There are a variety of dog breeds. Some are couch potatoes, preferring to pass their time all by themselves. Others are giant working dogs, ready to perform tough duties that other breeds may shy away from. There are yet others that are alpha, protective, and aggressive dogs, always poised to pounce at the threats if they see their owners in danger.
Here, we have listed the top 12 most aggressive dog breeds that are popular among dog owners as well. The ranking is based on the statistics provided by the American Temperament Test Society.
1. Canaan Dog
This dog tops the list of the most aggressive dogs in the US, owing to its 62.5% pass rate in the temperament test.
Canaan dogs are also known as Palestinian Pariah Dog and Bedouin Sheepdog, and they are titled the “National Dog of Israel”. Weighing around 20 to 25kg with a size of 51 to 60 cm on average, these dogs belong to the herding group of canines.
Canaans were first imported to the US in 1965, and the AKC recognized this breed in 1989.
2. English Foxhound
Next on our list is English Foxhound, securing a 66.7% score in the temperament test.
Belonging to the hound group of canines, Foxhounds have a strong sense of smell and chase their targets, mainly jackals, by its scent with a running speed of 38 mph. They are preferred to Greyhounds because of their agility and meticulous attention.
The history of these medium-sized dogs goes back to two hundred years ago, having roots in the courts of the Royal Palace of Great Britain.
3. Saluki
The Saluki breed is also titled “a breed for speed.”
Apparently calm and placid, these dogs can get aggressive if not given proper physical activity. These canines need 2 hours of daily exercise along with hurdling and running sports. In case of physical inactivity, they feel really bored and vent their umbrage through barking, digging, snarling, etc.
As per the ATTS temperament test, Saluki breeds have a passing score of 68.7%.
4. Dachshund (Standard Smooth)
You must be wondering, are Dachshunds aggressive? How come?
Well, it can be due to “small dog syndrome”, an aversion to strangers, or boredom.
In general, these dogs are friendly and cordial, but when they have to show their masters that they are the best and deserve more love and attention, they bark and snarl but don’t get destructive. However, when it comes to strangers, they tend to bite them as they consider them a threat.
These guys have sharp teeth, so their bite hurts big time. Moreover, boredom can be a serious mood killer for them. They are playful dogs, and staying at one place for long and doing nothing frustrates them. They use their paws and mouth to release pent-up energy.
5. Chihuahua
If Dachshund being included in the aggressive dog list didn’t bombshell your brain, Chihuahuas might.
These dogs are known for their petite itsy-bitsy bodies and are titled the “smallest dog breed” in the world. Ranking at the 33rd most popular dog breed in the US, Chihuahuas have also made to the list of the most aggressive dogs—based on their 69.6% marks on the ATTS temperament test.
These dogs express their anger for various reasons, such as possessiveness for their owners, small dog syndrome, boredom, etc. Though they sit well with the families and kids as they have more people to garner attention from, they don’t like to play buddy-buddy with other pets and strangers.
6. Schnauzer
Schnauzers come in different sizes: toy, small, standard, and giant, out of which the last two display aggressive and destructive behavior due to various reasons. These reasons include possessiveness, self-assertiveness, xenophobia, and jealousy for other pets. Boredom can also unnerve them, bringing out their combative side.
Standard schnauzer has a size of 47 to 50 cm, whereas Giant Schnauzer has a size of 65 to 70cm. Their temperament tests results are 71.1% for Standard and 77.4% for Giants.
7. Bulldog
Weighing between 23 and 25 kg and standing between 31 and 40 cm, these medium-sized canines are considered cordial and calm. However, when ATTS tested them for temperament to gauge this common notion, the results were pretty shocking.
The stats showed that out of 141 bulldogs, 40 failed the temperament tests, which means 71.6% of them had aggressive responses towards different stimuli. These stimuli include strangers, other dogs, loud noises, and owners under threat.
Bulldogs are companion dogs and have a jolly nature but provoking elements can surely turn them into angry bullies.
8. Chow Chow
At first glance on Chow Chow, people feel the urge to pat these fluffy fur balls and shower some lovey-dovey kisses on them. But, what they don’t know is how dangerous they can be. Chow Chow are huge dogs, having sharp teeth and whetted nails. When they get angry, they get brutal towards the agitator. These agitating factors include attacks on their owner, trespassing their territory, and dominance issues with other dogs. Chow Chow managed to score 71.7% on the ATTS test.
9. Afghan Hound
Afghan Hounds (AHs) are much like Salukis, the only difference is that the former have long shiny hair.
Afghan Hounds are calm and reserved unless their owner is giving them time and love. What triggers their anger is being left alone and feeling bored.
Afghan Hounds need 40 to 60 minutes of daily walk additional to off-lead running in a fenced area. Since they belong to the hunting dog group, they are attracted by strong scents, thus taking them to public areas without leashes can create a scene.
As per the ATTS results, AHs scored 72.7% in the temperament tests, showing that they indeed have some serious mood swings.
10. Bichon Frise
Another shocker, right?
Bichon Frise and anger, how?
Well, they are more like Napoleon Complex dogs—tiny dogs that think of themselves as bosses or kings. Thus, they try to “rule” the house by not listening to anyone and throwing mood tantrums.
These white fur balls are not bossy all the time. They are gregarious by nature and love to spend time with humans and other pets. But their negative emotions only explode when they are ignored or left alone in the apartment for long.
11. Fila Brasileiro
Because of their dominating behavior, lack of trainability, and hyper aggressiveness, Fila Brasileiro is banned in 10 countries.
Also known as Brazilian Mastiffs, Filas were bred for hunting jaguars in Brazil. These dogs are 65 to 75 cm tall and weigh more than 50kg. When it comes to friendliness, these dogs are all-rounders in terms of “no”. They are not good around families, kids, strangers, and other pets.
Training them is also difficult as they are stubborn and don’t focus on their lessons.
As per the ATT’s records, these dogs have earned 78.6% marks in the Temperament evaluation exam.
12. Doberman Pinscher
At the 12th rank, we have Doberman Pinscher, having a test score of 79.5%.
Doberman Pinscher belongs to the working group of canines, mainly kept for security and protection. They have a bite force of 305 PSI and a running speed of 32 mph and can be really dangerous if they get angry. Much like other angry boos, Dobies are not amiable towards outsiders, kids, and other pets. They only care for their owners, and everyone else is a threat to them.
Even the most aggressive dog breeds can be trained to obey and socialize if their training starts early. Schooling adult dogs can be tough, as they are more dominant in nature and don’t feel the need to change their style. If you are a novice owner, have a busy schedule, and live in an apartment, these aggressive dogs are not suitable for you. However, if you must, then hire dog sitters and dog walkers to provide them with exercise and care in your absence.