Which dog breeds are dangerous when untrained or messed up by irresponsible owners?

Question

Let's see if we get slightly different answers.

OK, I meant "dangerous", nip at the ancle doesn't count.

Pathfinder : thank you!

Answer 1

February 19, 2006
Top 10 Most Dangerous Breeds

Which breeds are the most dangerous?

Which ones bite without warning, or can just snap? Which ones are likely to attack unprovoked, or take up a pack mentality? Which breeds have unstable temperaments, and just can't be trusted?

Quick - which breeds come to mind? Are you thinking Pitbulls, Presas, Rottweilers? Dobermans or Chows? German Shepherds or Akitas?

Wrong. In fact, really wrong.

Contrary to popular belief, these breeds are not the most dangerous. In fact, not a single animal welfare organization on the planet will give you a list of dangerous breeds, but we will..............

Just The Facts

But before we do - let's give you the facts.

Fact: The CDC has stopped reporting bite statistics by breed, as these numbers are driven by eyewitness reports, and are very often inaccurate. Why did the CDC stop? Because misidentification of breed is extremely common, making eyewitness reports an unreliable source.

In her book, Fatal Dog Attacks, author Karen Delise has studied the statistics and the stories behind these rare but deadly events. A top expert in this specialized field, she has concluded that a number of factors are present in a fatal attack.

Fact: On average, there are fewer than 30 deaths annually in the U.S. due to fatal dog maulings. Statistically, these tragedies are incredibly rare, as the dog population of 79 million. The stats on deaths by breed are available, as there are so few, and yes, Pitbulls and Rottweilers are on the list. But so are other breeds you might not imagine.

The media and headline-hungry pols love to point to these stats, and with great authority point to Pitbulls and Rottweilers as top offenders.

But what the media and politicians don't tell you is that the breeds on this list are driven by breed popularity, and that over the years, the types of breeds on this list have shifted.

So why are these breeds on the list? The answer is this - breed popularity drive the stats, but perhaps even more intangible is that breed popularity with irresponsible dog owners is an even bigger factor.

The #1 Factor

The absolute, number one factor that determines whether or not a dog will become dangerous is............... ownership.

And in compiling this list of dangerous breeds, you'll note they all share one trait in common - they are all human.

That's right, Kory, Jackie & Michael - humans are most reponsible for dangerous dogs. Humans are responsible for creating the circumstances and behavior that lead to dog bites or maulings. Get it right, Bubba - Humans.

So without further ado here are the...................

Top Ten Most Dangerous Breeds



10. Criminal Dog Owners - They vary in size, shape, color and creed. Whether urban or rural, they thrive in environments where crime does pay.

This breed may deliberately train dogs to be human aggressive. This breed has been known to shoot dogs for fun it. They fight dogs and use sweet tempered dogs as bait. Here in the New York area - they've been known to feed dogs ground up glass and gun power to toughen them up - you know-In case the police kick the front door - they're out the back - and the dogs are in between.

9. Irresponsible and Ignorant Dog Owners

Characterized by a complete lack of common sense and or manners, these dog owners come in three distinct varieties - Dumb, Dumber and Plain Stupid.

However they do share the same breed traits, like

Complete disregard for local leash or pooper scooper laws
Stubborn, self-centered rudeness
The inability to see the potential consequences for their behavior
So here are the three types if I & I's:

Dumb- When Snowball whines to go out, they throw open the front door and let her out to wander the neighborhood. Snowball is free to poop and pee wherever she likes. And if Snowball should wander into my yard and my dog defends its territory, like many dogs .......we've got a problem.
Dumber - Easy to recognize, this genius nonchalantly walks their dog off leash in the neighborhood, like it's no big deal. WEll in my book - it is a big deal. How would you like it if I let my dog run up to your children off leash. Or run up to any person who may be afraid of dogs. (and BTW - I support off leash space - just not on the block). And it's not OK if your dog takes a dump in my flowerbed, got that?
Plain Stupid- Waaaaay short on common sense - they let their children play unattended with dogs, or let them run up to pet a stranger's dog or get in a strange dog's face.
8. Negligent or Abusive Dog Owners

Like sociopaths who lack basic the human trait of compassion - this all-too-common breed is well known for a lack of care or concern. They are, however, gifted and talented in the areas of neglect or cruelty.

These G & Ts routinely fail to give their animals even the basics of food, water or shelter or fail to provide vet care. David Owens, an employee of Child Services in New York, has been accused of leaving his dying Akita out in the cold for weeks.

Even beating the dog is OK for these people- it's only a dog. Even if it's not their dog! Kick it if it gets in your way, wants food or attention. OK - so cruel and unusual punishment is against law, so giving them the same treatment is out. Too bad.



6. Ignorant Shelter Workers & Rescuers

We give shelter and rescue workers big snaps for the great job they do on a daily basis. That said - they are some bad apples in this bunch. Who? These people are marked by their staggering ignorance, leaving the rest of the dog world stammering in surprise.

Statements from these so-called "professionals" include, "We don't adopt out Pitbulls - they have locking jaws", and "We don't adopt out Rotties or Dobermans - they're aggressive". Better yet, they hide a dog's health or behavioral history, thinking that all dogs can be saved, from adopters who may be in for a big surprise. Someone needs to teach this breed a lesson - and quick.

5. Ignorant Dog Fanciers

Nose and tail always in the air with, "Breed restrictions don't really apply to me - I own a PUREBRED dog". Oh, really ? Maybe you'd like to share you magical powers with the rest of us....or better yet ............

4. Arrogant Dog Fanciers

Not only are nose and tail always in the air, but his type will even dis their fellow dog fanciers with, "it's not my breed". Ain't that special? Now bend over ...........this won't hurt a bit....

Numbers 4 and 5 do a diservice to the many hardworking, ethical home breeders who care deeply about their dogs and the welfare of dogs in general.

3. Irresponsible News Media

They attack -unprovoked, when you least expect it. Out of the blue, and really just when those ratings are starting to take a dive. That's just the perfect time to lead with a dog story. These media outlets target large working breeds, they thrive on fear. And they are yellow to the core.

Yeah - I'm talking to you, Kathryn McIntyre of the Commerce City Journal for your lack of editorial integrity for publishing the street addresses of pitbull owners. Sex offenders have more privacy rights than dog owners.
And yeah - I'm talking to you all you local metro broadcast news outlets, like CBS Channel 2 News in New York that that invariably portray "dangerous" dogs as Pitbulls or Rottweilers. In journalism - we don't automatically portray stories of rapes with images of black or Hispanic men. Nor should we visually support dangerous dog news stories with pictures of Pitbulls and Rottweilers, by default - like the one shown here from the CBS News site:
And yeah, I'm talking to you, for any print or web media that shows that same doctored photo of a snarling pitbull with digitally elongated teeth.
This ain't news - it's titillating info-tainment designed to spike fear, ad circ, and ratings at the same time.

It's time to run these out-of-control puppies back thru the basics - you know, fair and balanced reporting, media ethics - all that stuff they swore by in journalism school.

2. Greedy Insurers

These insurers aren't dogs - they're pigs. And who's to stop them when...........

they can chow down of easy profits on the backs of good dog owners by denying, limiting or eliminating coverage of dog owners in 37 states?
they stuff so much of their piggy bank bucks into the pockets of politicians?
Then politicians, hoggin' up all that campaign dough , do the bidding of the insurance sector, blocking bills that would make it illegal for insurers to discriminate against good dogs and good dog owners.

There's a saying - pigs get fat, but hogs get slaughtered. I'd like to invite you all to a barbeque

1. Opportunistic Politicians

These dogs will whine - they beg - they'll do anything for attention - and money - especially from those fat cats in the insurance lobby who ensure obedience with juicy campaign donations. These politicians breed fear, thrive on ignorance and count on apathy. Prime examples are :

Michael Bryant - Ontario's infamous "Puppykiller" for the province's sick and twisted breed ban. One must "prove" that a dog isn't a pitbull and the law requires all pitbull type puppies be shipped out of the province, sent to reseach facilities or euthanized.

Jackie Speier of California, AKA "The Breed Exterminator" , and notable author of SB 861, which is having a chilling effect on dog ownership in California

Paul Wesslehoft of Oklahoma - whose bill to ban certain breeds just went down in flames in the state legislature there.


Molly Markert of Aurora, Colorado's Town Council - that smiling Miss Prim (we hear she smirked to the audience when the breed ban passed) - and noted dog-hater, a leader in passing Aurora's 12 breed dog ban



I've got a message for you - kick these headline grabbing, egg-suckin', political opportunists of ANY political persuasian to the curb in the next local or state elections.



The Most Dangerous Breeds?

I'll tell you the most dangerous breeds - write these down!

#1 All Time Dangerous Breed:

The #1 most dangerous breed are media outlets that deliberately breed fear, spreading myths and lies about dog breeds and canine behavior through irresponsible reporting and reinforcement of undeserved and negative breed stereotypes

What You Can Do About It:

Call up the paper, the TV station or email the website and complain about the biased dog story
Ask for the Editor, Sales Manager and/or Program Director
Tell them you won't read, watch or visit
Tell then you won't patronize their advertisers until they stop their biased coverage
Tell them they have the opportunity to spread knowledge, not fear
Tell them My Dog Votes!
#2 All Time Dangerous Breed:


The #2 most dangerous breeds are the local and state politicians that feed on the fear created by the irresponsible media, and the public's ignorance. They are greedy for the headlines, campaign dough and do the bidding of the private sector instead of truly advocating for the public health, safety and welfare. They pass breed bans , weight or size restrictions, public space bans, and mandatory microchip laws, and other anti-dog legislation limiting the rights of responsible tax-paying citizens rather than deal with their criminal and social problems.

What You Can Do About It:

Call or write the offending local of state elected official and complain about the breed ban or other anti-dog legislation
Tell them you want the ban overturned in favor of breed-neutral legislation
Tell them you want any other anti-dog legislation stopped or overturned
Tell them you will vote them out in the next election
Tell them you will vote out any politician that supported the ban
Tell them you will rally every dog owner in town against them
Tell them they have the opportunity to educate instead of legislate
Tell them My Dog Votes!

#3 All Time Dangerous Breed:

The #3 most dangerous breeds are the apathetic dog owners who say nothing, or do nothing because they think they cannot affect change, or fight the sytem, or it doesn't affect them directly. Or maybe they just don't care - or won't care - that is - until they come for their dog.

What You Can Do About It:

Tell all of your friends, neighbors, relatives and associates, regardless of whether or not they own a dog about the breed ban or other anti-dog legislation
Tell them they must support their fellow dog owners, friends, and neighbors
Tell them if we don't stand together now, we all fall
Tell them they have the opportunity to unite the community, not divide the community
Tell them to do it for their dog
Tell them My Dog Votes!
Now get off your butts and go do it.

Answer 2

SLIGHTLY different answers. The bigger the animal the more dangerous it can be. That is basic physics, I drop a golf ball in your lap it will do less damage than if I drop a bowling ball in your lap.

Greater muscle mass and larger mouths make bigger dogs more dangerous. BUT that isn't what you asked you ASKED

"Which dog breeds are dangerous when untrained or messed up by irresponsible owners?"

the answer is still ALL OF THEM

Answer 3

Well any breed can be dangerous if trained to do so.

Someone might think that only big dogs can, but small dogs can be bad as well. Small dogs can bite off flesh and cause very serious wounds, and large dogs can even break bones.

Oviously some dogs draw more attention as aggressive dogs than others. Someone looking for an aggressive dogs is not going to get a long haired chihuahua or Papalion.

Answer 4

dog breeds dangerous untrained messed irresponsible owners

Answer 5

Every dog breed is prone to exterme violence if mistreated and improperly socialized. However, the larger breeds like labs, pitbulls, huskies, dobermans, st. bernards, great danes, etc. etc. will clearly cause more damage in the event of an attack than say, a Chihuahua, would. It's also easy to think that a dog with more muscular structure, like labs, pitbulls, dobermans, etc. would cause more damage than other larger breeds without extreme musculature, like poodles, schnauzers, etc.

So, dangerous being, cause more damage, I would say that the larger breeds are more dangerous. But if you mean, dangerous, as in, a dog that will attack, irregardless of damage done (because an attacking dog is a dangerous dog in my mind, regardless of size), then every breed can be considered a threat if improperly socialized and treated wrongly.

Answer 6

THE OWNERS ALLWAYS. It like Punishing the Pit Bull or Staffordshire bull terrier or American Staffordshire terrier and their owners for doing more damage than a Poodle is like banning all sledgehammers for one bent tack. The sledgehammer did more damage than a tack hammer, but it was in the hands of an idiot who didn't use it for its intended purpose.

The problem lies with the people breeding, owning, or training dogs for purposes for which were not intended. Pit Bulls and their kin were designed and bred to fight each other, not people. Due to the tenacity and physicality of the Bull and Terrier breeds, people have decided to make them one of the primary representations of a bad dog. People use the dog to compensate for their own insecurity and to promote a macho image. These people and their dogs should be avoided. Unfortunately, many "backyard breeders" are willing to breed "mean dog A" to "bad dog B" and promote the dogs in the local paper. We have all seen the ads for these dogs, Pit Bull, Stafford, or AmStaffs: Great litter from Champion blood lines, Bred for Pet, Show, Protection. Great Guard Dogs $xxx.xx Call xxxxxxxx
There are many good owners out there but people who make these stupid laws, don't think and use commensences when thinking whos realy at fault. Time to look at the correct end.

Answer 7

Any breed can become aggressive if not trained or raised with irresponsible owners, or if owners make their dogs aggressive. I've seen some vicious small dog breeds (chihuahua or poodle) more than I've seen aggressive large dog breeds. I think that this is because people think it's cute when they small breed gets aggressive, whereas people don't think the same way when a large breed shows signs of aggression.

Answer 8

Any breed of dog is capable of becoming violent if not socialized or treated well by it's owners. Breeds considered to be most aggressive such as pit bulls, rottweilers, huskies, etc. can make wonderful pets but the owner does need to assert dominance or they may see issues with the dog acting aggressive.

Answer 9

All breeds will be dangerous if untrained or abused or in other ways "messed up" by an irresponsible owner

Answer 10

Every single breed of dog is dangerous. There's no excuse for an untrained dog with the plethora of info that's readily available, to everyone.

Answer 11

All of them, even the lapdogs. However common sense will dictate that the bgger breeds like the German Shepherd, Doberman, Rottweilers, put bulls, Belgian Malinois, etc are more dangerous than smaller dogs if mistreated.