Don't let size fool you when it comes to dogs. It's not always the biggest dog you have to worry about getting bit by, but the smallest. Don't let the breed fool you either. Labrador Retrievers have a reputation for being a non-aggressive dog breed, yet I owned one that would have made Cudjo look tame. In fact, in Miami, Dade County, Florida, Labradors are one of the top biters reported.
For years the big ones have been taking the rap for being biters, attackers and sometimes killers. Breeds such as Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, Dobermans and German Shepards have held the label as being dangerous, when in fact the title should go to their smaller cousins.
Six thousand dog owners questioned in a study published in the journal Applied Animal Behavior Science, had surprising results. The number one breed of dog that was reported for biting was the Dachshund. The Chihuahua came in second, with the Jack Russell Terrier coming in third. Needless to say, these results didn't make a lot of small breed dog owners happy. It is assumed, since smaller dogs don't do damage like a big dog, these bites generally go unreported.
Having been a Chihuahua owner for fourteen years, I know just how aggressive that breed can be. My dog would physically attack anyone that got within a foot of me. He literally would jump as high as he could and with his teeth, latch on to any piece of clothing or skin he could get a hold on. I knew I would have been sued for him attacking someone if he'd been bigger. Because he only weighed seven pounds, nobody thought to report him to the authorities.
A friend's Bassett Hound was killed by a pack of three Chihuahuas. Though the hound was much larger, he didn't stand a chance when the little pack attacked. Most people don't realize Chihuahuas were originally bread to be hunting dogs in Mexico, not to be carried in a purse. Many people don't consider inherent characteristics of a breed before bringing it home. Injuries would happen less often, if owners were more educated on how their dog was wired.
One of the dogs I own in a Pit Bull. He was rescued from the streets, where he was days away from death due to starvation. I also own two Labrador Retrievers. The three of them get along fine together. The Pit Bull has never tried to dominate the other two and seems quite content to be number three in the pack. He's one of the sweetest and most non-aggressive dogs I've ever owned. Their jaws are built for strength and can do severe injury, but this doesn't mean their born to be killers. They are another breed that's been bread for hunting.
Under certain conditions even the most non-aggressive dog can bite. A person definitely needs to take a moment to read a dog's behavior before approaching it. Dogs are pretty good at letting you know when they are stressed out and might bite. It will be that look in their eye, the hair standing on their back or the way they hang their tail that will let you know whether to approach or not. They don't always growl to let you know caution is needed. Even a wagging tail doesn't mean the dog isn't feeling threatened and won't bite. As in any situation where there might be danger, do not let an unsupervised child alone with a strange dog.
Just because Dachshunds made the number one spot doesn't mean they are bad, violent dogs. In return, just because it's a Pit Bull doesn't mean it's going rip you to shreds. There is always going to be that dog that is just mean, regardless of the loving care it was raised with. It's our responsibility as dog owners to do our best in training and taking care of our pet. It is also our responsibility as dog owners, to educate ourselves about the breed we own and dogs in general. That cute little puppy always grows up. Most of the time, what he grows into is up to us.
Because it's a small dog doesn't mean it won't bite. Think of being that small in this big world, and you might be aggressive yourself. Small dogs need to be approached with the same caution, perhaps more, as their bigger counterparts. Education and responsibility is the key. They are our best friends and it's the least we can do to give them a fuller and safer life.
