Small Dogs Top Most Aggressive List
Published October 29, 2008
We all are enchanted by those "get a long little doggie", the delightfully amusing Dachunds. They are those short-legged, elongated members found in the hound family of canines. The English translation for the name of the breed is "badger dog."
But did you know that it was recently reported by the London (PTI) that the Dachshund is one of the most aggressive breeds in the world, interestingly followed closely behind by the Chihuahua, with the Jack Russell trailing in third place. When researchers released the study published by the "Applied Animal Behavior Science Journal", this news was not well received by owners of small breeds who were quite upset with the results of the study.
The Dachshund
After all, the Dachshund is famous for being a playful dog with a wonderful sense of humor, who delights in chasing balls, small animals and toys, with an enormous canine passion.
Information included in the study revealed by researchers that one in five Dachunds have either attempted to bite a stranger, or have attacked other dogs and one in 12 have even snapped at their owners.
Dr James Serpell, lead researcher of the University of Pennsylvania postulated that smaller breeds may behave more aggressively than larger dogs, due to a genetic predisposition toward aggression. He said ""Reported levels of aggression in some cases are concerning, with rates of bites or bite attempts rising as high as 20 per cent towards strangers and 30 per cent towards unfamiliar dogs."
After analyzing behaviors of 33 breeds and interviewing over 6,000 canine owners, researchers came to this conclusion: Breeds scoring low for aggression included Basset hounds, golden retrievers, Labradors, Siberian huskies and greyhounds.
The Rottweiler, pit bull and Rhodesian Ridgeback scored average or below average marks for hostility towards strangers, the study found.
However, Chris Moore, Secretary of the Northern Dachshund Association in the United Kingdom remarked, "As far as breeders in the UK are concerned, this is rubbish. It is not in the dogs' nature. I have never been bitten in 25 years."
I wonder if there is a Nature/nurture component in the personality and behavioral traits in the small breeds. Folks I know who own small breeds often describe them to me as big dogs stuck in tiny bodies, who don't recognize differences in size. Or perhaps some smaller dogs can become more intimidated than the bigger breeds, so resort to aggressive behavior, defensively?
So, small dog owners out there, what are your thoughts? Please share with us and leave a comment.
Petside Team
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Comments (25)
Most of those small terrier-types were bred to hunt and kill rats and snakes and other pests. It's their nature to strike and shake and kill. A dachshund is bred to burrow after a badger and fight and kill it underground, often face-to-face and in total darkness. Just because they are small and cute doesn't mean they were bred for hundreds or thousands of years to be lap dogs. Yes, in the past hundred years or so they've been bred more for a lap-dog temperament and charming appearance, but that doesn't erase their genetic legacy - and most of the tiny guys now are bred in puppy mills, where no thought to temperament or socialization is given at all.
Dogs need to be respected as dogs, and not fluffy little toys. Unfortunately, many small dog owners see their dogs as precious and fragile and delicate and sensitive little babies to coddle and cradle when they misbehave.
Really it's just a bad combination of things for the little guys, because any dog can be nasty and any dog can be sweet.
You need to understand the "purpose" of the breeds to understand their needs.A doxie was originally bred to go after badgers- a ferocious animal. You bet they selectively bred only the most fearless and bold ones. If you understand the way you need to see your dog-any dog in this order- using the Dachshund as the example you need to see them in this order:
DOG-canine
DACHSHUND-fearless badger hunter
SPARKY - your pet/family member
Fulfill the needs of the DOG- then allow your dog to fulfill his genetic history-take them out let them root around in the woods-take them to events where courses are set up to allow dogs that "go to ground" (this includes Jack Russell terrors-RATTERS) to get in touch with that aspect of their breeding and once you give some satisfaction to that part of your doxie-then he is more ready to allow himself to just be "Sparky"(or whatever their name is).Also realize that doxies have a deep bark because they are a DEEP CHESTED dog.Right up there with Great Danes,Irish Wolfhounds, etc.(this also can make them susceptible to GDV-Bloating and Torsion-a life threatening medical emergency). So if you are choosing a small purebred for a pet- do your homework-find out how this breed came to be and make sure you embrace the whole dog-not just the "small and fits in my purse", "doesn't eat much" part. And may I add- a chihuahua was pretty much bred to BE a purse dog- but riding backwards to keep a pocket from being picked or a butt from being pinched.So yes they are snappy little suckers-its in their blood! Personally I have 2 Great Danes at present and have had more than 2 at a time. I know what I am dealing with and although I don't take them boar hunting-I do remember to address the need to tug and hold in our play times! After that- couch potato city! Hope this helps people understand that you really need to study the BREED before you get a puppy and find one suited to your lifestyle and your ability to address all aspects of the breed so that you can indeed raise a friendly socialized pet.
I am a dog trainer and a Dachshund owner, and fall on both sides of the fence. While my doxie has never bitten anything or anyone and would sooner roll over and pee on himself, I have not found this to be typical, as many of the cases involving dogs nipping children are often Dachshunds. I think this has quite a bit to do with environment and training over genetics, because mine is a puppy mill rescue, and it doesn't get much worse than that, genetically speaking.
I think high energy dog who are provided enough exercise may appear aggressive. More often than not, we find that the cause of aggression is the owner. Owners often abdicate their role to lead to small dogs, who lack the size to be leader of the pack.
Kindness and patience is required--no yelling, not hitting, but kindness and the patience to learn how to communicate the dog is vital.
Oops, ".... high energy dogs who are NOT provided enough exercise ..."
my apologies
Unless they are breeding studs, all male dogs should be neutered. My former neighbor was attacked by her intact male Airdale and had to have plastic surgery on her face and hands. He nearly ripped her nose off! They sued the breeder and won. I have a female Cavalier King Charles spaniel (1 yr. old) and she is extremely submissive and affectionate, even toward my current neighbor's mini dachsund, but he's very sweet and playful (well socialized).
I have no doubt that small dogs are lovable, but they also seem incredibly insecure. As an owner of an American Bulldog in New York city, I can't help but agree with the general point of this study. I've never once been out walking with my dog (all 80 lbs of her) and had a pitbull or rotty lunge at her snarling without provocation. On the other hand, this probably happens 20-30% of the time when I walk past a small dog. It's even worse if there are two or more small dogs together. Fortunately my girl is so evenly tempered that she doesn't respond.