Really, No Breed Is Naturally More Aggressive

Still stuck on the thought that some breeds are just born ready to fight?

Maybe it’s time to rethink that common misconception again. New studies have shown that dog breed is just a minor (well, very minor) factor when determining general overall aggressiveness and impulsiveness. What’s more is that a recent survey showed that a dog who tended to show aggression towards one certain type of person (i.e. part of family, stranger, or visitor) didn’t show any at all towards other groups.

For example, you would think that most likely a dog who snapped at his own family would be aggressive towards other unknown humans, but that’s not the case. That just shows that a dog’s impulsiveness stems from upbringing and teaching. Also, a dog who went through some sort of obedience training was 1 ½ times less likely to attack, but a dog who was punished physically or with harsh methods was 2 times as likely to react towards strangers and 3 times as likely to retaliate against their own masters.

All that further supports the counter-theory that dog behavior really truly reflects upon their upbringing and treatment.