You probably are already familiar with several breeds of dog with the reputation for being potentially aggressive. These include the Pit Bull Terrier, the German Shepherd, and Rottweiler among others. Although there are many exceptions to the rule, these dogs have earned a certain reputation for less than perfect behavior whether it's merited or not.
Of course, whether or not a dog manifests aggression has quite a bit to do with how they are trained by their owner. Any dog has the capability of being aggressive if placed in the wrong environment or in the hands of a cruel or incompetent trainer or owner. On the other hand, there are some dog breeds that have the capability of being aggressive that you may not be so readily aware of. Here are five lesser known potential aggressive dog breeds:
The Chihuahua
They're the tiniest of dog breeds and they look cute and lovable, but these tiny dogs have the capability of being aggressive towards children who they're not particularly fond of to begin with. They tend to bond strongly with one person, usually an adult, and perceive everyone else as threats to that bond. There are numerous reports of Chihuahuas nipping and biting at both adults and small children.
The Chow Chow
This dog, originally bred in China, is known to be one of the most ancient breeds in existence. They tend to bond with one person early on and do their best to guard that person against any perceivable threat. For this reason, they can be untrustworthy around strangers with the potential for exhibiting quite intimidating and aggressive behavior. No wonder they earned the nickname “the lion dog”.
The Jack Russell Terrier
This lively and energetic dog tends to be feisty and aggressive towards other dogs as well as small animals such as cats, hamsters, and ferrets that live in close quarters with them. On the plus side, they tend to be quite amicable towards human members of their pack and are usually gentle with children. It's probably not the ideal breed to bring into your home if you have other small animals as pets.
The Llasa Apso
This is another small dog that looks harmless enough. Originating from the country of Tibet, this dog was bred to be a guard dog which may explain the tendency for this breed to exhibit occasional aggressive behavior. The Llasa Apso can be particularly feisty and unpredictable around children. Though these dogs appear to be cuddly lap dogs, they tend to be independent and strong willed which can be problems if they're overindulged by their owner.
The Old English Sheepdog
This is another dog that tends to be strong willed and independent with a tendency to nip at other animals as well as children. This is aggravated by the fact that they're strongly protective of their owners and will become aggressive if they perceive their master is threatened. Generally, this is not a good first dog since an Old English Sheepdog will probably require a good obedience course and firm, effective owner to be socialized properly.
If you plan on adopting any of these potentially aggressive breeds of dog, you may want to consider attending a dog obedience course lead by a competent instructor. Not only can this reduce the potential for aggressive behavior but it can also help to strengthen and solidify the bond between you and your dog.
