Dogs have lived alongside man for thousands of years since the first wolves were domesticated. There is little doubt this relationship has been hugely beneficial to both, leading to dogs being commonly referred to as “man’s best friend”. But over recent years there there have been a steady stream of stories in the media cataloging what appears to be an increasing trend of horrific attacks. Based on one UK survey (Hospital Episode Statistics) dog attacks resulting in hospitalisation are up over 300% in 20 years.
Whilst there is nearly always a reason for a dog attacking, these incidents show that certain dog breeds are capable of being deadly. This is recognised by the fact many of these breeds are banned in countries throughout the world.
The breeds listed below are those which have been involved in numerous incidents. I haven’t just taken the statistics for which breed has been responsible for the most hospital admissions; this list based on the potential and temperament of various dog breeds. There a three ingredients to a fatal dog attack; size and power of the dog, aggression and not to be overlooked a reason – usually lack of training and maltreatment…
10. Cane Corso
This large breed of Italian mastiff is a descendent of the dogs Roman soldiers used in wars. It has a sleek muscular body weighing up to 50kg (110lbs). The business end of the Cane Corso is its large, intimidating head with powerful jaws. One look would tell most people that this is a dog that could inflict a good deal of damage. The Cane Corso generally has a good temperament but is protective and suspicious of strangers. Therefore training and early socialisation are essential.
This dog is restricted in several US states and European countries.
9. Wolf-Hybrids
I imagine the name itself here is enough to start alarm bells ringing! Often referred to as wolfdogs these dogs are at least half wolf and as such may be virtually indistinguishable from a pure wolf.
Behaviour varies according to the dog / wolf content. Wolf-like traits make the animal less likely to attack protectively but they retain a strong prey drive making them a real risk around other small pets, and potentially young children.
The cross-breeding also has implications on how aggressive the hybrid will be. Crossing with a dog with a protective nature, e.g. a German Shepherd can breed out the wolf’s shy retiring nature, making a less predictable more dangerous dog.
Weighing in at up to 55Kg (120lbs), with power and intelligence of a wolf – in the wrong setting these dogs have the potential to be dangerous.
8. Neapolitan Mastiff
On size alone this massive mutt has the ability to intimidate. Reaching up to 90kg (200lbs) that more than an adult human. It was a Neapolitan Mastiff that played the part of “Fang”, Hagrid , the half-giant’s dog in the Harry Potter films. The large mastiff-type head is complemented with an equally large body in which the musculature is barely hidden by thickly folded skin.
The Neapolitan Mastiff is thought to be the direct descendant of the ancient Roman Molossus used for both war and the bloodthirsty arena. In essence this dog was bred to be a capable killer making it a popular guard dog and defender. That said, these are generally calm and loyal dogs but correct training and socialization is essential. As is a firm owner – these dogs have and can kill.
7. Fila Brasileiro
Also known as the Brazilian Mastiff this is another very large powerful dog. Weighing up to 75kg (170lbs) the Fila Brasileiro was bred as a hunting dog trained to restrain but not kill its prey. During the days of slavery the Fila was allegedly used to return fugitive slaves, unharmed, to their masters. More recently it has become a popular guard dog.
What separates the Fila from other big mastiff type dogs is its temperament and potential for aggression. The dog is banned the UK, Norway, Israel and Denmark to mention a few along with being restricted in many more. It is often said that the Fila Brasileiro can be highly aggressive towards strangers if not correctly trained. Given the name Ojeriza, this behaviour may be desired by some owners but can make this a particularly dangerous breed.
6. Dogo Argentino
Although a little smaller than the mastiffs and the Dogo Argentino makes up for it in power. This agile and muscular dog was bred as a big game hunter’s companion able to bring down wild boar and pumas. The Dogo originated from the Cordoba Fighting Dog which was crossed with Great Dane amongst other breeds. The resulting dog is 60kg (130lbs) of lean muscle recognisable with its short white coat.
It is said that the aggressive traits have been largely bred out of the Dogo Argentino and it can even be a good family dog. However, the potential is there for this dog to attack with lethal consequences and as a result it is banned in many countries including the UK and Australia. The fact that it is a breed preferred by dog fighters further cements its reputation as a dog to be feared.
5. Rottweiler
The Rottweiler is a medium to large sized dog with a stocky powerful body. It used to be known as the butcher’s dog but that was due to it working with livestock and pulling the carts to market rather than anything more sinister. I remember a few years back when this was definitely the scariest dog around. Alongside some of the more exotic, bigger breeds the Rottweiler seems to have lost some of its edge. The fact remains though, that Rottweilers are capable killers and the statistics reflect this. As a more common breed the numbers are bound to reflect badly on the Rottweiler, and they do. In the US it has consistently been the second most frequent dog to attack causing death or serious injury.
4. Caucasian Ovcharka
This enormous dog goes by several names including the Caucasian Shepherd Dog. It was bred to defend sheep flocks on the edges of the Soviet Union from thieves and, well, anything! A big dog can weigh anything up to 90kg (200lbs) with huge paws and equally intimidating set of jaws. Their thick fur hides a powerful muscular frame. Virtually fearless and able to exhibit ferocious behavior these dogs have long been a favourite for hunting bears. This is also the breed of dog used to patrol the border between East and West Germany during the Cold War.
Accompanying this size and power is a strong will and a loyalty which will see the dog attack practically anything when it feels its owner is under threat. Still favoured amongst dog fighters in Russia this dog is banned in some countries and restricted in others.
3. Tosa Inu
This huge Japanese dog was bred as a fighting dog. It varies in size but the biggest Tosas weigh in at a massive 100kg (220lbs) justifying the nickname of the “Sumo mastiff”. Over the years the breed has been crossed with mastiffs, Great Danes, Bulldogs, St Bernards and Bull Terriers. It tends to be significantly smaller in Japan but has been bred for size in the West.
The danger posed from this dog comes from its size, strength and fighting credentials. Usually a very calm breed, good training and an experienced owner is essential for the Tosa. Without this the potential for this dog to do damage is unlimited and fatal attacks have occurred. For this reason the Tosa Inu is banned in a whole list of countries.
2. Presa Canario
The Perro de Presa Canario or Canary Dog is one of the most intimidating looking dogs you will find. Its enormous, square head is almost as wide as it is long. It has the body to match too; big boned and muscular the Presa Canario can weigh around 60kg (130lbs). Bred as a fighting dog they retain a good degree of this aggression making them only suitable for experienced dog owners. If not shown absolute authority the Presa Canario can be an extremely dangerous dog. It is also said they gain aggression in numbers as they are pack dogs. This is certainly borne out by a number of fatal attacks most notably that of a San Francisco woman who was torn apart by a pair of these dogs owned by her neighbour.
The Presa Canario is banned in many countries.
1. Pit Bull
Barely a week goes by without a story of an horrific attack involving a Pit Bull does not feature in the news somewhere. Is the Pit Bull actually the most dangerous dog in the world, possibly not. However, in the face of overwhelming statistical evidence it it difficult to argue that this dog is not the most likely to attack you. Studies have consistently showed that Pit Bulls have been responsible for nearly a half of all recorded attacks including many fatalities.
It is worth pointing out that Pit Bull is an umbrella name referring to any number of dogs with particular physical characteristics. Even the experts can disagree as to what constitutes a Pit Bull but in general the dog is very stocky, muscular with a squarish head and powerful jaws. Despite being the smallest dog on the list, weighing less than 40kg (95lbs) the Pit Bull makes up in power, agility and ferocity. These dogs were bred for the pit (fighting) and more recently to look intimidating.
Of course much of the dogs reputation is the result of irresponsible owners. The worse the reputation the worse the owner and so it goes on. Perhaps another point in defence of the Pit Bull is many of the animals involved in attacks are crosses with other breed such as boxers.
At the end of the day this is the most notorious dog on the planet at present and is banned in too many countries to list. On that basis I’m giving it the top spot.
This is an interesting list, but I noticed all the dogs except the Wolf-Hybrid and the Pit Bull are pictured at rest or in a pose that simply shows their physique. The Wolf-Hybrid has its teeth bared aggressively and the Pit Bull looks like a psychopath. I am wondering if that was done on purpose to give the idea that those two breeds were the least desirable of the bunch?
The photos weren’t selected intentionally, this is just what was available from the sources I use. Ideally, all the dogs would have been looking suitably aggressive as this is the nature of the article.
pitbulls are actually some of the nicest dogs!!!!!
There’s a couple missing off this list firstly the Turkish Kangal is one of the best fighting dogs around top 3, then also the Tibetan Mastiff is huge and very powerful.
May i just say it is dependant on how they were raised. Im currently staying in my sisters home, also a home to 2 pitbulls, rotweiler brazilian fila and a “wolf hybrid” and they are the worst guard dogs going! Lets anyone wonder in the gates. Bunch of softies
Pitbulls is one helluva blanket term. I have 2 now that love the beach, swimming, and you cant seperate em. Very onsided article. You gotta watch the little dogs if you ask me.
The caucasian shepard is hands down thew badest of them all.
The press canario wasn’t bred for fighting it was originally bred as a catch dog and as a guardian. At least research the breed before writing about them
My friend’s pit bull and my Belgian Mallinois got into a fight, and the Belgian Mallinois won by a long shot, she would have torn the pit to shreds if we didn’t stop her. Pit bulls aren’t weak dogs by any means, but a mallanois is nimble, and has more control over their movements.
Okay so I don’t proclaim to know much about Pitbulls as I have never owned one. There where quite a few where I live and some loose. I had run ins with some. Most of the fights were provoked by my dog a lab cross. Luckily the fights were not too hard to break up.
I study dogs and dog breeds in my spare time. I have noticed that mastiff type dogs are less likely to maul people. Why is this? I think it could be that mastiffs are understood more. People realize what those dogs are capable off and keep them away from strangers. Mastiffs are aldo more mellow tempered. Pitbulls are generally very well natured so lead people to believe they are safe. People tend to forget that they are terriers first of all and t erriers do tend to be more snappish then say mastiff and when a pit bites it tends to do huge damage. I remember a mauling in my country by a pit. The dog’s owners nephew who was over visiting quickly jumped off the couch and the dog reacted thinking that perhaps it’s owner was in danger. not the dog’s fault but the owner. I think that pitbull owner’s need to keep their pitbulls in a cage or tied up when strangers at around for safety’s sake. And realise that under that friendly layer is a dog that will fight to the death and protect the owner to the death. They turn off when fully angry. And its need a owner that understands the breed fully and not just generally. They can be the most amazing dogs in the right hands and the worst in the wrong hands.
You are correct. I adopted a Pit Bull type dog from the SPCA in September and so far he is the epitome of a good boy. One of my cats has even started cuddling with him or sleeping on him, He is very calm in a calm environment but when I walk him, I keep him on a harness with a handle that can be used as a restraint and I am capable of restraing him. He only weighs 46lbs. I do this not because I think he is going to attack anyone. He sees cats and other dogs in the neighborhood and barely acknowledges it. I do this because people in this neighborhood let their little dogs run off leash and if one of those little dogs started trouble with him, he has the ability to do great harm to him and even though the little dogs owners would be the ones at fault for basically not ensuring the safety (and training) of their own pet, I would be seen as the villian because I have a Bully breed. The owners of ALL breeds need to better educate themselves on the different breeds and monitor interaction closely between unfamiliar dogs. This is the second dog I have owned. The first was a Min Pin and I followed the same rules even then because of other irresponsible owners. Owners of more powerful breeds need to be more responsible and stop denying the fact that their animal is capable of doing major, sometimes lethal damage. Owners of less powerful dogs need to stop letting their aggressive little dogs off leash because if your aggressive little dog messes with the wrong breed, they might get hurt. Owners need to be responsible and work together to create a safer world for all of our pets, regardless of breed.
I just want to throw my 2 cents in real quick… I rescued and rehabilitated pit bulls from righting rings for many years, i now have a Corso… Anyways… I hear people saying pitbull attacks this and that which tells me there’s a lot of ignorance in three comments… Yes it is true that bully breeds are capable of inflicting serious damage to people i challenge you to look up the dna reports taken from these “pitbulls” that attacked people… You’ll find that most of the dogs they’re claiming to be a “pitbull” actually aren’t even pitbulls at all… Any dog no matter the breed nor the training in dangerous situations will protect themselves as well as their family members… That’s their survival instinct, even us humans will resort back to our natural instincts when we feel the need to…
Look at it like this, just humor me for a second… When a human baby is born that baby is a clean slate the parents can teach the baby to be a living humble empathetic person or they can teach that baby how to be a criminal and emotionless… The same thing goes for puppies of alllllll breeds, the owners are responsible for how they raise and what they teach that puppy, the only difference would be that the child will grow up and eventually think and make decisions on their own while dogs can not… They live to make their owners happy… People need to realize that you can never 100% completely domesticate any animal. If dog owners respected that i believe there would be less issues… You can’t blame the dog, the finger should be pointed at the owner…
Yeahhhh no.
There’s one major aspect you’re failing to make mention of: Genetics.
You can spout the typical Pit Bull apologist crap all you want (aka “it’s all in how you raise them” etc.) but there are -countless- instances (which you could easily find via Google) where Pit Bulls, who were raised with love since birth, one day snapped and attacked a child, completely unprovoked— an example of this is a Pit running across a street and jumping -into- a van to -MAUL- a child in a car seat.
Now how the hell do you explain that one, huh? Again, there are recorded instances of this happening to Pit Bulls who were raised -since birth- with love and attention and -everything- they needed… no previous history of aggression… but then one day, -snap-.
It’s happened. And there’s no excuse for that other than ‘a Pit’s genetics and history of aggression cannot be dismissed just because ya’ll feel special or brave for adopting or advocating for such a breed.’ We’ll news flash: like literally a quarter of Millenials seem to have a adopted a Pit, so you’re not so unique and special anymore, lol. Best go find another reason to be a martyr.
(btw not talking crap on Millenials — I am one actually)
Can I upvote this?
The number of elderly, toddlers & infants mauled or killed leads me to wonder if treating the animal horribly is the only possible reason these dogs attack. I mean some smaller breeds can be quick to snap at you but their ability to cause long lasting physical injury or death means people aren’t as intimidated by them so might be quicker to approach them inappropriately. Also being smaller likely makes them feel more vulnerable. But a full grown pitbull has no reason to jump into a crib and murder a child.
When I was five years old a German Shepard I owned grabbed me by the throat; if it was not because an uncle immediately restrained the dog I would be dead. I would argue that nearly all big dogs are dangerous, particularly to children; pooches have the same bad temper, but at least one can make them airborne with a good kick.