Listen up, Ohio lawmakers. The most aggressive dog is not the pit bull or the rottweiler or any of the other dogs typically targeted by breed-specific legislation.
The dog most likely to bite is the dachshund.
Researchers found that one in five dachshunds have bitten or tried to bite strangers or other dogs. One in 12 has tried to bite the hand that feeds him.
Second among the 33 breeds listed is another scary species: the Chihuahua. Jack Russell terriers came in third.
Pit bulls ranked in the middle of the list, while greyhounds were found to be among the least aggressive. Score one for my little pack.
The study was published in the journal Applied Animal Behavior Science based on research done by the University of Pennsylvania. The database included 6,000 dog owners and members of 11 AKC breed clubs.
Most statistics of dog aggression are based on dog bites reported to authorities, not direct data from dog owners. Bites by larger dogs are more likely to require medical attention, and thus are reported more often than bites from tiny-toothed breeds.
“Small size very likely plays a large role in the development of fear-based aggression among some breeds,” research specialist Deborah Duffy explained. “Smaller dogs may feel more threatened by other dogs and people — a perception that may be well founded.”
I have never had a small dog, but this makes sense to me. Most people ask if they can pet my big dogs even before they extend a hand. I think small dogs are more likely to be greeted too enthusiastically by strangers, especially children, who just see a cute little puppy. That has got to make the little guys jumpy.
Breeds that scored higher for aggression are also the same breeds that make the best watchdogs. And if you have ever walked into a home with a Chihuahua, you know they are a great security alarm.
Greyhounds, on the other hand, are terrible watchdogs. For a steady supply of cookies, my hounds would let you walk out with everything electronic in our house. For bacon or cheese, they’d give you our bank account and credit card PINs and passwords.
Pit bull terriers are really known for their aggression toward other dogs more than with humans, and this study bears that out to a degree. But owners of German shepherd dogs and soft-coated Wheaton terriers reported more dog aggression than pit bull parents, and Australian cattle dogs were right behind pit bulls for dog-on-dog scuffles.
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