Is a vicious dog’s behaviour down to nature, or nurture? Regardless of the breed, we can typically point to a puppy’s upbring to explain significant parts of its personality. However, certain breeds of dog have earned their terrible reputations, often labeled as vicious because of their apparent predisposition to violent interactions with other dogs and humans. Still, it has been suggested that training and domestication could iron out the kinks in the nature of an aggressive canine: Famous dog trainer Cesar Millan has a gentle and docile pit bull – a notoriously vicious breed – that he often uses to help train dogs that are out of control. “It’s not the breed that makes a good companion,” says Millan. “All dogs are great companions. Communication creates a partnership and dogs have the simplest communication on the planet. For them, everything is about trust, respect and love.”
So, almost any breed of dog can be a wonderful companion, but almost any breed of dog can kill. It’s true, though, that certain breeds are most susceptible to falling victim to a powerfully aggressive nature, and with a combination of improper care and the physical attributes and characteristics of a violent breed, these ten most dangerous breeds of dogs cause a higher number of injuries and fatalities than any other.
10. Great Dane
If trained properly then a Great Dane can be a gentle giant, but since these dogs are such large and imposing creatures they can prove to be very dangerous if improperly cared for. Fully grown male Great Danes could well be killing machines, as they can weigh as much as 200 pounds and stand 86 cm tall. Earlier this year a Great Dane being trained by Cesar Millan for his TV show The Dog Whisperer attacked a neighbor who was passing by during filming. The neighbor had his hand bitten, but he has since recovered. The last recorded fatality caused by a Great Dane in the United States happened in 2003 when a 2-year-old girl was killed in South Carolina. A six-year-old girl required surgery after being attacked by a Great Dane in Tampa, Fl. earlier this summer.
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