Data compiled by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) shows that an estimated 4.5 million individuals suffer dog bites each year in the U.S. While any dog, under the right set of circumstances, can become aggressive and snap at someone, certain canines are more prone to attack compared to others.
Are you curious what the 10 most dangerous dog breeds are? We’ll outline which ones they are below.
A Listing of Dogs That Are the Most Aggressive
The American Temperament Test Society (ATTS) has a test it devised to use to, among other things, classify how aggressive different breeds of dogs are. An analysis of that research by PetHelpful shows that the following canines are most dangerous:
- Dachshund
- Chihuahua
- Doberman Pinscher
- American Pit Bull Terrier
- German Shepherd
- Basenji
- Chow Chow
- Rottweiler
- Dalmatian
- Siberian Husky
While the breeds of dogs described above test as potentially being the most dangerous, other canines fall closely behind. For example, a cursory internet search reveals how other breeds like cocker spaniels and also alternative types of wolf-hybrids, terriers, and pit bulls from the ones described above may also be potentially aggressive.
What Qualifies as a Dangerous Dog?
While the word “dangerous” is used by various people to mean something different, it has a pretty specific meaning when used by animal control or wardens, law enforcement, and personal injury attorneys. In that context, “dangerous” is a legal designation applied to a canine. A dog that has been classified this way may have previously been reported for:
- Jumping a fence, chasing after someone, or otherwise engaging in unprovoked, aggressive actions
- Attacking someone else
What Constitutes Dog Aggression?
For many of us, we’d equate a canine’s aggressiveness with making them dangerous. The ATTS seems to view dogs similarly. In fact, their criteria for classifying dogs as aggressive and thus failing or receiving low marks on their behavioral scale include when a canine:
- Demonstrates strong avoidance tendencies
- Panics without the ability to recover (become stabilized)
- Acts aggressive (despite not being provoked)
Reasons Why Dogs May Act Disorderly
- While a dog’s breed may affect their temperament, so too many other factors, such as:
- A lack of obedience training (especially to understand when playtime is over)
- Feeling unwell (i.e., sick or stressed out)
- Being challenged (i.e. poked or prodded)
- A lack of socialization
- Because they’re being abused by their owners (or someone else)
- To protect their offspring (puppies) or territory
- Because they feel unsafe (and are scared)
What To Do If a Dog Bit You in Albuquerque
You were out walking in your neighborhood, at a park, simply exiting your vehicle as you made your way inside your home, or otherwise going about a normal, everyday activity when a dog bit you. Now, you’re suffering from catastrophic injuries that may leave you with lifelong impairments.
Get in touch with an Albuquerque dog bite lawyer to discuss your ability to secure compensation from the canine’s owner or another responsible party who contributed to causing your injuries. Meeting with a member of our legal team at Barrer Law Group LLC is free.