Not all our furry friends are easy keepers; in fact, some breeds can be downright the most dangerous dogs if they end up in the wrong home.
It is especially true for the breeds that humans developed to have a strong prey drive to make excellent hunting or guard dogs.
However, when that instinct isn’t taken into consideration – and a dog isn’t receiving enough mental and physical enrichment; this instinct can cause violent and uncontrollable outbursts.
The point of this article isn’t to cause fear about the below breeds. It is to ensure that dog lovers have an understanding that to take one on is a bigger commitment than other breeds; and therefore is a decision that shouldn’t be taken lightly.
Most Dangerous Dog Breeds / Wolfdog – Bite force 406 PSI
You might be able to guess the breeding of this hybrid by its name alone! That’s right; this is a cross between the domesticated dog and the wolf.
Many controversies surround the Wolfdog due to their strong wolf-like instincts and behaviours, and as such, there’s a great deal of breed-specific legislation in place.
The Wolfdog has earned a reputation of one of the most dangerous dog breeds in the world- it is banned in 40 states across the US, and in Europe. Most countries have either outright bans or strict restrictions on this breed’s ownership.
Multiple well-respected organisations in the world have rallied for an international ban on the private possession, breeding, and sale of Wolfdogs. They deem the breed to be a wild animal and therefore champion them living in their natural habitat in the wild.
Tosa Inu – Bite force 556 PSI
The Tosa Inu is a large breed of dog that was bred in Japan as a fighting dog. Despite this history, the Tosa rarely shows aggression towards humans and is more likely to do so towards an unknown dog that enters its territory.
As with all fighting dogs, humans took advantage of a breed that was large, strong, and above all – wanted to please their human owner. Because of these personality traits, the Tosa Inu is a highly trainable breed. Still, it’s worth noting that the breed develops very slowly, in some cases only reaching maturity at four years of age.
The Tosa Inu is now famed for their new role as a guardian breed, renowned for their unparalleled courage; it is ideally suited to the job.
Presa Canario – Bite force 540 PSI
The Presa Canario, also known as Canary Mastiff, is not a breed that most canine experts would recommend for a family. It is a stubborn, strong-willed, and dominant breed.
With an incredibly strong prey drive, this breed has a powerful instinct to chase small things that are moving. Hence, the Presa Canario isn’t suited for a family with small children.
Unlike many breeds that may get over-excited and nip, the Presa is known for biting onto its prey and not letting go for almost anything.
For this reason, it’s vital that those interested in Presa Canario’s strongly consider whether they’re experienced and knowledgeable enough to take on the training and management of this challenging breed.
Most Dangerous Dog Breeds / Cane Corso – Bite force 700 PSI
One of the most dangerous dog breeds in the world, the Cane Corso, is an Italian breed, and it descents from the dogs of Ancient Rome. It is indeed a strong and imposing dog breed.
Commonly used nowadays as a guard dog breed, many say that one of the best guarding traits of the breed is their imposing appearance and sturdy build.
The breed is prohibited to own in many states in the US and many countries around the world. This ban is understandable when you read the stories of attacks by the Cane Corso when mistreated or miskept by their incompetent owners.
Sadly, the dog breed itself gained an undeserved reputation. Still, when put into a training program and a regular exercise routine from a young age – the Cane Corso is loving, eager to please, and highly trainable.
Fila Brasileiro – Bite force unknown
Lila Brasileiro, also known as Brasilian Mastiff, is a naturally aggressive, protective, and faithful breed. The name Fila Brasileiro roughly translates to “Brazilian grabber” and describes how the breed was used to catch and hold predators that threatened the animals or humans it guarded.
The Fila is a breed that requires a great deal of socialization with other dogs from a young age; otherwise, it tends to be aggressive.
As puppies, it’s common for the Fila Brasileiro to be quite mouthy. Hence, given their size – it’s not advised to leave them home alone unless you want to return to a scene of destruction.
But it’s not all doom and gloom; the breed is known to be so incredibly loyal to their family that the phrase “As faithful as a Fila” is widely used in its native Brazil.
Most Dangerous Dog Breeds / Pit Bull – Bite force 230 PSI
Interestingly the Pit Bull isn’t a breed, but a classification of multiple breeds that descend from Bulldogs and terriers. They include the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, the American Staffordshire Terrier, and the American Bully.
This type of dog is plagued with a bad reputation of one of the most dangerous dog breeds in the world; and this is due to the failings of humans.
Bred for bull-baiting and dog-fighting, the Pit Bulls were deliberately bred to have aggression towards other animals. Foe this reason, they can be prone to getting into fights or attacking.
When raised and trained correctly, the Pit Bull can be a loyal and loving member of any family. In other words, while Pit Bulls were bred for their aggression towards other animals, they were also bred to be calm, docile, and safe around their human handlers.
Pit Bulls are incredibly muscular and loving dogs, and many have taken advantage of these dogs’ innate desire to please, along with their immense strength.
Belgian Malinois – Bite force 195 PSI
An incredibly smart, strong, and goofy breed, Belgian Malinois is a dog you most likely have seen before. People commonly use Malinois as police dogs.
They’re a breed that likes to have a job to do and are far better suited to this type of environment. Without adequate physical exercise and mental stimulation, Belgian Malinois are prone to destructive behaviours.
If you’re looking for a true canine partner, you’ve found it in the Malinois. However, if you’re not planning on having the Malinois at your side throughout the day, this likely isn’t the breed for you. It is because Malinois do not do well without the structure and bond of human companionship.
Training should start as early as possible and should be varied as the Malinois is a smart breed that can figure things out and get bored incredibly quickly.
Siberian Husky – Bite force 320 PSI
Many first-time dog owners are drawn to the Husky because of its looks. However, a concern is that many don’t take the exercise requirements of the breed seriously. Husky originated as a sled dog and is a high-energy breed.
The result is that many owners end up with a Husky that becomes destructive or even aggressive in the home through sheer frustration.
When in a family that can meet their exercise demands, as a born pack dog – Huskies are an absolute pleasure to have as part of a family. With a good dose of goofiness, they do a great job of keeping their family members amused!
The film “Togo” by Ericson Core depicts the strong-willed character of the husky in full beauty.
Many Husky owners get involved in activities such as harness racing, agility, or trail running as the breed thrives when given a fun job to do.
Most Dangerous Dog Breeds / Dalmatian
While many see this polka dot pooch and assume that it will be a sheer joy to own, the Dalmatian is, in fact, one of the most challenging dogs. Dalmatians can be quite dangerous – especially around small children.
Firstly, the Dalmatian does not suit living in an apartment or in a home where his only exercise is to play in the yard. If Dalmatian does live in this type of home, he can quickly become over-excited when he is taken on walks or to the dog park. This, in turn, can result in him playing too rough with the other dogs or chasing after small children.
While the Dalmatian doesn’t mean any harm, he is a large dog – and in the above scenarios, it’s easy for him to cause harm.
Dalmatian owners must expose their pet to as many new experiences, people, and situations as possible. Otherwise, the Dalmatian is prone to being very antisocial with other humans, which isn’t helpful when it’s time for a trip to the vets or the groomers!
Most Dangerous Dog Breeds /Great Dane – 238 PSI
A gentle giant, the Great Dane is an affectionate and loving breed. However, it can be dangerous in ways given his sheer size.
Weighing in at up to 175 lbs and measuring up to 32 inches at the shoulder – the Great Dane is a great big dog with a lot of energy. This lanky giant needs a lot of exercises to keep him calm and happy. Two or three walks a day is the bare minimum you should expect.
Because of this energy requirement, when not given adequate exercise, the Great Dane can become incredibly rambunctious in the home. When living in a family with small children, the Great Dane can get dangerous as kids can easily get knocked over.
Japanese Akita – Bite force 400 PSI
There’s no denying that the Japanese Akita, or the Akita Inu, is an adorable breed and famed the world over for his fierce loyalty. The movie Hachiko is based on the true story of an Akita waiting at a Japanese train station for nine years for his owner to return.
However, Akita is only loyal to their family members and generally is a strong-willed, dominant, and independent dog, also very territorial and aloof to strangers. In Japan, the Akita has earned a reputation of being one of the most dangerous dog breeds in the world.
People used this high energy breed as a hunting dog and later in dog-fighting. So it’s important to note that Akita has a strong prey drive and protective instinct, so socialising and training are essential from a young age.
This is especially true when it comes to other dogs as the Akita does tend to be quite aggressive towards other canines.
Caucasian Ovcharka – Bite force 700 PSI
The Caucasian Ovcharka, or Caucasian Shepherd dog, is a Mollosoid (of ancient Greek origin) breed that has an incredibly distinct appearance and looks somewhat like a Pyrenean Mountain Dog.
You might recognize the breed as the imposing guard dogs that are used by many Russian prisons.
A guardian breed, the Ovcharka, was used by shepherds and lived among flocks of sheep to protect them from the wild predators such as wolves, bears, and jackals.
Arguably one of the most dangerous dog breeds in the world, Caucasian Shepherds retain this protective instinct. They are famous for guarding not only the human members of the family but also other animals living in the house.
A pretty low energy breed, the Caucasian Ovcharka also happens to be pretty aloof. Therefore, training in short sessions from a young age is a must to develop a bond with your Ovcharka.
Anatolian Shepherd – Bite force 743 PSI
Also known as the Kangal, the Anatolian Shepherd can be recognized by the distinctive dark markings on the ears, around the eyes, and on the muzzle.
This breed originated from Turkish shepherd dogs in the USA as a livestock guardian dog. The Anatolian Shepherd is an intelligent, stubborn, and independent dog that can be challenging as a pet for inexperienced owners.
The Anatolian can be protective to a fault and sometimes insist on acting as a bodyguard for the family cat!
With the most powerful bite of any dog in the world, the Anatolian needs training from a young age but should never undertake guard-dog specific training.
It is because the Kangal is a breed that will not think his work is done until he has used that immense bite to take out the threat.
When brought up in a family, the Anatolian Shepherd can make the ideal companion. However, remember that they have an instinct of working independently. Hence, Anatolians are pretty aloof, which makes them more challenging to train.
Most Dangerous Dog Breeds / Final Thoughts
Any dog can be dangerous if not treated well or appropriately trained. This article is not designed to fearmonger but to make sure you consider whether you’re capable of taking on certain breeds.
Needless to say that it’s tempting to pick a breed based on looks alone. Therefore, countless well-meaning dog owners have inadvertently brought a dog into their home without having a lifestyle that will be suitable for a specific breed.
Some dog owners welcome a dog into their life with the goal of increasing their exercise levels to meet the breed’s needs, or with the hopes of joining puppy training school but then being too busy to do it. It is indeed a recipe for disaster.
The utter joy of having a doggie member of the family that fits in perfectly with your lifestyle is a joy that can’t even be described, and we hope that you find the perfect fit for you and your family – preferably through a dog rescue!