From dogs bred to travel miles in the ice and snow to a breed that can take down bears,
here are the most dangerous dogs in the world:
17.
Akita
This dog breed is very broad and impressive when it’s full-grown.
They range from twenty-four to twenty-eight inches tall at the shoulder and can weigh
as much as one hundred thirty pounds.
Akitas are cautious and careful around people and dogs they don’t know.
However, they do thoroughly enjoy human companionship.
This breed can be quirky and fun around familiar people.
But, they can be quite dangerous if they aren’t raised correctly.
Akitas have to be socialized from puppyhood to get along with others.
Keep in mind that these pups were originally bred in Japan for hunting.
They used to work in packs to take down deer, wild boar, and even the Yezo brown bear.
16.
Great Dane
These dogs are quite imposing by their size alone.
They stand twenty-eight to thirty-two inches at the shoulder and can weigh up to one hundred
seventy-five pounds.
Great Danes were originally bred to hunt down wild boar, and today they are well-known as
excellent protectors.
Their coats come in different patterns and colors, but the most widely recognized one
is harlequin, which is white with large black spots around the body.
Like we stated before, Great Danes are very attentive guard dogs.
So, if someone tries sneaking into a house with one of these giants around… things
could end badly.
However, this breed also makes wonderful family pets as they are good with kids and are generally
friendly.
15.
Chow Chow
This breed dates back to before the Han Dynasty in China.
They were initially companion dogs for Chinese noblemen.
Throughout the centuries, Chows became protectors, hunters, and were used for transporting things.
It’s even said that these animals were once a food source, as the name “Chow” apparently
comes from the word meaning “edible” in Cantonese.
However, the more common origin story of this pup’s name is that “chow chow” was a
pidgin-English phrase meaning “etcetera,” and the dogs were shipped under the “chow
chow” manifest when British traders brought them home via boat from China.
These dogs grow up to twenty inches tall at the shoulders and can weigh up to seventy
pounds.
Chows need to be well-socialized when they’re young, or else they can be dangerous.
However, they are very loyal and loving to the people they know.
14.
Pakistani Bulldog
Also known as the Gull Dong or Bully Gull Terr, this dog is loyal to its family but
can pose a threat to strangers and those who aren’t suited to raise a hard-headed pup.
The Pakistani Bulldog weighs up to one hundred forty pounds and can reach a height of forty-two
inches at its shoulders.
They come in various colors, including black, grey, white, and brindle.
These dogs require significant training from the time they’re puppies, and they need
unyielding owners.
So, these guys aren’t recommended as family pets.
The Gull Dong is fairly common in Pakistan but isn’t seen in many other places.
13.
Doberman Pinscher
This dog’s purpose was initially to assist the nineteenth-century German dog-breeder
and taxman, Louis Dobermann, during his tax-collecting appointments.
Why?
Well, because people weren’t too fond of giving their money to the government, and
having a large pooch by his side helped protect him.
The Doberman Pinscher eventually got a reputation as an excellent addition to police and military
forces.
They reach heights of twenty-four to twenty-eight inches at the shoulder and can weigh up to
one hundred pounds.
Considering their origin, it isn’t surprising that the Doberman is a powerful breed.
They learn quickly but can pose problems to owners that aren’t prepared to train them
properly.
Dobermans should be socialized when they’re puppies to avoid potentially dangerous outcomes.
12.
Siberian Husky
These dogs look really sweet, but they can be a handful if they aren’t raised with
care.
The Siberian Husky can get up to twenty-three and a half inches tall at its shoulders and
weighs up to sixty pounds.
They were originally bred as companion and sled dogs and could transport light cargo
over long distances in freezing weather.
Huskies are pack animals and are generally friendly with other dogs.
However, they are very energetic considering their roots and need to get a lot of exercise.
These puppies also hate being left alone; so, people who work full-time jobs should
stay away from this breed.
Without proper training and attention, Huskies will prove to be stubborn, which can result
in perilous behavior.
11.
American Bulldog
This breed stems from the Old English Bulldogs that were brought to the southern United States
by immigrants.
They are built to hunt down Razorbacks or catch pigs that have escaped from farms.
However, they are also great watchdogs, and people often get them as family pets.
They can grow up to twenty-six inches tall at their shoulders and weigh as much as one
hundred twenty pounds.
American Bulldogs require a lot of attention because they’re very emotional and have
strong bonds with their owners.
These dogs also need to be trained and socialized from puppyhood.
Their athletic abilities and muscularity can prove dangerous if they aren’t taken care
of correctly.
10.
Boxer
This breed stems from war dogs that date all the way back to 2,500 B.C.
However, the Boxers we recognize nowadays were bred down from the Bullenbeissers of
Germany.
They can reach heights of twenty-one to twenty-five inches at the shoulder and weigh up to eighty
pounds.
Boxers’ coats are either brindle or fawn, and they have white markings.
Like many of the other dogs on this list, Boxers need to be socialized and trained from
the time they’re puppies.
They are very protective of their family and are good with children, but they won’t think
twice about taking on an enemy.
9.
Saint Bernard
The Saint Bernard gets as tall as thirty inches at the shoulder and can weigh up to one hundred
eighty pounds.
These dogs were initially bred by monks to find and rescue lost travelers in the Alps.
So, they had to be massive and powerful.
Since the Saint Bernard is a robust breed, they have to be socialized and trained at
an early age.
They can be dangerous simply because of their size, so teaching them not to jump on people
is essential.
This breed is generally friendly, and they want to please their owners.
Saint Bernards can even make great companions for children.
They also require regular attention, and adverse behavior can result from being left alone
for long periods of time.
8.
Bull Terrier
These dogs stem from Bulldogs, which were originally bred for fighting in Britain in
the thirteenth century.
Since Bulldogs were slow, they began cross-breeding them with terriers to make better opponents
in the ring.
Nowadays, Bull Terriers make wonderful, loving, and loyal companions.
But, like other dogs, they need a lot of socialization and training from puppyhood.
Without proper care, these pups can be dangerous... unsurprising considering their roots.
However, their spunky personalities make them really great pets.
Bull Terriers reach up to twenty-two inches tall at the shoulder and weigh as much as
seventy pounds.
7.
German Shepherd
German Shepherds were bred as herding dogs and began gaining popularity in the United
States in the 1900s.
These pups can grow from twenty-two to twenty-six inches tall at the shoulder and weigh up to
ninety pounds.
They are very courageous, loyal, and confident but need regular training and socialization.
German Shepherds are very connected to their families and want to please their owners.
Their athletic ability and willingness to protect their loved ones can be dangerous
if they’re allowed to run wild.
German Shepherds also don’t make friends quickly with new people; so, be cautious when
meeting one for the first time.
6.
Caucasian Shepherd
As you probably figured out by its name, this breed started out protecting livestock and
property from predators around the Kavkaz mountain range in Eastern Europe.
They stand at about thirty inches tall and weigh up to one hundred seventy pounds.
Caucasian Shepherds are companions and watchdogs in the present-day.
These pups need a lot of training because they are highly intelligent and independent.
They are also extremely protective of their owners and their territory, which isn’t
shocking since they were bred to be that way.
However, it’s probably not the best idea to let people come into your house if you
own a Caucasian Shepherd.
5.
Wolfdog
Wolfdogs are the results of domesticated pooches breeding with wolves.
Their behavior is often unpredictable because they have a wide variety of genetic characteristics.
One example is the Czechoslovakian Wolfdog, which is very independent and dominant and
was initially bred for border patrol in Czechoslovakia.
They’re wary of all strangers and can be very dangerous if they’re not strictly trained.
They grow up to twenty-five and a half inches tall and weigh up to fifty-seven pounds.
They look very similar to regular wolves, and it’s best not to approach one that isn’t
your own.
4.
Bullmastiff
These dogs grow up to twenty-seven inches tall and weigh up to one hundred thirty pounds,
and their coats can be red, brindle, or fawn.
They were initially bred to guard gamekeepers’ preserves in nineteenth-century England.
They had to be intelligent, trainable, and strong enough to pin a poacher or intruder
to the ground, and this breed did the job perfectly.
Bullmastiffs make wonderful guardians and companions.
But, training them while they’re young is critical.
When these dogs are full-grown, they’re difficult to control if they haven’t been
taught to obey their owners.
Bullmastiffs can be stubborn as well, which can lead to adverse outcomes if the proper
precautions aren’t taken.
3.
Perro de Presa Canario
This breed’s name means “The Canary Dog of Prey”; they were thought to have either
existed or to have been brought by Spanish Conquistadors to the Canary Islands.
The Perro de Presa Canario was originally bred for the safekeeping of farms and cattle
as well as exterminating stray and wild dogs.
These became fighting dogs later on, but their numbers started dwindling after the Doberman
Pinscher, German Shepherd, and Great Dane breeds were introduced.
They stand up to twenty-six inches tall and weigh as much as one hundred ten pounds.
They require a lot of training but are loyal to their masters.
However, strangers beware; this dog can be dangerous around people it doesn’t know.
2.
Rottweiler
Rottweilers got their name when Romans brought their cattle dogs to the town of Rottweil.
They were used to protect livestock against thieves when they were being moved from the
pasture to the market.
Since then, they’ve become essential to police forces and make for excellent watchdogs.
They stand up to twenty-seven inches tall and weigh as much as one hundred thirty-five
pounds.
They need socialization and strict training to prevent them from becoming aggressive.
Rottweilers also require a lot of time with their owners and don’t do well being alone
for too long.
1.
Pit Bulls
These dogs were originally bred for fighting, but many people have them as pets nowadays.
They get a bad reputation because they’re often the ones behind severe bite wounds.
In 2018, there have been thirty-five reported fatalities in the United States as the result
of dogs, and twenty-one of them were caused by Pit Bulls.
However, this breed isn’t necessarily inherently dangerous.
If Pit Bulls are responsibly trained from the time they’re puppies, then they can
make great companions and pets.
But, they can be threatening if the proper care isn’t taken in raising them.
Pit Bulls grow up to nineteen inches tall and can weigh up to sixty-five pounds.
Do you believe some dog breeds are more dangerous than others, or is it all in how they are
raised?
Let us know in the comments below!