When getting a new dog, most owners do not expect their furry friend to ever turn on them. However, statistics show that some breeds are more likely to attack or bite their owners than others. While proper training and socialization can help curb aggressive tendencies, genetics do play a role in a dog’s behavior. So what dogs are most likely to turn on their owners?
What does it mean when a dog “turns” on its owner?
A dog turning on its owner refers to the dog becoming aggressive and attacking or biting the person who cares for them. This can range from low-level aggression like growling or snapping when bothered to full on maulings that cause severe injury or death.
Some common signs that a dog may turn on its owner include:
- Growling, snapping, or biting when touched or disturbed
- Baring teeth or getting stiff when approached
- Guarding food, toys, or other resources
- Sudden aggression towards family members or visitors
- A tendency to redirect aggression when frustrated
If a dog begins exhibiting these behaviors, especially growling, stiffening up, or snapping when approached, it warrants immediate intervention before the problem escalates. Catching early signs of aggression gives owners the best chance of curbing the behavior through training. Otherwise, the risk of attack or bite incidents rises significantly.
What causes a dog to turn on its owner?
There are several potential reasons a dog may turn aggressive towards its owner:
- Genetics – Some breeds have been selectively bred for guarding, fighting, or high prey drives which can predispose them to aggression issues if not properly trained and socialized.
- Fear – Dogs will bite out of fear, especially if hurt or cornered with no escape route. Owners who unintentionally scare dogs can get bit.
- Pain – Dogs in pain from injury or illness may snap or bite if touched in a painful area.
- Resource guarding – Dogs who are very possessive of food, toys, or sleeping areas may bite owners who come near those resources.
- Redirected aggression – Dogs frustrated by something they can’t get to like another dog may redirect that aggression onto their owner.
- Predatory drift – Some dogs have high prey drives that can kick in unexpectedly towards small children or pets in the home.
- Poor socialization – Dogs not properly exposed to people and situations as puppies are more likely to be fearful or aggressive as adults.
- Abuse – Dogs with past abuse or neglect may see their owners as a threat leading to defensive aggression.
In most cases, dogs give warning signs before ever biting someone. Being able to recognize those early indicators of aggression allows owners to take corrective action through training, medication, or environmental management to prevent escalation.
Dog Breeds Most Likely to Turn on Their Owners
While any dog is capable of aggression, some breeds due to their size, athleticism, breeding history, and temperament are more likely to turn on their owners than others. Breeds that often top lists of dogs that attack their owners include:
Pit Bulls
Pit bulls were historically bred for bull baiting and dog fighting, giving them a powerful bite and strong prey drive. They remain popular for illegal fighting rings to this day. Responsible breeders have worked hard to breed out human aggression from well-bred lines, but backyard breeders still producing dogs for aggression have led to a high incidence of attacks. Pit bulls account for the majority of fatal dog attacks in the U.S. year after year. Their strength coupled with owner negligence is a dangerous combination.
Rottweilers
Like pit bulls, rottweilers were bred to guard livestock and pull carts, giving them a strong bite force and tenacious nature. They can be loyal companions if properly trained and socialized but can also turn protective over territory or family members. When rottweilers do attack humans, their large size and bite force makes them capable of killing adults as well as children.
German Shepherds
German shepherds are working dogs prized for intelligence, trainability, and versatility. However, they were bred to herd and protect, meaning aggression can surface, especially towards strangers, if not socialized well. Their herding background also means they will “nip” at people to move them, which can progress to biting. As one of the most popular breeds worldwide, attacks by german shepherds are quite prevalent.
Huskies
Huskies were bred to pull sleds long distances across the arctic tundra and can have extremely high energy levels. Owners drawn to their wolf-like looks often underestimate their needs for exercise and stimulation. Without proper outlets, huskies are prone to aggression and biting stemming from pent-up energy and frustration. Their prey drive is so strong that smaller pets are often not safe sharing a home with an untrained husky.
Chow Chows
Chow chows, with their distinctive blue-black tongues and bear-like coat, have skyrocketed in popularity based on looks alone. Unfortunately, they are naturally very territorial, aloof with strangers, and aggressive if not extensively socialized. Their strong hunting instincts can kick in towards small children who move erratically. Chows require firm, experienced handling to overcome their genetically ingrained guarding tendencies.
Doberman Pinschers
Dobermans were originally bred by a tax collector looking for an intimidating guard dog. While less popular than some other protection breeds, dobermans that are improperly trained can become aggressive towards strangers or family members. Their sheer size and strength means bites can easily maim. Dobermans not given enough mental and physical exercise are also prone to destructive behavior in the home.
Preso Canarios
The Preso Canario, also called the Canary Mastiff, is a large Molosser-type breed known to be territorial, dominant, and wary of strangers. Their genetics predispose them to aggression towards other dogs and suspicious behavior towards people outside the family. Attacks most often occur on the property when the Preso Canario is defending its territory. Their immense size and power means bites can be lethal.
Cane Corsos
Cane Corsos are Italian mastiffs originally bred to hunt big game and guard property. Weighing up to 110 pounds, they are immensely strong, athletic, and imposing in stature. Cane Corsos have highly territorial instincts and can be overly protective or outright aggressive if not trained using positive reinforcement techniques. Their jaws alone generate nearly 700 pounds of force, enough to kill humans.
Malamutes
Like huskies, malamutes are sled dogs bred for endurance and strength in harsh conditions. They need rigorous exercise and consistent training from an early age to avoid problem behaviors. Without outlets for their energy, malamutes often redirect aggression through biting and dominance displays towards owners or other pets in the home. Their high prey drive also makes small animals and sometimes children targets.
Wolf Hybrids
Wolf hybrids are a controversial cross between wild wolves and domestic dogs. While they may look exotic, wolf hybrids tend to be unpredictable, destructive, and aggressive as they mature due to their wild instincts and natural wariness of people. Owners drawn in by wolf-like features are usually not equipped to handle their complex needs. Wolf hybrids have been responsible for several human fatalities and disfiguring bites over the years.
Akitas
Akitas were historically used to hunt big game like wild boar and black bear in Japan, leading to an assertive temperament and potential aggression issues. They are naturally wary of strangers and prone to disobeying commands from owners. Akita bites are powerful enough to quickly do major damage due to their large size and strong jaws. Extensive early socialization gives Akitas the best chance of living peacefully with people.
Saint Bernards
The iconic Saint Bernard may seem like a harmless giant thanks to depictions in pop culture, but they are still large dogs bred for guarding and can turn aggressive without proper training. Their sheer size coupled with territorial instincts can be dangerous. Saint Bernards usually do not bite out of meanness but rather due to boredom, lack of training, or protectiveness over family members or territory.
Boxers
Boxers are working dogs originally bred for hunting, protection, and athletics like dog fighting. They need plenty of exercise and mental stimulation to avoid nuisance behaviors like biting. Boxers often show aggression towards other dogs of the same sex and have strong territorial instincts that lead to biting strangers or family members who get too close to food or toys.
Smaller Dogs Prone to Aggression
While larger dog breeds often receive the most attention for aggression issues due to their strength and ability to kill, some smaller breeds can also show concerning levels of aggression towards their owners that should not be ignored. Some of the most notoriously nippy smaller dogs include:
- Chihuahuas
- Dachshunds
- Jack Russell terriers
- Corgis
- Pomeranians
- Pugs
- Maltese
- Yorkshire terriers
- Shiba Inus
Small dog breeds may be more prone to aggression due to poor breeding and the fact owners are less likely to correct problematic behaviors in little dogs. However, nipping and warning bites can escalate over time, so even small dogs with aggressive tendencies need training.
Are some dogs simply too dangerous to own as pets?
Due to the inherent risks of breeding for protection, fighting, or aggression, some organizations advocate that certain historically violent breeds with the highest incidence of deadly attacks on humans should not continue to be kept as companions.
According to DogsBite.org, a dog bite victims’ advocacy organization that tracks fatalities, pit bull type dogs and close mixes were responsible for 75% of the 521 Americans killed by dogs from 2005 to 2017. Rottweilers and their mixes accounted for another 10%.
Some countries have enacted breed-specific legislation restricting or banning ownership of dogs with violent histories and greatest risk like pit bulls, Dogo Argentinos, fila brasileiros, and tosa inus. However, controlled breeding to reduce aggression traits is an alternate approach for high-risk breeds.
The American Veterinary Medical Association and Humane Society oppose breed-specific bans, instead recommending community-based solutions for promoting responsible ownership and reducing dog bites across all breeds. Since most dogs have the potential to show aggression given the right circumstances, they advocate for better training, licensing, microchipping, and non-physical corrections to curb violence.
Precautions for owners of dogs prone to aggression
For those committed to owning and properly training a breed with greater risks for aggression, some precautions include:
- Enrolling in puppy and obedience training from a qualified instructor starting as young as 8 weeks old.
- Following through with professional training to earn good citizenship certificates.
- Proper socialization around many people, children, other animals.
- Avoiding dog parks where unknown dogs trigger territorial behavior.
- High fencing or underground barrier to keep dogs secure and deter escapes.
- Muzzle training dogs to wear basket muzzles in public for safety.
- Spay/neuter to reduce roaming, fighting, and temperament issues.
- Heavy leashes, harnesses, and equipment to control strong dogs.
While no dog owner expects to be bitten or attacked, taking smart precautions based on a dog’s breed traits and tendencies can help avoid catastrophe. Any dog has the ability to bite, whether provoked or unprovoked, but particular breeds may need more vigilance to be safely managed by a responsible owner.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while most dogs are beloved family pets, certain breeds developed for fighting, guarding, or aggression do account for the majority of incidents where dogs turn on their owners. Pit bulls, rottweilers, German shepherds, huskies, chows, dobermans, and other large working breeds top the list for biting and lethality. Smaller dogs like chihuahuas and dachshunds can also exhibit aggression.
Responsible ownership including proper socialization, licensing, containment, training, and supervision can help reduce the risk for all dogs. However, some breeds may be inherently too dangerous in the wrong hands to be safely kept strictly as pets due to their genetic traits. Understanding which dogs have the highest risk for turning on owners provides the awareness needed to make smart choices that keep families, communities, and these misunderstood breeds themselves safe.