The World’s Most Aggressive Dog Breeds
04. Dec, 2009 
82 Comments
Below you will find a list of what we think the world’s most aggressive dog breeds are complete with pictures…. With our ‘Most aggressive dog’ selection at the end… A lot of people have misconceptions when it comes to which are the worlds most aggressive dog breeds and which ones aren’t.
The most aggressive dog breeds generally exhibit behavior that’s meant to scare or intimidate other animals or people. You can tell if a particular breed has aggression issues by the way it acts. You should especially pay attention when you are selecting a puppy. Is it the bully of the group, or quite shy and timid?
Don’t just look at a dog’s breed when selecting one. Even the gentlest of breeds can be violent ones, especially if they aren’t given enough socialization and training. Did you know that the breeds that are more likely to bite are the ones people rarely think about – like the cuddly toy poodle or the Jack Russell Terrier?
So here is our list of the most aggressive dog breeds…….
- Chow Chows are one-man dogs that be given to bite with no warning. They’re also a bit ferocious around unknowns, and can be quite tenacious fighters. So be sure to discipline this dog and set right from wrong, immediately.
- The Papillon is fiercely loyal of their owners – to a fault. They can be quite possessive and standoffish to strangers.
- Old English Sheepdogs are very protective of their owners so they might be aggressive if anybody comes too close to their masters.
- A Llasa Apso often gets quite cranky around kids.
- Rottweilers are extremely protective of their masters and home so they also make great guard dogs.
- Chihuahuas aren’t too fond of kids so they also make it into our list of most aggressive dog breeds. They’d rather be with adults than play around with tots.
- Toy Poodles bite people and other animals out of self defense. Unfortunately, ‘playing’ according to you may be perceived as a form of ‘attack’ to them.
- Dachshunds aren’t known for their patience and are quite quick to ‘snap’.
- Jack Russell Terriers are feisty creatures who require early training to prevent long-term biting and digging problems.
- Giant Schnauzers are very dominant. They often challenge adults, particularly strangers.
- Cocker Spaniels often suffer from a dangerous genetic disease known as “rage syndrome.” This syndrome causes spontaneous violent action against not strangers, but even family members too. Many Spaniels have been put down because of this unwanted behavior. Check with the breeder to ensure your Spaniel is free from this dangerous dog disease.
- The Pekingese isn’t all that tolerant of strangers and can be aggressive little ‘ankle biters’.
- The world’s most aggressive dog breed though has to be the Pit Bull Terrier though accounting for more mauling’s, injuries and even deaths to other animals and people. They are the breed that is covered the most in the news when it comes to dog attacks. Of course it is not usually the dogs fault when they do attack as it’s purely down to their own animal instincts, but attacks can usually be put down to their irresponsible owners.. Athough pit bulls are ‘generally’ quite gentle and can make a well loved pet.
Here’s a rundown of more breeds of dog that are typically gentle but can’t shake off their “bad dog” image.
- Boxers are pretty good with kids. They are good watchdogs, but will only become aggressive
- Bulldogs are very playful and gentle.
- Great Danes, while considerable in size, happen to be kind and affectionate.
- Mastiffs are especially quiet and docile.
- German Shepherds are great with kids too. These are courageous, fiercely loyal dogs who, if trained properly, will be extremely gentle to family and guests.
- Rottweilers are also capable of tenderness and affection. They have a bad rep, but if they trust you, you’ll never have to worry.
i have3 pitties! they are harmless! its the owners fault they fight! they have bean beat and yelled at to fight they owners do that for fun and the dogs fell like they have to protect themselves! and if you up to one of the fighting dogs the likey reponse of it will be nuzzling you and giving you kissses!
i own a rottie… he’s just 4… n believe me everyone’s scared of him in my area… he just listens to me… not even my brother or any of my family… but still he’s a rockstar..
I have wanted to write something similar to this on my webpage and this has given me a concept. Cheers.
I have a Doberman Pinscher and a Miniature Pinscher and have had the hardest time ever finding a place that would allow my Doberman. She’s an awesome dog, but I struggle with the Min Pin’s temper. I’m fully aware that it’s something I’m doing wrong and working to correct the issues. I have to live somewhere I’m not too happy about because people are too ignorant to realize they’re better off with a responsible owner with a Doberman than an irresponsible owner with a Poodle. All dogs are great, many owners really suck.
Dogs are only aggressive if trained to be aggressive. I have had several pitbulls over the years that I rescued. It is possible to rehabilatate any dog after abuse with time, patience and love. My red nose pit was a teddy bear. Don't hate the dog, hate the owner for training them that way. As for the list of aggressive dogs, Dalmations and Akitas are probably the most aggressive breeds.
i think is the doberman and the pit bull terrier the most agressive dog in the worl but also is not the doberman fault becose he has be trained liked his a police dog and the pit bull terrier i think is the cause of they master because somme of them trained the pit bull terrier in dogs fight and when they trained sad ly you can never change this he will be liked this for ever
Hey had to get in on this I have a a bullmastiff american bulldog mix as well as a siberian husky german sheppard mix both loving great with kids and other dogs, my family and i generally go to dog parks twice a day and from our experiences with other dogs and owners over the past seven years its all up to the owner any dog can be sociallized if done right at an early age its lazy owners who get these dominant intimidating dogs and continue to give breeds such as pits and rotties ect.. bad names THERE SHOULD BE SOME KINDA TEST YOU HAVE TO PASS AND GET A LICENCE TO OWN A DOG WOULD SAVE ALOT OF INOCENT DOGS LIVES VERSUS FILLING UP SHELTERS
You have got to be kidding me about the Toy Poodles. My family has 9 Toys and 1 standard all together. Only one has ever bitten and it was only because it didn’t like being woken up by anyone other than my Aunt. They are excellent watch dogs because they will bark at anything that moves, that is often taken as aggression by neighbors that walk past our front door. The girls run and push up against the glass and bark. But, if you came in the house, even without an invitation, they would be jumping up for you to hold them and love on them. THEY ARE NOT IN ANYWAY AGGRESSIVE!
My chow is very very intelligent and can walk through rowdy drunks piling out of a bar and ignore them-however she will stop and stare at a “suspicious” type standing quietly across the street. I can easily divert her and tell her we are moving on.
I have taken her to gala events at our local art museum and she will stand quietly and only move after the lecture or performance is over. On one such evening as the crowd broke for refreshments and conversation, she tugged me over to a painting at her eye level: a portrait of a cat! She has her sense of aesthetics.
She is dignified and playful. She is very friendly when formally introduced and allowed to sniff an extended hand-then she allows the friendly stranger to pet her-otherwise she is quiet and reserved in a crowd. I find her to be my most intelligent, witty and humorous friend. She knows she is greatly beloved and lets me know the regard is mutual.
I have a pitbull and aggressive is definitely not the word to describe him. Its absolutley pathetic to classify a a breed as being “aggressive”. Actually, come to think, I have never met an aggressive pitbull, and I have met PLENTY. Any dog can be aggressive if the owner brings them up that way. Saying this is the exact same as saying all mexicans steal cars, all black people smoke crack and listen to rap, and all white people are peckerwoods. How pathetic.
As an owner of an APBT, I just have 1 question…y is it that all of the dogs are pictured posing or looking adorable..even the chihuahua is in in a pink fluffy background…yet the APBT is pictured with the stereotypical heavy chain & choker. I AM OFFENDED BY THAT! That is why everyone has sensationalized this whole belief that all APBT’s are agressive and dangerous! If you believe that an ENTIRE breed is aggressive because bad humans have misused a dogs natural instincts and trained them incorrectly, then you are narrowminded and ignorant!!
Necee, I agree with you 100%. Such a stereotype and absolutely pathetic. We just rescued a pit bull puppy and he is a giant love bug. He starts puppy kindergarten next week and we are taking him to all sorts of events to keep him well socialized. I am amazed at how smart he is and how badly he wants to please.
we rescued a pit puppy most gentle thing in the world we love dogs also have a collie and a yorkie. the pit loved guests as long as we brought them in. spring hit and it jumped the fence several times acting extremly aggressive toward the nieborhs. point is they are unpredictable. not just how they are raised…. i miss that dog
Take your Pitt Bulls and shove them! I know a guy that had one that he babied! He treated that dog like a human and never was mean to him at all. He went and got a tattoo of a pit on his arm- he came home and still was bleeding a little and was showing the tat to his dog…. well the dog started licking his arm and he thought aww how sweet he is sad I am hurt well then the damn dog almost bit his arm OFF! He would not let him go. When they bite they get like lock jaw and do not let go. He did not lose his arm but he does have one of the worst scares I have ever seen in my life. So all of you that “love your pitty” I hope nothing like this ever happens to you!!!!!!
You don’t have to be mean to a dog to make it mean. In fact, babying a dog and not treating it like a dog is probably the one true way to make a dog dominating and aggressive. The only reason Pits are seen more on television is because fear sells. “Pomeranian mauls child to death” isn’t as news-worthy as “Pitbull snaps and goes on a rampage”
@Melissa, so that just had to do with the fact that the dog was a “pitbull” right? It had all to do with what Alex said. Dog’s need to have their place. ANY breed could have done that!…and btw, there is no such thing as “lock jaw”. They are simply a strong breed. Once again, my APBT is trained to drop what he has in his mouth, (food, stick treat etc.) on command. Your friend had no control over their dog. The dog was alpha. SIMPLE.
My gandma has a pittie and a bully get along just fine.bully pup pushes pittie around.
you go Necee
Necee is correct by a mile. Sad to think with all the resources online that people still categorise breeds as dangerous. All dogs are potentially dangerous if given the wrong human environment. Breed never determines behaviour, behaviour is learned in the environment. This website is promoting fear and ignorance. Shameful!
MY MOM SAYS GERMANSHEPHERDS ARE AGRESSIVE SHE HATES ENYTHING THAT HAS TO DO WITH AGRESSIVENESS BUT MY NAMES MEANING IS AGRESSIVE ANGEL
i think most dangerous and aggressive dog is doberman it is the best choice if u want a dog
Every breed of dog is capable of viciously attacking a human. They are descended from wolves. Anytime you treat your dog like a person instead of like a dog, you are setting the dog up for behavioral problems. If I was a Chihuahua and someone dressed me in a stupid costume I would bite the crap out of them. Pitbulls aren’t vicious they just need to be exercised and trained like any working breed. Otherwise they can get restless and start acting out. Also, male dogs should always be neutered regardless of breed, unless they will be used for breeding.
Chow Chow is one of the worlds aggressive dogs.People keep it in there houses as a guard.
staffies , pitballs and chiwawa’s are trerribly agressive.evan pitballs that are bought up friendly are aggresive my friends husky got mouled to death by a pitball in a dog park.and my friends kittin. my dogs have being attacked by staffies multipul times, 12 out of 15 needing stitches. chiwawa’s are just yappy and snappy. i dont know were people get that rotties are aggresive. but my 2 dogs (cattle dog mix and a greyhound) are the most friendliest dogs. their is a rumour going about that greyhounds are agressive but they are the most gentle dogs. ever since dog reporting came in there has never been a greyhound attack report. sorry about my puncuation
I have always had dogs…. Shepard/collie mix that was awesome…a chocolate lab great…a black and white border the best… currently a flat coat retriever docile and wonderful; a tricolor border also great but a little skidish and last but not least a 9 month old white American Boxer that is insane! She is 64 pounds of pure muscle and randomly attacks my border collie…. so at Adrianna; I have NEVER had a dog that is a fighter nor have I EVER trained a dog to do such…..just like kids, I believe they have their own personalities that they are born with and that’s the way it is!!!
Sorry Emma but I disagree with you, staffies, pitballs, chiwawas, rotties are not aggressive its down to the owners, I own 3 rotties and a german shepherd, all rescues and they are all softies, they are brought up within the family in the family home, they are not trained to guard as they protect the property anyway. They love all people, kids etc., but are also very loyal. I work in a vets and the only dogs I have ever been bitten by are small dogs! I also have friends who have pitties and staffies they are all friendly. The wrong type of people are getting hold of them and they have them as some kind of trophy!! and to look hard hence the bad name. Something should be done to stop these kind of people getting hold of these dogs before these beautiful breeds are wiped out!!
I have a Doberman who is the sweetest dog I have ever owned, licks everybody and hasn’t one aggressive bone in her body. On the other hand I also have 2 – 3 pound Chi’s that will take ur ankle off. The Dob doesn’t mess with the little ones at all, think they scare her. Those little ones aren’t called ankle biters for nothing. So which one is aggressive??? Don’t judge a dog by it’s BREED, each dog is different in personality and depends alot on the owner.
It is called instinct and no level of human-dog loving (LOL) will change their true nature. Surprise: animals attack!! People living with animals is just plain sick and bordering on a social disorder on the human side. Why don’t you use all that money you spend on these animals and feed a starving village.
I believe it’s true that some breeds have a bad reputation; but it’s not without reason. It’s not the fault of the dogs, some have been trained to be aggressive. It’s also true that these breeds are not statistically more likely to act aggressively than other breeds – sometimes they are actually less likely to act aggressively. In reality, labradors and cocker spaniels are the breeds that most often act agressively towards people. Often, dogs that attack children have been provoked in some way because children cannot understand the care that they need to take (and they should not have to, they are children after all!). Sometimes, these attacks are completely unprovoked – I experienced this myself as a child, thankfully escaping uninjured.
BUT… Generally, a medium to large dog like a labrador or retriever can apply pressure with their jaws of around 150-250 pounds per square inch. A dog like a pit bull, bull terrier, Akita or Rottweiller (and many others) apply pressure of 1500-2500 pounds per square inch. So if they do attack, they are far more likely to inflict permanent damage or kill.
I am a dog lover, and have friends and relatives who own some of the breeds I’ve mentioned above. They are friendly, loving dogs who are well trained and affectionate. But I am always careful around them, and if I had small children there is no way that I would allow my children to play with these dogs, because I am well aware of the damage they can inflict. It doesn’t matter if they have never shown any signs of aggression before; it only takes one bad day. Perhaps the dog is unwell, or a child accidentally or purposefully hurts, taunts or makes the dog feel threatened in some way – we can never really know what a dog is thinking. That’s all it takes for a child to be scarred for life or killed, and for a good dog to be put to sleep. Why risk either of their lives?
How about every one get a austalian shepherd and call it good:) and pits are over protective of there owners regardless of how raised.. They are very dangerous… Pits can snap at any moment you guys are in denile.. They are a wild breed
My family always had dogs. A few months ago I fell in love with a pit bull puppy I named Belle. She has shown no signs of aggression with any animals, only insects. Her favorite game is tug o war but does not nip, play bite etc. She has had a lot of socializing with people and dogs. What I have learned is the people who give me grief about owning a pit don’t have dogs. People like my Vet and others who know much more about dogs than I ever will say things like “she is very well behaved” and it’s a shame this breed has got a bad rap. I hope Belle never shows agression, since I will put her down it that happened, but I can’t see it.
pit bulls are not viscous dogs any dog will be viscous if you raise it wrong. if u beat a dog itll attack u raise it with love itll love you back
Pit bulls bad rap comes from bad owners. You treat your pit right and she will treat you right. I have had mine 5 years and i have a 4 year old son and a 2 year old. She loves them more than anything, she has never been violent, not even to other dogs that attack her!! Pits are loyal and loving and the horrible people that abuse them and fight them is why they are a “bad” breed.