Many people have a significant amount of fear around large breeds of dogs. They worry that they are going to be attacked, and parents may be very concerned about their children.
This concern is understandable. Statistics do show that large breeds are responsible for most deadly attacks. The two breeds most often involved are Pit Bulls and Rottweilers. The victims are often children, simply because children are shorter and more likely to suffer bites in the neck area, and because they are often not physically strong enough to fend off the dog.
But does that mean that these large breeds are actually more aggressive or more prone to attacking? In reality, studies find that the opposite is true.
Small breeds are more aggressive
Researchers have discovered that small dogs tend to exhibit more aggressive traits. This could be, in part, due to their own size. They feel nervous and like they have to act aggressively if they are threatened in an effort to protect themselves.
The difference is simply the amount of damage that the dog can do if it does decide to attack. Someone may have a very aggressive Chihuahua who always tries to bite everyone’s feet when they come over to the house, but the dog is too small to realistically cause any harm. By contrast, another dog owner may have a very passive Pit Bull who never looks like it is going to attack anyone. But if it ever does, the bite that it causes is going to be vastly more substantial, potentially leading to serious or even fatal injuries.
Have you been injured due to another dog owner’s negligence? You may be able to seek compensation for medical bills, lost wages and more.