Science The most aggressive dog breeds named in new study

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The most aggressive dog breeds named in new study

Anyone who has had a small dog snapping at their feet will declare that the most dinky of pooches often are the most inclined to start a fight. Now, a new study has found that smaller dogs are almost always more aggressive than their larger counterparts. Miniature Poodles and Miniature...
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Anyone who has had a small dog snapping at their feet will declare that the most dinky of pooches often are the most inclined to start a fight.

Now, a new study has found that smaller dogs are almost always more aggressive than their larger counterparts.

Miniature Poodles and Miniature Schnauzers top the list of most aggressive dogs in a new study, published in Scientific Reports.

Larger dogs including Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers and Lapponian Herders were found to be the most docile.

Researchers from the University of Helsinki studied over 9,000 dogs to analyse aggressive behaviour, including growling, snapping and biting.

As well as breed, other factors which impacted aggression include fearfulness, age, the company of other members of the same species and the owner's previous experience of dogs.


Older dogs were more likely to be aggressive than younger, with scientists saying this could be because of the pain caused by health conditions, and male dogs were more likely to be aggressive than female. Smaller dogs within breeds were also found to be more ready to snap than larger counterparts.

"Understanding the factors underlying aggressive behaviour is important. In what kinds of circumstances does aggressive behaviour occur and what is the dog's motive for such behaviour? In normal family dogs, aggressive behaviour is often unwanted, while some dogs with official duties are expected to have the capacity for aggressiveness. At the same time, aggressiveness can be caused by welfare issues, such as chronic pain," explained doctoral researcher Salla Mikkola from the University of Helsinki.

The study investigated aggressiveness towards both dog owners and unfamiliar human beings. Dogs were classified as aggressive if they growled often and/or had attempted to snap at or bite a human at least occasionally in the situations described in the survey.

Although small dogs are more likely to be aggressive, the study found that the behaviour was less likely to be addressed by owners as they are not seen as a threat.

"Aggressive behaviour is a serious and common behaviour problem in domestic dogs," the study said.

"Aggressively behaving dogs can cause public concern by biting people and other pets, with medical or even lethal consequences for the victim."

They add: "The severity of aggressive behaviour varies from biting and snapping attacks that can even lead to the death of a victim to less severe, but more common growling and barking."

Prof Hannes Loi from the University of Helsinki added: "People who are considering getting a dog should familiarise themselves with the background and needs of the breed. As for breeders, they should also pay attention to the character of dam candidates, since both fearfulness and aggressive behaviour are inherited".

Rough collie

Miniature poodle

Miniature schnauzer

German shepherd

Spanish water dog

Lagotto

Chinese crested

German spitz mittel

Coton de Tulear

Wheaten Terrier

Pembroke Welsh Corgi

Cairn Terrier

Border Collie

Finnish Lapphund

Chihuahua

Smooth Collie

Jack Russell Terrier

Staffordshire Bull Terrier

Shetland Sheepdog

Lapponian Herder

Golden Retriever

Labrador Retriever
 
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verygayFrogs said:
Dogs were classified as aggressive if they growled often and/or had attempted to snap at or bite a human at least occasionally in the situations described in the survey.
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Lmao, so they didn't actually observe or test the dogs' aggressiveness themselves? This "study" is worthless. Of course every shitbull lover is going to answer "oh no Mauler is an adorable floof who wouldn't hurt a fly!".
 
I really don't blame small dog breeds for acting like little shits. Their owners almost never train them because they're so cute and small it makes people want to treat them like a stuffed toy rather a living animal that needs guidance to be in our world. Not to mention that practically every living thing they encounter besides insects are giant in comparison to them.

The aggressiveness is also due to poor breeding. My sister has a purebred Chihuahua and he can be an ass at times, but he's generally a very lovely dog to be around, loves pretty much everyone he meets and wants to sit in your lap. That's what he was bred for. There is a severe problem with popular breeds being bred by puppy millers and backyard breeders so that the population of dogs like Chihuahuas is now made up of mostly very inbred, unhealthy mentally and physically little dogs who act like the world is out to get them. It's terrible.

That's really interesting that it says the most aggressive dog breed surveyed was the rough collie. Here is what the temperament of the rough collie is supposed to be, per wikipedia :

"Rough collies should show no nervousness or aggression, and are generally great with children and other animals.[6][7] However, they must be well socialised to prevent shyness."

Collies are herding dogs and so have behaviors like nipping that are annoying but are not meant to be aggressive. They are working dogs, though so can get neurotic and potentially develop aggressive behaviors if not provided with ample activity and mental stimulation. I also wonder if the population of collies in the study may have a very high rate of either poor breeding affecting temperament, or an increased risk of several health issues from poor breeding.

"As with all deep-chested breeds, Scottish Collies are at higher-than-normal risk for the emergency gastrointestinal syndrome called bloat. The Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine reports that the Collie is among the top ten of all breeds likely to develop bloat.

"Two serious diseases that are becoming more common in Rough and Smooth Collies are epilepsy and heart disease (patent ductus arteriosus).

Hypothyroidism occurs in the breed, as well, at a rate of about 15%.

Inherited deafness can occur in Collie puppies." https://www.yourpurebredpuppy.com/health/collies.html

Hypothyroidism also affects the Akita in a high percentage, and it often causes behavior issues like sudden aggression.

Now, I really don't think the average person has to worry about encountering an off-leash collie. Any dog that fits under the pit bull umbrella is almost guaranteed at this point to make a beeline across the road to attack a small dog, child, or cat minding its own business if at large. I've seen and read enough to determine that.
 
Android raptor said:
Miniature poodle? I can believe it. My mom had one growing up, nasty little thing. Surprised chihuahuas aren't higher, in my experience they're also pretty mean.

I'm surprised g sheps are that high too, though I guess theres a reason people like them as guard dogs. Plus they're popular so I'm sure there are tons of backyard breeders churning out shit quality puppies.
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Purebreds are all asshole breeds due to genetic bottlenecking.
 
Mini poodle is surprising, standard poodles can be a little diva-ish - but I don't think I've ever met an aggressive miniature (or standard for that matter). Not surprised on collies showing up so much, I love collies but they have a total attitude problem. Well, not so much an attitude problem but more that if you piss them off, they'll bite - they tend to show no warning aside from the 'collie eye' and I feel like only collie owners or people experienced with the breed tend to notice it. Other people just get nervous around them, which collies absolutely pick up on and will act against. Schnauzers are one of the most aggressive breeds I've ever encountered, again, I think they're awesome dogs (their breed standard groom is one of the coolest styles to give a dog) but they're always little assholes. Chihuahuas aren't surprising again, they're coddled by their owners and have to compensate for being tiny with being aggressive. They tend to get away with biting too because people say 'aw, it's only small it can't hurt!' If you haven't been bitten by one, you can't say it doesn't hurt. I still have a scar on my hand from a Chihuahua. Coton Du Tulear is really surprising, they're sweet dogs.
I think I've encountered all of these breeds in a salon environment and not one of them can ever match the truest most temperamental dog out there, the same that everyone sleeps on because it's the latest 'designer breed' aka cross - cockapoos.
They're wonderful dogs if trained correctly, they have the intelligence of a poodle and the energy of a spaniel but if poorly trained and allowed to get away with shit they become little terrors. I feel awful for the breed really because they've been toted as a popular, as said 'designer' breed so people flock to buy them from stupid breeders and then after a year realise just how much work the dog is and they either get given up or treated poorly. Compared to all of the breeds on that list, I've lost count of all of the aggressive cockapoos I've had to style over the years - almost all of them were badly trained at home or spoilt and considering the rates of rehoming with them I wouldn't be surprised if they're on a list like this in years to come.
 
Dogs are tricky and I dislike this study just as much as I dislike people who not only think pit bulls are a breed but that they are inherently violent. How you raise a dog is what matters most.

Go ahead and neg rate me.
 
Pits aren't inherently evil, but they do come with a level of unpredictability and risk that all the activists won't be honest about.
 
Dogs are fucking delicious food that should be more accepted by mainstream society and I'm tired of pretending they're not.
 
Rough collie the most aggressive? I'm calling bullshit. You don't move, they don't move. It's a shepherd's dog.

Dogs were classified as aggressive if they growled often and/or had attempted to snap at or bite a human at least occasionally
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They are a herding dog. You run, they will try to corral you in the direction they think you should go. There is a difference from a light nip, the sheepdog's language, versus aggressive bites or defensive bites. Grew up with a sheltie, never nip'd, but would bump our legs when trying to corral me running in the backyard.
 
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