List of the most dangerous dog breeds

The dog, of course, is a friend of man, but you should not forget that it has a direct relationship to the wolf, which is a dangerous predator, and it can attack anyone, including humans, on an empty stomach. At the same time, there are completely harmless breeds that can be considered relatively safe both due to the complaisant nature and due to their modest size, while other pets were created specifically for aggression and are impressive in size.

Especially for readers, we created a rating that allows us to understand which animals are considered the most dangerous and potentially aggressive. At the same time, we do not allocate places in the ranking and do not pretend to strictly comply with any statistics, and there are a number of reasons for this.

The main reason is that to make an unconditionally correct list of potentially dangerous breeds is not possible. It is not very clear how ideally dog ​​aggression should be assessed.

The authors of many calculations are guided on statistics of attacks and killings, but because of this, in some collections even Labradors are featured, which are usually perceived as calm and kindness itself. This criterion may not be a priori correct, because a rare angry Labrador can become a killer due to its impressive size, but smaller dogs are usually much meaner and more aggressive, it's just easier to fight them off.

Also similar statistics never take into account the prevalence of the breed. It is clear that in such collections the most popular varieties of dogs will always appear, and those that are represented by just a couple of dozen individuals will not be found there, even if they are extremely ferocious animals.

We must not forget that in many ways, the degree of aggression also depends on how the dog was raised. It was not for nothing that the old song sang that a dog can be a bite, but this is from the life of a dog - a significant percentage of attacks and killings committed by animals is a direct response to bullying by the owner.

Among other things training is also of fundamental importance. As you know, a guard or fighting dog must be specially trained in aggression. If she grew up in a kennel where the puppy was cared for, and then fell into good hands, then, without encountering the cruelty of others, she is unlikely to think much about dominating others. This is also an important point affecting statistics - perhaps the dog itself is not so bad as its owner, who trained the beast in aggressive behavior and was distracted, forgetting to control his ward.

All these discrepancies lead to the fact that a clear definition of a potentially dangerous dog simply does not exist. For example, in December 2018, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation compiled a list of potentially dangerous dogs, which immediately included 69 breeds that are undesirable to walk without a leash. This list, adopted in the State Duma of the Russian Federation in March 2019 and approved by the government, was reduced to only 13 breeds - this shows that different people can fundamentally have a different attitude to the concept of an unsafe animal.

Given all of the above, we have compiled its own list, which is wider than the one adopted by the State Duma, but less extensive than originally compiled by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Perhaps this is the correct approach, since the law prescribes walking dangerous dogs strictly on a leash, but an aggressive pet poses the main danger to the owner himself and his household, which means neither the collar nor the muzzle completely solve the situation.

Our reduced rating includes dog species that are dangerous to humans, the presence of a threat from which is recognized both in Russia and around the world. Someone can challenge certain positions of the selection, but we still advise you to keep an eye out with such dogs - at least during walks you should carefully monitor that the pet does not have the opportunity to show aggression against others. Recall that there are no positions in our rating, so the dogs presented are not sorted according to any criterion of danger or aggressiveness.

The first representative of the list is a vivid example of how an animal may not enter the Russian tops of danger simply because it is relatively rare. In fact, this beast is quite aggressive, because our Japanese neighbors at the end of the century before last brought this large animal specifically for dog fights. In most cases, a dog with a respectable appearance behaves calmly and unobtrusively, and will not rush to attack without a direct order from the owner.

Still need rigidly educate such a puppy, accustoming to attack on command and only on itotherwise, the perceived danger to the four-legged by a stranger or another dog can cause an aggressive reaction, and this beast, believe me, will be the winner.

In principle, such a dog is very similar to an ordinary bulldog, and those, as you know, often turn out to be bandits and hooligans. The name of the breed, bred some half a century ago, literally translates as “chain dog”, and such pets, as you know, are aimed at defending their own until the last. A properly trained individual can protect both the territory and a living person, and God forbid it seems to you that you pose a threat to the entrusted object - this pile of muscles runs fast and no longer releases caught prey from the jaws.

This huge dog comes in. in most ratings of the strongest dogs in the world, Yes, this is not surprising with such and such dimensions. Modern scientists believe that the ancestors of this breed were still fighting dogs of Ancient Rome, which means that fighting qualities were raised in these animals for at least two millennia. Modern cane-corso was not created for fighting, but for the protection of the territory and the protection of man, but such a beast will not let you down, no matter who the enemy is.

As befits the representatives of the terriers, the bull terrier is a hunting dog. He’s great pumped up even in comparison with most of his relatives, but the abundance of massive muscles does not prevent the dog from running very fast and overtaking any opponent who later realizes that in vain he went this way today.

Like most terriers such a dog is not particularly aggressive towards people - on the contrary, he needs communication and, with proper upbringing, can easily make contact with unfamiliar people if the owner does not have any objections. Another thing is that any small animals for these dogs is perceived as prey, which means that owners of cats and smaller dogs will have to constantly look back at you.

Perhaps, in terms of wildlife, there is no more dangerous region than tropical Africa, but this breed was bred as hunting specifically for these places. In the 30s of the last century legends circulated about the severity of this animal - it was believed that such a friend was able to guard the prey in the absence of the owner, even in the savannah, chasing away anyone who wanted to eat fresh meat, including lions.

It is true or not, but there is no smoke without fire, and such information allows us to judge correctly about the fearlessness and possibilities of the ridgeback. Raising such a dog with the whip method is unacceptable, because this will not lead to anything other than growing aggression that can get out of control.

Argentina has huge unoccupied territories well suited for hunting, and about a hundred years ago they decided to get their own breed of hunting dogs that can solve typical local problems.

Breeders connected representatives of ten different breeds to the breeding and got a wonderful hunter who does not think about the size of the enemy, and he can also be a predator, snarling quite confidently. For the sake of curiosity, the dogs were put up several times in battles against purely fighting breeds, and even in them the Argentines often win, so this animal is better not to anger.

This breed is still not even recognized by the International Cynological FederationBut it enjoys certain popularity among dog breeders. This is not to say that these dogs reciprocate reciprocal love on the part of man - on the contrary, recently statistics show an increase in attacks of such dogs on people.

This is another "African", bred specially as a bodyguard, because the pet recognizes only one owner, which is very devoted.

This dog has the same sharp and hot-tempered character as the Pakistanis, who brought him not just like that, but to participate in demonstration battles. The main purpose of this animal is precisely skirmishes with opponents, any other properties were not specially laid in it, therefore It’s quite difficult and problematic to train a dog, teaching him norms of behavior, and he shouldn’t take aggressiveness.

If you are not afraid of difficulties, you can make a great guard or watchman out of such a beast, but experts do not recommend Pakistani Bulldogs to those who do not have impressive experience with fighting dogs. You will never be sure that you finally pacified the indefatigable energy of the ward, so you will have to work with him tirelessly.

This dog looks very cute, and it’s hard to imagine that it can be a serious danger, but, like some other representatives of this list, the dog is of African descent, and therefore must be ready to confront an opponent of any difficulty level.

Interestingly, the Africans themselves bred it - at least very similar animals were found among them long before the Black Continent finally submitted to the European colonialists. Today this breed is considered one of the most ancient and at the same time is considered one of the most stubborn in the world in terms of training. This avid hunter is practically uncontrollable, and therefore poses a huge danger to any small living creatures, which are so many in modern cities.

It was hard to suspect anyone of aggressiveness because they were St. Bernards - after all, they work as professional rescuers in the Swiss Alps, extracting victims from under the avalanches.

Most often, such a dog is described as friendly and very calmbut it should be noted that this is not a genetically determined characteristic, but the correct upbringing, which must be ensured in childhood. If this is not done, a huge and strong favorite will be aggressive towards strangers, and especially to smaller breeds of his fellow tribesmen.

Oddly enough, to date, such a dog is not considered overly aggressive - the main danger comes from other, later varieties of the bulldog. This one appeared more than a hundred years ago in the USA - it was brought out by farmers who needed to protect their own fields from any external encroachments.

The beast instinctively considers himself the owner of the territory, he is confident and stubborn, and therefore simply will not allow a stranger or another dog extra liberties. This is the dog that, figuratively speaking, will not attack, but he won’t let him go, but if you twitch, he will punish you for insolence.

Such a pet impresses the imagination with its gigantic size - it is he who owns the main records in terms of dog dimensions. The dog is a born hunter, therefore it is more dangerous for other animals than for humans.

At the same time, animals of hunting breeds often perceive as the prey of almost any living creatures less than themselves, and therefore you should carefully monitor the children so that they do not provoke this huge thing too much. The animal is usually not considered too aggressive, but its size often leads to the fact that the dog wants only to scare or play, and causes injury.

The body structure and color of this animal is somewhat reminiscent of a lion, and although a lean figure betrays a recognized athlete, the muzzle is misleading - it seems pretty cute, and the whole dog is perceived as completely harmless. Naturally, this is a mistake, because the breed was created specifically in order to get a strict guard, which will not give anyone a descent and will protect his master to the end.

This dog doesn’t believe strangers fundamentally and trying to remake it is almost pointless - distrust is in its genes. There are numerous cases when even exhibition individuals are not used to the situation, when there are a lot of people around them - they react with anger to the violation of their own personal space, and attack both spectators and judges.

This beast has such an appearance that at a meeting it immediately becomes clear - such a dog should be respected, and it’s good if it does not initially have aggression towards you. The breed was created in the Canary Islands not for fighting, as one might have thought under the impression of its appearance, but as a shepherd looking after herds in the absence of man.

Nevertheless, even such work assumes that it is better for a stranger not to approach, and therefore in our days the Canaries are often used to protect the territory or person. In both cases they are very attached and ready to defend their own to death. It is thanks to such characteristics that this breed in recent years has experienced a second youth.

Well, the one who has been demonized recently is the representative of this breed, which is not surprising - the statistics of attacks of this beast is simply frightening. The hype in the press has reached such a level that some radicals propose to completely destroy this breed - in their opinion, this is the only way to finally stop the attacks.

Experts say that this is an inflection, because well-mannered staff and sociable, and friendly, and most importantly - is distinguished by unlimited devotion to the owner and for his sake he will easily give his own life. According to them, the reason for the aggression from the representatives of the breed lies only in improper upbringing, but this does not negate the fact that such dogs are rather evil by their nature.

Dogs of this German breed are controversial - on the one hand, they are considered fighting dogs, who, in principle, are not too kind and accommodating, on the other - they are called the most good-natured among all representatives of their category.

The big plus of such an animal is that it lends itself well to training, which means that you can neutralize the pet’s aggression, replacing it with the correct upbringing and the rules of decency. However, all this is just a theory, but in practice we see that the beast does not shy from attacking people, even if this is due to the wrong approach to training.

This dog was bred for solving very serious problems - initially it was supposed to protect diamond mines in South Africa, and they were always a real magnet for numerous attackers who want easy and quick profit. Accordingly, the dog was bred with a specific set of desirable characteristics - it should be large, strong, and categorical in matters of defending its own.

In general, bullmastiffs are not usually considered evil or aggressive, however, throughout history, such dogs have repeatedly attacked humans. Although, in fairness, this could be their direct duty in the workplace.

A dog of German origin stands out not only for its impressive size, but also for its mind - this breed is characterized not only by brute force, but also by the ability to act most reasonably in a given situation. The elegant beast is devoted to its owner and was bred specifically to protect the territory or its owner.

Aggressiveness of a dog is not always manifested - even in the case of identifying the offender, she is usually smart enough to just detain the offender and attract the attention of the person who will decide the fate of the caught. Nonetheless, it is important not to let such a pet understand that you are resisting his will, otherwise a strong and confident friend of a person will not wait for the owner, but will fix the problem on his own.

Another dog that gained notoriety was inappropriately aggressive, although initially the breed was bred as a service dog, which means it must be obedient and ready to carry out any commands. The exact timing of the breeding of these dogs is unknown, but there are many unconfirmed legends that they left a significant mark in history - for example, they were directly involved in the Seven Years War.

The animal is perfect for protecting a territory or a person, it is able to tirelessly patrol an object for many hours, but it often goes too far in terms of making aggressive decisions against any violators.

Another dog, the problem of which is both large and the ability to go the wrong way in case of inappropriate education. The animal has a confident character, it will not let anyone down, and therefore it turns out to be an excellent guard, but this is only if, in puppyhood, the training was successful and correct.

Ignoring the rules for raising such dogs or simply not paying enough attention to him, the owner runs the risk of being left alone with a huge and uncontrollable dog, which, not accustomed to human domination, may respond with aggression to an attempt to pacify it, even if it comes to the owner.

Some experts are inclined to believe that this breed has a two-thousand-year history and was bred specifically to graze herds in mountain conditions. Such a dog is very smart - it can cope with a herd with a huge number of goals, but at the same time, the dog is distinguished by an increased sense of responsibility to its owner, and therefore it is extremely suspicious of attempts to get closer by some strangers.

The essence of training is in many ways to socialize the animal, because in the conditions of a modern city the dog will have to get used to, then you can’t quarrel with everyone around.

In most cases, this dog is considered one of the most faithful helpers of the person - today it is the most popular service dog, different well-developed mind, learning ability and much-needed physical qualitiesneeded to apprehend any criminals and enemies.

We usually see ideally trained animals that do not allow themselves to show aggression to a greater extent than is necessary for detention, and even then only at the command of the owner or in a situation to which she is specially accustomed. Nonetheless, such a dog has a certain willingness to aggression, and if it is not directed in the right direction and limited, it may turn out to be uncontrollable.

American experts believe that there are no dogs more dangerous than pit bulls, even despite the fact that these dogs still do not have official status in the international cynological federation.

The animal has a high degree of muscle development, and although it is relatively small in size, it was bred specifically for bullying much larger opponents. The aggressiveness of the breed was high enough to use them for show fights, but the use of such dogs as loyal guards remains common.

This breed is a good example of how an animal can become aggressive from idleness. Such a dog was bred in the North specifically in order to drag a harness with him - a constant movement in her blood. In the last decades, these dogs are more often brought up by southerners who like the appearance of a pet, but they forget that a four-legged friend in the city has nowhere to put his irrepressible energy - a standard dog walk does not solve the problem at all.

At the same time, immigrants from Alaska are not without a hunting instinct and can hardly even learn the basic teams, and therefore they can easily spend the accumulated "extra" forces on inappropriate hunting for the same cats.

Everything that was said above about the Alaskan Malamute is equally true in relation to this breed. Even to work in a team that seems literally created for these animals, dogs need to be specially trained in socialization and discipline, thanks to which they will not make scandals with their fellow tribesmen. As for other people's teams, an unusual pet for strangers can easily begin to sort things out with them.

The completely wild invention of Russian modernity has not only not received the recognition of dog handlers, but is also prohibited for breeding in many countries. It will be quite difficult to get such a pet even in Russia - such a beast is literally half-wild, as it is a cross between a dog and a wild wolf.

Such a specific origin affected the character, therefore Today there are very few wolves - there is little demand for them, and the courage to buy it is usually not enough for many. The danger lies in many ways in the unstudied and unpredictability of the animal - even the owner cannot know what origin will prevail in his ward and what to do with a domestic dog, which suddenly realized its wolf nature.

In the Russian Federation, the legislation does not impose strict restrictions on this issue - each person is free to purchase such a pet as he sees fit. Another thing is that you must clearly understand how you will manage the aggression of your ward, and confidence in the fact that you are in principle capable of coping with this task will not hurt.

Concerning Consider in advance the points related to the safety of people and animals. Some dog breeds are so dangerous and uncontrollable that they may well be dangerous even for their own owner, especially if he does not understand how to properly manage his ward.Perhaps it should be considered reasonable and justified the popular recommendation of experts, indicating that your first dog should not be fighting or especially aggressive hunting, because it is not a fact that you can cope if you have not dealt with tetrapods before.

In the above list, all dogs are prone to a certain degree of aggression, but some of them are relatively calm, easily get used to other people and learn to make contact even with strangers, while others retain the features of wild ancestors in many ways, and therefore must be kept under strict control. In some breeds, even insufficient walking, provoking the accumulation of aggression, may turn out to be a potential reason for aggression, which means that it is better to keep such a dog not in an apartment, but in a house with a large garden.

Such a beast definitely should not be put on a chain - it is better for him to have a spacious aviary or even free movement throughout the homestead territory, but only on condition that the pet is not able to break out of its limits in pursuit of a neighboring cat. With other breeds, the situation may turn out to be simpler - having a clearly expressed instinct of a watchman, they will not be against a chain way of life and will not become angrier from this.

A completely separate topic is walking your favorite. Although the law does not prohibit you from having a dog of any breed, it is the owner who is responsible for ensuring the safety of other members of the society and their pets.

According to the law adopted in March 2019, representatives of 13 dog breeds must now walk on a leash and in a muzzle. Even if you are confident in the absolute friendliness of your dog, including in relation to strangers, the mere fact of walking without these accessories is a direct violation of applicable law, which means it may entail the prescribed punishment by law enforcement agencies.

Fans of breeding aggressive dog breeds like a mantra repeat the hackneyed phrase that the dog itself is only more or less prone to aggression, but in any case, the upbringing and attitude to the animal play a decisive role. In other words, even the kindest little dog can be driven to madness, mocking her and provoking her, while the stern fighting dog, looking like the embodied essence of the threat, will not take a step without the permission of the owner, if he is properly raised.

In the vast majority of cases, such a statement is true, therefore, choosing a potentially aggressive animal as a pet, you must understand how to properly train him and in no case ignore your duties, otherwise you yourself could theoretically become a victim.

No matter how individualistic your dog may seem, somewhere in the depths of his soul he is morally ready to submit to a stronger leader, and it was you who should initially be in the role, not allowing the dog to occupy this niche. The leader’s authority for the animal is unquestioning - he can punish for any misconduct, but must be fair.

If you have never before had a dog of aggressive and independent breeds, it is best to involve a professional trainer in its training. Regardless of whether you decide to turn to a professional or try your luck on your own, you need to educate a dog from a young age, while his personality is formed and he is still ready to perceive the dictation of perception of reality.

Contrary to popular belief theoretically, even an adult dog can be retrained, although this turns out to be a very difficult task. Theoretically, the pack leader can change, and this is good news for those who are faced with a situation where the pet has grown up and does not recognize the primacy of individual family members over themselves.

The dog will behave like a terrorist: once having caught that its aggressive actions provoke the desired response, the animal will begin to "ride" on its owners. Dog dominance can begin to manifest itself even in minor manifestations - for example, you are not walking the pet, but in fact it is you. Another striking example of a disturbed balance of authority is when the dog has its own things that cannot be taken by anyone, but he himself does not recognize the presence of other people's things.

In animals, a change of leader is decided by a trivial fight, but this is not our method. If the dog begins to get out of control, show her that the benefits she needs simply cannot be obtained just like that. Start with a simple one - if the dog clearly requires something from you, first give the command and do not react in any way to the requirements of the beast until your request is fulfilled. Even with obedience, do not reward the animal immediately - wait a few seconds, showing the pet that they are being carefully watched.

When the specified time is up, expressly approve the dog’s behavior - give him an edible reward, stroke or praise him. To make submission a habit train the animal constantly - all the benefits, including walking and feeding, should be done only upon the completion of the command.

In no case do not let the aggressive dog understand that you are weaker than her, and for this, never unquestioningly fulfill her wishes. The dog must learn that his wishes are only in the form of a request and their obligatory satisfaction is not guaranteed, but may require, in return, clear signs of obedience.

Dog handlers note that during the game you can’t kneel, much less lie down - by this you belittle yourself in the eyes of the animal, it no longer perceives you so big and scary, which means that it may allow the thought of ignoring orders.

An even bigger mistake would be to conduct any power games with an animal belonging to an aggressive breed - perhaps you defeat him while he is a puppy, but a grown up pet will sooner or later lay the owner on the shoulder blades, and since then no commands will act. Choose non-aggressive games and remember that it is you who starts and ends them. To achieve the last requirement, you must always stop the game before it bores the dog.

Wean the animal from the fact that it itself decides where to sleep and when to eat. Do not let your pet get your favorite sofa or chair where he will sleep - Determine the angle for the puppy and always fundamentally drive it from the wrong place, and shout at him for an attempt at indignation. The same goes for eating - if the feeder is located in the kitchen, teach the dog that he has nothing to do in the kitchen while the owners are eating.

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