Animals

Most Dangerous Dogs in the World (2021)

What makes one dog breed get a reputation for being more dangerous than others? Should you be more cautious around specific breeds? And does a dog’s breed even matter, or is it always a case of bad training?

Let’s explore some of the world’s most dangerous dogs together. You’ll also learn about what makes us think of certain dog breeds as dangerous. Additionally, we’ll cover the role and history of dog training in building these reputations.

Dangerous Dogs (by Design?)

There are a number of reasons people tend to think of certain dog breeds as more dangerous than others. Not all reasons are valid in the same way: Some are hard statistics, others are personal experiences. But they all can play an important role in our understanding of these animals and our discussion about what might make some more dangerous than others.

Here are some of the reasons we tend to consider certain dogs to be the most dangerous dog breeds:

Reasons for (Perceived) Dangerousness

  • There are more reported incidences of dog bites and serious injuries from some breeds. This is one of the big reasons some municipalities consider Pit Bulls the most dangerous dog, even requiring special insurance if you want to have one in some areas.
  • The sheer size of some breeds can increase that perceived “danger factor.” Many of the largest breeds actually have very calm temperaments. Their danger has to do with the potential for more serious injuries if those dogs happen to attack or even accidentally injure someone.
  • Some dogs give us a feeling of danger because they were literally designed to instill it over the course of history. For example, we’re used to seeing German Shepherds used as police dogs. We’re used to seeing breeds such as Rottweilers and Doberman Pinschers being trained as guard dogs. And we’re used to stories of American Pit Bull Terriers being trained for dog fighting.
  • Another big thing that affects our opinions of dog breeds is our personal experience with them. Similarly, anecdotal stories we hear from others can affect us. They may have had either positive or negative experiences with certain types of dogs.

Let’s focus more on that last reason, as I believe it can have the most impact.

Credit: Mandee Sears (via Flickr)

How Our Personal Experiences Affect Our Views of Dog Breeds

Whether it’s right or wrong for us to judge a dog breed based on our limited experiences and the stories we hear about them, it’s something most of us do on some level (myself included). So I’d like to share some personal stories and how they’ve affected me (or not affected me, though you might think it should have).

We saw this in your comments on the original list. For example, we had people saying Pit Bulls aren’t dangerous because their own experiences with the breed have been pleasant. Others shared experiences on the other side of the spectrum.

Personally, I come in somewhere in the middle. I’m not naive enough to think that breed alone makes all pit bulls dangerous or more vicious than other dogs. But I’m also not naive enough to ignore the evidence that this breed has a history of causing more frequent and more serious injuries than most, if not all, others.

Clearly the breed plays some role. Some breeds lean toward different temperaments, or have different loyalties. These might make them great with their own families but naturally suspicious of strangers or other animals or even small children, who have less self-restraint than adults.

My Brother’s Pit Bull Encounter

Personal experience is also a factor, though. My brother has a small dog. He took the dog outside at his apartment building into the parking lot. Another neighbor was outside with their Pit Bull. It wasn’t on a leash (while this is a requirement, going unleashed isn’t terribly uncommon around here). By all measures the dog would have seemed like a normal, calm family pet.

Until it saw my brother’s dog.

It immediately charged at them and grabbed his dog by the throat. There was no provocation, no unusual noise, and they were across the lot — not close to the pit bull’s owner in any way. My brother was able to rescue his dog by lifting the Pit Bull and literally prying its mouth open (which, by the way, is a stupid thing to do — please don’t ever follow that example). The dog let go and his dog was okay after being treated for its injuries. The Pit Bull then latched onto my brother’s arm though. Again, he was okay after being treated, but the wound wasn’t insignificant. It could have been far worse.

My Take on Breed vs. Training

That puts me in that middle ground territory I mentioned before. Personal experience with this breed is terrible. There was no warning sign that the owner trained this dog to attack or fight. In fact, the aggression caught its owner completely off-guard. It just snapped at the sight of a smaller dog. That kind of sudden reaction is far from unheard of with this breed.

But that said, I don’t fault an entire breed (in the case of Pit Bulls, actually three different breeds) for the actions of that single dog. The lack of predictability of some breeds would make them “more dangerous” in my view. But the same goes for poor training and bad behavior by an owner (like allowing any breed with known issues with children or other animals to run free without a leash).

This is far from the only example I could give. Saint Bernards are also sometimes cited as some of the most dangerous dogs. But they’re also known for being calm-tempered and being good with kids. It’s their fierce loyalty that can be an issue.

Guard and Danger

A family member had one years ago. That dog was a great dog for most of its life. It even helped to stop a burglar in the family’s building. But years later it lunged at another family member who the dog knew for its entire life. They came to visit, and out of the blue the dog lunged and went for her eye. She’s still terrified of the breed to this day (and understandably so after an experience like that).

We can’t explain the unprovoked attack. It might have been a breeding issue. The dog might have been having a bad day in some way. We just don’t know. I understand her fear of the breed. But it’s not one I hold myself as a result — perhaps because I didn’t see it first-hand.

Some people find my dog’s underbite to be intimidating. But I know this is just her smiling after eating her favorite treat (with crumbs still all over her face and the floor). But even happy pups can be dangerous in their own ways.

I personally own a mixed breed dog — Border Collie mixed with a Lab. At this stage in her life, I would also consider her to be a dangerous dog, especially around children. She is in no way violent. She’s great with cats and other dogs.

Why my Dog Isn’t Harmless

She’s still at that point where she’s young, wants to play all the time, and she doesn’t realize her own size or strength. The hyper aspect is specific to breeds. Both Labs and Border Collies can be very high strung, especially in their first couple of years.

Neighbors and family members don’t want her playing with their tiny dogs, and I think that’s understandable. And I wouldn’t take her out to play with small children for fear that she’d accidentally hurt them by jumping up or knocking them over as she tries to play. Being dangerous isn’t always a case of being naturally vicious, and that’s why so much falls onto the owner. It’s our responsibility to make sure our dogs aren’t put into situations where they’re more likely to cause harm.

It’s this little guy that my guests should be most concerned about. He can be more vicious than any dog I’ve personally known. He mauled the last stranger who tried to rub that tummy (never, ever, ever pet an animal you don’t know without asking the owner first; she tried even after being warned).

How About Your Experiences?

If you’ve had experiences that have shaped your own views of what makes for a dangerous dog breed, let us know in the comments. Tell us what happened and whether or not you think it’s a fair way to judge a larger group of dogs based on the action (or actions) you’ve seen first-hand, and why.

Now let’s get to our original list of some of the seemingly most dangerous dogs, based on breeds. Now that you know why certain breeds have earned their “most dangerous dogs” reputations, can you think of others that might also have a similar history? Tell us in the comments.

Every person that I know deeply cares about his or her pets. They are their best friends. They tenderly love each other. Sometimes they eat together, sleep together, and go for walks together.

I’m more of a cat person, but I can’t sit still when I see little puppies or big dogs with big soft fur. I want to hug them, play with them, and give them some of my love and tenderness too. I’ve also seen many adult dogs of different breeds worth praise and true admiration. They are clever, sociable, and funny when you want to play; calm and patient with kids.

And they’re something I can’t credit cats with: They are faithful.

The Human Influence

Personally, I don’t know any dog that would bite without warning or just snap. It’s my firm belief that behavior of the dog doesn’t depend on its breed so much as it being the right training and the “master” that matter. In my opinion, humans are most often responsible for dangerous dogs. That said, there might be some truth in the idea that some breeds have more unstable temperaments than others. Knowing this, we should never provoke them.

Think for a minute and analyze your own life. Are we always polite? I can think of several situations when I would have gladly slapped a man in the face, but thank God I’m weak enough and I can control myself (at least I think that I can). Now think about animals. They have instincts too, and they may forget about good manners. It’s not as if they understand them in the same ways we do.

It’s also important for dog owners to protect both other people and their dogs from unexpected circumstances and thus the unpleasant situations. For example, when going outside, they could always use a dog-lead and a muzzle. They could be careful and not let the dog play on its own without a leash, especially when there are other people around. When you have a dog, you become forever responsible for the animal you’ve trained and tamed.

Why I Wrote This List

In any case, it’s good to know what breeds of dogs might be most dangerous, just to keep yourself safe. Sometimes the danger in a dog isn’t even a nasty personality, but a matter of them not knowing their own strength.

Even though I personally still find it hard to believe that breed alone determines whether a dog is “dangerous,” you never know what a dog’s owner has taught it. Reliable research into the most dangerous dogs included below comes from the American Veterinary Medical Association, the CDC, and the Humane Society of the United States.

We’ll start with least dangerous of the bunch. Sorry, but there won’t be any terrifying photos today.

Read Also: Ready for a Dog? What Breed?

Dalmatian

Origin: Croatia, Middle Ages
Weight: 40-70 lbs
Height: 20-24 inches

Dalmatians are active and energetic dogs, and love to be outdoors. They are very playful and love running.

There’s still no definite info about what this breed was originally bred for. What is known is that it is the oldest spotted breed in Europe, Asia and Africa. They were serving as warriors, hunters, and shepherds long before finally becoming the symbol of the US fireman.

Boxer

Origin: Germany, 1850s
Weight: 50-64 lbs
Height: 20-25 inches

The boxer is a very strong “square” dog. Boxers love to walk, but the owner should never forget the leash. It’s also better to refrain from aggressive games. Still, boxers recognize all members of the family and can play well with the children.

The boxer breed has its origins in feudal Germany and dates back to the line of bulldogs that existed in Europe in the 16th century. These ancestors lived for hunting wild boars and other big wild animals. The first puppy in the new breed received the name “Box”. Boxer’s qualities, such as their strength, were highly valued by farmers and shopkeepers.

Presa Canario

Origin: Canary Islands, Africa, 18th century
Weight: 100-125 lbs
Height: 25-26 inches

The Presa Canario hails from the Canary Islands. Dogs of this breed had two jobs: Hunting – and war. During the 18th century, English traders and merchants came to the Canary Islands, bringing with them their working and gladiator dogs, notably the Mastiff of England and the bulldog. Englishmen also brought with them their traditions of pit fighting for which their breeds and the island dogs were inevitably mixed and eventually bred to produce the ultimate fighter. Nowadays the breed finds use in guarding, handling, and driving cattle.

The dogs of this breed can be gentle and noble with their families, showing great affection to their owners, but are highly suspicious of strangers.

Saint Bernard

Origin: Switzerland, Middle Ages
Weight: 110-180 lbs
Height: 24-29 inches

Saint Bernards are amazingly big and easygoing dogs, but due to their impressive size they can look a bit awkward. They are quiet and peaceful, love children, and are not inclined to active and rapid games. A Saint Bernard will need all of your attention, so if you spend days in the office, this dog is not for you. They are tremendously strong and, of course, they require a good bit of space.

Most likely, the ancestor of the Saint Bernard was the Alpine Mastiff, a pretty aggressive breed. The original Saint Bernards were working dogs and scouts. They were also much calmer than their Mastiff ancestors. For that reason, they make for excellent home companions today.

Great Dane

Origin: Germany, Middle Ages to 19th century
Weight: 90-120 lbs
Height: 27-32 inches

Great Danes are beautiful and majestic animals, with a gentle and loving nature. They love to play with children and participate in all family events and activities, especially in the outdoors. They are happy to go for a walk and don’t mind the company of other dogs. Despite their gigantic size, Great Danes can even feel quite at home in a city.

In the Middle Ages, these dogs earned their living in dog fighting and by hunting big mammals.

Chow Chow

Origin: China, Antiquity
Weight: 40-65 lbs
Height: 18-22 inches

The chow chow is an independent dog often focused only on its own needs. Chow chows need constant physical activity and communication, even if they don’t seem to like being disturbed much.

The chow chow’s original purposes were hunting and helping shepherds.

Doberman Pinscher

Origin: Germany, 19th century
Weight: 65-90 lbs
Height: 26-28 inches

Doberman Pinschers (often just called Dobermans) are dogs whose traits emphasize protecting and defending instincts. It is important to avoid any type of aggressive play and struggle with these dogs. Instead, use the games to develop the Doberman’s intelligence. Even though they aren’t small dogs, Dobermans can adapt to life in a city and become a perfect companion for an experienced, physically active owner.

This breed has its roots in in Germany. The breeder Louis Doberman decided to combine the qualities of guard dogs and and the terrier. Luis was a policeman, and so saw the need for a dog that would devotedly defend its owner.

Alaskan Malamute

Origin: North America, Ancient times
Weight: 80-110 lbs
Height: 23-28 inches

The Malamute is a friendly dog, but it has rather an independent temper. It’s better to keep this dog in a village, far from the city. Sometimes violent and energetic, they constantly need to move or play.

Note that Malamutes are a working dog breed from a colder climate.  So, if you don’t live in the deep north, make your Malamute a nice playground. That’s because they are always in need of physical activity.

The name of the breed comes from a local North American tribe. They used the Malamute to transport goods on a sleigh.

Husky

Origin: Siberia, Ancient times
Weight: 35-55 lbs
Height: 20-24 inches

Training a Husky is not that easy. For these reasons, breeder don’t recommend this dog for beginning owners. Initially, these dogs transported goods on a sleigh. Not afraid of cold weather, they’re very active and loving dogs. Huskies love to get together with other members of their breed and howl at the moon.

German Shepherd

Origin: Germany, 19th century
Weight: 70-85 lbs
Height: 22-26 inches

German Shepherds are very beautiful dogs, distinguished from other breeds by their reliable and obedient temper. They are in need of constant and serious physical activity though, and they seem to  prefer long walks and active games.

Originally (as obvious from the name), the dogs guarded grazing sheep. They are great home guards and often participate in programs for the disabled.

Rottweiler

Origin: Germany, 1820s
Weight: 85-110 lbs
Height: 23-27 inches

Rottweilers are powerful dogs with strong jaws, primarily meant to protect. Their original breeders selected those traits especially for that purpose. They often don’t like strangers and other dogs — they are guards at heart, and the dog owner should always remember that.

Pit Bull

Origin: US, 19th century
Weight: 30-55 lbs
Height: 18-22 inches

The Pit Bull is named after its original purpose: The questionable amusement of dog fighting in pits. Sad as it is, that bloody tradition has survived in places, and Pit Bulls still have to take their part in it.

Photos source: Flickr

American Bulldog

Origin: Southern U.S., 17th century
Weight: 60-120 lbs
Height: 20-28 inches

The American Bulldog is descended from the now-extinct Old English Bulldog, which was bred for farm guarding, livestock herding and bringing down game, and blood sports such as bull-baiting.

Today’s American Bulldog arose from any such dogs brought to America by working-class immigrants, many of them former farmers. In the South, these dogs were an important line of defense against feral hogs.

By the time of World War II, the American Bulldog almost went extinct, but was saved through selective breeding. 

These dogs are large, heavy, and have powerful jaws with a typical overbite. They were bred for aggression and protection instincts. While they are suspicious of strangers, they are also very loyal and family-friendly. However, they need lots of space and attention. 

Bullmastiff

Origin: England, 19th century
Weight: 100-130 lbs
Height: 24-27 inches

Bred around 1860 by English gamekeepers, the Bullmastiff’s job was to guard game preserves. They caught poachers, holding them until they could be arrested. They emerged from a cross of the large but non-aggressive Mastiff with the aggressive but smaller, lighter Bulldog. 

Starting in the 20th century, they became a distinctive breed. 

Today, Bullmastiffs are typical watch and guard dogs. They are fiercely loyal and love their families, but they have an extremely strong territorial instinct, and can be stand-offish towards strangers. When they’re properly trained, Bullmastiffs are also frequently used as gentle therapy dogs. 

They are easy to groom, doesn’t shed, but are very prone to drooling. Bullmastiffs generally don’t need too much attention or movement. 

Note that this dog was bred to be very quiet, so it won’t audibly warn when it’s startled or otherwise in a bad temper. In combination with their strengths, this makes Bullmastiffs one of the potentially most dangerous dogs.

Note: This post was originally published on April 1, 2009. It has since been updated with a new introduction and further background on the history of dangerous dogs.

Anastasia

View Comments

  • I did get another Siberian Husky. They are great protectors & companions. That is why I want one & not a lap dog. They are very intelligent.

  • I'd just like to point out that Rottweilers were not bred with the sole aim being of being guard dogs, they were actually initially bred as herding dogs

  • I have a dobermann, wallace, who is 2, he is the most loyal & gentle dog you could imagine, so gentle he is terrified from the pet hamster! My friend has a pitt bull who is 3months old & managed to keep wallace out in my garden, thats how aggresive dobys are! Wallace also allows anyone to take his bones from him including kids & shares his dinner with other animals with not a bit of aggression. I have always said that the owner of any breed of dog is responsible for the way the dog turns out. That is the reason for aggressive dogs & nothing at all to do with the breed, to me that is a poor excuse & irrisponsible people should not be allowed pets.

  • I have been rescuing and working with abused and neglected pits for over 15 years. This list seems to be derived from the propaganda against these breeds from the power of the media. Hating pit or any of the other "bully breeds" has become the new acceptable form of racism. Even out of the dogs I have rescued from fighting rings I have never been bit. All of the pits I have rescued have become family dogs or service dogs. If you show a pit love and that you are the one in charge with out abusing them they will do any thing you ask of them. I'm presently working with a dog named Zeus. He came from an abusive home. For the first 3 weeks it would take me a great deal of time to even get him to allow me to pet him. Now Zeus has become one of the most energetic, intelligent, loving 84lbs lap dogs you would ever meet. He has had so much fun learning how to be loved that now I can take 1 day and teach him 1 new trick on that day. They are the MOST eager to please breed I have ever owned or worked with. On the other hand through the years other peoples dogs have bit me. 1 golden retriever, 1 toy poodle, 1 boston terrier and 1 Irish setter. The bottom line and one and only true fact to all of these discussions is that it is ALL about how the dog is treated and raised. The only true danger is humans.

  • Sorry but my boy would never hurt a soul,but tazz will bite your a$$if you want to hurt mine,which is sometimes considered what they were bred for love my doberman,and my moms min pin whoops his a$$ anytime they play 10lbs vs. 100lbs another reason why size don't matter just like how I feel about the breed don't matter but the owner does!!! But interesting article and suprised by the attention it has gotten!

  • i had a pit bull and it was really friendly but unfortunaly he passed away with old age. Anyways i think it is all in how you train you dog and take care of it. all dogs can be vicious and all dogs can be friendly.

  • Here is another opinion among opinions
    I must say; I have handled only about three or four Pit bulls; so I do not consider myself an authority on that breed. But I consider myself competent and understanding on the psychological make up of the average dog, which allows me to train them. Any good trainer can train any dog to perform what that dog is physically capable of. A trainer cannot make a dog, reliable, like doing something or be good at it, the dog must offer up those qualities to the trainer.
    I was reading the Boone County Recorder and come upon your article about Walton Ky. not permitting Pit Bulls in the city. The Pit Bull; is a beautiful, magnificent looking animal, with very powerful physical abilities. Like any animal of this magnitude, their presence demands one’s attention and admiration, and in my case concern. From what I have seen; the Pit Bull is fearless; and in addition; when in a fight, is relentless in holding their victim/prey/foe. Put two of them together weighing 100 lb each, working on a common cause and they are formidable. The sad part about this beautiful animal is; they and other dogs of such capacity have been, and will continue to be a serious threat to the safety of owners and others and other dogs in their presence. The simple truth is the dog is only part of the problem.
    The main problem is the owners of these dogs and of other dogs of various breeds of like capacities. The owners must change the way they think of their dogs. To do this, they must learn to recognize and understand the meaning of the signals of the three innate mediums of communications by which the dog convey its intent. In addition to learning and understanding their dog’s attributes, ability, and capacity. A lot of owners cannot foresee the subtle change in the dog’s behavior, telling them there is a small problem, which is going to become a BIG problem, if something doesn’t change quickly. In addition they either; do not respect the dog’s strength, temperament, and capacity or they do not know it, or they ignore it. Until the owners do so, the injury and mayhem of these dogs and others like them will continue.
    In regards to Pit bulls; there are many, far too many incidents in which Pit Bulls when at home and in public; have wreaked havoc on innocent people. These incidence of injury, (which are far greater in damages to persons than incidence with the average dog), could not have taken place in most cases, if the owner/handler knew and was attentive to the dog’s communications. In being attentive and controlling the dog physically, the owners/handlers could have a positive effect on the conduct of the dog; consequently, there would be less encounters of attacks and injury to people. Well trained dogs are obedient; off leash or on leash.
    When in public all dogs should be on leash, (unless in an enclosed area, specifically fenced to allow dogs to be at liberty, but under close scrutiny of the owner/handler, I used to let my Heeler be at liberty, now I do not). The leash and collar (capable of restraining the dog in times of stress) is probably the most valuable piece of equipment an owner can have in their possession. The leash will keep your dog from going too’ trouble, and assist the owner/handler and enhances handling their dog safely, should trouble come to them.
    If a person handling a 100 pound dog was jerked to the ground and retained hold of the leash, it would be very difficult for a 100 pound dog to drag the average person of 165 pounds (I think that is the weight of the average American citizen) for any great of distance, thus diminishing that dogs mobility and consequently any undesirable adverse impact.
    I am a practicing trainer of dogs for obedience and horses for riding and driving, single or multi hitch. I am nomadic, in that I travel across the U.S.A. in my work. I like to think I keep my opinion open to persuasion, which keeps my mind open to learning.
    In my travels, I have retrained aggressive dogs and they adjusted well, most of the time their aggressiveness is because they have been spoiled and let do what they want, just as are some children. When I take a dog to train, I work with the owners also. I try to enhance their understanding of what they must learn and practice if they want to maintain a good relationship with their dog. I have found all dogs are not good natured and compatible with humans, consequently, we cannot make them good dogs for the average person. In my travels I see a lot of good natured animals, and ill natured animals being handled badly.
    As part of my working with animals and people; I make follow up calls. Sometimes I found the owners were lacking in their dedication in communication with their dog, which allows the dog to regress back to its former undesirable behavior.
    This is one of the reasons I do not train Pit Bulls. I do not want my name referenced as the trainer, should an incident occur where; the owner did not maintain communication and responsible control of the dog. The Pit bull is an animal, and like any animal is subject to good training. However, I” personally cannot train him to the degree of reliability to which I can train most dogs. I respect the Pit Bull for many of his desirable physical features, as well as I respect him for his physical abilities of strength and determination he displays when in aggressive circumstance, and I certainly do not want on the receiving end of these abilities.
    Respect is a little word with many connotations. Respect is a two way street. From what I see, most people are not worthy of a dogs respect much less obedience. The owners need help and for whatever reason, they don’t get it.
    There are approximately 65 million dogs in the U.S.A. Every one of these animals; think, perceive, interpret and react. Although we can and do train our animals to respond only to “our personal” directive, they can and do respond to circumstance without our directing them, in which case we must be in a position to intervene. A dog is like a small child; and we must constantly be aware of what that child is doing, if we are to keep it from harm’s way. And so it is with our dogs. If we are responsible and attentive to our dogs, we can have a positive affect their conduct and the safety of people and other dogs in their presences.
    The aggression aspect is certainly a concern of any breed, large or small. Dogs must learn to respect and be obedient to their owners, family members and be tolerant of people in the presence of them. The only way they will learn that, is from good trainer/owners/handlers/leaders.
    Reiterating; dogs are somewhat like children; they will both learn with or without our input. So there must be a strong leader from whom they can learn what is expected of them. Without that leadership and role model it will not happen, respect is not an innate attribute of a dog; it must be learned and earned. A dog who does not respect humans becomes empowered and becomes the leader in that relationship.
    In regards to Pit Bulls, the main concern to me would be the consequences of the actually attack of a Pit Bull. I do not trust any person or animal as individuals, until they have proven trust worthy. I certainly do not trust people in the company of their dog, whether the dog is on leash or at liberty. I give both the same respect I would give a person with a gun in their hand, that being I do not place myself in a position where that persons carelessness will cause me harm.
    Pit Bulls are not a dog for people lacking dedication to the safety of other people and their dogs. This status of safety can only come from recognizing, understanding, learning, and using the communication of dogs. These mediums of communication whether with people or animals, are Visual, that being physical movement of their extremities individually or in correlation, therefore we must be in a position to see the communications, such as the dog’s tail and/or ear movement, their body frame. Sound, that being the levels of barking, growls, whines, moans, therefore we must be in a position to hear the communication, and Tactile, that being; physical touch, therefore we must be in a position to feel the communication, such as the dog pulling on the leash while I am walking him, The dog’s communication conveys the dog’s idea or intent toward humans or other animals. To a dog we are merely an animal, some of us are big (adults) some are small (infants and children).
    From the beginning; as our relationship with dogs progressed, we bred dogs to develop certain innate features/traits that particular dog offered. For whatever reason one chooses to argue; the Pit Bull and other dogs of like capacity were bred for a purpose, and are continuing to be bred today, although the average person having theses dogs in our society today, does not own them for the original purpose of breeding, nor do most of the owners need them for the original purpose of breeding. Therefore we are responsible for the dogs dilemma, just as horse owners are responsible for the present day dilemma of the horse and abuse some of them are a part of.
    In comparing dogs of all breed we must look at their purpose and capacity. For example; If there were a 44 magnum pistol, loaded, laying on a table….it is not dangerous!!! The gun does not think, interpret and react on its own. However, Dogs do. A gun only becomes dangerous when someone picks it up, and is careless with it, or intentionally uses it,
    The Pit Bull in comparison to other dogs is; (this may be over simplifying) a 44 magnum pistol; whereas the average dog is a 22 pistol. If the same surface of your shoulder is hit with a bullet from a 22 pistol, it is probably going to hurt, and may have residual adverse affect on ones use of that shoulder, if that same surface area is hit with a bullet from a 44 magnum; your shoulder will probably be destroyed. I am not an expert in guns and their capacity, although I shot both, the 44 magnum and the 22 short.
    Thinking along these same lines of potential affect of various dogs; I posed a question to myself. The law enforcement agencies use the fear factor of a growling snarling lunging dog. So why do the police not use Pit Bulls in their every day work? The police use other dogs, in high public profile, to support their law enforcement efforts, so why not the pit bull? A dog growling and lunging at the leash is a powerful image and certainly is a deterrent to my approaching that officer or the dog. If it were a Pit bull; with my perception and understanding of that dog; my fear and concern would be much greater. Because I do not think the dog is anywhere near as reliable to obedience as the other dogs.
    Police use these same dogs for patrolling with them on leash, riding with them in the cars, detecting drugs, and perhaps other areas as well. From what little’ I know of the Pit Bull and of other breeds; I would not want to be in a crowd of people where a Pit Bull is on leash and I am restricted from moving away from him.
    In closing; I’ as an individual, do not have the right to say who owns what animal and where they keep that animal.
    Do a group of citizens with a vested interest; have the right to ask for protection of animals through legislation by restricting certain animals and where they may be housed, temporarily or permanently? YES
    Should animal owners be required to ensure their dogs remain on their property, and not place me and mine in peril? YES.
    Should Animal owners be held accountable for injury and mayhem their animals commit intentionally or unintentionally? YES
    Rights of Americans” would seem are no longer “inalienable”, but must now be legislated. That is not the way it should be. We have enough legislation; however irresponsible, ignorant, and selfish people require or cause more legislation. If it must be; we must be diligent and prudent in writing that legislation.
    On the subject of “Rights of Americans” Do those same citizens legislating matters of animals, have the right to keep me from owning, displaying, or using any gun?
    NO…….until I’ as an individual’ prove unworthy of that inalienable right. Guns does not think, interpret and react, Guns only function by our physical actions.

    So......what is yuor opinion?

    • I have five dogs from a toy poodle to two terriors and a buldog and a pitbull. My pitbull is fine with me and my girlfriend but is a terrible liability to anyone else. I love my pittbull but they are a terrible responsibility. They do not fight or bite like other dogs. My dog I love but it like a loaded gun.

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