Sydney's Most Vicious Dogs

[Quickasyoucan]

Of most interest is this: Of the 20 most popular dog breeds in NSW, 12 stand out as very safe indeed (since they don’t figure at all on the top 20 dog attack lists). These breeds are strongly recommended by Burke’s Backyard. They are, in order of popularity:

1. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

2. Golden Retriever

3. Cocker Spaniel

4. Pug

5. Toy Poodle

6. Miniature Schnauzer

7. Boxer

8. Bull Terrier

9. Rhodesian Ridgeback

10. West Highland White Terrier

11. British Bulldog

12. Smooth coated Chihuahua

I feel sorry for the breeds on that list - now they'll be targetted by buyers who think that getting the right breed means they don't have to supervise or control their kiddies That in turn will lead to BYBers cashing in on the breeds to sell as "ideal family pets" regardless of the temperament of their breeding dogs. That's how the Golden Retriever has made it up to top of the list of dog bite stats in Canada.

For the record, I not rate a Toy Poodle as a good pick for someone with kids under school age. As pups they are too frail for the rough and tumble of life with young kids.

i'd think chi's would be a bit small for very young kids too.

[poodlefan]

Of most interest is this: Of the 20 most popular dog breeds in NSW, 12 stand out as very safe indeed (since they don’t figure at all on the top 20 dog attack lists). These breeds are strongly recommended by Burke’s Backyard. They are, in order of popularity:

1. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

2. Golden Retriever

3. Cocker Spaniel

4. Pug

5. Toy Poodle

6. Miniature Schnauzer

7. Boxer

8. Bull Terrier

9. Rhodesian Ridgeback

10. West Highland White Terrier

11. British Bulldog

12. Smooth coated Chihuahua

I feel sorry for the breeds on that list - now they'll be targetted by buyers who think that getting the right breed means they don't have to supervise or control their kiddies That in turn will lead to BYBers cashing in on the breeds to sell as "ideal family pets" regardless of the temperament of their breeding dogs. That's how the Golden Retriever has made it up to top of the list of dog bite stats in Canada.

For the record, I not rate a Toy Poodle as a good pick for someone with kids under school age. As pups they are too frail for the rough and tumble of life with young kids.

i'd think chi's would be a bit small for very young kids too.

Only the long coats - according to this list the Smooth Coats are fine.

I wonder if the team of statisticians at BBY considered that:

* Many dogs aren't bred by registered breeders

* About 50% of dogs bred aren't purebred

* Some of the breeds in the "least likely to bite" list probably aren't chosen by families with kids anyway.

Somehow I doubt it. ;)

[Sheilaheel02]

Wouldn't it be nice to see these stats turned around into:

"Breeds most likely to be bred and bought by ignorant/irresponsible people"

or

"Breeds most likely to be bought for image enhancement or "security" purposes"

or

"Breeds least likely to be socialised, allowed inside, desexed or to receive obedience training"

Because whilst breed is a part of the issue, the factors above play just as large a role.

I agree with you PF. I've met some lovely ACDs very sweet natured and well socialised. However, where we live we have a family who are living as though they are on a farm in the town as their property is so large they have horses in their backyard and have multiple dogs. Last count they have 4 jack russells type dogs and 4 ACDs. Unfortunately they allow the dogs to run loose around the streets causing havoc, with the adult female ACD being extremely aggressive in that she has bitten their kids, nipped me and goes after every dog and person that walks past the property. People have complained and in the evening they lock the dogs in the backyard, but then they are running around during the day when most people are out and about. Oh, and they bred from her and now she has two pups runnning with her (both females, of course) and are learning how to behave from her. The pups started out as sweet but are now starting to copy her behaviour in that they are chasing after people and snapping and growling. All very dangerous. Idiots.

Potential ACD owners should have to sit a mandatory test before being allowed to own one. The first two test questions need to be directly related to literacy and comprehension.

1. Can you read the Breed Standard?

2. Do you understand the Breed Standard?

If they can't get past the first two questions, don't bother with the usual ones about basic animal care, training and exercise requirements and responsible dog ownership. Politely refer them to Bluey's Ute World or the Teddy Bear Shop where they can get the inanimate versions of the real thing - no questions asked.

JMHO.

S

[Jed]

The only way I can think of my Sibe being dangerous to me is if she suffocates me with her slobber from kissing me too much. :p

Don Burke is an idiot.

Sibes and neonatal babies can be a fatal combination if unsupervised. There are no records of Sibes fatally attacking any human older than 4 months. There was an attack of this nature in WA a few years back and another in the USA last year.

If you can get a copy of the book Fatal Dog Attacks you will find it an illuminating read on the issue.

Of course if people didn't leave dog with access to kids, it wouldn't be an issue for ANY breed.

Wasn't that a Siberian Husky which attacked a child (over 4 months) in the hairdressers in Melbourne? Last year? I think Huskies have been involved in other attacks, but not fatal ones.

[nikitaken]

As Cesar Millan said , we should never blame the 'breed' of dogs for attacks, its the training they received, they type of owners they have and many other aspects around that would contribute to these attacks. After all, they are all just dogs, animals. I dont have any of the dogs on those lists, but I thinks its unfair for those breeds to be put on such lists, I've seen calm and gentle Rottweilers and Huskies, very intelligent and obedient Kelpies and Aussies, and at the same time bossy and fearful Westies that growls and Labs that are ready to attack.

[Kelly_Louise]

The Australian cattle dog stands out as a really nasty breed. It's more than 12 times more likely to attack than a Labrador Retriever. Having said that, the Australian Cattle Dog and the Siberian Husky both stand out as dangerous breeds.

Nasty? Or perhaps it's just a breed that doesn't cope at all well with being shoved in a backyard and not trained or exercised, as so many people do to their dogs...

Hear, hear. As a cattle dog owner, I am mortified at this.

My cattle dog isn't nasty. But she certainly has been attacked by a number of dogs that may have made the 'safe' list. Uneducated findings like this repulse me, and do nothing but create and fuel community hysteria.

It's time he stuck to what he knows... and that's not pets. I don't know what it is, but it's not animal behaviour or breedings.