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
The CDC has stopped reporting bite statistics by breed, as these numbers are driven by eyewitness reports, and are very often inaccurate. Since misidentification of the breed is extremely common, making eyewitness reports an unreliable source.
In her book, Fatal Dog Attacks, author Karen Delise has studied 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.
There are, on average, 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 the breeds on this list, pointing to Pitbulls and Rottweilers as top offenders. What they also fail to tell you is that this number is driven by breed popularity and that over the years, the breeds on this list have shifted.
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. So without further ado here are the Top Ten Most Dangerous Breeds
10. Criminal Dog Owners - They vary in size, shape. colour. 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. 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 of disregard for local leash or pooper scooper laws, and stubborn, self-centred rudeness and the inability to see the potential consequences for their behaviour. non-dog owners - or people who are afraid of dogs? Or maybe you're OK with it if my dog takes a dump in your flowerbed??
a.. Dumb- They throw open the front door when Snowball whines and let her out to wander the neighbourhood - 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.
b.. Dumber - Walking nonchalantly with their dog off-leash in the neighbourhood, like it's no big deal. How would you like it if I let my dog run-up to your children off-leash
c.. Plain Stupid- 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 human traits of compassion - this all-too-common breed is well known for a lack of care or concern and are 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
While most of this pack does a great job, these people are marked by their 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 to lock jaws", and "We don't adopt out Rotties or Dobermans - they're aggressive". Better yet, they hide a dog's health or behavioural 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", 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?
3. Irresponsible News Media
They attack -unprovoked when you least expect it. Out of the blue - targets include large working breeds, they thrive on fear. They are yellow to the core.
a.. 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.
b.. 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 rape stories as black or Hispanic men, nor should we support dangerous dog stories with pictures of Pitbulls and Rottweilers, like the one shown here from the CBS News site:
c.. 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 infotainment designed to spike fear and ad circ at the same time. It's time to run these puppies back thru the basics - you know, fair and balanced reporting, media ethics.
2. Greedy Insurers
These aren't dogs - they're pigs. And who's to stop them when
a.. 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
b.. 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, clocking 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.
1. Opportunistic Politicians
These dogs will whine - they beg - they'll do anything for attention - money - especially from those fat cats in the insurance lobby who ensure obedience with juicy campaign donations.
These are gutless, headline-grabbing, egg-suckin' political opportunists of ANY political persuasion for their utter failure as public servants to protect the public health, safety and welfare by failing to enforce criminal laws, abuse or neglect laws and leash laws. They're OK with taking your rights away to cover their butts and making you - the responsible, tax-paying stand-up citizens pay for the sins of the criminals 'cause it's so much easier and why pass up an opportunity to suck up to the media? Prime specimens of this breed include Jackie Speier of California, Paul Wesslehoft in Oklahoma and Molly Markert of Colorado. btw - They tend to bark, howl or growl when cornered by the truth. Time to
cull the pack - come November - kick 'em to the curb.
These politicians breed fear, thrive on ignorance and count on apathy.
The Most Dangerous Breeds?
Media that breeds fear. Governments that feed on ignorance. Apathetic dog owners.