All dogs have the propensity to bite; it is in their nature. Some breeds, however, seem to have a tendency to nip and bite more than others. My list of the top ten biting breeds will surprise you; not containing the breeds commonly thought of to be the most aggressive.

Photo: la-quinta.org

In July 2008, the journal of Applied Animal Behaviour Science published a study done by researches at the University of Pennsylvania. They surveyed and discussed with over 6,000 dog owners their experiences with aggression in their dogs. The researchers compiled a report containing 33 dog breeds most likely to bite. Here are the dog breeds with the greatest percentage of bites and bite attempts on humans.

• Dachshund. Yes, the sausage dog is most likely to bite strangers and its owners.
• Chihuahua. These are big dogs in a little package, and none are afraid to tell you so. Chihuahuas are very likely to bite strangers and owners.
• Jack Russell Terrier. These feisty little dogs are also quick to nip. They have a tendency to try to nip at strangers and family members.
• Australian Cattle Dog. This breed is great to have around the home, but you must be careful; they are herding dogs, which means they are very likely to nip family and strangers.
• American Cocker Spaniel. A common breed in many homes in the United States, this dog does have tendencies to nip and bite at owners.
• Beagle. Another family favorite, beagles seem to nip and bite at their families.

There are other breeds, like the Akita and Pit Bull Terrier, which are more prone to trying to nip or bite other dogs or animals.

It must always be kept in mind that small dogs often go un-reprimanded for biting. Many owners find it cute. It is also the only way a small dog has to get people to back up. Remember, you are a giant to him!

There are many breeds of dogs, like Rottweilers, Doberman Pinschers, and Mastiffs, who often get a bad reputation for biting. These dogs have been bred to be protective dogs, plus their size makes them do serious damage when they do bite. Because of this, more stigma is put on the breed.

Want to learn more? You can check out more articles at 4 Legs And A Tail or discuss training methods and techniques at the forum.

My first encounter with a "Wolf Dog Hybrid" was 10 yrs. ago when my daughter and her husband decided to add another dog to their family. Not being familiar with these dogs they ended up getting 3 puppies from the same litter. As they grew to adulthood these wolf dog hybrids did not resemble a wolf in the way they looked. One looked like a Rottweiller, one looked like a Siberian Husky and the third dog looked like a longhaired mixture of German Shepherd and Rottweiller.

Photo: sptimes.com

The one dog named "Lokie", was friendly to a fault. When you walked in the door she was right there jumping up and licking your face, arms or legs. When she would finally calm down she immediately laid down on the floor and rolled over exposing her belly. This reminded me of how a lower ranking wolf acts in the pack. The second dog, named "Thor", was timid and shy and took a while to warm up to you. The third dog, named "Oden", seemed to be the boss over the other two. I think he was what they refer to in a wolf pack as the Alpha male. He definitely took charge when the other two acted up. My daughter found out the parents had a mixture of Siberian Husky, Rottweiller, and wolf in them.

In the 10 years my daughter has had these dogs she has had no problems with their behavior and often takes them to the local Dog Park where they interact with other dogs and people. She originally wanted a large dog to provide protection at night when her husband was working the 3rd shift. Needless to say when someone approaches the house and hears the barking they will think twice before breaking in. I am thankful my daughter felt safer having these three wolf dog hybrids as protection and has never had any problem with their behavior.

Thor has developed hip problems and went through surgery to help alleviate his pain. He has had a bout with cancer too and is not so active anymore but he is still the boss of the group. Lokie has also developed problems with cancer and had several tumors removed. Thor is doing okay so far.

Because of behavior problems that wolf dog hybrids can have, some communities have tried to ban ownership of them. Unfortunately, many will end up in sanctuaries or are euthanized because of their risk to cause harm. If I had been around when my daughter got her three wolf dog hybrids I would definitely have cautioned against her getting them. But she was a responsible owner and spent the needed time socializing and training her dogs to be good companions. To many people ignore their pets and mistreat them and never properly socialize them. Some only want a large dog to show they are "Macho" and others find enjoyment in fighting their dogs. People who fight dogs are only using them as a way to make money. The Pit Bull is a good example of how people go wrong with owning a dog. Pit Bulls make very good pets unless put into the wrong hands.

I hope the popularity of owning breeds such as the wolf dog hybrid will soon be a thing of the past and no more cross breeding of dogs and wolves will take place. If there is no demand and thus no money in breeding these type of dogs the breeders will stop breeding them. The wolf belongs in the wild and not crossbred to our family pet.

Robert Cunningham
http://www.PetStuffA2Z.com