Aggression

Can I throw this one at you ?

I have a Rottie and he is a bundle of love and affection, but when he spots somebody walking past the house or anything strange, he is a One Dog Apocalypse.

He likes what he`s got, including us and intends to keep it.

Which dogs do you all feel are the most aggressive ?

I do not mean socially with people in the street, but in a protective sense about the home and their owners.

On the net, there are many lists of dogs rated in terms of aggressivenes, here is one ;-
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* Chow Chows are one-person dogs that tend to bite without any warning. They are also a bit ferocious around strangers, and can be quite a tenacious fighter. So make sure to discipline this dog and set right from wrong, immediately.
* The Papillon is fiercely loyal of their owners - to a fault. They can be quite possessive and standoffish to strangers.
* Old English Sheepdogs are very protective of their owners so they might be aggressive if anybody tends to be too close to its owners.
* A Llasa Apso often gets cranky around kids.
* Rottweilers are extremely protective of their masters.
* Chihuahuas aren't too fond of kids. They'd rather be with adults than play around with tots.
* Toy Poodles bite people and other animals out of self defense. Unfortunately, 'playing' according to you may be perceived as a form of 'attack' to them.
* Dachshunds aren't known for their patience.
* Jack Russell Terriers are feisty creatures who require early training to prevent long-term biting and digging problems.
* Giant Schnauzers are very dominant. They often challenge adults, particularly strangers.
* Cocker Spaniels often suffer from a dangerous genetic disease known as "rage syndrome." This syndrome causes spontaneous violent action against not strangers, but actual family members. Many Spaniels have been put down because of this unwanted behavior. Check with the breeder to ensure your Spaniel is free from this dangerous dog disease.
* The Pekingese isn't all that tolerant of strangers.
* Miniature Pinschers usually have aggression issues because they've got this "big dog-little body" mind set going on.
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OK, let it fly.
John Bull

The most aggressive, unpredictable, destructive animal in the world is Man.
A dog is an animal, not a missile. Animals only fight when necessary, unlike Man.

Ok, there's a nurture vs nature debate. Some breeds will be more 'guardy' than others, some tend to have more patience with children. I'm not too keen on generalisations, and would also bet that the list is American??? As far as the breed mentioned go, here are some of my experiences:
Chow chows - Met a few and none have been standoffish or particularly aloof, I've only known them to be friendly, even in a grooming environment.

Rottweilers - males tend to be very vocal which is often mistaken for aggression. They are protective though - it's their job after all.

Old English Sheepdogs - had good and bad experiences, but I'm inclined to think in those cases it's the owners to blame if the dog is nasty.

Lhasa Apso- I get dozens of these in for grooming and they tend to be very good natured. Many come from families with children and they are very popular pets.

Jack Russels- if unsocialised they can be a nightmare, like any terrier. They are strong willed and vocal, but highly trainable if the owner isn't a wet lettuce.

So my conclusion...ANY dog can be aggressive in the wrong hands, but some breeds need an extra special owner to be well balanced sociable dogs.

That list is BS.

well said! totally agree with that.

Obviously dogs with natural guarding instincts tend to do that more.
For instance dogs in the gundog group tend to be very dog and people friendly- afterall its whats required when doing their 'job' and its uncommon to find a lab willing to do more than bark to guard
compare them to say, a GSD who has guarding traits in their history and they will usually actively guard and protect you.
there are exeptions to the rule though, but no dog should be allowed to over guard- especially the guarding breeds.

my gsd is allowed to bark if someone comes up the garden path or knocks on the front door. I allow her to bark enough to give warning but when i say 'quiet' she must be so- the main reason being is that im home alone 90% of the time and i like to leave her loose behind me- she watches quietly.
I feel safer this way but would never encourage her to guard.

i'd go as far to say that it is incredibly rare to find an aggressive dog that has been brought up and socialized correctly by its owners.

You`ve got it in a nutshell. MAN is a cancerous pox on this planet and the biggest threat to our ecology than any Global Warming or natural catastrophe can ever achieve.

If our destiny is to be determined by any factor whatsoever, then it is not natural events or planetary geological cycles that will cause our ultimate destruction - IT IS MAN.

John Bull

Are you suggesting mass sucicide and save the planet?

There is a subtle difference between aggression and size.

YES - you can have a very aggressive mouse, but in relative terms against an aggressive elephant or rhino, there is a whole world of difference.

Big boys or girls have a bigger knock than tiny tiddles.
My house is in better hands with my Rottie than a ferocious hamster.

So I guess that in practical terms we are talking about aggression in dogs with a capability to apply it against humans. After all it is humans that will cause us grief, NOT animals.

John Bull