How Dangerous Are Small Dog Breeds?
You shouldn’t get fooled into believing that only big dogs like German Shepherds and Rottweilers can cause bite injuries. As a matter of fact, large and aggressive dogs can, in fact, cause you serious injuries, sometimes even death, mostly due to their strength and size.
Only recently, we had a case in southern California, where a poor 63-year-old woman was simply mauled by four loose pit bulls as she was out jogging. But we also had cases in the news on much smaller dogs that end up terrorizing entire communities, like large packs of Chihuahuas that have been allegedly roaming the streets of Phoenix, Arizona.
Moreover, the small dogs run in packs of 8 to 15 according to some residents, and they are making parents afraid to let their children walk to school or even play outside alone. The truth of the matter is that any size dog has the true potential to become aggressive and could ultimately cause injuries.
These small dog breeds are seen as especially prone to bad behavior, including aggression and biting. If, by chance, you encounter any of these 6 breeds, make sure you’re careful not to provoke the dog in any way. Just go about your day and know that if the dog bites you through no fault of your own, you could easily hold the owner or handler legally responsible for any injuries.
Chihuahua
Considering their small size, plenty of people assume that Chihuahuas are quite fit for families with small children, but in fact, it’s quite the opposite. In fact, these little guys rely on their mouths to efficiently protect them where their stature can’t.
That’s why they react with plenty of barks, and sometimes even bites, especially when they feel the need to defend themselves. So many Chihuahuas out there need their own personal space. They might give plenty of social cues if anyone outside their primary caregiver enters their personal zone and makes them feel uncomfortable.
The problem is children aren’t all that great at reading signals, and a Chi could become quite aggressive.
Breed overview: They are part of the Toy group, with height from 6 to 9 inches, and weight of 2 to 6 pounds. They have smooth or long coats and are seen in many colors, either solid or a combination of two colors, which can also include black, tan, fawn, cream, white, blue, silver, chocolate, and red.
Pekingese
Just like Chihuahuas, a Pekingese is a small dog breed that completely relies on other methods to seem bigger and scarier when they feel threatened, which can also include biting. It might not take as much to bring out such behaviors.
Pekingese don’t respond well to prodding, poking, or tail pulling. They could be possessive over food, toys, and sometimes, even their primary caregivers. A dog could compete for your undivided attention, and trust me, this dog doesn’t want to lose.
You could even avoid a situation where your child could get hurt by running over to hug you or even trying to play (nicely) with the dog. That’s quite some stress on all of you and a good enough reason to seek out a different breed.
Shih Tzu
Plenty of reputable breeders of shih tzus simply refuse to sell their puppies to other families with small children. This breed adores zipping around and getting under your feet, tripping up adults but also children if they’re not paying enough attention.
This unintentional trip hazard could potentially harm both you and the dog. When you play with this puppy, you need to be extremely careful. Oftentimes, experts recommend that children only play with this breed while they also sit on the floor. Older shih tzus could easily work since they generally tend to chill out after puppyhood.
Dachshund
While dachshunds could look like cute companions for children because of their small size, this hound was built for work. Their short stature and tenacity are quite useful for digging and tunneling to fight or even flush out badgers (which might be just as large as they are).
When it comes to children, some dachshunds simply lack the patience to put up with anything related to poking, prodding, or any other attempts to be picked up. They could even snap, growl, or bark at other children, to protect themselves. This, of course, unless they are taught how to behave from a very young age.
Shar-Pei
With their cute oodles of wrinkles and a sweet smooshed face, it’s such a shame that the shar-pei personality doesn’t necessarily match their appearance. As most of them are devoted to their families, they still have a strong sense of independence and value their own personal space.
Some could even become annoyed by kids’ playful attitudes and antics. In some instances, you might see them snap or even bite. But with the right training and socialization, you can teach these dogs how to tolerate, accept, or even enjoy the presence of other children.
Other aggressive breeds: pit bulls
This shouldn’t surprise anyone because pit bulls, even if they are lovable, have quite a reputation for being violent. The term “pit bull” has become an umbrella that encompasses numerous bulldogs and terriers, instead of simply applying to a single breed.
Over a period of 13 years, the group was mainly responsible for 2/3 of all fatal dog bites in the United States, with 284 deaths. If the numbers don’t shock you, it could shock you to learn that only 6% of all dogs in this country can actually fit the pit bull category. Spending numerous generations as hunting dogs and fighting dogs, they were bred to be increasingly more dangerous.
Rottweilers
Before pit bulls gained their well-known reputation as dangerous, the rottweiler was first on the list of most dangerous dog breeds. These powerhouses can easily grow up to 120 pounds and still remain in good health.
They are quite large and have a temper that can easily break bad when something goes south. To be more specific, they are quite friendly and protective of those in their own home. But that protection doesn’t always include any guests.
German Shepherds
German Shepherds are known to be workers with a history in law enforcement and the military. They are the smartest, most powerful, strongest, and most dangerous dogs, with the capacity to easily inflict deadly attacks.
On average, they weigh around 90 pounds and can reach a height of 2 feet. They are also an amazing asset against human threats, especially after many generations of breeding that made them one of the most effective weapons. While German Shepherds can be quite aggressive and territorial, they also account for plenty of non-fata bites. Luckily, they can be easily trained.
American Bulldog
Unlike British bulldogs, their American cousin is quite a powerful working dog. As British bulldogs were overbred and became less useful as tools, the American bulldog averaged 100 pounds of packed muscle.
They are quite thick, powerful, and one of the most dangerous dog breeds. Over the course of continuous studies, they were responsible for 3.5% of all fatal dog attacks, resulting in a maximum of 15 deaths. That might not seem like a lot, but it’s significant still, especially given the fact that this name rarely comes up in comparison to others.
If you found this article useful, we also recommend checking: 7 Dog Breeds That Attacked the Most People in Recent Years
