Least/Most Likely to Bite & Smartest Breeds

[aly]

Its funny when we get new dogs at the shelter. I'll run right up to the rotts, pits, etc and start hugging and kissing them. But whenever a dachshund comes in, I approach with extreme caution!

[barbi]

Originally posted by Rottie:
I'm sure we all agree that the dog least likely to bite is the dog that is well trained, well socialized, and greatly loved.

I totally agree with youu - my thoughts exactly.

Barbi

[DiannaL]

I've never heard of a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel biting, and they are quite intelligent. They might lick you to death, but never bite. They can get a little possesive with chew sticks and raw hides. I only know about my Cavalier, but I can only imagine they would all be like that. They are just very happy dogs, always wagging their tails and wanting to make friends with everyone.

[MHMama]

I have been thinking about this towel test for judging the smartness of your dog and I wonder if the towel size is a factor. A bath towel over Ricky would be like a blanket over a lab. Wouldn't seem like a fair test.
Also, chihuahua are more likely to bite because most small dogs are protected from strangers by their owners. I know Ricky had that incident but most people, even the person he "bit" can pick him up etc. So I think it is more like the owners of certain breeds tend to act in some way that makes the behavior the way it is. I may be way off on that though.

[Harry]

If you want to get a friendly dog then you should get a golden retriver or lab I think they are really friendly and smart but the smartest dog is boder colie on my dog book it said boder colies are smartest dog. But any dog could be smart or friendly if you train it well

[carrie]

The most bites that vets in this country get are from....Goldens! ( The most popular breed? Goldens!)
American bloodline GSD's just don't have the prey drive that their European couterparts have but still they are very unlikely to bite without reason - protective aggression is the biggie.
Angels3 - Tibetan Spaniels don't tend to bite as they were bred for temperament, to fit in with the monks, rather than taking on the philosophy of the monks.
King Charles Spaniels are a pretty new breed as breeds go, especially in the US. They, again, were bred for temperament as a lap dog.
Any small dog that is carried and, understandably,worried over....who is going to step on it, kick it, not see it on the floor.... is going to have to protect itself and is also going to have a higher opinion of itself than a big dog( every time the dog feels worried it is picked up - many are "trained" to feel worried because of the owners reaction to a "threat") that is left on the floor to look after itself. A Great Dane is not going to have the same reaction (..if any!!!) to big human feet or hands coming towards it as a toy dog.
Border collies have the reputation as a nippy breed because dogs that come from working stock - old working stock - have to nip sometimes!
The same with some of the gaurding stock - if you approach in a way that triggers the protective traits, that humans have encouraged, you will be bitten.

In any study you have to look at the number of breeds, the number of each individual in any breed and the circumstances of the bite.


As for how stupid is a sight hound?
As pets they tend to have devoted owners who love them and strive daily to get a similar reaction from their dog. The dog meanwhile has the comfiest places in the house to sleep, the best grub, the majority of the owners attention while the owner is at home, admiring comments and attention from strangers when out for a walk and a total veto to any training past house training.
(USUALLY!!!!!!!!! )
They can do what they like when they like and if they train their owners properly they can usually get some company, if they want it, when they are doing it!
Yeah - pretty dumb.....I don't think!

[TollSettFK]

O.K, what I want to say is this: Did they look at the really rare breeds, I mean really rare? Because if they would have, then this (I think) would be a much different study.