the statistics out of context where the number or percentage of fatalities is listed but not the period over which the information was collected, which is somewhere between 20 to 30 years! 12, 20, 40 deaths due to a breed over period of 30 years? Count the number of car accidents that happened during that same period, I’m sure it will be in the thousands if not hundreds of thousands! Your chance of being killed by one of the breeds listed here is so remote, driving your kids to school is more dangerous!…

  375. Terrible article and the list is all wrong. Pit Bulls belong as #1, true, Rottweilers are also placed correctly at #2, but German Shepherds are not #3… I would put Dobermans at 3… Great Danes and St Bernards do not belong on this list. I’ve owned Danes for a lot of years, and they are very friendly (large but friendly and they like people). Some dogs that should be on this list as dangerous are other terriers and a lot of small breeds, as they are certainly more aggressive, more apt to bite (and to keep biting), etc. Poor research done on this one.

  376. All dogs are descendants of wolves. All dogs are like humans – some have bad genes, ugly habits: biting, attacking, barking, etc. The list of “bad dogs” provided here is insane, for the most part, but based on some sort of facts gathered by folks with nothing better to do. Wolf hybrids, for example, are not “50-50″% wolf/dog. A malamute is 50% wolf, 50% husky. I had hybrids of 80% Arctic wolf, 12% malamute, and 8% Siberian Husky (did a dna test) and they were the BEST pets I ever had. Take this article with a grain of sand, but please do believe that ANY dog can be dangerous, just like people. Thanks for reading this – I have professionally bred dogs for 60 years, and would rather live with dogs than most people.

  377. This list is pure fear mongering and propaganda…. Chihuahuas, poodles, dachshunds are more dangerous and have the highest likely hood of biting…. Pits it comes down to responsible ownership and training, as they typically score amongst the highest of all breeds in the temperament test, not only that they were americas dog in the middle 1900’s – i dont recall the little rascals ever getting attacked by petey …. the writers need to do some self educating, pits are known as “Nanny” dogs for a reason

  378. When the survey is talking about fatalities, they don’t say in what period of time the fatalities occurred. Is the figure for one year, one decade, what. Again, it’s all about the human being attached to the animal. This is an open-ended survey so it’s useless. Dogs are protective of their owners and families IF they are treated kindly and with good care. It’s people who are the problem here…not the dogs.

  379. NONE of these dogs are inherently aggressive; these are just the breeds that are capable of doing a lot of damage if they are abused or trained to become aggressive. The malamute is the only breed I have personal knowledge of having killed small children, and that is only because they were penned up/chained up for years and not fed, which makes them become aggressive. I used to think dobermans were aggressive because I’ve seen them do a lot of damage,. but then I met a young dobie at the dog park that is actually one of the wimpiest dogs there. Apparently it is only their training that makes them aggressive, as they are frequently trained as guard dogs. Pit Bulls are rather good-natured and good with kids; they only become dangerous if chained up and neglected or trained for fighting. Because of their strong jaws, they can do a lot of damage if they choose to — but if treated well, they will never choose to, except to protect their masters. Every dog I’ve owned would be extremely vicious to any person or animal it thought was attacking me (even my Dachshund!); I suspect in most cases of dog attacks, that is the explanation. In short, there are no dangerous breeds, only bad owners!

  380. Thought i would just mention that those who love pits and who probably take issue with this article, from my limited experience….you’re wrong. My limited experience had to do with my brother’s family and their adorable pit named muffin. Anyway, after three harrowing incidents, his friendly neighbors said they needed to give muffin to a rural farmer or have her down (and his neighbors are cool people).

  381. I tried to find the American Veterinary Medical Associations 20 year study on the “The most dangerous dog breeds based on biting and fatality statistics, and I found nothing of the sort.

    I didn’t dig to hard but I did find this and copy/pasted it directly from the AVMA website. What you see is a direct credible source study, not misinformation.

    Pit Bull types:

    “Owners of dogs that are identified by the community as ‘pit bull type’ may experience a strong breed stigma,44 however controlled studies have not identified this breed group as disproportionately dangerous.”

    Not disproportionately dangerous?

    This seems to directly contradict Ali Wallers story.
    Who am I to believe?

  382. Pit bulls are like guns, treated right and the gun is safe and fun to use. Treated wrongly and it can maim or kill you. my next door neighbor has a pit, biggest baby there is. but protective of the people he knows and is leery of strangers that don’t smell right. Only 1 person has the dog decided is not allowed over, not sure why but the dog does not approve.

  383. Funny how Pitties score highest on temperament tests, were called “nanny dogs” in the past, and have the most loyal, loving nature you can find. I think the only reason they are on this list at all is because people train them to be fighting dogs. Thanks for adding to the unnecessary fear though. I’m sure even more of these loving dogs will be put down just because of their breed. (I have a pitty and if anything, she’s a lap dog. She was there with both of my boys growing up and never gave me ANY cause for alarm)

  384. Presa Canarios arn’t even on the list?? I guess they haven’t caused enough fatalitys which is a good thing, however I laugh when people think pit bulls are the most dangerous. Any dog can be dangerous but I have several friends that own pitbulls and they are the friendliest dogs I have ever met. My neighbors presa is friendly too, but if you pull into the driveway and don’t know that the massive 130 pound dog that is barking viciously and charging at you isn’t gonna try to eat you, you would get back in your car and gtfo of there.

  385. lol, ridiculous. Dog bite fatalities directly correlate to the breeds popularity at a given time. At one time, German shepherds were one of the most popular breeds……. when they were popular, they were labeled as number 1 in fatal bite statistics! Why? Because they were the most popular dog in the country, couldn’t turn a corner without seeing one. With so many shepherds…….. of course they would have more fatal bites than, say, a Tibetan terrier in todays world……simply because there were more GSDs! . This is true of all dogs on your list…. and in the last 10 years or so…. “pit bulls” (not really a breed but a group of breeds) have become the most popular breed due to sheer numbers! Again, dog bite fatality statistics are directly related to how many of a breed there are, vs other breeds.

  386. A pit bull? A “pit bull” is not a breed of dog, unless you are specfically referring to the American Pit Bull Terrier, which then excludes the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, the American Bulldog, the Bulls Mastiff, and the Cane Corso. You listed actual breeds for all the other dogs. Why didn’t you group the husky and the malamute into “sled dogs”? Either list all the separate breeds in the order they should be in or shut up. I want accuracy. I am willing to concede that if actually broken out by actual breed, those breeds might all be listed, bumping off the Saint Bernard and the Great Dane and the others at the bottom. But I want to see a factual list.

  387. Stupidest list ever. This is more like a list of every large dog breed that has ever caused a fatality. If they were really listing anything based on biting (as the headline states) then there would be more of a mix. A lot of smaller breeds are more prone to attacking and biting than these breeds.

  388. I’m sorry to say that the pits I have owned and have been around are the most gentle dogs I have ever had. As a matter of fact, I have been bitten twice by a dog and both times it was a small dog!

  389. This is ridiculous. Bashing all these breeds is doing that – just bashing the breeds. We dont know the circumstances or temperament of any of the dogs that have bitten people or animals. Bashing small breeds just ruins the chances of them getting adopted when really, theyre the best breed there is (own one), know many. Saying “oh my chi bit someone, my pit didnt), just ruins the chi breed. Its not okay. And i love pits and big breed dogs. But saying my small dog is more likely to bit someone is ruining small breed adoptions. Im a shelter volunteer and have met and loved many breeds, pits and chis included. All sweet dogs, german shepherds, dobermans, chows, mastiffs, all sweet but people think theyre mean. This “study” is bogus. You dont know the circumstances or temperament of the animals. A “bite study” isnt gonna keep me from wanting a pit or a german shepherd. The only thing that would keep me from getting a dog of a certain breed, is whether theyre a good fit for my family or not. All breeds are good dogs.

  390. Pit Bulls only represent less than 10% of the canine population but are responsible for the vast majority of vicious attacks and fatalities. They should be eliminated entirely !

  391. Really dumb list, any dog can bite. Unfortunately the large breeds are capable of more damage do to the size of their mouth and teeth.Also, I am real tired of seeing a dog bite listed as an attack. One bite does not constitute an attack!

  392. Out of all the hundreds of comments posted about pit bulls, why is it not one homeowner or renter with a pit bull ever mentions the fact or gives advice that it is or nearly is impossible to get a homeowners or renters insurance policy without your pit bull being excluded? Undesirable dog is the wording for the exclusion insurance carriers use. And being a responsible dog owner, insurance is a must. It could cost thousands and thousands of dollars if being sued without it. This is something most readers on this site would probably like to know before getting a pit bull or some other kind of so-called undesirable dog as listed by insurance companies. I know I would have.

  393. Big dogs have the decked stacked against them in these articles, not because they are more aggressive, but because their larger mouths can do more damage. Many small breeds are more aggressive but their small mouths can’t inflict a serious injury so it is called “nipping” and they get away with doing it. I volunteer at shelters and have been bitten by more small dogs than I can count. Only one large dog has bitten me, a panicked Labrador Retriever that went on to become a great pet. I also notice that you don’t list any statistics for the wolf hybrid. You apparently assume it will be dangerous because of the wolf blood, but in rural areas many dogs have some wolf blood and we never even know it. While living in Northern California I adopted a fluffy black floppy-eared dog who is a laid back sweetheart. I did a DNA test to find out her ancestry and were surprised that she is 25% wolf. She is 11 years old now and has never attacked anything besides a cheeseburger.

  394. This article is misleading… stats are based on total fatalities, not %. So dogs like pitbulls which number perhaps in the millions appear more aggressive, then say, a wolf-dog hybrid, but how many people have wolf-dogs? Hardly any. So the comparison is unfair. A weighted average based on how many dogs are bred annually would be needed to make a proper comparison.

  395. That picture is not of a pit bull. That blue & white dog has been crossed with American Staffordshire or possibly Neapolitan Mastiff to get the blue color. Most “pit bulls” are crossbred dogs, created by people wanting huge heads, huge bone structure. They are sold as “pit bulls” and misidentified as “pit bulls.” The American Pit Bull Terrier is extremely sensitive and yes, you can destroy one’s brain, unfortunately. Dog aggression is totally different from people aggression.

  396. This is silly. I could take a Springer Spaniel and train it to be the nastiest dog anyone has ever seen. I’ve seen Boston Terriers who wanted to chew faces off.

    Pitties get the rap because they look the part. They are almost predestined to be “the deadliest dog on the planet” because by default they LOOK that way. So, stupid humans that we are, we take the scariest looking dog and make them behave that way.

    It’s an odds thing.

  397. I’ve owned a few Dobermans, a Pit Bull and a Shih Tzu.

    That Shih Tzu was far more aggressive and a loose cannon than my other dogs combined. Never again with that breed.

    With that said the Dobermans and the Pit Bull were great guard dogs…the Doberman was a natural and exceptional guard dog, always alert, full of energy and watching my property. Calling a Doberman smart is an insult to how much of a genius this dog breed is. All of my Dobermans I’ve owned made the other breeds look dumb when intelligence is compared. It’s crazy that you can see them thinking and see them understanding & feeling things far beyond other dogs.

    The Pit Bull was everything I’ve always wanted in a dog.
    They can play all day and then play some more. I’m more of a get on the floor and push the dog around and grapple with it kind of owner and these dogs absolutely love this! Fearless to a fault they are. I love this breed and the reputation they have gotten from these thugs who don’t know how to cross the street properly but try to own a dog and fight it is absolutely insane that people are banning these wonderful dogs because of a problem with people not the breed.

  398. Ive read in numerous articles that the Chihuahua accounts for the most bites and aggressive behavior of any dog. But because they are so small they are always discounted, I shudder to imagine them as large as a Great Dane.

  399. This author doesn’t know what statistic are! This is only raw data on fatalities with little to no context. Without knowing the breeds population, these numbers are meaningless. What is more dangerous, a breed with two fatalities and a population of 1 million animals or a breed with ten fatalities and a population of 20 million animals? This article is about as close as you can get to pure crap!

  400. The most dangerous species is the human being. My guess is that your chances of being killed by a human being are greater than being killed by a dog. Choose your dog like you choose your friend. If you’re around either one very long, you’ll know whether you can trust him or not.

  401. After reading the comments I feel the need to add my 2 cents to your discussion. Having been around dogs of all sizes all my life I can agree that some small dogs do have aggressive personalities. What I cannot agree with is the idea that Pitts are not hardwired to be animal aggressive. Here are my experiences with pit bulls and bully mixes..
    I have had an attempted attack on a 13 yr old beagle by my neighbors pit. My dog was in my yard sleeping while I was gardening. The neighbors dog came out their backdoor and proceeded to walk about their side yard.
    My beagle raised up and looked at the pit. All seemed fine so I continued shoveling in the garden. I saw the pit start out of its yard and across the alley toward my yard. As he came he picked up speed. I placed myself between the pit and my dog all the while saying Zeus Stop No. Zeus go home. He gained a good bit of speed and was intent on my old beagle. Completely ignoring me. I pulled back the shovel and swung for the fence and knocked him down. He got up and I whacked him again. By this point I meant to stop him by any means necessary.
    The neighbor comes screaming out of his house which excites the dog further. I nail him again with the shovel. This dog evidently had a very high pain tolerance. By this point he is after me and I am jabbing and stabbing with the shovel. Dog nails me in the upper thigh. I jam the shovel into his snout. He keeps coming.
    Owner arrives to get his dog. He is screaming jerking on the dog by the collar. Finally he gets him drug to his garage and locks him in.
    Owner comes back to me offering assistance and apologies and offering to take me to Dr office to have my leg looked at.
    Police report was filed and I had 48 stitches. Dog was termed a dangerous dog. Had to wear a muzzle when outside. Had to be restrained while outdoors.
    Now.. I had lived beside these people since they got the dog as a pup. The dog had never shown aggression in the 2 years they had him toward myself or my dog before. The dog had been outside to relieve itself and totally ignored my beagle and myself.I had been in the dogs environment many times and all visits were fine.
    The dog was owned by an older adult couple who had a Dobie previously. They are not bad owners. The dog was never abused. The dog had been to training. The dog was vetted. The dog had a good life.
    My point is the dog was unpredictable. What set him off that day. No one knows. I do know that a year later he got out of the house and disembodied a neighbors mixed breed. The owners then had him put down.
    So everyone out there who says it’s bad owners not bad dogs. I beg to differ.
    And yes.. while I was hitting that dog with the shovel I was hoping to land a killing blow. Just to make it stop.

  402. Ok, you mention in each one that their aggressive behavior is due to poor training, but when you get to the pit it’s just, oh the dog is dangerous. NOT FAIR and is a bunch of bul!!! Just like any other dog, a lot depends on how the owner raises the dog and what experiences this dog has been through and of course it’s breeding.

  403. my folks had a Rotweiller that was given to us fully grown (after it growled at the previous owner’s kid who had been sticking a pencil in its ear.) It was standoffish for a couple of days – which was scary – then turned into the sweetest mush around and we never had any issues with it. The previous owner must have done an incredible job training and socializing it – it could have just as easily been a disaster.

  404. Where the heck are you getting your statistics and breed information? Since when is the Doberman known as one of the most aggressive breeds ever? That’s absurdly false, lol. They don’t have as strong jaw power as many other working breeds, are AMAZING family dogs, and are very good with strangers. Of course, if you get a crappy pup from a crappy breeder, then don’t train or socialise it properly, you’re going to end up with a problematic dog, but that’s with ANY dog, duh.
    I’ve been active in competitive sports and confirmation rings for the past 7 years, and have met dozens, if not hundreds, of dobermans; not one had actually been a “dangerous” or “most aggressive dog ever”.
    This kind of crap is why we have BSL, and innocent dogs are being euthanized left, right, and centre. Stop breed discrimination.

  405. I don’t believe it is a true representation of any of the dog breeds. People that pick powerful or large breed dogs need to do their research and decide if this breed will fit into their lifestyle. They also need be willing to do the work it takes to exercise and train and be the pack leader for that animal.

  406. this article is just ridiculous. you cannot say that a “breed” is part of the reason a dog has bitten or killed. You need to look at the causal factors…ie. mother left infant baby in room unattended with nursing pitbull……by looking at causal factors and NOT breed alone would hold more legitimacy with me. You should be ashamed….you would think that someone who ran a site geared towards dogs would know better. SHAME ON YOU

  407. This article is based on a study done in the late 1980s at Penn State University Medical (specifically in the plastic surgery wing). It seems that bites on the face (plastic surgery) are more commonly caused by large dogs and not by the little ones that bite ankles.

  408. I was almost chewed alive by a saint bernard once. I believed the little cartoons about them carrying a medical aid kit and helping people lost in the snow. Boy, was I an idiot. That dog scared the bajeezes out of me.

  409. Pit bulls aren’t dangerous. I’ve had them my whole life. They are the most loyal and loving dogs a person could ever ask for. They have so much love to give, but all these idiots just want to fight them and beat them. I just hope that one day they will no longer be #1 on a list like this, much less even on a list like this.

  410. I have owned 3 of them and the most dangerous part of them was their tail. Getting whacked below the belt by one is no fun but I have never owned or even seen an aggressive, Dane.
    They are gentle giants.

  411. I have a rescue dane, now 8 years old. She will defend my right to be safe in my home, yard, and car. She is attached to my hip and I like her there. On the other hand, if I tell her it’s ok, she will immediately want you to scratch, rub, generally pet her. She is also #150 and all muscle. You really don’t want to threaten me.

  412. Chows are the worst. Totally unpredictable, no matter how long youve had them or your relationship with them. In the 80s I had 3 and was a registered AKC breeder, but their nature was too possessive. They are typically a 1 person dog. Of course the APBT was #1, even though Ive had several and found them to be among the least aggressive of the bigger dogs. They just bite harder and can kill easier, but I guess this is what this useless article was about. Cockers, chihuahua, poodles and chows are amongst the most aggressive, IME.

  413. “Pit bull” is not a breed and articles like this perpetuate stereotypes that all dogs with square-shaped heads are bad. You talk about how Shepherds and Dobies are on the list because they are often used as guard dogs, etc. But no mention of that here. I’m not surprised but still disappointed

  414. I have owned two Dobermans and had them until they eventually died of old age. They were by far the most gentle and least aggressive dogs I have ever owned. They were real sweethearts. I knew of a young man who raised Dobermans before I ever had one. He told me they were gentle. And they are! So I don’t buy for one minute that they are one of the most aggressive breeds. That is BS.

  415. The most dangerous dogs are those raised by “loving” people who make excuses for bad behavior and never train them. new age dog training has also not helped. Some force in training clearly communicates who is leading who. There is no equality in the mind of the dog. You either lead or follow and live with the consequences.
    New age animal psychologists are spreading much disinformation about dog psychology. The worst being that the theory of dominance is unnecessary to establish leadership and that the use of any negative reinforcement is cruel.
    No dog trained by a professional trainer of working dogs will just “snap”. In forty years of training I have never seen it happen. Why do people think the Alpha male and female are called dominant?
    Bad dogs are created by bad owners or breeders that never socialized their puppies properly. I would like to see a licensing system for breeders to show they know the difference between a genotype and a teletype.

  416. Pit Bull get a bad reputation because they are just owned by a lot of idiots who want to train them to be aggressive towards people. Pit bulls are not inherently human aggressive it has to be taught to them. They were breed to be animal aggressive and dogs human aggressive dogs were not used for breeding. This was because they had to be in a ring with humans when fought and handled by humans for hunting.

    Pit bulls should only be in the hands of responsible owners. My daughter is in love with our gentle pit bull.

  417. I like pits, over the years I’ve had 3. And somewhat thankfully, only one of the last two, the male brindle, had to be put down for ignoring his obedience training, by first digging under our fence and ending up mauling a distant neighbor’s Pug, who later died…

    Then, roughly 8 months later, he found another spot to dig and squeeze through the fence, then attacked some random person’s forearm, who luckily didn’t sue us…

    Thankfully, the first one we owned, a male, was pretty laid back and we had to put him down for terrible hip and joint problems in old age. And, at least the female of that last pair, was loyal to their training and never got in much trouble, that is, other than at times them both, chewing the rear patio posts, and occasionally fighting with each other when no one was home, or that one time the female attacked our Collie and Aussie Shepherd mix, thankfully causing only minor injury.

    That said, I have seen or personally known of other pits out on tears that could have easily turned tragic… So I’m just sorry, although I like pits overall, I have to say they are potentially very dangerous, particularly when alone with small kids who don’t quite understand when and how not to irritate them… Or, at times when around other dogs they barely know…

    However, the worst part, is whenever they manage to get out on the loose, and MOST especially when in packs of two or more, they tend to readily adopt a “pack” mentality, which can lead them to go on something akin to a feeding frenzy.

  418. I just knew pitties were going to be No. 1. Wrong, wrong, wrong. I’ve had 3, all my friends have them and all of them are rescues and have been abused. I don’t know where you got your statistics from but I’ve seen THREE that have pekes as the breed with most bites. They don’t cause death but the bite more often than not. It’s all about the owner. Pitties are totally loyal to their masters which gets them into trouble and is much to their detrient. As far as being born aggressive, BS. Many, many rescued pits from dog fighting have become service dogs. I saw one the other day that visits children in cancer wards and the elderly. All scarred up and laying on a child’s bed. They are just a dog that had the unfortunate fate to be bred with that jaw. Trust me, they are the best. 20 years ago before the fighting rings they were called Nanny dogs because people had them watching their kids. Aggressive and mean. I don’t think so.

  419. any dog can be aggressive and hurt or kill someone. Most of the time its the owners fault and not the dog. Train your dogs, ensure they socialize with other humans and other dogs

  420. Calling Ms.Waller is writer is urely a misnomer. The “information” on the breeds is minimal at best and phrases such as ” we totally recommend getting one”, read like the puerile drivel of an adolescent. Pit Bulls are BOT a breed. They are a group of dogs ranging from Bull Terriers to Staffies, so calling them the number one BREED responsible for anything, is idiotic. I can’t really believe I read this twaddle, which contained no really useful information at all.

  421. This article is a joke because it does not take into account or say anything about bad owners, especially in the case of the pit bull. This site sucks, I highly recommend you do your own research about dogs breeds.

  422. Pit bulls, “Known for their extremely aggressive nature”. Laughable. They are the most populous breed in America which leads to their stats. Most people assume they are aggressive just by their looks. I have yet to meet a mean one.

  423. This is supposed to be a snapshot of the 10 “most dangerous dog breeds,” yet the author discounts the “dangerous” label on 9 of the 10, with the Pit Bull being the only exception. I like dogs well enough, but dog lovers seems to be rather delusional as a group, never believing that a dog is at fault for anything. And despite the statistics, look below and you’ll still find apologists for the Pit Bull breed,

  424. Funny, they say why a dog/wolf hybrid is dangerous, but at no point (that I found) did it give a statistic on how many fatalities it has caused.

  425. Any animal if not treated correctly will and can be a problem. The more inbred or pure the breed the more difficult the problems. Pit Bulls were given the raw deal because they are specifically trained for dog fights and trained as guard dogs usually by ill informed individuals who have limited knowledge about the methods they employ. Pit Bulls are not and exquisite animal and the cost is lower than that of a Great Dane or a St. Bernard. Being at the bottom of the rung gives them the biggest arena which they do not deserve.

  426. Deaths caused in defense of their owners should be eliminated. Both the Doberman and German Shepherds are getting bum raps for saving their masters/handlers lives.

  427. Considering German shepherds are the second most popular breed they don’t deserve to be third on this list. They are sweet lovable animals. I wouldn’t own any other dog.

  428. Alot of people should have to have fish or hamsters first, and be checked out by inspectors to see how they are doing before being allowed to own such an intelligent animal as a dog. And many of those same people have kids and expect everyone else to raise them.

  429. No dog is friendlier or gentler than the pit bull. It’s the owners and breeders that make the bad ones and they simply have the most dangerous biting and fighting technique. Thy can be trained to hold an intruder without hurting them unnecessarily.

  430. There is no such thing as a dangerous dog.
    There are dangerous people that make dangerous dogs.
    A totally misleading article by someone who knows nothing about canines.

  431. i have a staffordshire pit bull and they are the most loyal of all dogs and very smart
    and only aggressive when taught to be one of the best you can on

  432. “many states have legislation banning the breeding of pit bulls”

    All dogs are only as good as their owners, pit bulls are extremely intelligent, affectionate and loyal. Maybe the states that have legislation banning the breeding of pit bulls should ban the breeding of the lousy owners of pit bulls instead.

  433. Ok this is just stupid. I’m not even gonna finish with this crap. Chow chows are the sweetest dogs ever, and great danes are just big they’re not dangerous. And I don;t even wanna see a St bernard on the list. They’re sweety’s too. What absolute moron came up with this.

  434. Actually the pit bull is by nature quite docile! They were know as nurse dogs because of their bedside manner. It’s ownership and training that make the Pit Bull dangerous. Thug Trainers.

  435. I agree with Pits and GSDs being on this list. You REALLY have to train your GSD or you’re going to have a ton of issues. GSDs have such a high work drive and they are so loyal but that turns to aggression very quickly.

    I love Dobies and Huskies but the same applies for them as well.

    No clue why great danes are on this list, that is maybe one of the most gentle breeds I know of. Same goes for the Saint Bernard.

  436. I have a dog that is 1/2 pitbull and the most angelic, gentle and loyal dog I have ever had BY FAR. Very smart too. You just have to be stern with the dog so it knows who is in charge. Actually, this is true with all dogs. Otherwise, they will try to dominate.

  437. Whoever came up with this study is an idiot. Pit bulls do not have ab aggressive nature until a human makes them that way. Idiots! SMH

  438. Dumbest article I have read today. There is no such thing as “dangerous” breeds only dangerous owners. I have an American Pit and he is the sweetest thing they are gentle with our nephews and nieces and they like to pull on his ears. I am so sick of hearing this dangerous breed crap. Educate yourself before you throw these labels on these dogs.

  439. I like how they mentioned that most of the breeds are dangerous because of their owners, but seem to have forgotten that when it comes the pit. I own a pit, and I have had several friends with them as well, There is not a more loyal dog breed on the planet, and properly trained there is no more loving and protective dog. While breeds can be perceived as more dangerous than others, personally I am more scared of Chihuahua’s than I am of pits, especially if I know the pits owner. I would also venture that there are more bites by small breeds in a year than large breeds that just dont get reported because they arent as bad, and most likely didnt need medical attention, Just like at my house where the most dangerous animal is the declawed cat I rescued, not the pit bull.

  440. These “articles” are a joke and written by somebody who has never owned a dog. 99% of people who own these 10 breeds would swear by them. My home will never be without a Doberman in it.

  441. My pit lab mix would never never never never never bite a human. If someone broke in he would run up and try to play with them. Most harmless dog I have ever owned. Even as a puppy zero issues. “well…beside the fact that he liked to chew on anything and everything”

  442. My experience has shown that little dogs are neurotic and LOVE to bite. Have been bitten by many breeds of small dogs, never by a large dog. I also agree 100% on chows, very aggressive dog when you are between them and something they want or somewhere they want to go. Owned one in high school and thing damn near bit everyone in the neighborhood before we had to put him down.

  443. Pit Bull Terriers have a bad rap SOLELY because of the asinine owners!
    It is a dog that is bred to fight other dogs and be aggressive towards other dogs only, yet many irresponsible owners train the dogs to purposely attack humans which is not in their nature!
    TOO MANY LIES being propagated about this breed by the IGNORANT and the STUPID media!

  444. best dog I ever had? Dobie, second best Rottie. But I was the Pack leader and they knew it. Had really no behavior problems, went to training and kept them under my thumb and submissive.. Also made me feel very, very safe. Give me a big dog any time, worst dog ever? Pomeranian (IMHO), still have scars from when I was a child.

  445. I know people that have pits and I volunteer with a dog rescue and the pits are not aggressive. All the ones I have dealt with a lovers

  446. and the winner was Pit Bull, of course, duh? what a freakin’ surprise. lady where i worked used to walk by two every day going home (neighbor’s house). one day they attacked her and one ate a fist sized chunk of meat from her upper leg. In one bite. she missed six months of work from it.

  447. You can be certain that any pit bull owner is likely to think this article is trash. But look at the stats! They kill WAYYY more people than any other breed. Probably they kill as many as all the other breeds put together (I am not going to do the math, but I’ll bet it’s close).
    But, I am sure they will say, it isn’t the dog… it it is the owner. It is always the owner. To be certain, Pit Bull owners by percentage are the worst owners because look at how their dogs kill more people! Meanwhile St Bernard owners, having one of the largest breeds must all be super intelligent, because that BIG dogs kills so few people.
    Face it Pit Bull owners: The dogs are wonderful But DANGEROUS!
    Like guns, in the wrong hands…

  448. I loved that you started off giving the dog breeds the benefit of doubt and provided reasons as to why each dog is considered dangerous. For example, German Shepherds often being used in a tough line of work, or other breeds based on their size, or used as guard dogs. However, I was kind of disappointed to see no explanation under the pitbull description! Most, who have owned a pitbull for pure intentions (not to fight or intimidate) love this breed! I understand, these dogs need to be trained due to their strength but that is part of being a responsible dog owner. Just a suggestion to use some positive stats for all breeds as well! —– Proud pitbull owner 🙂

  449. No mention of the Akita – known as the “silent killer” since they do not give any warning before they attack. They are the first fighting dogs brought to the US and came from Japan.
    Rotties, Dobies, German shepherds, pit bulls, huskies, malamutes and the rest of the list are excellent animals if they have the right owners who socialize them and train them from the git go.
    The meanest dog I had in my no-kill, non-profit rescue was a Chihuahua – none of the volunteers could work with him and he only responded to my commands since he knew I would not tolerate bad behavior and controlled him with no-nonsense voice commands. You have to be the “leader of the pack” even if the “pack” is just you and one dog.

  450. my brother has a neighbor with a pit bull. i stop by in the afternoon to take him out and play with him. the dog is a big baby. he is 11 months old and strong enough to me down and i weigh 250 lbs. however there is no denying they can be dangerous but i have not seen any bad sides yet but i still am careful. with that said i am still a cat person. they are pretty low maintenance.

  451. The American Pit Bull Terrier (HISTORY OF FIGHTING DOGS Series) Paperback

    by Joseph L. Colby

    ISBN-13: 978-1846642562

    Originally published in 1936, this book is extremely rare in its early editions. Hugely informative and in-depth, it is a complete treatise on the breed covering the entire field, with particular emphasis on dog-fighting.

  452. Yet there is no actual scientific proof that any breed is more dangerous than another, and the label, “aggressive,” gets put on different dogs in different generations.

    1. Pit bulls kills more than all other breeds COMBINED. That’s all most people needs to know. The science behind fighting breed dogs should be left and buried with the dog fighters.

      Just ban that game-bred trash!

  453. The article is a waste of time, because OBVIOUSLY The Rottweiler and Pit Bull are going to be at the top of the list…… In the right circumstancesm any dog (including a beagle…) can be mean, but Rottweilers & Pit Bulls have been carefully bred for 300 years to magnify their aggressive tendencies, so when the kill people, they are just doing what nature tells them to.

    It’s the owners who should be euthanized in such situations, not (just) the dog

  454. I have raised and lived with Great Danes for roughly twenty years . While growing up we had various dog breeds in our families home. The only vicious breed I have ever seen was the chow and other than that the smaller breeds have a much larger propensity for violence.

    I HAVE NEVER HAD A GREAT DANE ATTACK OR ATTEMPT TO ATTACK A HUMAN!!!!!!

    However I have witnessed MANY smaller breed dogs attack humans without provocation many by the (cute) smaller breeds most people just love to have in their house . They ignore the viscous behavior and sometimes even attacks on guests in their homes laughing about how cute the little thing is.

    I have raised and worked with all types of animal including yes LIONS and TIGERS and BEARS oh my lol, After owning a Great Dane There is no other animal I will have in my house, loyal, loving GENTLE, I have seen small children do various things that by any other breed would get them bit but the DANE JUST LAY THERE AND PUT UP WITH IT.

    Yes they are gentle giants ,boisterous in greeting people, and protective of their loved family but friendly to strangers to a fault, If one of my Danes doesn’t like someone ,I will have nothing further to do with the person trusting my dogs instincts over a persons façade every time. Labeling these gentle giants as anything other than the occasional mistreated or abused case as dangerous in any way is misleading and untrue.

    IF YOU WANT VISCIOUS GET A POODLE OR A CHIHUAHUA YOUR CUTE LITTLE BUZZ SAWS!!!

  455. Did this study account for things like there are probably more American pit bull terriers in the USA then all those other breeds combined & 90% of the pits I see on the news accused of ? are mixed & less then 50% pit & 10% aren’t pit at all

  456. A rather useless article, with ‘they’re dangerous but’ approach. My vet, with 40 years experience said Rotts have no pain threshold. Had a close call between 2 100lb Rotts and my 10yo Akita in the vets office. He said my Akita would have had no problem killing both Rotts in a fight. Something I never want to happen nor see. Funny though, my Akita was terrified of the tiny dogs, would try to climb on my shoulders when confronted.

  457. I dunno, has nothing to do with the Breed. Stop labeling breeds this way when it is the owners or the upbringing of the dog.

    We had a greatdane growing up. Tarcus. We used to take him to Dogs Beach in San Diego, he was smaller dogs body guard. He saw bigger (not as big as him mind you!) dogs picking on smaller dogs and stopped that. The the point smaller dogs followed him around.

    Raise dogs better. Stop claiming one breed is worse than another breed. I have seen poodles attack people, so… shut it!

  458. “W0lf-Dog Hybrid” Eh? oh… you mean “Wolf-Dog Hybrid”. 0 o… are different 🙂

    Maybe… but again upbringing. These dogs, from my understanding, are extremely loyal to their owners. Strangers, meh.

  459. I disagree that great danes are inherently dangerous to anyone it considers family. I grew up with 2 great danes from birth until 15 years old. Instead of me watching the dogs grow up, they observed me growing up. I never had fear of them and the dogs loved me. As far as an intruder, they would have reason to fear such a large guard dog. Danes inherently are protective of their territory and family. If they are not mistreated and know you, you have little if any reason to fear one.

  460. What is wrong with you people you notice responsible sites removed these type stories you sentence dogs to death and it is a lie to begin with!

  461. Had a German Shepard once. Most awesome gentle dog but extremely protective and smart, Loved him. Now have adopted terrier. Jack Russell-silky mix. Beautiful, smart and bossy as H—-. Would she try to protect me ..Do not want to find out. Love dogs period.

  462. This seemed to concentrate on deaths from dog attack. What are the bite statistics? I believe smaller dogs would also appear on that list.

  463. Do some research and you will find that there was a Great Dane breeder at a very popular Great Dane kennel in Pennsylvania who seeded the U.S. population of these once gentle giants, through pure laziness and greed, with inbred nut-cases. Truth. gfl

  464. Pity these lists are always about fatal attacks rather than just attacks. I’ve got a very friendly Rottweiler that is constantly snapped at by dogs like collies and Labradors, only for him to retreat to a safe distance, with people who didn’t see what really happened zeroing in on me. A more passive and friendly dog you couldn’t find. I’d love to see some statistics on dog bites full stop rather than stats on fatal attacks only.

  465. Basing a rating on fatalities is so pathetic. That does nothing to address those who bite often but seldom inflict a fatal injury. Many small dogs probably have even more instances of biting with less than fatal injuries but this story was just a frothy attention getting story not intended to do any real good at truly educating folks. A complete waste of time.

    1. Your comment, “Basing a rating on fatalities is so pathetic.”

      You think GM used that type of statement about their ignition switches? That’s how moronic you sound.

      Your comment, “Many small dogs probably have even more instances of biting with less than fatal injuries but this story was just a frothy attention getting story not intended to do any real good at truly educating folks.”

      Someone needs to educate you about the difference between a small dog biting and a pit bull slaughtering another dog or child.

      1. Guess my comment went over your little head. A fatality is relatively rare but maimed and mutilated people (Children and adults) as well as other animals is far more common – even in pit bull attacks. By the way did you not believe that the number of fatalities seemed a little low perhaps -You missed that didn’t you? I suspect that the writer cherry picked the time frame the information collected. Did you also miss the fact that the writer basically covered for each breed with their positive characteristics as well. Why do you suppose they did that – report facts and let us assess the positive and negatives of breeds. All too often such comments are not even factual, just the thoughts of breeders of those breeds.

        And you seem to forget that even small dogs can tear up and traumatize children just as well as a bigger dog such as a pit bull.

        Yes pit bulls have been turned into vicious animals all too frequently. They have become synonymous with the term ‘dangerous animal’ and that’s a shame – even though it’s not true of all of pit bulls. Put down those that attack (not just bite) and jail owners of any dogs who are known to have committed multiple attacks or a single fatal or maiming attack and we might start to stop some of the mis-handled animal issues.

        Finally your use of the word “Slaughtering” sounds real grand and gory but over dramatizing with such words is no better than writing an article that has incomplete information. Like calling someone who disagrees with you “a hater.” Dramatization doesn’t equal facts.

  466. A major issue with this article is that it’s focused on FATALITIES. There are dozens of other breeds that are dangerous and can serious injure or disfigure. They shouldn’t be discounted simply because they don’t kill. I’ve seen horrible, horrible bites to the face on children from certain breeds of SMALL dogs. Common, household dogs people get under the illusion they are “safe” because of articles like this only focusing on large breed dogs.

  467. I had a pit bull about 15 years ago. It was a sweet dog for its first 5 years, but then one day it freaked out and attacked me, with no provocation whatsoever. I was completely scared of the dog after that, and no one else wanted it with that history, so we had to put it down.

    1. Consider yourself lucky!

      December 25, 2014

      Portage pit bull owner dies from attack on Christmas

      A pit bull owner was found dead in his home Thursday after suffering massive blood loss from dog bites to his arms and face by his pit bull, according to Porter County Coroner Chuck Harris.

      Edward L. Cahill, 40, was pronounced dead at his home at 5586 Tulip Ave. in Portage according the Portage Police Department. According to Harris, Cahill’s girlfriend arrived home around 8 p.m. and discovered Cahill on the floor unresponsive.

      Police said Cahill was lying in the living room of the residence covered in what appeared to be several lacerations to his arms a face. Police said what appeared to be blood was visible on the floor around Cahill’s body, on the carpet, walls and furniture.

      Two pit bulls were in the home when police arrived. Harris confirmed Cahill’s dog alone was responsible for his death as the other pitbull was put away in a bedroom.

      “It was the only dog that was able to get to the individual,” Harris said. “It was very obvious.”

  468. When people say pit bull they mean Staffordshire terrier. The dog pictured is a Staffordshire terrier. Look up APBT. They are taller and much more narrow. Kinda like a fighting/bird dog hybrid in capability. This is fact. The dog pictured in pop culture is always a Staff. So if they are poorly defined by everyone, especially since the AKC doesn’t recognize APBT, then it’s apparent that statistics are skewed due to mis-identification. The common dog is a Staff

    1. A “pit bull,” is defined as any dog that is an American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, or any dog displaying the majority of physical traits of any one (1) or more of the above breeds, or any dog exhibiting those distinguishing characteristics which substantially conform to the standards established by the American Kennel Club or United Kennel Club for any of the above breeds. Dias v. City & County of Denver, 567 F.3d 1169, 1173 (10th Cir. Colo. 2009)

  469. What you say in that last sentence above, “If they’re domesticated clearly there’s less risk, but their nature alone can eventually take effect in which case there’s no much an owner can do.”

    Unfortunately the truth of the matter, is that sentence is also applicable to pit bulls. At last wolves are naturally meant to be in the wild. PB’s were bred to maim, fight and kill in a pit. So that last sentence is all too applicable to them as well.

  470. How about a cross-bred chihuahua/pit bull? Now, we’re talking.

    Of course, that would be something. Not sure mechanically it could be done, but there is always artificial insemination to consider.

  471. Yes, Pit/Chihuahua mixes are done. I think the nickname is Chipits. They are small but thick built. Maybe 30-40 lbs grown? I would guess they use a Pit female and Chi male.

    Chihuahuas are aggressive by necessity. In nature, if you are the smallest dog in the world you have to make up lack of size by increased ferocity. The line has been on and off domestic in South America including some hundreds of years stretches living feral in packs. The many abandoned chi’s easily form packs today around America’s depressed cities. But like shrews, they are only dangerous to animals nearer in size and can’t kill people except in very unusual circumstances. The only recorded fatality attributed to a Chihuahua was a person who fell off their bike and struck their head, due to being chased by a Chihuahua. But with people Chi’s can be very loving and sweet dogs if properly socialized. They have one of the longest histories as companion dogs of all breeds stretching back probably to the Maya and earlier. DNA tests have shown, that like Huskies and a few other breeds, they are decended from the dogs that accompanied the people that settled America accross the ice bridge from Asia.

  472. so to clarify your group loves all these dogs and it’s not the dogs fault they can kill? time to have someone review who doesn’t have such a bias. As for not being the dogs fault, leave that lame argument to the dolt who say “it’s not guns that kill, it’s people.” There are way too many people whom the term “You Can’t Fix Stupid”, so they shouldn’t have a gun or a dog.

  473. Gameness is what pit bulls are bred for, not aggression, fighting, or killing. Gameness happens to apply well to fighting, but they are not the same thing. Play fetch with a game dog just one time and you will understand.
    Irresponsible breeding is the number one factor in where pit bulls show up on this list, and irresponsible owners are number two. A real pit bull is small and lean, not big and ridiculously muscular. The breed has been tainted by people looking for certain physical attributes. Bullies are not pit bulls.

  474. First off, sorry for spelling, computer issues. Also, this is from personal experience.
    I own a pit, and she is the most loveable thing ever. We rescued her several months ago, and only time she has ever tried to bite, was when getting her shots at the vets, because she was never taken, and me when I clipped her claws, leading me to believe she had never had that done either. We muzzle her, and are working with her, but she would much rather lay on my lap, or lay up-side down on the couch and snore. She loves my cats, other dog, and everyone she meets. Will even do a high pitched bark to get someone to go over and pet her. Now my boyfriends late Chihuahua and toy poodle, those were aggressive dogs. My boyfriend wouldn’t train the Chihuahua and thought it was always funny that she acted aggressive, towards other dogs or humans, didn’t matter. He let her run loose to terrorize the neighborhood till people complained. He never even potty trained her. That was a screwed up dog, due to its’ lack of training. It wasn’t like that when I adopted it from the pound for him. The toy poodle I adopted after being thrown from a moving car, turned out to be a puppy mill breeding dog. Was aggressive over everything, didn’t know how to play or anything. Attacked me when sweeping the floor near its cage where she slept at night, and when I cracked her bottom for going on the floor. We had to get rid of the dog because we argued over how to train her and she began to have seizures. So yeah, it generally goes on up-bringing. If trained from a puppy, a dog will, as a general rule, listen to its owner and follow its’ training. A well trained dog, is a generally well behaved dog. If well socialized, then there is less likely of a chance for it to attack. If behavioral problems arise, get it taken cared of by correcting the issue.
    It’s not really worth responding either because I really don’t care.

  475. I am surprised that that the Akita is no where on this list, then again, how accurate can this list be when a Husky is listed as a dangerous dog???

  476. Another BS article. Dogs that protect their pack are dangerous. I hate pocketbook dogs so that leaves me with my GSD. I love my big protective dog.

  477. Small breeds bite way more often. They just can’t do as much damage – although I had a Cocker Spaniel place a decent sized scar on my face when I was a kid. I feel like this list is only helping to vilify larger, stronger, more intimidating breeds because of what they are capable of. I’ve been around dogs all my life, including Rottweilers and Huskies, and have only ever been bitten by a Cocker, a Chihuahua and a Yorkshire Terrier.

  478. This article should have been titled and written as just “DOGS THAT PROTECT HUMANS THE MOST” and then it could have been all about how these wonderful dogs have done good jobs protecting their homes.
    The way some will see the current title, will be to further villafy these wonderful dogs… More fuel for the fire of BSL and fear of some wonderful breeds…

  479. This list is ridiculous. Pittbulls are the most loyal dogs out there and most loving. I personally have had about every bread and been around many many dogs my whole life.. Ill put my children around pittbulls before any other dog out there.

  480. I love pit bulls all my life that is the only dog breed I have ever had. with the right care and amount of love pit bulls can turn into little babies

  481. BIG problem with the “statistics” here. The Pit bull is NOT a breed but a type. So, that throws the WHOLE story into a mess.

    1. A “pit bull,” is defined as any dog that is an American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, or any dog displaying the majority of physical traits of any one (1) or more of the above breeds, or any dog exhibiting those distinguishing characteristics which substantially conform to the standards established by the American Kennel Club or United Kennel Club for any of the above breeds. Dias v. City & County of Denver, 567 F.3d 1169, 1173 (10th Cir. Colo. 2009)

      1. Yes, thank you and therein lies the problems with these statistics. ANy dog displaying the majority of physical traits….so you could have a labrador crossed with a rottweiler and it has a big blocky head and now you have a “pit bull”. In reality, there is no good way to determine these statistics which is why the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) have stopped accumulating these statistics. It is wholly impossible to determine breed of dog by sight alone. or mix of dog.

  482. These kind of stats are meaningless unless you qualify them with “per million” or something. If a scientist invented a psycho dog breed, makes 6 of them, and and all 6 kill people they wouldn’t even make this list.

  483. The initial caption for this list that I saw was “Dog Breeds That Should Be Banned”/ Anyone else really pissed off about that? Don’t ban the breed, ban the owner.

  484. I have a Pit bull as my service dog. She’s the sweetest dog I’ve ever owned. I have done all her training on my own. I wouldn’t trade for anything in the world

  485. You know, even with these ‘Wolf dog Hybrids’ which really aren’t a hybrid because dogs and wolves are 100% identical on the genetic level, it depends on how the animal is raised I have two dogs who are German Shepherd, Siberian Husky, Alaskan Malamute mixes. They look like wolves but aren’t wolves. and everyone freaks out when they see them because they think they’re going to be attacked. I’ve met real wolfdogs and with the exception of the one who was almost 100% wolf they were all sweet, loving animals who were a little wary of me at first but warmed up once their Alpha showed no signs of stress. I’ve been attacked by lots of small dogs, including my mother’s doxypom Bandit. but I have never been bitten by a big dog, not even the highly abused, used for dog bate, pitbull the rescue I foster for took in. Fostering I’ve been handling abused dogs quite a lot and I haven’t had one dog who didn’t recover from their abuse. I have however seen dogs that came from ‘pedigree’ lines that were super aggressive and suffered from tons of genetic defects because once you looked at the lines you saw that granddad and grandma were siblings from two different litters but with the same parents. That’s why I love mutts, they tend to live longer and be healthier because they don’t have restricted bloodlines. Look what happened to Dalmatians after 101 Dalmatians came out. they got hugely popular, breeders produced as many as they could as fast as they could and then the breed became stigmatized with aggression because they kept ‘Snapping’ as some people put it. Dalmatians are now on the endangered breed list in some countries because their lines are too limited. Also, Cats save humans all the time, in fact it was on Unsolved Mysteries this morning a cat alerted its owner to a gas leak in their home. I owe my life to a cat for that matter when I was six months old my pacifier’s head popped of and became lodged in my throat the cat started wailing and my mom came in and found me. I don’t remember it but my mom has that cat’s ashes under the picture of me and him sleeping cuddled up on the mantle.

  486. Love my English Mastiff. Just over a year old, almost 8 feet from nose to tail and just a shade over 185 pounds. Biggest, cuddle bug you’ll ever meet. So affectionate! Wish he’d slow down on the growing aspect though. I suppose since his mom was 190 and his dad was 210, he isn’t quite there yet. My baby moose.

  487. Anyone who owns a pit bull that attacks someone should be prosecuted as if they deliberately did it themselves. These owners KNOW the danger of owning one, but they choose to do it anyway. After a family member was attacked viciously and without provocation, I have kept an eye on this breed, and it is clear to anyone with half a brain and an ounce of ethics that is it immoral to own one of these. If you know what kind of time bomb you are keeping in your house, you should be held fully responsible for the repercussions of your stupid decision to own a pit bull.

  488. Thank you for pointing out that Rots and Pits are not just bad dogs but usually has something to do with the owners. I had a Rot for 11 yrs and that was the best dog eeeeeever. Needed a lot of attention but all he did was love.

  489. I have a Rotty/Pit mix an he is just the biggest baby around. We had another family staying with us an she had a 3 year old an the 3 year old woud lay on him an pull his ears an he would look up an at the child an give her a big lick across the face an lay back down. A dog is just like a child you have to teach it right from wrong with any breed.

  490. I noticed nobody wants to discuss Dobermans. I own two of them and they are the sweetest goofballs ever. My children play with them and take naps with them. I couldn’t ask for a better set of dogs. I have had doberman’s my entire life and only once did we have to put one down for being aggressive but that was due to the fact that the person whom we bought him off of sold him at too young of an age, six weeks old, and had him isolated since birth which prevented him from gaining social skills he needed.

  491. Most severe or fatal dog attacks are done by breeds who were historically bred for protection or hunting. However a lot of dog bites that aren’t as severe are done by smaller breeds such as terriers or companion dogs. In my opinion, I would rather deal with large dogs than those tiny, neurotic ones.

  492. Pointers point, retrievers retrieve etc. If your dog has a known trait for its breed then respect that. Don’t live on the banks of de Nile.

  493. Great Danes are great animals & good w/ kids. But owners should have LARGE yards as the crap BIG. They’re also really tough dogs. My uncle had one once, and he got hit by a semi. He seemed OK, but dropped dead (without warning) a week later.

  494. This type of article is not helpful to these breeds. Especially Pit Bulls – that are wonderful dogs with a bad rap. Dogs are individuals and attributing their being “dangerous” to their breed only perpetuates breed specific legislation in this country. Well done. Way to get more dogs killed and banned.

  495. I have personally ha 5 great danes over the years and have never had an aggressive dane. Its all in the training. This is one of the best breeds you can own. They don’t have a long life span but the love that comes out during the time you have them is immense. I highly recommend the breed. As for the comment about them requiring a ton of care, I don’t know where the heck you get your facts from. They do not require constant grooming you just need to be aware of the health facts like blotting. If you are in tune with the dog you will not have a problem.

  496. This was one of the dumber articles I’ve read in awhile regarding dogs. Of course Pit Bulls are at the #1 spot. Stupid. This loyal and caring breed will do just about anything for its owner, providing it’s trained properly. Same with the German Shepherd. Our GS was envied by everyone, esp. the police K9 unit. They salivated over this dog, he was so intelligent. He also saved a couple little girls in a campground when a wanted pedophile tried luring them into the woods. The GS pinned the guy to a tree and went after his balls every time the guy tried to move. Dogs are only as good as the humans they live with. This article was at the bottom of the barrel since they only look at it statistically. Had they done more research into WHY the dog reacts the way it did, the numbers would be far different.

  497. What is the time frame of the study/survey? Statistics mention number of fatalities but is that in a one year period, a 10 year period, some other period of time? It certainly can’t be forever nor can it be just in the past week. Are the statistics worldwide, Western Hemisphere, Northern Hemisphere, United States, Midwest states,
    I appreciate the fact that you mention circumstances like training, surroundings and exposure to certain situations are definite factors but please clarify the statistics you’re including.

  498. Am I the only one that noticed the biting statistics in the headline are completely absent from the text of the article? Any bite can be fatal, which is why propensity to bite should be included in the danger factor, not just fatalities. There’s 5 minutes of my life I’ll never get back. Infuriating.

  499. No such thing as Dangerous Dog Breeds, that is such nonsense.

    It is all in how the dog was raised by their owner, No Dog by default is dangerous.

    Rott’s are the best dog to have around children. They will protect the children from everyone including the children’s parents if need be.

  500. This article has so many variables. German Shepherds who serve in the military and on police forces have some deaths involved? Who would have thought? The true danger of a dog is based on who owns it. All the deaths involving dobermans were a result of them protecting their owners? I’d be petrified to have a dog that would protect me. This article does a disservice to the dogs you mention. Do one on the 10 most dangerous types of dog owners. To me this article is just irresponsible “journalism.” Any dog can be abused, or mistreated and become aggressive.

  501. This is shameful. With millions of animals sitting in shelters, most of whom won’t make it “who’s dangerous” is a terrible conversation to be having. Good god.

  502. German Shepherds are the smartest dog you can ever own. But….. don’;t get one unless you go to school yourself, and learn how to handle them….Or THEY WILL HANDLE YOU! A lifetime Shepherd owner here, I know what I’m saying.

  503. I had a pit bul, he was not stereotypical. He was a very intelligent, emotionally intellectual dog. He was very sensitive to ones emotions and quick to be at service when you were feeling down. I mis my Lucky, a beautiful dog.

  504. Chihuahuas, English Bulldogs are two dogs breeds that bite people far more often than most dogs on this list, but truth is, its all about how you raise them.

  505. Nice looking dogs. As the owner of three, sometimes after a hard day at the office, I prefer the dogs company instead of humans, Dogs aren’t backstabbers like humans. Well, just look at their faces, their expressions say it all. I agree though Pit Bulls and Rottweilers get a bad rap. No thanks to Michael Vick, the dog killer and one of the worst human beings ever to walk the planet.

  506. The breed doesn’t matter NEAR as much as the OWNERS ability to train and control their ANIMAL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!They are animals and the owner that thinks he or she has TOTAL CONTROL is a fool and more dangerous than the animal !!!!!!!!!!

  507. I disagree with The Doberman being the most dangerous. I raised on from 4 weeks old and she was loyal and protective. When the kids came around, she would lay down to be petted. The only thing I could not stop her from doing was returning their petting with wet kisses to their faces! Whenever someone new came to the house, they had to let her get their scent before they could come in. Then she would promptly sit where she could watch them. NEVER bit anyone.

  508. I think that the Pit Bull is #1 on the list because most people lump all breeds that look like a pit as a pit. The picture they have actually looks a lot like an American Bully, I have one and he’s the most lovable goofball I have ever had the joy of owning. There are also American Staffordshire Terriers, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Bulldogs and Bull Terriers have also been lumped into one group with Pit Bulls/ American Pit Bull Terriers.

        1. I’ve been bite by a dog whose owner showed no concern. I know that any dog bite is traumatic. I also know how lovable my American Bully is. We socialize him and are as responsible as we possibly can be.

  509. I have had German Shepards, Dobies and one combination (we think) pit-bull/rotty. My dob (the mother) was protective while her daughter was not. The pit bull mix was the most lovable dog around anyone – other animals, small children, etc. She never found anyone that she didn’t love and was gentle with – she is the one who escaped from a dog breeder that probably bred them for fighting at a young age. Most of the time it is the way that their owners treat the dog as to their tendencies to be aggressive. I think there are far many small dogs that bite than in any other breed listed here. Most of the time it is all in how they are raised and how loving their owners are. There can be aggressive dogs in any breed.

  510. Way to pander to the pit lobby with all of the disclaimers; however, this fact can’t be ignored – they are the #1 killer of humans, livestock and domestic animals. It is genetic just like the wolf-hybrid. Although, this genetic trigger is not of Nature’s doing, but of Man’s engineering. It will take 100 years to breed this out of pits, assuming society begins to cull the man-eaters (which they are not doing).

  511. And it won’t discourage anyone that takes this article with a big heart stopping grain of salt….I’ve had 3 Dobermanns over the span of 30 years all lived long long healthy lives and the only concern I ever had was them knocking down a young person or an old and frail one…Ken Green is absolutely right…You want to write an informative and relevant article.?. start with the Heart Worm Scam and the billions vets are making off of it…

  512. Personally prefer German Shepherds but living in house for past couple years where there are 2 Pit bulls. Find the Pit bulls to be fun, loyal and very loving dogs…but then again, that’s how they were raised.

  513. We rescued Danes in Florida and would have anywhere from 2 to 4 Danes at the same time. Not once in 15 years did we have an aggressive incident, and they became very happy dogs when settled into the household. They all lived in the house without incidents or messy mistakes and the house was large, custom built and well decorated. This breed should always live inside and go outside for their exercise.
    Some of the dogs we rescued came from less attentive homes and needed veterinarian care and a lot of love. What we got in return was loyalty and a love that will last forever in our hearts.

  514. I love my Pit Bull…He’s the BEST dog I’ve ever been around…we lost our Female Pit last year and cried like babies..I still miss her and my heart aches every time our newest addition (Dogo Argentino) does something similar or acts cute…it’s just a shame how cruel people can be…of course Pit’s are powerful, that’s not being challenged…but I take offense to anyone that looks down on Him or me for that matter due to the stereotype…

  515. I love all dogs! I have a German Shepherd I could not live with out! She is my BFF! I also have a Chihuahua that is loco! And a rescue dog who is sweet! If you love animals you have to love all animals!!

    1. Canine Behavioral Genetics: Pointing Out the Phenotypes and Herding up the Genes

      An astonishing amount of behavioral variation is captured within the more than 350 breeds of dog recognized worldwide.

      Inherent in observations of dog behavior is the notion that much of what is observed is BREED SPECIFIC AND WILL PERSIST, EVEN IN THE ABSENCE OF TRAINING OR MOTIVATION. Thus, herding, pointing, tracking, hunting, and so forth are likely to be controlled, at least in part, at the genetic level. Recent studies in canine genetics suggest that small numbers of genes control major morphologic phenotypes. By extension, we hypothesize that at least some canine behaviors will also be controlled by small numbers of genes that can be readily mapped.

  516. I dont care about these statistics the Great Dane, St Benard and quite a few more of these breeds are not worthy to be on this list. Every breed has a few losers but I have had Danes my whole life and I am in my mid 50s and they are Gentle Giants! The dogs I see here are on here just because of sheer SIZE and it breaks my heart that novice people reading this bull will now get rid of their dog because of mis information. Growing up I have been whipped by their tail because they were happy and knocked over because I GOT IN THEIR WAY not the other way around. Two year olds would grab their tails as they walked by and they knew to slow down kid in tow. I wish the average person had enough money to sue the pants off of this study. People please dont listen to this study..

  517. CandyBees I am sorry to hear what happened and there are ALWAYS a bad apple in the bunch. Curious. You brought it home for a friend can I ask you where you got it and the age of the dog? I am NOT in any means attacking. What was the conditions that prior to getting him was he in and was he a house dog at your friends and how old before he was put down? What would trigger the dog off? Just asking.

  518. Have delt with all the breeds and found your statements very true as to Training. I liked them all especially the Pit Bull and Husky’s.

  519. Puppytoob…pit bulls are not a breed but a general term that includes AmStaffs, Staffybulls, and just about any bully breed that was trained for the ‘sport’ of pit fighting. Collectively the breeds that make up the pit bull category are great with people but unpredictable with other dogs. Great companion pets, not so much for those folks who like hanging out in the dog park. Since they’re terriers, they have the terrier attitude in a powerful body. Combine those traits with the wrong person training the dog and you’ll have a problem.
    Many attacks occur when these dogs are kept confined, chained and isolated. They need to be with their people and if treated well they’re wonderful family members.

  520. I get so tired of these recycled lists. Every dog is bad, every dog is going to bite you. Surprise! All dogs have teeth, all dogs can bite. What they never tell you is how the bite happened. And that 10 times out of 10 if the dog is not raised properly, it will do what it wants. I take in German Shepherds, the ones that have problems (so previous owners say). It takes work and time and patience to make a good dog. The 3 German Shepherds that all the owners said were vicious are now laying in my den two feet away from each other. It’s all in your attitude, not this stupid article that we see over and over. Oh yeah, the wolf-hybrid thing is actually comical. Anyone who tells you they will behave like a dog is nuts and not very ethical. They won’t.

  521. Any dog can become vicious. How they are raised and treated. This goes right on down to the poodle and collies What owners have to remember is that some dogs form very strong attachment to their owner. I know this for a fact. I had to put two healthy dogs down. They were doing job, BUT there is always that one person who gets their jollies by tormenting animals and they bit the wrong person. Military does not bend rules for the sh.ts. They were both over sized lap dogs.

  522. This is one of the stupidest articles regarding dog breeds I have ever seen. Yes it talks about how many fatalities, but it does nothing to address WHY the dogs were aggressive, or how many fatalities compared to how many of those dogs are around to cause problems? Some of the dogs had less attacks, but they are a much less popular dog, so percent wise they are probably actually much more dangerous than some of the top listed breeds. Just an insight, take it as you will, but I do not agree with the findings.

  523. I have never in my 57 years been bitten by a large breed dog. I’ve owned dobies, pitbulls and mastiffs. Still do. But I respect them. I have however been bitten twice by chihuahuas that came out of nowhere. Let’s look at how many bites comparing chihuahuas versus pitbulls. I’m betting that the number of chihuahua bites is 10 fold those of pitbulls.

  524. we took our pit bull BamBam from the local high kill shelter and though we’re very experienced dog owners this is our first pit bull ever. and we discovered how much we missed out on this breed for all those prior years: pit bulls are very smart dogs which makes them awesome companions and friends. there is no such thing as bad dogs, there are stupid and evil humans that some unlucky poor dogs happen to belong to.

  525. Chow Chows are unpredictable and very dangerous.
    This article stinks and sounds like it was written by someone who thinks they know about dogs.

  526. More people should consider goats. Some breeds are very intelligent, follow commands and actually can work for their place at your home.

  527. Not sure WHY You put A Saint Bernard as Being Dangerous. I am a Saint Owner and My Saint is My Mobility Service Dog. They are Teddy Bears. You have your information Wrong about these dogs. By they way They Know well
    enough not to hurt a Human unless the owner does not train the dog. Of course this applies to All Dogs!

  528. I have a friend with a half-coyote-shepherd and that dog is really smart!! not overly aggressive either. I once read that Dalmatians had a high incidence of biting people.
    It’s all in the training. Pit-Bulls are really very lovable and playful. People make dogs
    mean and aggressive because they want too. Dogs aren’t stupid, they can sense when a person is up to no good, and will react in a protective fashion, One does not have to train them to be mean.

  529. I own a pit bull and he is the most loving dog we have ever owned. Last dog we had was a Boxer/pit mix and he was wonderful with the kids. Very protective of them and very protective of me. It is not the breed it is how they are raised and because of a few the breed has a bad rap. They are very good dogs and very loyal. They are very intelligent dogs. I don’t like Standard poodles because I was bit by one and actually I am more scared of that breed than my pit bull.

  530. My old boss had 2 Rottweilers that she brought to work everyday I worked in the office for a Feed and Pet supply Mill/Store). They would roam the office everyday to get some loving. If you pet them they were yours for the day. Laid by your desk and you pretty much didn’t even know they were there. Unless you got up, then they wanted some loving……

  531. Its funny how the article imposes a certain risk on a breed based on a study that spans twenty years! If you were to take the same study for a Honda Accord, one of the safest cars on the road, then owning it is more dangerous that owning a Pit Bull or Rottweiler or all of the what was listed as a dangerous breed!

    But the saga of the dangerous dog continues and I’ve seen reality shows where animal control officials claim that Pit Bulls have bullet proof heads! Seriously that what the official said and that she was scared of the breed. The ignorance just abounds about dogs and these kinds of articles just feeds into societies thirst for horror.

  532. Another list for alarmists and idiots to skew to what they want. Why would so called dog lovers post such a load of crap? I have owned or have known many of these breeds. It’s not the dogs but the owners that are at fault. Dogs used for military or police work should never be included in something like this because the circumstances they are in place them in a position to kill people. I have been around full blooded Timber Wolves and the only danger I was in was being licked or trampled to death. They were raised to be gentle but loved to be petted and played with. I have had a 75% Timber wolf Malamute cross and it was the most lovable animal I have ever had. It loved women and kids because of the family I got it from when it was 3 months old. I had him obedience trained so that he could be more easily controlled around people. He would rush to them to get petted and play with them and because of his size he could hurt kids when he ran into them. His first Vet visit left the young girl at the registration desk wanting one. He immediately got on her lap and made himself at home. I hate lists like this because of the lack of complete info. For my money I won’t own a Chihuahua or a Manchester or most of the small breeds because of their aggressive tendencies.

  533. Is this person writing this article NUTS?!! Great Danes require a ton of care? I think this person is confusing a great dane with a poodle !!

  534. Doberman Pinscher my favorite dogs, I have had Dobies since 1973, along with Rottwiellers in between, but I have never had a more loyal or intelligent dog than the Doberman Pinschers. They are beautiful dogs and I love watching them run, they do however require space to run and a lot of love in return they would protect their family with their life. What more could a person want from his companion?

  535. No dog is dangerous if it’s trained and socialized properly. Cocker Spaniels and Chows are two medium to small breeds that can become very aggressive if not trained. Most people who don’t do any training with their dogs are the ones actually responsible for the animal being dangerous. Dogs aren’t people, possessions or trophies or status symbols, they are sentient animals with intact instincts from millions of years of evolution, they don’t think like people and that’s what they will react with if not trained. A simple rule, train your dogs properly, or don’t get one.

  536. My pit is a BABY. One of the best breeds i have ever owned…All the chi’s i have had are WAY more fierce than my pit! My 5 lb Cat bosses him around! very well trained, thanks to Caesar Milan! Very Smart Breed.

  537. Why don’t we post a list of most dangerous Dog Owner’s instead, I’ve found that most of these breeds are total lap/couch dogs when raised correctly, it’s the owners that make them crazy!!

  538. “Training Dogs The Woodhouse Way” — a lovely TV series that tells you immediately how to become the boss in a human-dog companionship. Woodhouse herself said repeatedly, “There are no bad dogs. Only bad owners who won’t train their dogs properly.”

  539. totally disagree. Genetics is the biggest reason certain dogs are worse than others. Owner abuse only makes it worse. Certain breeds, no matter how kind their owners are, are to unpredictable. My docile lab was tethered to a tree. Two non abusive dog owners had a rot and a pit and thought they knew their dogs. The pit circled my lab and as my lab watched it the rot attacked my lab and then so did the pit. The owners were in such disbelief they couldn’t respond, I went for a 2×4 I had in my truck and when I returned it was over my lab was ok but the rot and pit were put in the car. I don’t know what happened to the dogs, but i do know that the owners had second thoughts about their dogs. I would never let any young child around these breeds and would protest any who moved into my neighborhood. There are plenty of lovable breeds:so why take the risk with these dangerous breeds.

  540. Ridiculous list! First of all the Danes…I did animal rescue, specializing in the Danes for a number of years. While there can be an occasional aggressive Dane..usually as a result of either poor breeding or abuse, they are known as a loyal family dog. And why does this author say they need so much extra care? They actually don’t require all the grooming care that other dogs do..in fact, rarely do they need bathed..you just wipe them down. The biggest thing you have to worry about (as well as in all deep chested dogs) is “bloat”. These dogs are normally wonderful with small children because the children don’t hurt them by falling on them, stepping on them, pulling their lips and ears…they just see it all as love!

  541. This doesn’t compare apples with apples. The American pit bull terrier is extremely stable and friendly, and about the least likely dog to bite. But because they are the current dog of choice as a status symbol for the thug and gang culture, they are also the most abused breed. You never heard of pit bulls biting people before the thugs adopted them . It is strictly how they are raised as far as the pit bull. Even dogs used back in the day as sport fighters would never bite a human

  542. So when you say the GSD is #3 with 17 fatalities you stated its mainly because of its “line of work” so I am assuming that means your counting the number of criminals taken down by them which in reality shouldnt count as that is what those dogs were trained for and what there job is. They are not pets like these other dogs…They did there jobs and that should not make them a dangerous breed. Any breed can be taught bite work, its part of alot of sports you do with dogs! I think its bs that you use there line of work to say that these dogs are dangerous. GSD’S that are PETS and NOT working dogs are BIG BABYS!

  543. Bull puckey. Dog are ‘dangerous’ because they have owners who dont know what they are doing and dont raise the dogs well or people do something really stupid. I have four big dogs and their ‘biggest danger’ is in being tripping hazards, or thinking there really IS room in mamas chair for me and 90 pounds of mutt.

  544. I have a pit bull and he is incredible!! The calmest, happiest most loving dog ever! I also have a child and they are the best of friends!

  545. Most ridiculous article ever. It’s been easily proven that “pit bulls”, when they are pets, and not kept as guard or fighting dogs, are incredibly gentle and docile. They are most likely to be trained to kill, so – guess what!? – They are the top killers. Of course! But if your neighbor with 3 kids has one and they walk it around and give it treats and train it to sit, you’re not going to have an issue, statistically speaking.

    1. Think again. Most pit bull attack victims are mauled and killed by someone’s “pet” pit bull. Sometimes, even the pit bull owner is killed by his own pet pit bull dog.

      1. Think again, yourself. Of the (only) 256 dog bite fatalities in the U.S. between 2000 and 2009, 76% were kept as guard or fighting dogs. 28% involved owners with a known history of animal abuse. Of all those deaths, breed was not determined to be a significant factor.

        1. DBRF? What’s that? I’m quoting a real journal. Your statistics, if true, do not even note whether the animals were pets or not. Dollars to donuts they were un-neutered males that were being raised as guard dogs or for other, less legal reasons in nearly every case.

          1. Hah, NCRC is a pit bull propaganda machine.

            What I gave you is a list of people killed by dogs this year. What you gave me is some bogus numbers.

    2. I don’t know about gentle or docile. I’ve seen a pitbull grow from puppy, and there isn’t much gentle or docile about them. They are quite hyper, like ADHD hyper. You have to be assertive and consistent, like with all dogs, and insist that they listen to you, that you are the one who leads, not them.

      1. No dog is born trained, of course! Our girl needed some serious displays of who was the alpha in the household when we adopted her. That didn’t take long to sink in, though, and she was never vicious – just high-strung. Now she’s incredibly gentle, even with my autistic nephew (who can be pretty rough with her).

      2. No more so that any other breed, ever see a Lab without training? Talk about a hyper dog! Pits are very loving and protective. If the media reported feel good stories about them or the abuse they suffer (which is horrendous!) vs just the attacks maybe people would see them as they are… a dog who just wants a family to love them.

  546. Ban these dogs? I’ve had Dobermans for over 45 years and never a problem. As a dog trainer, I’ve always found that the problem with “bad dogs” is usually the owners. People take these aforementioned dogs and teach them to be evil. My solution is to put the owners to sleep and rescue the dogs.

    1. Back in the 80’s in Massachusetts, Doberman’s were popular as an aggressive guard-type breed.

      It was rumored there that when Doberman’s reach a certain age, their brain goes sort of haywire and they are known to attack and kill their owners.

      Yet, they rated as one of the safest of these 10 dogs listed here. I know German Shepards certainly didn’t have that sort of reputation, and they rated way up there with Rottweilers and Pitbulls.

  547. Pitt Bulls? I don’t want to believe it. Have had Pitts my WHOLE life and never seen them bite anyone. It’s the fault of the owner. My family and I love our Pitts and will always have them in our family.

  548. I can tell you the answer without doing any of the research or even reading the article.

    Statistically, the most common to kill a person is going to be the dogs we humans typically use as guard dogs or protector dogs of any kind.

    The reason it will be these dogs is because of us, we train them to be in that situation, and we put them in that situation, thus more likely, they’ll be the ones in that situation than any other dog.

    The same would be for any dog we commonly decide to put in that situation.

    Right at the top is going to be Rottweilers, and that’s because we have chosen to put Rottweilers in those positions where they are more likely to attack and potentially kill a human being.

    I’m not sure about pit bulls because I’m not sure how often we put pit bulls into that situation of being guard dogs, attack dogs, and other types of protector dogs.

    What they should do to be fair is to break up the statistics for each situation. Of the dogs that are verified to be house dogs, and not given any particular training to protect or guard, which breeds most often result in severe injury and death to human beings.

    Then do that for those verified to be guard dogs or otherwise trained to be protector dogs of any kind, which breeds most often cause severe injury and death to humans.

    Then do that for those verified to be house dogs also with training to be protector dogs.

    Then do that for those verified to be seeing-eye dogs.

    Then do that for those verified to be police dogs or other law-enforcement trained dogs.

    Then do that for dogs verified to be mistreated and neglected by their owners, mistreated but not neglected, neglected, but not mistreated.

    Then, when you look over the statistics for all of those different situations, IF you see one breed consistently coming up in the top of the most dangerous breeds, you can actually say that the breed may be legitimately more dangerous than other breeds.

    1. 2015 DBRF Stastics

      Fatal attacks by Pit bulls = 15

      Fatal GSD, Golden Retriever, Rottweiler, Laborador Retriever, Border Collie, Chihuahua, French Bulldog, Great Dane attacks on humans.

      2015 Fatal Attacks by ALL other breeds = 1

      July 2015
      Redbird, OK Carolyn Sue Lamp 67, Fatal pit bull attack
      Shaker Heights, OH Annie Williams, 71, Fatal pit bull attack
      Henderson County, SC Joshua Strother, 6, Fatal pit bull attack
      Pecos, TX Norberto Legarda, 83 Fatal pit bull attack

      June 2015
      Comanche County, OK Jordan Collins-Tyson, 3 Fatal Pit bull attack

      May 2015
      Cook County, IL James Nevils III, 5 Fatal pit bull attack
      Canyon Lake, TX Gaege Ramirez, 7 Fatal pit bull attack

      April 2015
      Dallas County, TX Brayden Wilson, < 1 Fatal pit bull attack
      Nye County, NV Kenneth Ford, 79 Fatal pit bull attack

      March 2015
      Jefferson County, AR De'trick Johnson, 36 Fatal pit bull attack
      Ohio County, WV Roy Higgenbotham Jr., 62 Fatal pit bull attack
      Sulphur Springs, Texas Betty Wood, 78, Fatal Rottweiler attack

      February 2015
      Allegheny County, PA TayLynn DeVaughn, 2 Fatal pit bull attack

      January 2015
      Page County, IA Malaki Mildward, 7 Fatal pit bull attack
      Hernando County, FL Declan Moss, 18-months Fatal pit bull attack
      Frederick County, MD Eugene Smith, 87 Fatal pit bull attack

      1. Okay, now out of all of those pitbulls that did the fatal attack, how many of those pitbulls were treated as normal house-dogs, and not treated more aggressively or neglected more or physically punished more or desired to be more aggressive by their owners?

        When a person gets a pitbull, are they looking for a family pet?

        What if pitbull owners saw their dogs as the family pet just as much as they see a St. Bernard or Golden Retriever or black Labrador as a family pet?

        Usually, when a person gets a pitbull, it’s because they want an aggressive scary dog.

        What if that wasn’t the case, might those statistics be considerably different?

  549. I work at an animal shelter where, 12 out of the 31 dogs that we have are Pits. And out of that 12 there is only 1 that I won’t go into the run with. All of the others are the most lovable teddy bears that I have ever met! It surprises me that Schnauzers and Chihuahuas are not on this list. Since working at the shelter i’ve been bitten only by small dogs, and never by anything that’s on this list.

    1. This list is of fatalities caused by these dogs.

      Lol, I don’t care how aggressive a Chihuahua is, they aren’t killing anyone.

      They can barely break the skin when they bite, IF they even can. I was bitten on the arm by a chihuahua in full-on fight mode, and I came away with painful dents in my skin, not even any blood.

      And Schnauzers, aren’t those also pretty small dogs?

      Small dogs wouldn’t be on a list like this. Chows are not all small. Some of them can reach the size of pitbulls.

  550. I think most Chihuahuas are aggressive even more than pitbulls, and result in many more deaths than even pitbulls if they were large dogs.

    However, it’s not the dog, it’s because owners think it’s so cute when a little tiny dog acts like it can take on anything and anyone, so they, by their response and body-language actually encourage their chihuahua to act like that.

    If you take control of your chihuahua, they can be as well behaved as any bigger dog.

    People take the time to be the leader of their dog and teach their dog how to behave and how to respond to certain commands, and even chihuahuas wouldn’t be the ravenous little demons they usually seem to so commonly act like.

  551. Husky? Siberian husky? I have one. Most gentle dog I’ve ever known. Got him at about 18 months as a stray, and he’d been on the street for a while, sad shape. Super mellow, runs away from cats. And yes, very intelligent to a point of hard to believe. We just let him roam the ‘hood, he’s totally harmless and loved by all.

  552. Ok scientifically, this list is pure garbage. The author states number of deaths. Over how long and it should be deaths per thousand dogs or such. If there are 100 dogs in the study and 7 fatalities, and the next dog involves 100,000 dogs and 20 fatalities, the second one is safer. No basis for this list. The more important thing to look at is if you are attacked by a dog, do you want to fend off and pitbull or a poodle.

  553. Yeah, St. Bernards are only dangerous if theuir owners train them to attack — and I was nearly torn to pieces by one who was trained to do just that.

  554. What I don’t understand is why someone would want a pit bull. It is a dangerous dog and there are so many breeds to choose from. A number of breed that are great watch dogs and home protectors if that is what you are looking for. I just think most pit bulls are owned by people who probably should not own this breed because of their mental state and total lack of concern for others or the law.

  555. Sorry, but just quoting an absolute number of fatalities is useless from a statistical standpoint. You have to know how many of those types of dogs there are out there. I suspect that there are quite a bit more pit bulls out there than there are St. Bernards. Unfortunately, a lot get blamed on the pit bulls when the dog in question is a mix or just a related breed that looks similar.

    1. 2015 DBRF Stastics

      Fatal attacks by Pit bulls = 15

      Fatal GSD, Golden Retriever, Rottweiler, Laborador Retriever, Border Collie, Chihuahua, French Bulldog, Great Dane attacks on humans.

      2015 Fatal Attacks by ALL other breeds = 1

      July 2015
      Redbird, OK Carolyn Sue Lamp 67, Fatal pit bull attack
      Shaker Heights, OH Annie Williams, 71, Fatal pit bull attack
      Henderson County, SC Joshua Strother, 6, Fatal pit bull attack
      Pecos, TX Norberto Legarda, 83 Fatal pit bull attack

      June 2015
      Comanche County, OK Jordan Collins-Tyson, 3 Fatal Pit bull attack

      May 2015
      Cook County, IL James Nevils III, 5 Fatal pit bull attack
      Canyon Lake, TX Gaege Ramirez, 7 Fatal pit bull attack

      April 2015
      Dallas County, TX Brayden Wilson, < 1 Fatal pit bull attack
      Nye County, NV Kenneth Ford, 79 Fatal pit bull attack

      March 2015
      Jefferson County, AR De'trick Johnson, 36 Fatal pit bull attack
      Ohio County, WV Roy Higgenbotham Jr., 62 Fatal pit bull attack
      Sulphur Springs, Texas Betty Wood, 78, Fatal Rottweiler attack

      February 2015
      Allegheny County, PA TayLynn DeVaughn, 2 Fatal pit bull attack

      January 2015
      Page County, IA Malaki Mildward, 7 Fatal pit bull attack
      Hernando County, FL Declan Moss, 18-months Fatal pit bull attack
      Frederick County, MD Eugene Smith, 87 Fatal pit bull attack

  556. Do any of these authors know how to write? Where are the numbers to back up your accusations? Seven Fatalities over what period of time? 30 years? 1 year? I found most of this sheer bull. A St. Bernard? Really? OMG I’m laughing!

  557. I have 2 saints and my girl had 11 pups…and not a single one of them has ever bitten or attacked anyone. I have no idea how my babies’ breed ended up on this list. However, as far as the size, yes, you must train them, because they just DON’T know how big they are, and will just as soon sit on top of you as lay on the floor lol Big cuddle bugs ❤️

  558. If this is supposed to be for an educational purpose, why does it have a headline “Dogs that should be banned.” People who are not educated about so called “Dangerous” dogs, go to city council meetings and start petitions to have specific breeds banned based on a headline they saw on the internet. Please be responsible when putting a headline to draw attention to your article.

  559. Dogs, like any other animal, are products of their environments, just as children are. The absolutely best dog I’ve ever been around belonged to friends. It was a Rot, appropriately named “Gibraltar.” He and I were best of friends. I would be taking a nap on our boat and my wife would see Gib and tell him to see “Mr. J.” Gib would jump on the boat and the next thing I knew he would be on my chest giving me a bath. He was a wonderful dog. Scary? Hardly. When it came to our relationship, Gib never grew up. Unfortunately, due to some health problems, he had to be put down.

  560. As an old man, I’ve had a lot of dogs in my life. I’ve been around a lot of dogs that friends and family owned, too. Growing up in the South, the classic hound (bluetick, black-and-tan, etc.) was ever-popular and an excellent class of working dog. I am AMAZED that a specific breed of dog didn’t make this list though (based on biting). It goes to show, this list is based on REPORTED BITES, not actual surveyed bites, and overall, the continuing point in the list was FATALITIES, not bites anyhow. Over 60-years, I have been attacked and bitten by four dogs, three of which were the Rat Terrier! This specific ‘lapdog’ breed (small breed normally found predominantly indoors as a personal companion) has a monstrous personality that, in a larger frame, would warrant a loud outcry that would most assuredly mute those against the pitbull (which I actually like very much, and have found that a good owner makes an EXCELLENT pitbull). WIthout fail, even the best owners can’t predetermine the nature of the nasty little Rat Terrier. Call it however you want, but the Rat Terrier is an atrocious dog. Just because they don’t send people to the hospital or morgue, doesn’t make them unpredictable biters.

  561. these dog are made dangerous by irresponsible dog owners. The owners do not take the time to train and socialize their dogs. Many people want to have a dog but they will not invest the time to make them good dogs. That is the reason too many end up in shelters.Hell many people won’t take care of thier children much less a four legged critter!

  562. Unfortunately the (real) statistical story is far worse than this reporter fails to comprehend. For several decades, Rottys led the list, and before that Germ. Sheps. But still a killing of a human being was a rare thing. These dogs know how to turn it off. The Pit is a relative newcomer to the game, starting around 2000 and it leaves dead bodies all over the place. Quite a rep in such a sort time. These dogs do not have the gene or sequence of genes that would tell a normal dog to turn it off. They are born to kill. Pits are not manageable guard dogs. Keep them away from children and other small dogs. And they will turn on you and loved ones. This breed should be exterminated.

  563. I’ve NEVER been bitten by ANY of these breeds and owned about half of them… the Chow can be sketchy, though… they’re a one person dog.

    Now… a Jack Russell terrier, or a chihuahua… there’s where you’ll get bitten… fast!

  564. I have a Rotti/Pit mix and Xeno is the most wonderful family dog I have ever owned, and there’s been some good one. From passiveness to jovial from playfulness to loving. This pup has it all. When we got him at 20 weeks, he had already been in 2 homes. His chewing got him booted. We got him and the 1st night he chewed all the wires to my surround sound. Countless shoes, boots, plastic cups later, and he has grown up into the dog I knew he could be. He has his boy, my 11 year old son, as a best friend(we bought Xeno after my son’s cat died) and he has a new little boy(our 2 year old) whom Xeno is now in the process of training :). Xeno is now going onto 4 years old and am very pleased we were able to save him and for Xeno to put a smile back on my sons face after the loss of his cat. Its all how you raise them

  565. Dog aggression in any breed starts with genetics and aggression can be seen/tested at just a few days old and definitely by breeding age.
    This is when the dog should be assigned a non-breeding status if aggressive.

    Problem is, breeders sell the animal before spay/neuter age and unethical/ignorant breeders knowingly sell an animal for breeding purposes when they shouldn’t.

    Then through stupidity or greediness those genes get combined with other aggressive genes laying the groundwork for a perfect storm.

    There needs to be more accountability.

  566. First off, we have a small cockapoo, and certainly have no problems with aggression, and I think if safety is paramount, a small dog is a good idea. I love Goldens and Labs, we just don’t have the situation for them. But, one dog not mentioned in the article is the dalmation. A neighbor had two and both were quite aggressive. I know not too many folks have them, but I wonder where they fit in the aggression scale?

  567. I live rurally and thanks to low lifes dumping their unwanted dogs I have 7. Two winters ago I got 7 dogs, 2 older pups and a mother dog with 4 pups. I found homes for the baby pups but no one wanted the mom. That was their loss, she is a Vizsla and a wonderful dog, the 2 older pups are Pit mixes, I already has an Irish Wolfhound, a Pit, a Great Pyrenees mix, and a Healer mix. My male Pit is the sweetest dog I have ever had, he also is one of the most stupid dogs I have had, but I’ll take the sweetness and be thankful

  568. Not sure why if you have children, grandchildren, infirm members of your family, why would you opt for this breed (Pit Bulls) when there are just as many dogs from other breeds that are in dire need of a loving home. Not all Pit Bull owners are Michael Vick, meaning, it’s common reading that a Pit Bull “torn off the arm” of the owner’s girlfriend, or “mauled a 3-yr-old” family member when they have spent their lives in a loving home. They have a screw loose, which is human error in breeding, I suppose, but why, oh, why do some treat this breed as if it’s our duty to prove to ourselves and any non-suspecting person in our homes that this dog is just misunderstood. I’m a dog walker and dog handler. The breed is so risky and so full of surprises that any sensible person looking for a canine friend has way too many other breeds to pick from. These dogs should have mandatory muzzling if in public places, parks or neighborhood spots, and mandatory spaying and neutering. Enough already.

  569. .My German Rottweiler is the sweetest thing in the world. She lets my Frenchton girl eat her up and she would never hurt her! They are not aggressive dogs unless you train them to be aggressive!!! I worry more about my Frenchton more than I do her! Ayita is a great dog and pet!

  570. They got the list right finally, with the Pit bull at no#1 killer breed and the Rott in a distant second, but they failed when they went on to say the pit bull got a bad rap. They have earned their rap due to breeding not how they are raised. Too many of these dogs are turning in good homes to just blame the dog fighters now. The death toll must have only been for a two year period because they kill on average of 42 people a year and attack on average every 11 days in the U.S. In 30 months 33 kids were mauled to death by FAMILY pit bulls that were sweet until they were not. They are ticking time bombs. What this article doesn’t tell you is that nearly 500 HUMANS are DEAD in the past 3 decades by Pit bulls and many others left disfigured for life. What they also fail to tell you is that this is the only breed to Scalp and Dismember it’s victims to death. When BSL Bans are put into place, the death toll goes down dramatically, Proving when the Pit bull is taken out of the equation, people live. This is the only breed that requires the claw end of a Hammer to pry it’s JAWS off a Baby’s skull! Anything from jogging, to gardening, to riding a bike can set them off making them attack UNPROVOKED. Many kids are dying a painful death due to lies being spread. Knowledge saves lives. Also No kill shelters and recycling pit bulls are adding to this deadly epidemic.

  571. I knew Pit Bulls were going to be #1. I disagree with you. This dog was bred for one reason only and that was to be aggressive and kill. That is why they are the preferred choice for dog fighting. I had two incidents where a neighbors pit bull came into my yard and attacked my Boxer dog who was chained up. The owner himself couldnt pry his dog off of mine. That is saying something when the OWNER cant get control of his dog. I’m not scared of dogs, being a man and bigger than a dog and knowing I can pounce on it and stomp it to death. I immediately told him to get away and I tried to pry them apart but couldnt. That lockjaw thing is true. I finally told the owner that if he didnt get his dog off of mine that I would get a cinder block that happened to be nearby and slam it on his dogs head. The owner said to do what I had to. He was worried about my dog because he was crying as the pit bull had him by the ear. I was going to do it but I really didnt want to because it seems so barbaric and violent. I ended up pinning his head on the cement driveway with my steel toe boot until he couldnt breathe anymore and then he would have to let go of my dog. That is exactly what happened. I like to be peaceful with my neighbors and didnt file charges or anything even though It cost $250 in vet bills. Pit Bulls need to be abolished. And further breeding of this kind should be illegal. Also women shouldnt own dogs they cant handle like Great Danes. I witnessed a woman at the dog park that kept struggling to handle her Dane. Women should stick to toy dogs like Pugs, chihuahuas, Poodles. Also one more thing HUMANS before animals. If anyone witnesses a human being attacked by a dog or any animal for that matter, do not hesitate to kill it. After all Jesus Christ died as ransom for humans not animals.

  572. It is truly a shame that pit bulls are the number one still. Instead of taking some ignorant but “educated,” better under lack thereof, let us truly see why pits attack. Owner’s lack of feeding properly, stupid kids that are testing natural selection, and special people who think it’s fun to fight any breed of dog. I have had my pit bull since I was stationed in Alaska and though it was difficult training him, he is by far the best dog I could ever be proud to call my friend. Everyone kept telling me that he will turn on me and they’ll see me in the news for him turning. I have had him for 7 to 8 years and not once, has he ever shown any aggression or violence towards anything. Of course, there are those who believe every single news channel about pit bulls and when my service friend and I go walking through awful walmart, I am left alone until my best friend hears a young child crying and like the original reason they were created, he just wants to make sure they are ok by giving a big kiss and making them smile before we leave. With his Disabled Service vest he wears for me, I have to judge the parents if Dammitt could check out the child and let it know that it is ok because some ignorant parents run with stereotypes and I do not mind because I can get my shopping done much faster. It is not the breed, it is not the history, it is how you take care of your furry friends completely and even pound-bound pit bulls, every person needs to understand that something happened to those, thus the reason they are there but even they can be brought back if you just love that as your own. D and I are always in the truck together and I am always showing him that I love him as my own. Now, for those “special breeds” screaming how a chihuahua is less violent than a pit bull, I have to be quite honest here. If I were a pit bull and I had to listen to the obnoxious yapping of a rat that couldn’t properly defend its property, I would do the world a favor and silence it. Ladies and gentlemen, if you truly want something small and less vocally invasive, I suggest you get a ferret or for more entertainment, go buy some sugar-gliders. Do not waste time, money, and any person unfortunately having to listen to an obnoxious rat from mexico babbasso. The biggest issue with pit bulls being misguided is the owners that have separate agendas from those of us who just want to love our animals. If you really want to get into violent animals, you should come check out my five ducks. They are they best guard dogs, even to my own blue-nose pit bull. They are harder to train, but hilarious and I cannot wait to hear some ignorant tell me that my ducks will turn on me and eat me as well. If my ducks could, then I probably had it coming

  573. I have a Chow who does beat up other dogs she has to live with, or spend extended time with but usually it’s the females. She is Queen Bee and won’t let them forget it. She doesn’t bite people unless cornered and grabbed at (one warning snap at a kennel worker) and never towards me. The thing with Chows is their facial expressions rarely give you a warning. I have learned to read mine over years of close interaction. The difference between “that’s cool, we can play and you can even wrestle with me” and “I think I want to kill you now” expressions toward my pushy female lab was basically a slight tensing of the muscle below one eye. VERY subtle. No wonder people get bit, they don’t know the dog or the breed. Even when I broke up her many fights, she never once tried to bite me and would stop attacking as soon as I controlled the other dog.

  574. Pit bull is not a dog breed but a name used to summarize three dog breeds. Also American Pit Bull Terriers are actually not that aggressive, in fact beagles are more aggressive. American Pit Bull Terriers were bred to be family dogs and are very loyal they actually were the all around American dog during WWI and saved many lives on duty. In fact they are one of the very few dog breeds that have ever gotten the purple heart. People turned some of them (only 3% of every dog breed categorized by the term pit bull.) into fighting dogs do to there muscular build and we blame the dog. In the 70’s we blamed the dobermans, in the 80’s we blamed the German Shepherd, in the 90’s we blamed the Rottweiler, now we blame the pits, when do we blame the people? Many people believe we are so smart and superior that none of this is our fault, look around people the truth is everywhere if you allow yourself to see it

  575. And again they lump all bully breeds into American Pit Bull Terrier. Mine have hurt plenty of people …..knocking them down while chasing a squirrel… jumping up to lick their faces when they weren’t expecting it and knocking them into a wall or door…tripping someone as they ran in front of them for a food scrap that hit the floor…propelled themselves off someone to greet someone coming in the door… constantly pulls out hair when you try getting up and they are laying on your head… this list could go on for awhile..

    1. Not to mention our Jack Russell tried ripping one of their faces off while the big dummy drug her to us as he cried to have her pulled off his face. All because he picked up her toy.

  576. For these statistics to be accurate they should also include the percentage of the dog population for each breed, and how they classify mixed breeds. If a boxer-pitbull mix bites someone, they don’t call it a boxer, or a mix, they call it a pitbull. If they don’t know what it is, but it has short hair, they’ll call it a pitbull.
    Also, why would you show a pitbull with it’s ears cropped for fighting? The best trait of a pitbull is their sense of humor. They’re clowns, and they know it. Cropping their ears takes away from the goofy, replacing it with scary.

  577. I have a Pit bull and she’s not dangerous at all! She’s around a 9 year old and 3 year old twins everyday and all she does and hug and kiss them! I don’t understand! Anydog can be mean if you don’t train them properly. It’s the owners! I must suck at being a Pit Bull mom!

  578. I have a pit bull Great Pyrenees mix. she’s afraid of people. I’ve proven it. But it always comes out as aggression. she doesn’t like noisy vehicles, two wheelers and I think the Spanish language upsets her. no kidding. But she’s a huge, sometimes clumsy baby. she’s been attacked twice while being walked and was injured both times. it’s the a-holes that fight them and train them to be aggressive that have ruined their reputation.

  579. Oh course the Pit was #1. I have owned pits for the last 15 years and both my kids were raised with them and we have never had a problem. Any dog can be taught to be mean if raised by the wrong person. In my experience little dogs are more aggressive than the dogs on this list

  580. I have had Rotts, Dobes and Pitbulls Three of the best breeds I have ever had.
    My current Pit is a registered Therapy Dog with the AKA. A more gentler loving soul you never meet…

  581. I rescued a little girl pit bull starving on the street…she lives with my 3 grandchildren and is very sweet and beautiful. However, if anyone messed with me, Vivian would eat them or take a bullet. Her sweet face, gratitude, and power makes a charming personality and I love her.

  582. God gave us dogs because he knew how mean we would be to each other and need personal friends…Edie Brikell said, “Anyone who can’t see God in a dog’s eyes never will.” If they were rare, we would treasure them more.

  583. I have had most of these breeds. I have learned not to say I would never have any specific type of dog because I’ll end up with one. It is so much more important who owns them,what kind of atmosphere they live in. One of my favorites, Dobies, have mainly killed in defense of their owners. I consider that a good dog! I would kill for mine if called for and hope they would do the same for me! I depend on my dogs for my security, as well as my son’s. He is seriously disabled and I’m a senior citizen w/ disabilities as well. Dogs should not be demonized for doing their job.

  584. I guess the common denominator with all of the breeds, is how they are cared for. Dogs, almost exclusively, just want to be loved and cared for. They will return those simple tasks100 times over, by loving and often protecting their owners. They aren’t judgmental, don’t care how much money you have (as long as their basic needs are met) and are as loyal an animal as there is. I tend to like dogs more than most people, for those reasons. I don’t remember ever not owning a dog. I have a little Maltese Poodle (that was supposed to be my wife’s dog, but she immediately warmed up to me), after generally owning large dogs, mainly German Shepards. She is 11 years old now and has brought me as much, or more, joy than any dog I have ever owned. They all have their own unique personalities and I enjoy the time I get to spend with her, and know that time is running out, due to her advanced age. You get out of dogs what you are willing to put into them, not so much financially, but love, time and patience.

  585. If ppl could correctly identify a pit bull maybe this would be more accurate. Many dog bites are said to be by this breed when in reality the dog was a mix of something else. If its short haired and a block head then they say its a pit bull!

  586. Yeah, they are great, like when the biggest supporter in England of Pit Bulls, being a number of months pregnant, was murdered by hers for no apparent reason. And the baby sitter here in WI, whose two PB’s murdered a toddler under her care. Two dogs raised by her since pups, and by all accounts were never mistreated or improperly raised, they also attacked HER when she tried to stop them from killing the toddler…yeah, they’re great!

  587. My wife and I are on our second Great Dane, the first we had before kids and decided on the second one when our 3 kids decided they wanted a pet. We created an exhaustive list of different breeds and rated them based on how each breed would get along with our children. We quickly eliminated smaller breeds, especially terriers, based on the tendency to bite. We finally concluded the Great Dane to be best BECAUSE of their gentle dispositions. Our current Dane wouldn’t harm a thing, they’re actually the biggest babies ever born, even scared of butterflies. Now I will admit, if someone decided to start hitting on any of my children there probably wouldn’t be much left to identify, but normal, everyday behavior, wouldn’t choose anything other than a Great Dane.

  588. I don’t think any animal, or any breed, can be trusted 100%.
    I see it fairly routinely in my pediatric practice. A well-cared-for
    family dog (or sometimes a close neighbor’s dog) suddenly attacks a
    child. The parents or the neighbors always say, “This is first time she’s ever bitten anyone. She’s never, ever
    bitten anyone before. I don’t know why she did this time.” They say this EVERY SINGLE TIME. Well, duh. Of course they haven’t bitten anyone before their first, that is why it is called the FIRST time. And no one knows why they bit the kid…its an animal. No one knows what it is thinking. And anyone who tells you that they can is lying to you and to themselves.

    Any dog breed has the capacity to one day, up and decide to bite someone. They could have been the gentlest, sweetest dog for a decade but if one day its isn’t feeling well, its sick or has developed any brain degeneration (senility is humans) it can suddenly bite someone without cause. Training and responsible care aren’t infallible. Any creature with a brain and capable of independent action can attack, despite proper training and years of good behavior.

    And the bigger, stronger, and more powerful the animal the more devastating the attack. Chihuahuas may be 10x or 100X more likely to bite than a Rottweiler but that Rottweiler can do 100X more damage.

    I have no studies to cite. Just years of empirical evidence.

    1. I agree that any breed has the capability to bite for the first time one day, despite training and good behavior before that. What’s an apparent reason for the bite to the dog isn’t so much for the human normally. However, I think people’s point is that it’s unfair to put only large-breed dogs on a list of aggressive dogs. Yes, a Chihuahua isn’t a threat if it acts aggressively, whereas a Rottweiler would be. That shouldn’t be the emphasis of aggression though. Just because larger breeds are more capable of doing damage if they’d bite they aren’t the most aggressive breeds. In general smaller dogs like the Chihuahua and Dachshund rate in the low end for temperament. So, they are more likely to be aggressive and bite in comparison to a Rottweiler or Great Dane. People are just getting at the fact most of these breeds on the list have much better temperaments than smaller breeds that didn’t make it on the list because of their size.

  589. ive had 3 of the top 10 so called vicious breeds and not one ever attacked me or another human or animal, Now i have been bitten by poodles and chihuahuas, and have my 80 lbs pit attacked by a beagle. small breeds yes there small but often over looked for being mean as well

  590. well i got a yard full of pit bulls and they are just like other dogs really it not the breed it is the people that have them. All my dogs play in the yard together and play with kids and other dogs so their not bad dogs if that so why do other dogs bit people and nothing is said but god knows if a pit bull bites someone it is all over the news. I will have pit bulls in my yard until i leave this world we live in but if someone comes in your house to harm you i would like my odds with that pit bull are just wait for help LOVE MY PITS you take any dog and make them a bad dog their like kids more you train them the better they are in life love them like you do your kids.

  591. What I’d really like to see, is a compilation of mistakes and irresponsible owner behaviors that contribute to out of control and aggressive dogs. Dogs can not be any better than their teaching and their treatment.

  592. The true most dangerous dog, the freaking chihuahua. mean tempered with a massive inferiority complex makes then hyper aggressive, they are just too small and useless to do any serious damage.

  593. I work for an insurance company, and almost 70% of dog bite claims are from pit bulls. But it does seem like many of the owners don’t realize they have an aggressive dog. Without exception, every owner I speak with says their dog is gentle, and they are always shocked that it bit someone.

  594. Go To YouTube And Type In “Sharky The Pit Bull” The Pit Bull Lives On A Farm And Is The Mother Figure To All The Other Animals Cats, Rabbits, Chickens & Guinea Pigs etc… Watch!

  595. I’ve always been fascinated with Rottweilers and had a female who was the same age as our youngest son (who will be 22 soon). The only people that needed to be afraid of ‘Willie’ was anyone that would try to harm ‘her boy’. She adopted him and was very protective of him. Again I say there are no bad dogs, only bad owners.

  596. Obvious the author of this article is either totally ignorant or just an out right hater of dogs! There are no dog breeds out there that are “Dangerous” just by nature or the fact of their lineage within a particular breed line!

    Where any dog becomes DANGEROUS is when someone gets a dog that doesn’t spend the time with it that is required to make it a well trained and properly behaved four legged citizen… or perhaps they go out and get a particular breed with the sole intent of making it vicious to begin with… then there are those that just abuse them until they themselves lash back at others in self defense… but NO DOG is dangerous by nature or by design of it’s breed…

    Unlike the IGNORANCE of this particular writer who knows nothing of owning, raising, training and or caring for a dog!

  597. My little girl is a PIt/Lab cross. I call her “a water/terrier”. LOL She is the smartest, gentlest, and loving-est dog, I’ve ever had. I’ve seen her pick up a field mouse and carry it in her mouth, and then put it down without hurting it. I once sew her playing with a tinny gopher, and the gopher was playing back. Her best friend is the meanest cat in the neighborhood, and they love each other, We have a pact between us. She doesn’t bite me and I don’t hit her. I can’t remember even having to yell, at her once in the 14 years she’s had me. She looks at me and I know what she wants or needs. I’m proud to be her human and everyone I know says she is a pure joy to behold. To soon she will be gone and the thought of that day fills me with dread. Any dog can be made to be mean. Simply kicking the food bowl while there eating or keeping it on a chain will turn a good dog bad. I believe a dogs aggression is almost always rooted in their upbringing. If you see a mean dog, look for a mean human somewhere in it’s life.

  598. 4 pit bull attacks in North Carolina this month alone. 1 woman and her toddler we murdered by this dog. And I use the word murder because that is what it is when someone does not train their dog correctly. Another woman now is nowbeing fitting for a prosthetic arm because the pitbull ripped her arm off from the shoulder down, literally ripped it from her body. Another man is looking at months if not yrs of surgery and physical therapy after his pitbull which had been a family pet for over 5 yrs attacked him for taking a toy from the dog that the dog had taken from his 3 yr. old child. And finally a new born was brought home from the hospital to a home with a pit pet that had been with the owners since it was 7 weeks old. 8 yrs later that “pet” kills the newborn in its 2nd night home.
    I am sorry but these dogs are not good pets. You never hear about the family Labradoodle eating a child after its come home from the hospital or a Great Dane breaking out of its yard and attacking and maiming or killing some unsuspecting soul who happens to be walking down the street and the reason you don’t hear about these things is because they happen so infrequently that they don’t even warrant newsworthiness pitbulls on the other hand attacks happen almost daily throughout this country.

  599. There are no bad dogs! Only bad owners who think they know what they are doing but clearly do not! Blaming a whole breed is like blaming one person for another person’s crime!! Pit Bulls get a bad rap because people use them for fighting. Then when a person, who clearly is ignorant about dogs, comes along and gets bit by one they automatically assume its the breed because they are used for fighting. Before condemning anything, people should do their own research and actually have personal experience with it. How can you judge a piece of pie without tasting it first?

  600. For these statistics to be accurate they should also include the
    percentage of the dog population for each breed, and how they classify
    mixed breeds. If a boxer-pitbull mix bites someone, they don’t call it a
    boxer, or a mix, they call it a pitbull. If they don’t know what it is,
    but it has short hair, they’ll call it a pitbull.
    Also, why
    would you show a pitbull with it’s ears cropped for fighting? The best
    trait of a pitbull is their sense of humor. They’re clowns, and they
    know it. Cropping their ears takes away from the goofy, replacing it
    with scary.

  601. I HAD A PITBULL/bULLDOGMIX PUP, SLEPT RIGHT ON THE BED NO ISSUES, THEN ON NIGHT WHILE I WAS SLEEPING SHE BIT MY ARM RIGHT DOWN TO THE BONE. would NOT TRUST ANOTHER. I HAD A WOLF/SHEPARD HYBRID THAT WAS AS GENTLE AS A LAMB. HE COULD CARRY A NEW BORN KITTEN IN HIS MOUTH AND GIVE IT BACK TO HER MAMA. tHE STATE OF MAINE HAS DETERMINED THAT ALL wOLF HYBRIDS NOW IN THE STATE BE STERILIZED AND THEY ARE PUSHING TO MAKE THE BREED ILLEGAL HERE !!yOU CANOT BRING ONE INTO THE STATE.
    iT REALLY DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE HOWANY DOGIS RAISED. I HAD THE WOLF HYBRID WHEN HE WAS 3 DAYS OLD. bABY WOLFS DO NOTHAVE MILK TEETH. tHE MAMA ABANDONED THEM.hE DIED AT 12 WHICH IS VERY OLD FOR THEM DIEDIN MY ARMS.

  602. 1. the only dog that has ever chased me on a bike was a chihuahua. i was 6 ok.
    2. i would like to see a list that doesnt include deaths that were work related, like german shepherds, and posibly in defense of the family, like doberman pinscher

  603. i have a pit bull and so do most of my friends and family and there all big babys and love kids my grand daughters call mine there horse and try to ride her and she just lays there and lets them and they dress her drag her around on the leash and give her baths she even let my one granddaughter in the cage with the puppies with her and they took a nap together what mamma dog does that we have had her 4 yrs now and she loves all kids and people she is so friendly we stay in hotels and camp grounds with her everyone just loves her and i really wish they would really re-look at the pit bulls not all breeds or pit bulls r the same and it is all in how u raise them my chihuahua my he rip was nicer them all others and loved kids to and some of those dogs will rip skin off ur leg arm and what ever they can get they r the mean dog

  604. I have owned, shown, and bred chows for years. They are incredibly loyal and protective dogs who will take a bullet for their masters, they masters’ children, and other members of the family. To talk about this breed in anything less than glowing terms is to do a terrible disservice to chows. These dogs were palace guard dogs and they will do whatever it takes to keep hearth and home safe from intruders. I had a break-in some years ago, and my female chow, who weighed only about 50 pounds, nearly killed a 200+ pound intruder who got too close to my kids. That dog would have given her life to protect my children. And they loved her forever.

  605. Most of the dogs on this list are large breeds. Their size is related to the damage. You have to decide if you are the kind who can handle one of these breeds. Then they need to be properly trained and socialized. If all Pits were in the hands of the right kind of owners they wouldn’t be on this list.

  606. I can’t believe how many of the breeds listed here are pets I was raised with or have raised myself . I lost my pit 2yrs ago at 14yrs old , one of the sweetest and most loving dogs ever ! I have a rotty who is now 11yrs,very protective of the Lil ones ,looks dangerous because she’s a big girl , also a gentle, loving soul who has never bitten anyone Lost my Akita 3yrs ago at 14yrs old , he was100lbs of love , I knew without a doubt he’d kill anyone who attacked me ,but he would follow commands and back down when told to ,he has actually been my favorite breed ,and I plan to get another in the spring,because he was a big strong dog people were afraid of him ,but in 14yrs he never bit anyone ,bottom line it starts with breeders and owners ,no breed is by nature bad , it’s when humans with bad intent get involved ,or don’t realize smart strong breeds must have training and know their owner is the alfa of the pack !babyred

  607. All the dogs in this list are huge. Really? St. Bernards? And I am tired of hearing how dangerous German Shepherds are. Where are all the ankle biters that are too small to be killers? But are way more temperamental and more likely to hurt small children? Not only more likely BUT ALSO INTENTIONALLY! Big dogs might hurt you while playing. Happens to the best dogs. Been bitten by my own very loyal dogs during play and always accidental. (The sad look on their faces once they realized they hurt me is heart breaking). As for dogs that are bred to harm, how about a list of the top 10 most dangerous dog owners. Let’s face it. They’re the real problem.

    1. Just a side note, dangerous owners are not limited to people breeding dogs for fighting or guarding. Also includes incompetent owners that fail to do the proper research on a breed before adopting to provide a healthy and safe environment with proper training required for a specific breed. When it comes to medium and large dogs, any breed can be a killer or an oversized lap dog/cuddly teddy bear. It’s all on the owner.

  608. I noticed this article pointed out reasons why every other breed might be associated with aggressive behaviour except the wolfdog. But they presented the wolfdog saying their would mayor would take over and there is nothing the guardian can do. NONSENSE! These dogs, just like all the others on the list have personalities that come in every size and shape. Unfortunately many people get them without understanding the special needs they have, how to care for them properly and how to properly socialize them. As a breed they make wonderful members of the family, are highly intelligent, gentle, loyal and loads of fun. But, like many of the other listed breeds need guardians who have been educated and are properly prepared to care for them. It is completely unfair and ignorant to make statements like this article does.

    I have been a wolf companion for more than 25 years with wolfdogs from low to very, very high content. I have raised a family, had other dogs and cats in my home and never had any problems from any of my wolfdogs. I do not recommend wolfdogs to inexperienced, immature or uneducated people but for those of us who are willing to devote the time, energy, expense and education necessary, there is no greater canine companion than a wolfdog.

  609. My first Rottweiler was given to me when she was 5. She was the best dog I ever had and I have had many…she was the gentlest dog ever and I even brought her to my youngest son’s kindergarten class on bring your pet to school day. (My youngest son is now 22) and she laid on the classroom floor and rolled over for all to pet her belly. She was given to me after she raised $1500 pups but she had a bad back and they couldn’t take her when they moved. I loved her for another 5 years until she went under our deck one rainy night to die. My third son pulled her out and I took care of her for another week because she couldn’t walk anymore; her back had finally done her in. I changed her diapers until I couldn’t bare to see her suffer anymore. I have never forgotten her and never had another dog like her. So boo hoo and stop condemning the entire breed!

  610. As a breeder of Chow Chows, unlike most dogs they are naturally aggressive. Also the sweetest dogs I have ever owned. Training is almost useless unless you are a pro. If you follow a couple of simple instructions. You will have a wonderful dog. If you buy a puppy constantly pet or pick up dog when it is sleeping. They sleep deeply and sometimes don’t wake up. Socialize x 3 bring to dog friendly store, friends homes and bring people into home. If you have a young male waking him up is very important. Since they cannot see good. Very deep set eyes and thick fur. Even with training from a pro aggressive behavior happens. Some people may not ever be allowed in your home. In some cases the person has a medical problem. Cancer diabetes or adrenal problems and in one case the main was a child molester. Sure wish dogs could talk. Would have stopped some kids being violated. Lastly do not let the Chow pup fool you. They are so sweet, non destructive and cute. Puberty hits and everything changes. Never fix a dog until puberty. Woman understand better but lack of hormones leads to low muscle mass.

  611. We make drugs illegal because they kill people, criminals can’t have guns, the same should be done with pit bulls or staffords? I think most people want them so they can make up for their own insecurity and look cool. Get a Mutt!!

  612. American Pit Bull Terrries* actually have one of the lowest bite power. The strongest being an English Mastiff at 556 PsI. Pitties have a bite power of about 250. One can crush skulls, the other is just very tenacious. What makes ApbTs and Staffys so “dangerous” is their owner pleasing nature. People now a days purposely breed a dog that was the original nanny dog with aggressive dogs of like builds and train them to kill. The ones that don’t quite cut it are sold as pets or abused and left to die.
    i rescued a pitty pup from a fighter a few years ago, and he was the sweetest dog I’ve ever had. He loved grass, because he has never seen it. He didn’t last very long because he only had one kidney due to inbreeding.

    I think we should look at the aggressive tendencies and actual attacks the breed has commited, rather than fatalities. I also think that there should be a requirement of knowing the basics in dog behavior so that less of these attacks occur.
    I’ve had small dogs run my Mastiffs up the street biting at their heels, and and almost had to have stiches in my nose because of a chi who latched on and wouldn’t let go when I was younger.
    any dog can bite. The family dog who’s been around children for it’s entire life can still bite.

  613. This article only goes by fatalities…let’s face it, a toy breed may not be able to kill you, but many of them are meaner than snake venom! I have been around and dealt with animals all my life. Before I would own a Chihuahua, I would take any of these breeds in a heartbeat over the toys!!!!! If they gathered intel on the toy breeds for biting and having a nasty nature to them….the toys would win hands down!

  614. I question the science behind this article. Have you considered that there may be this many attacks by pit bulls because they are very popular and there are a lot of them around? For this article to have any merit you would need to measure fatalities per 10,000 dogs or something like that. Just looking at fatalities without considering their frequency within that population is comparing apples and oranges.

  615. How about you write negative reviews on people who own these breeds. People are so uneducated & probably most people should not even own any of these breeds. So shame on you guys for writing the article & not giving the reasons as to why these dogs truly became dangerous.

  616. I have a rottie we saved from the pound. Best dog I have ever had. He is a little aggressive but only towards strangers or people that are not invited into the home. He was also randomly aggressive towards certain men that may have come to the door, I figured he was trying to tell me that I was not safe. I like my dogs protective. However my kids crawl all over him and he never bats an eyelash. Frankly I dont care if my dog likes any one outside of my family. He is there as a friend and guardian. I put a pad lock on my gate and make sure the front security screen is always locked. Someone tries to get through that and they deserve what they get!

  617. Any dog can be dangerous … the only difference is that the big dogs have something to back it up with but for the most part they are “gentle giants.” Its interesting that on an article on here under “Dogs best with Children” they listed a pit bull. Here is what it said:

    Staffordshire Bull Terrier

    There are many that might disagree, stating that this is a breed that is considered dangerous, but it’s simply not the truth.

    This particular breed is very good with kids, very patient with children and
    has a very high pain tolerance. What this means is that you’re going to find
    that everyone gets along splendidly

  618. So much BS in this article. Obviously this person has never had a lot of these dogs. I have had Shepherds and Pits. Loveable dogs, just leave their families alone. We also had a husky when we were kids and she was great. I would have a big dog before I would have a chihuahua etc.

  619. It is not rocket science. When the statistics rise to a certain level, something needs to be done. No one argues there are sweet pit bulls etc, but when that GROUP reaches a statistical level of danger, then the ‘group’ carries that statistic … and controls have to be put in place. That some pit bulls are sweet has NO BEARING on those that are not. The two do not relate. Sweet pit bulls are not the problem. The problem is too many are not. No one is talking about sweet pit bulls. When the bad pit bulls get numerous enough .. pit bulls need to be OUTLAWED .. because we can’t wait until an infant is mauled in order to get rid of one bad pit bull. This applies to ANY breed which breaks the statistical barrier. Furthermore, ‘the bad pit bull was not raised right’ doesn’t excuse that infant’s mauling. That is irrelevant also. I really don’t give a —– WHY the infant was mauled.

  620. This list is bla,bla. more people have been attacked by German Sheppard than pits, as well Rottweilers, but police use these dogs so it’s pretty obvious why list is listed as is. Left off many dogs as well. You get a heavy chain hung around your neck, a piece of tin with blocks to sleep under, your food bowl and water bowl just kept out of reach from you for three or four days until you are ready for a fight, then tell a pit how bad your life is. Because idiots do this to them, owners that do them like this deserve the same punishment.

  621. This is ridiculous. A few years ago Labradors were on the list for Top Ten because of their protective nature and their inclination towards aggressive outbursts if “poorly trained”. All of this is hypothetical based on unsupported “Statistics” and one of many, many studies. Out of tens of thousands of breeds of dogs, it’s hard to believe that 10 ordinary, well known breeds are the most aggressive of breeds world wide. I’m not buying.

  622. This article is full of nonsense…

    The fatality listing alone is ignorant.

    The term “Pit Bull” has been forced upon AKC through ignorant owners who would rather call their dog a “pit bull” because of the attitude that is present when using that term…

    Their proper name’s are Staffordshire Terrier or American terrier AKA ; American Bull dog/Pit Bull.

    The American Bull Terrier is one of the most loyal dogs you will and can ever encounter, they are HIGHLY protective of children, and in the proper situation are a great addition to ANY family.

    That being said, you can take a pomeranian and turn it into a holy terror if the owners are not willing to take proper care and restrain themselves from their own emotional outbursts and instabilities.

    Dogs pick up on that more than anything else, and they sometimes will adopt or adapt to the owners instabilities, allowing them to be a VERY dangerous dog.

  623. I too were one of “those” people that labeled pit bulls as dangerous util I gave in and adopted one from a shelter the last day of her adoption. I went to the shelter to adopt one of the dogs on the kill list and give them a chance in a loving home. I had looked at several and was not convinced any of them would fit into my existing pet family when the lady asked if she could bring out one I had glanced at briefly before saying no to a viewing in the pen. I said why not what could it hurt even though I just knew it was going to be a no go. After all, she was a pit and “those” type of dogs could not be trusted. The nice lady named Kristi, brought out the female pit and within 2 minutes I knew that if this animal did not find a home within her allotted time period, I would take her home. I spent the next week visiting her and hoping her forever family would come, they did not. She was going to be put down as a lot of these animals are, so I brought her home under the protest of my grown daughter. Again, within the next 30 minutes, my daughter said, “Mom, I really like her.” We have had her a year, she has been named Kristi, after the lady at the shelter and has been with us for over a year. She is loving and kind and one big baby and we wouldn’t trade her for any thing.

  624. They got the #1 dangerous dog right, but they went on to candy coat it with the how it is raised lies. Too many are snapping and turning in good homes now to just blame it on dog fighters. 66 fatalities is a flat out lie. Try nearly 500 DEAD HUMANS in the past 3 decades by these land sharks. 42 die a year on average by pits. In 2013/24 72 people were killed by pit bulls. In 30 months, 33 kids were mauled to death by so the so called Nanny dog. People are being attacked Unprovoked, just jogging, riding their bikes or even gardening. The only dog to Scalp and Dismember it’s victims to death. The only one that requires being life flighted by helicopter and having multiple surgeries. The only dog that takes a big knife or gun to kill it if you want to survive. One man had to use the Claw end of a Hammer! to pry it’s jaws off a Babies skull! That Baby lost half his skull!. If this was a wild animal doing this it would not be tolerated but since it is a pit bull, it gets a pass.

  625. Glad you brought it up about animals being killed. In 2013 over 12,000 dogs, over 8,000 cats and over 6,000 livestock was killed by pit bulls. A little home work is a good way to educate one’s self on facts.

  626. Your story is so much like so many these days and the past 10 yrs. of the alarming rate of attacks by this dog. Raised right, family pit that snaps and turns on it’s people. Not bad owners like so many are claiming on here. Your dad did nothing wrong. In 2013 over 12,000 were killed by pit bulls, over 8,000 cats and over 6,000 livestock lost their life to pit bull attacks. How can all of those owners be to blame?.

  627. What a crock of crap. Pitbulls as a breed in general are not aggressive. They were actually family dogs and referred to as “nanny” dogs because of their mild temperament, manner and loyalty, and their behavior with children. PEOPLE trained them to be aggressive and used them to fight, and their aggressiveness is specific to only those dogs trained to be aggressive for the purpose of fighting. It is not an innate trait.

  628. This is a bullsh*t list! Here we go again with the Pit Bull being #1! It just goes to show you just how stupid the people are who made this list. I have a pit bull named Sugar and she is the sweetest dog I have ever had. Get your facts straight dumba** before you publish something like this. It is people like you who are giving the Pit a bad name! Y’all are trying to destroy a breed who was once called The Babysitter.

    1. It is the people who own them that make them into a bad dog. so blame the owner not the breed! Any dog can be made mean and aggressive. Get your facts straight! This pis*** me off so bad to see articles like this.

  629. There’s a reason these dogs are #1. The woman in charge of the largest pit rescue in the US was on TV and said these dogs are inherently aggressive and all owners must stay one step ahead of them all the time.How many owners are that vigilant?
    Also, most home insurance companies will not cover claims resulting in injuries from this dog or most others on the list.

  630. This article is so wrong..wow..7 fatalies? is this in the whole USA? I have had Malmutes an Husky’s an they are one the sweetest dogs I have owned..I have had over 40 dogs in my lifetime. having a ranch etc..and any dog can be mean if treated bad..Pit bulls are another breed that are also sweet if you raise them right. This article should be in the Trash pile.

  631. most dogs are like most people. if they are treated right with love and affection that is how they will respond. treated bad ,that is how they will respond. yes a few may be born bad but the same can be said about humans.

  632. I worked for four years as a vet assistant and I was bitten or threatened by more small breed dogs (spaniels, terriers, etc.) than large breed dogs. I understand that the smaller breeds may not cause death, but I would not want one near my kids.

  633. I live in a small town in Connecticut. It makes me very nervous when I have my young grandchildren at an outdoor event and someone shows up with a Pitt Bull. It puts a known to be aggresive dog in an inviroment that could be triggered by the crowd, the smell of hot dogs and hamburgers, a rowdy child or simply a little girl twirling around in a sundress.

  634. Pit bulls have been very good for me. Wonderful, loyal, sweet, loving dogs. My little guy even loves prarie dogs, ferrets and ducks and I wouldn’t trade my pound puppy for anything.

  635. I have never been bitten by any of these breeds on this lists. It always the small dogs that have bitten me or chased me. Which usually ends with me punting the little piece of crap. I own 2 bull Mastiffs that is my pup in the pic

  636. Google “death by dog.” It has pictures of small children with their heads literally torn off by pit bulls. A pit bull doesn’t just “bite.” It is like a hyena. It grabs a hold and tears a chunk out of you. People from the extreme lower end of the social scale love pit bulls. Most pimps and drug pushers have pit bulls.

  637. We had a husky. The most gentle dog we ever had. Playful. But lousy guard dog because all he wanted to do was play. He was only dangerous to cats and leashes. He could pull hard.

  638. I worked at the local pet shop for over five years, fitting dogs for jackets, boots, packs, muzzles, harnesses, etc. I never had one problem with pits, German sheps, or Rotties. However the single worst dog I had was with this golden retriever that fully tried to maul me half way through being fitted for boots. Here’s the real kicker, the owner all she did was slightly jerk on the leash and barely mumble “Bentley, no”. Whereas my buddy who has a 95 Rottie and

  639. I recall back when my younger sister and I were kids, back in the latter ’40s, the family had a German Shepard dog name of Lady. She would attack us with her tongue, try to like our faces and hands off. Yes, she was a sweetie pie of a big dog.

  640. I worked as a vet tech for a time in an emergency clinic and dealt with some aggressive animals (there is nothing a fearsome as an irate cat, although I met a couple of bunnies who came close). The biggest problems with the giant breeds (St Bernard’s, Swiss Mountain, Great Danes etc) is their size, a tug on the leash or an excited greeting can knock you down. I discovered that Akitas, Dobies, Rotts, German Shepherds are very possessive of their families…and usually are wimps when taken into the work room. The only times I was ever attacked were by the little guys. Dachshunds were the worst. The breed I never had a problem with? Pit Bulls.

  641. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know the reason there are more Pit bull bites, its because there are way more Pit Bulls in the United States….It’s because people breed them and breed them they fill the shelter across the United States and are the number one dog put down simply because there is no homes for them…But people do not care they breed them on ever corner in every city. There are litter after litter sold on craiglist and other classifieds sites. To me it is heartbreaking….There was never a Pit Bull problem its always been a human problem blaming the Pit Bulls.. Something needs to be done to reduce the numbers and I say this because I am sick of seeing the abuse and torture of these dogs.

  642. Roger, though I am a dog trainer and believe that you can’t look at every Pitbull and label him/her as aggressive. We can’t put our heads in the sand about the statistics. No they are not on the top of the list for dog bites, but they are on the top of the list for dog on human fatalities and far far away from the number two breed the Rottweiler. 81% of dog related deaths were done by Pit Bulls or mixes there of. Is it the breed? Is it the way they are raised? Both actually. Look, I am also a Dog Breeder of German Shepherds and Great Pyrenees. So, a little education about temperament. When you breed two dogs you are breeding not just the parents, but the grandparents, great grandparents, aunts and uncles etc.. If you take an aggressive dog and breed it to an aggressive dog, out of a litter of lets say 7, you are going to get at least 3 maybe 4 aggressive dogs. No amount of proper raising is going to circumvent the genetics. The idiots who are breeding most of these dogs are doing this for fighting dogs. Then because they are clueless and want money, they sell the pups at 4-5 weeks claiming that the mother rejected them, no, she is weaning. Bite inhibition starts at 4 weeks and goes to 8 weeks, they learn that from their littermates. So, what would have been taught by the time they were 8 weeks old, will take a human who is diligent, two years to train. Now, a raid is done on these “breeders” and I use that term loosely, and they take all these dogs into custody. They think, well, we have these puppies so they have a fresh start and will be fine. A nice family takes a puppy home, takes it to a few classes and treats the dog like a Golden Retriever, cuz that’s what everyone compares them to. One day the dog turns 2-3 years old and attacks a child, or neighbor and everyone says something went wrong, the dog was so sweet, we never saw any signs. These are not Golden Retrievers,(who by the way are the number two dog on the bite list next to Labs). these dogs were valued in their creation for their multi ability to deal with the ornery bull, guard the horses and the farm, and yes play with the children, but they were trained and worked daily. They also were not bred to fight they were bred to work, the toughest workers were then fought. A very different agenda,(though I abhor any reason to fight a dog.). The answer is to stop buying pups from these idiots. Stop their horrible breeding programs. Then let the good breeders of the American Bulldogs, the American Staffordshire Terriers, Bull Terriers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers and the American Pitbull Terrier breed only the best dogs, and then finally we will start to see the stigma attached to these dogs go away. i am totally against breed legislation, but I will tell you when I see a person walking their Pittie i cross the street. I’ve had too many run-ins and too many people are either looking for a fight or are clueless about the dog at the end of their leash.

  643. That’s ridiculous about the Dobies… just not true. They are a strong willed breed but with proper training, positive reinforcement and respecting the dog, you get Respect back! Gentle, docile personalities! My two are great ambassadors for their breed!

  644. I definitely don’t agree with this study 🙁 My three year old triplets have grown up with 2 german shepherds, a half brother and a half sister. I don’t see them as being a “dangerous” dog. Neither one has ever biten anyone. I do think if someone was trying to hurt one of us or my kids that the male would get aggressive toward that person. He would be protective. Shouldn’t he be?

  645. Don’t fall all over yourselves defending some of these breeds. They are dangerous and it apparently doesn’t have to be because of poor training. They are killer dogs and if they attack they can easily kill unlike many, many other breeds that won’t attack and almost certainly can’t or won’t kill.

  646. My Dobermans were the most gentle dogs. Yes they were protected and were always on guard. Dogs are what you make them. All breeds of dogs are precious

  647. I don’t know why I even went through this list since i knew the Pit Bull would be number 1.
    I am so sick of people, magazines, the media, creating these lists over and over again to push the public into hysteria. Dogs are Dogs. Please Stop The Insanity.
    I have 3 Bully Breeds living among kids, small dogs, cats, parrots. All are wonderful dogs. I am in the world of Dog Rescue and I specialize in ONLY Pit Bulls.
    If you and other media like you would STOP circulating these nonsensical lists… that would be a step in the right direction!

  648. On a farm a pit bull is a wonderful help. The coyotes run in packs here and they leave my chickens and my young animals alone. Pits are high energy dogs and need to work with people for at least 18 months to make them absolutely bomb proof but since there are plenty of people to “humanize” them on this farm they are no problem at all. And no, they do not eat the chickens or anything they can catch as they are taught to be protectors, not predators. But I pity the fool that wants to break into one of our out buildings.

  649. Breed specific legislation is just plain ignorant! No breed should be banned. Individual acts by individual dogs need to be evaluated and dealt with appropriately. We have court for people and judge them as individuals after considering the facts we need to do the same for animals!

  650. Interesting the topic here is mainly Pit Bulls. They are not only listed as the most dangerous breed they are also the breed people are most defensive about. Having had one myself I understand their nature and know it isn’t always the owners fault. Sometimes these dogs will turn on their own family and in some instances have killed children they are usually quite gentle with. Ours never harmed anyone, was loyal and loved by us but I would never have another. To me they are scary even during the best of times.

  651. I think a lot of these so called studies are bull. When I was in college I had to do a study on most breeds involved in bites , I found out that the dogs that bite the most are small dogs and a lot of the bite were to children because they are at the right height , most of those bites were to the face , head , chest , back and required surgery. With many of the kids loosing an eye , ear , fingers . Face scaring lips , nose , eyes also . Yes a big dog can be mean , but I think that , that has to do with the owner.

  652. I agree with you Mr. Smith. A dog is only as good as it’s owner. People must socialize and train their dogs responsibly. It takes a lot of work and if you are not up for the challenge and hard work, do not get a dog!!! It is not the animal’s fault that things go wrong, they rely on us to teach them.

  653. The two best dogs I’ve ever had were a Chow-Chow and a pit. Bad owners make bad dogs. Know your animal, know your breed, give them love, and keep them out of situations that could be trouble. It’s exactly the same as being a parent to a human child.

  654. That is just bogus. I had 16 chows at one time. NOT ONE of them was mean. The vet loved the alpha male because he was so brooding over his kids. The pups learned quickly and grew up to be great pets for other people. It is how the dog is raised not just because it is a breed.

  655. Pit Bulls are one of the most gentle dogs I have ever owned. My pit is beautiful and loving and loyal. She is a kisser and cuddles and is just one big baby. She doesn’t have a mean bone in her body. This whole thing is just bogus. The vet loves her. She is not a bad or mean dog. Why do people post this crap.

  656. If you at Puppytoob love the pit bull breed why would you publish something like this? My Pit bull is a sweeter dog than my Golden Retriever! He watches the bunnies play in the yard and plays with the cats. ANY dog can be a dangerous dog!

  657. Excuse me? I’ve been around a lot of dogs in my day and I’ve never been bitten by any of these, but I sure have been bitten by the ankle biter breeds. These breeds you would need to provoke or threaten to get a bite. The little ones? All I’ve ever had to do was sit in a chair behaving myself to get bitten by one of them. What criteria are they using?

  658. I find this whole study disgusting. Are people so stupid that they DON’T know that NO dog is “born” dangerous?? There is NO evil in a puppy. When does the evil or “dangerous” start?? When an IGNORANT owner mistreats an animal or TEACHES it to be afraid – TEACHES is to kill – CREATES in this dog a sense of fear or anger. MEAN DOGS – DANGEROUS DOGS – are TAUGHT to be that way – by IDIOTS! NO dog of ANY breed is dangerous unless it is TAUGHT TO BE THAT WAY! Grow up, people – and get your head out of your naive and stupid rear end.

    1. Pit bull aggression, the pit bull’s grip n’ rip behavior, and other dog fighting behaviors are not “trained”, it is not learned, it is behavior selectively bred into pit bull dogs by dog fighters for over a century.

      Canine Behavioral Genetics: Pointing Out the Phenotypes and Herding up the Genes

      An astonishing amount of behavioral variation is captured within the more than 350 breeds of dog recognized worldwide.

      Inherent in observations of dog behavior is the notion that much of what is observed is BREED SPECIFIC AND WILL PERSIST, EVEN IN THE ABSENCE OF TRAINING OR MOTIVATION. Thus, herding, pointing, tracking, hunting, and so forth are likely to be controlled, at least in part, at the genetic level. Recent studies in canine genetics suggest that small numbers of genes control major morphologic phenotypes. By extension, we hypothesize that at least some canine behaviors will also be controlled by small numbers of genes that can be readily mapped.

  659. to determine a dog is dangerous. just by size is as ignorant as it comes. any dog, any size, and any breed can bite! my brother has chihuahua’s them little things are BITERS! , iIT IS HOW A DOG is trained……..i have been bitten by a collie,(lassie!) and a doberman, that bite ,required 9 stitches an plastic surgery to my face (my dog) we kept it chained and kenneled it was not socialized..WHICH IS THE KEY TO any dog. dogs are meant to protect….. if they protect you they are doing what comes NATURAL. why i have a big dog now 200 lbs! he will bite you if you come after me! because of his size NO, but to protect me and my home!

  660. Is this a joke or what? Why on God’s green earth would you even post such an absurd article? All this has done is feed more into the “stereotype” of these dogs, especially Pits. And you can try and defend your little article all you want by saying this is purely statistical, but all anyone is going to see is the number they fall on the list. This website should be ashamed of itself for even publishing such an article.

  661. I have been bitten by a Chow, my neighbor’s in a mistaken identity thing. I have also been antagonized and bitten in defense of my own dogs, by Chihuahuas and Dachshunds. I have never report bites (breaking of skin) against a tagged dog with owner in vicinity, so how does that influence the criteria?

  662. If a person can’t train an animal, give them attention love well they shouldn’t get one. Same thing if they can’t work to support their kids don’t have them.

  663. Pitbulls are a horrible breed of dogs. Their sole existence is for violence. They need to go extinct like the Cordoba Fighting Dog. Every single one of them needs to be put down. They serve no other purpose than violence and need to die.

  664. All of these statistics are BS. There are such a wide range of factors that can cause a dog to bite and even in the article itself it gives the stat but then tells you that it’s only a number. Take the malamute the statistic is just unlucky? Anyone getting a dog should familiarize themselves with the breed before they settle on the breed. Dogs suffer from the owners mistakes. In this case this is an irresponsible story with totally half hazard statistics branding dogs with recommendations they have not earned. The only studying done was have dog breed, bite or no bite. That is a blind survey and has almost no scientific or real world value.

    1. Your comment, “There are such a wide range of factors that can cause a dog to bite…”

      There is one major factor.

      December 2014
      Portage, IN Edward L. Cahill, 40, Fatal pit bull attack (Christmas Day)
      Corpus Christi, TX Rita Woodard, 64 Fatal pit bull attack

      November 2014
      Robeson County, NC Alemeaner Dial, 83 Fatal pit bull attack

      October 2014
      Stanislaus County, CA Juan Fernandez, 54 Fatal pit bull attack

      September 2014
      Sharp County, AR Alice Payne, 75 Fatal pit bull attack
      Benton County, MS David Glass Sr., 51 Fatal pit bull attack

      August 2014
      Miami-Dade County, FL Javon Dade Jr., 4 Fatal pit bull attack
      St. Charles County, MO Deriah Solem, < 2 Fatal pit bull attack
      Levy County, FL Joel Chirieleison, 6 Fatal pit bull attack
      Butler County, OH Cindy Whisman, 59 Fatal pit bull attack

      July 2014
      Montgomery County, OH Johnathan Quarles, Jr., < 1 Fatal pit bull attack
      Hillsborough County, FL Logan Sheppard, 4 Fatal pit bull attack

      May 2014
      New Haven County, CT Rita Pepe, 93 Fatal pit bull attack
      Kent County, DE Kasii Haith, 4 Fatal pit bull attack
      Lee County, AL Katie Morrison, 20 Fatal pit bull attack

      April 2014
      Highlands County, FL Jessica Norman, 33 Fatal pit bull attack
      Bexar County, TX Petra Aguirre, 83 Fatal pit bull attack
      St. Clair County, AL John Harvard, 5 Fatal pit bull attack

      March 2014
      Kaufman County, TX Dorothy Hamilton, 85 Fatal pit bull attack
      Holmes County, MS Christopher Malone, 3 Fatal pit bull attack
      Terrebonne Parish, LA Mia DeRouen, 4 Fatal pit bull attack
      Maricopa County, AZ Nancy Newberry, 77 Fatal pit bull attack

      February 2014
      Guilford County, NC Braelynn Coulter, 3 Fatal pit bull attack
      Bell County, TX Je'vaeh Mayes, 2 Fatal pit bull attack

      January 2014
      McLean County, IL Kara Hartrich, 4 Fatal pit bull attack
      Comal County, TX Betty Clark, 75 Fatal pit bull attack
      Harris County, TX Christina Bell, 43 Fatal pit bull attack

  665. I love most dogs, but I would never turn my back on a Pit Bull or a Rottweiller. Pit Bull apologists are numerous. You cannot get around the fact that this dog was specifically bred for fiighting. You cannot train out that instinct. They can be very sweet, yes, but they can also go off unpredictably. If I had a dollar for every pit bull owner who was shocked that their precious who they had for years, one day attacks their child or someone else, seemingly unprovked, I would be very wealthy.

  666. The truth of the matter is people are stupid. They will adopt a rescue and let their kid hug it before they know anything about it. They are so wrapped up in ” saving a life” they don’t use common sense. Of course, any suggestion that you save up and spend your money buying a well bred dog, with verifiable health checks falls on deaf ears. People have to learn the hard way. “They only want a pet” they say, trying to justify their decision to buy cheap from a puppy mill.

  667. MY son has a “PIT BULL” and it goes by the name of “GAMBIT” he is the SWEETEST tempirate dog you could meet. ONE of my grandsons 3 y.o. couldnt be in better “HANDS” as far as dog protecting him,ALSO my other grandsons . It is unfortunate that the “IDIOTS” who BREED mother to son or father to daughter or brother to sister, that makes the breed, unmanageable,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, just like people !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  668. You’re a lazy writer Ali who doesn’t cover all the facets that can create, or allow, a troublesome pet to remain in a situation that is unhealthy to others.
    You leave too much unsaid.

  669. I’ll still take a German Shepard. Amazed you didn’t have a spot for Cavalier King Charles Spaniel there- They have plenty of fatalities, mostly undocumented, however. Usually involves tripping over them…

  670. lots of interesting comments. i read the article for the simple reason that i am not much of a ‘dog guy’. i don’t hate dogs, but i do dislike immensely the fact that anytime i’m around people with dogs they do little or nothing about the animal wanting to be ‘up close and personal’ with me. i don’t like being licked, sniffed, or otherwise ‘loved’, nor do i want a dog trying to get up on me or getting up on the sofa with me. i don’t want one in my bedroom. in fact, i don’t want one…of any kind…in my home. the point is, this whole debate over aggressive or dangerous dogs is fine, but bottom line…whether it’s lack of training or whatever else…dogs are messy and unpleasant to be around, for me at least. everyone out there is welcome to their dogs, sure, but understand that some of us don’t want to meet your dog, greet him/her, pet her, be accosted by your dog in even the most harmless of ways. the argument over how dangerous dogs might be will go on, and people will continue to have their opinions, etc. for me personally, none of that matters much, though i do make every effort to not be around dogs. what matters to me is simple…if you have or want a dog, keep it away from people. whether it bites or simply sniffs, many of us find it all disturbing.

  671. my german shepherd is about as dangerous as a pillow. i guess you could get suffocated if you’re not careful, but he’s been a fantastic dog and not aggressive at all (or even very protective). i don’t know if he’s representative of the breed as a whole, though considering what i’ve heard from other owners.
    all that said, i’m ruined. i can’t tolerate a lesser dog now. it’s only shepherds for my family from here on out. george is just THAT fantastic!

  672. no dog or dog breed is dangerous only the people who have an aggressive dog and the narrow minded people who by into this are dangerous

  673. in the world of humans this would be called racial profiling ,yes these dogs have size and can be aggressive if raised that way,but so can any dog or animal for that matter.if the dog is brought into a loving home and raised like one of the family it will be a big lovable teddy bear.its the owner that makes them dangerous. its like saying a eighteen wheeler has more potential for killing people versus a toyota prius, of course a bigger vehicle can hurt and kill more people in a accident and a bigger dog that has been trained to be aggressive can do more damage than a poodle,but the poodle can be just as nasty,and from what I have noticed alot of small dogs tend to like the owner and nobody else and will bite a fellow family member for no reason,my point is I hate seeing these types of articles that make people think these large dogs are out to hurt or kill people,when thats just not true,these poor dogs get a bad rap because of the sorry owners.

  674. This list is the biggest fabrication of ” dangerous dog breeds” I have ever seen. Do a little more research before you post pure B.S. The absolute worst reporting I have come across since Fox News.

  675. These people have obviously never woken up in the middle of the night with a cat trying to lick their skin off. Actually the most dangerous dog breed (my grandmothers in particular) is a Cockerpoo. Little pee slingers do back flips while peeing and spread disease all over the house (I would never eat at my grandmothers house after she got that thing)

  676. This “list” is BS!!! WITH ALL CAPS!!! Completely different issues on a dog being “dangerous” because of its size, another because of its “aggressiveness” and that also needs to be split into “good” and “bad” aggressiveness! Most owners of the “aggressive” breeds have them as a four legged police force for the house and those under its roof! The instinct of the dog is to protect those two legged animals that feed it an give it a place to live! I had a Dalmatian, a couple of Boxers, and a Belgian Malinois that knew/know their roles EXACTLY. Wife or kids walking any of them, “DO NOT APPROACH”! Me walking him, fat guy is on his own! And they were just fine once we told them “it’s OK”. Our Dalmatian was a lot less kid friendly than our Boxers. Our Boxers would defend ANY kid in their care/custody, not just ours!

    While many folks have those little yappers for “companionship”, most of us with ANY larger dog actually have them for some level of protection around the house. To stigmatize a breed for doing what it is SUPPOSED to do for the humans in its life is like asking a father to not want to protect his kids or wife!!!

    It is one thing to compile a list of dogs that are just mean or have a dangerous genetic trait like the “wolf-dog” (duh) and its cousins Huskies, Malamutes and some of those other “working” dogs that are one person (i.e. not family friendly) and then to criticize those dogs that are INTENDED and bred for their protective characteristics when they do defend the home and their two legged companions!

    There are definitely some breeds to avoid for families. Just learn the difference and do NOT complain when a dog is doing what one would want it to do to protect you. In 50+ years of having dogs, the ONLY person any of mine have bitten, is ME and I made the mistake, not the dog!!!

  677. I have to disagree with German Shepard’s being the 3rd most dangerous. I have owned several and they are the smartest and most easy to train dogs. The are loyal and gentle animals, unless the owner, handler (LEO) or children are threatened. If that happens they are protective as they shold be.

  678. I have a Leonberger, which is a combination of three breeds that was created in the German town of Leonberg in the mid 1800″s consisting of a St Bernard, Newfoundland, an a Great Pyrenees. The Leonberger is one of least aggressive breeds; however, I was playing with mine and he extended his paw and struck me in the face and with his large nails almost put my eye out. So I can attest that large breeds can be dangerous without indenting to be.

  679. people down the street from us have had two rottweilers. The first was a racist (that dog would tear through a door or window screen if it saw a black person coming up their walk. The second one is the most docile thing, unless you approach their grand children.

  680. I was watching a documentary on how some animal shelters classified the strays they picked to determine if they were adoptable and to what type situation (family, single owner, etc). One of the “tests” was to put down their food bowl and the take a mannequins hand and reach of the bowl while there was still food init. If the dog “attacked” the hand, it was automatically classed and not adoptable! They did mention that they would try to “fix” the issue, but time didn’t always allow it to be fixed in time. WELL, I can tell you that had I been running around the streets scavenging for food, I would be pretty damn protective of my food bowl also!!! Hunger is a primary motivator!!!

    1. Couldn’t agree more. The “behaviorists” use that hand to deliberately provoke the dogs, moving the food dish, pulling it away. For Heaven’s sake, I would bite someone who messed around with my food that way.

  681. It is like putting people in a line of who is the most dangerous human,come on all dogs can be either good, or bad, just like people, it depends on the dog. I have three huskies they are teddy bears they love children and get along with everything in the house but the most dangerous is how you or the animal is raised and also his temperament

  682. I lived in the same yard with a female pit bull. Once she got to know me she was very loving and friendly. However I was very wary of those powerful jaws and kept my hands and face away from her mouth.
    I own a Pomeranian mix. His behavior is 100% Pom. He seems almost dependent on his owners for affection and security. He keeps all other Dogs away from our home including the neighbors sheep watching Great Pyrenees. He kills squirrels and any other small game he can catch.
    As mentioned repeatedly in this article, most dogs are a reflection of their owners personality and sense of responsibility.

  683. I have worked in a veterinary clinic for 8 years. Let me clear something up here: back in the 1930s when the Pit Bull was starting to become popular in America, owners were warned Not To Use Them As Guard Dogs Because They Are Too Friendly! I am not disputing the statistics, but they are anomaly because this particular breed has been abused by lowlifes and breed into something that is not breed standard. I have met more sweet natured Pits in my experience than I ever met bad ones. But then again, I don’t hang out with gang-bangers or travel in circles with people who have deviant intentions for them.

  684. This list is total crap, ANY dog can be aggressive or dangerous and it isn’t always how they were raised, size or trained. As the sign in the post office says “Any dog can have a bad day” My father’s West Highland Terrier took a chunk out of my daughters face when she accidently bumped him putting on her sandals. I own or have owned many of these dogs on this list and will tell you each dog is different, regardless of the breed.

  685. Owners that get pit bulls and lock them in a house, or chain them in a yard do not realize that this is the highest energy dog out there. Feed 2 5 year olds mountain dew and coffee, lock them in a room for 10 hours and then let them out and you have 1/10th of the energy of this breed. If poeple do not have the time to invest in exercising, and training, then they need not own a pit bull. If you have the time, and love spending time with your animal, you will find that they are the kindest, most loving of all the breeds, and it is a reward to go home to mine every day, but just not a breed for everyone.

  686. None of these are surprising as most of them were bred to be guard dogs. The wolf dog is an anomaly and probably shouldn’t have been included. And how did you miss the Malinois? But its probably a good enough list. The poor pit bull is just the dog of choice for the people who think they need a ‘bad dog’. I think we can agree that the German Shepherd and Doberman had that same problem years ago.

  687. I read this same article a few months (?) ago and asked the same questions I’m going to ask now. What was the time frame of this study? A month, year, a decade? What was the region/area? Worldwide, in North America, In the United States, in a smaller country, in one city, at one animal shelter?
    You state: “this is purely a statistic and doesn’t necessarily tell the whole picture.” I say it’s just some random numbers, to be statistics there has to be some frame of reference to judge by. Please give us some statistical facts here. But I will agree that it certainly doesn’t tell the whole picture.

  688. It’s amazing how stupid and ignorant many (not all) dog owners can be. Some people should never, ever own a dog or any other animal for that matter. The amount of people who mistreat their pets are statistically probably unknown, but I suspect that number is probably high due to the fact that people will never admit to being vicious and cruel.

  689. “While fatality statistics are the reason the Pit Bull is on this list, we at Puppytoob love this breed.” I can never understand this logic. It’s the most dangerous breed, but we love them. Why? So you can intimidate your neighbors? Because you like living on the edge? There is always this segment of society that wants to do whatever they perceive to be the most socially unacceptable, or things that get the most attention, negative or otherwise. What is wrong with these people?

  690. how does the wolfdog make number 7 as there has never been a reported fatality that I’m aware of and far less bites than most other breeds too. They can be more troublesome the less wolf genes the animal inherits. The more wolf genetics in the animal the better behaved. I’ve had 2 first gen malamute mix, who were all but impossible to train. and 1 forth gen Grey/Red wolf mix who was great with the kids and a good watch dog(maybe a little too good as my own parents couldn’t come over!!) who stopped the only break in I’ve ever had to deal with. She didn’t even go out the door that was kicked in for who knows how long till I got home from work.

  691. My dog was killed by the pit bull, not the owner. Grabbed him by the head, shook and wouldn’t let go. The owner swore he was a sweet dog who lived with children and other animals however the owner was not able to get my dog’s head out of his mouth until he started hitting him. He still did not immediately release. My dog’s injuries, eye ball torn out of its socket, mandible crushed (teeth were just hanging), ear torn away from skull, large skull fracture and finally a piece of skull broken off and embedded in his brain. Sorry, the dogs are just dangerous.

    1. This guy used to bring a pit into the Pet Store I worked at all the time. He was so sweet, everyone knew him by name. He’d come up to people, dogs, he’d lay by the cats waiting to be adopted. Good lord he was just the sweetest dog imaginable. Never hurt anyone and he was a weekly visitor in a very crowded pet store. Sorry, but your anecdotal evidence is just that. And here I’ve provided one piece of anecdotal evidence of my own. Your experiences don’t equal facts dude.

  692. The most danger dog in a word are human. Dog act how love and trainee get, I was have a dog pitt and rock, nice very good boy. Human not said how educate, treat and trainning to fight. Dog are like human have a temper and personality, are human not bite but attack and beat another or shoot, but dog are lovely and loyal who human are not.

  693. This American obsession with dogs I call inordinate affection, a term I used to use only with homosexuals/sodomites. But dog owners can be just as perverse with their silly pre-adolescent fawning over their beasts. If I were a business looking for an employee, one question would be as to their dog ownership. If they own one and they are not on a farm, they would not work for me.

    1. You do realize that dogs built this country right? That without them we wouldn’t have anywhere near the advancements we have today? Farming, industry, including coal mining and the gold rush era, seriously, even in other countries, doges were absolutely imperative to our way of life as humans. It’s a partnership that goes hand in hand. If you don’t understand that, you don’t really understand much about humanity.

  694. I am not experienced with all of the mentioned dogs. I totally disagree on Chow Chow as it is 100% genetics and very little owner. I love Chows which can be controlled with 100% owners attention to not let them get into events which may lead to biting. A well trained and adjusted Chows will nip and bite strangers, friends, and owners along with other dogs depending upon how close they get to them and how upset the Chow becomes for a certain situation. I love my Chow and she loves me, but I know what situations will freak her out and cause her to be a bit nippy after the age of 9 months. My Chow because I paid a lot of attention to her and supervised her closely did not become more aggressive with age. Chows because of their smaller size aren’t nearly as scary as Malamutes, Huskies, and German Shepherds who all seem very aggressive to strangers. I have lived around Rottweilers who were good and sometimes clumsy dogs; although, I did see a Rottweiler nip at a 1 or 2 year baby boy who bit the Rottweiler as hard as he could. This Rottweiler nip was not intended to damage the toddler, but it shows that any dog in this category needs to be closely supervised around all other humans and animals. Malamutes and Huskies with me being the stranger seem to be very scary dogs with these breeds of dogs seeming to become more aggressive with age through genetics and not prevented by good ownership. I am not familiar with the other dogs on the list.

  695. This article is irresponsible and despite the claim that it’s not saying particular dogs are dangerous it most certainly is insinuating they are based on bite stats. To show two large great danes with the title “The 10 Most Dangerous Dogs………..” with the link that led me here having the picture of the two danes with the title “Dogs that should be Banned” is OUTRAGEOUS. It’s because of the media always looking to create drama and sensationalism that people are ill informed. I have owned great danes for over 30 years and I AM VERY ANGRY about this irresponsible reporting!!!!!!!!!! Shame on you. This is a prime example of why the public should take what they read with a grain of salt. The most reliable information is that which we find on our own through research using several sources.

  696. Pitbulls are unpredictable, no matter how “responsible and loving” the owner is. Children and elderly people are killed every year by “family pets”.

  697. We had German Shepherds thru out my childhood – never an issue but they are protective – my daughter has a pit mix and all she is is a wild and crazy ball of love and she was an owner surrender when my daughter adopted her but she’s never shown aggression. Other pits I have come across are the same way basically.

  698. This article doesn’t say much about the criteria of the study. Where was this study conducted? How many dogs caused a fatality in how much time? What was the actual cause of the fatality?

  699. Way to perpetuate the myths. A Great Dane? Really? Every dane I’ve ever met, some from really abusive situations, has been a big ole pussycat. Much more interested in leaning in you, getting petted, trying to sit in your lap, taking up the couch. Where is the Belgian Malanois? ANY working breed of dog is not a dog that you get for looks and to sit in your home or yard as a guard dog. They need extensive training and loads of DAILY exercise and mental stimulation or they can become destructive and aggressive. It’s due to the owner’s lack of understanding of the dog they got based on appearance only. Consider how frustrated and disruptive a child gets when they are bored or unchallenged. It’s not much different except a dog can’t speak and instead reverts to biting for attention and destroying your property for entertainment.

  700. Pits aren’t at the top of the list. Most ankle biters don’t get reported when they bite due to their small size, so data is inaccurate. Since a pit is strong and can devastate when it bites, it makes the list. Anything with teeth has the potential to bite and I can show you a human bite mark on a human to prove it. I have a blue pit and have trained my children to know that any scared dog can bite and that will NOT be tolerated in my home. My children know that they can’t stare a dog in the face, grab their neck and hang on them or use noisy toys to scare the dog. This goes for ALL dogs. The only dogs that have ever snapped at my kids were 2 dachshunds and a schnauzer. My children were in the wrong and were separated from the animal and corrected. These were dogs that belong to family and weren’t used to young children since all of the cousins in the family are older. They never bit, but did snap and put on quite the loud display to warn the kids. My pit has zero tolerance and will be dealt with at the 1st incident. My kids are now 3, 5 and 16 and she has behaved flawlessly so far. Please know that ALL dogs are animals and will behave as one when put in a poor situation.

  701. My American Bull Dog is 6 years old. I have four kids under the age of 14 and 2 cats. He has never snarled, bit, or harmed any one of my children or other animals. My kids have used him as pillows, stepping stools, riding on him, shoving food in his face, and taking away his bones. There is nothing that my kids could do to him that would make him change his demeanor towards them. My neighbors 2 year old comes over to lay on top of him and watch cartoons, no issue ever. I would agree with calling him a nanny dog. On the other hand- He knows who his kids are, including my close friends little ones. He also knows who his momma is.. If a stranger approaches my house, or any of us while we are out on a walk, and he senses anything out of ordinary, he will growl and protect. That is his job. He does not do this to all, only those he feels threatened by. And lord help anyone who yells, or tries to harm my children, or anyone else that he feels protective over. I will say, before I got him.. I would walk to the other side of the street to avoid “pit bulls”. But that was because i didnt understand anything about who they really are. Ignorance is not always best.

  702. This list is not fair. My postman tells me that Chihuahuas are the one known for most attacks, not feared attacks, just attacks. “Pit Bull” tends to be used for three different dog breeds. If Rotties and Dobies were grouped together or Huskies, Malamutes, and wolf hybrids were grouped together, what would then be the most dangerous dog breed?

  703. As a dog rescuer, I have worked with many different dogs, both pure bred and mixes. Truthfully, and I tell all my adopters this, ANY dog will bite if you push it’s buttons. I’ve rescued rehomed from Chihuahuas (handled with leather gloves and have a couple that are permanent residents because I will never trust them enough to adopt them out) to all the bully breeds. EVERY AST that I’ve rescued and rehomed has stole my heart. They have been the most loving tolerant dogs no matter what their history was. The only dogs I euthanized for safety due to uncontrolled aggression was a Great Pyrenees and one Australian Shepherd. The AS had lived in a house with domestic abuse and could only be trusted with me. I have no answer for what the Pyrenees problem was. A lot of aggression is a result of poor breeding and is becoming a huge problem as everyone breeds anything if they think they can make money. Many breeds cannot be chained up or left without regular attention in the back yard. They require human interaction and bonding to grow healthy. Sometimes a dog is just born bad (yes dog lovers I know you don’t want to hear that) just like some people are just born bad. These dogs show their bad traits pretty early and should be either turned over to a trained person or euthanized. The worst dog fight I ever dealt with-an Australian Cattle Dog and a cocker spaniel mix. Took every technique I know to get that ACD to release. If you are getting a dog, first research, on line, and books from library. Look up the AKC breed club and go visit a breeder see a dog show. Talk to people who own them. THEN either adopt from a reputable rescue group that has their foster dogs living in regular homes or purchase from an AKC recognized breeder,.

  704. One of my Danes was an abused runt puppy and took special attention. After about a year he started to come around by still would not walk with out a leash like the other Danes. One day I took him to get mated and he fought me all the way to the basement where the female was. All of a sudden his eyes were affixed and he did not notice I had gone. I came back the next day and he walked over to me , rubbed his head on my leg and went back to the female. I left and came back two days later. He was laying on his side when I got there. He jumped up as if to say OK lets go. He was a totally different dog after that. He did everything perfect — go out side on his own and be at the door to let him back in – never barked at strangers but would watch them closely – I never used a leash on him again and we would go running. One day I was jogging with him and a pit bull got loose and ran up to us. My dog jumped in front of me and had the pit bull on his back in a blink of and eye and held him there by the throat until I said let him go. The pit ran away. After that he was like a human friend and would watch my back beyond question. I lived in Detroit and never worried about any thing because word had spread about the pit. Some one broke into my garage and he figured it out by smell. He was the cop, judge and jury and carried out the sentence when the guy happen to walk by the yard. Somebody saw this guy break in my garage and told me later it was him, Never had a problem after that. It was a sad day when that dog died.

  705. My great Dane could read people very well (way better than I could) I played in a band we just hired new roadies. when they were loading equipment the first day my biggest Dane leaped at one of them and just by luck I caught him in mid air as his teeth clapped together near his face. The guy who hired the roadies later told me this guy just got out of jail for a break and entry with attack on home owners so nobody had to tell the dog this. Naturally that guy never came back. And I had two great Danes make an entire gang cross the street just by standing up and staring at them. I did not see it but the guy who did asked were they war dogs because they were in position to do some action and the gang knew it. Like I said never had a problem in Detroit.

  706. Started to read then stopped – statistics are whatever you want them to be – and dogs are simply a reflection of their master. They are the ones that should be on this list

  707. Some chows are just good pets (my blue BB named after BB King) and others are just crazy. Like the red my ex had. He was so crazy he attacked a female chow who was brought over for mating reasons.

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