CDC's 10 Most Dangerous Dogs List [you'll never guess which one is the most dangerous!]

NBC17 ^ | 1-14-04 | NBC17

[ambrose]

NBC 17

CDC's 10 Most Dangerous Dogs List

POSTED: 3:58 PM EST January 14, 2004

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Tuesday's fatal dog attack in Harnett County is not as rare as you may think. Dogs kill 10 to 20 people in the United States every year.

Last year in Orange County, 300 dog bites were reported, and 350 were reported in Raleigh.

	DOG SAFETY Stay Safe Tips For Parents Own A Dog? Been Injured By A Dog?

While national statistics show at least 30 breeds have attacked humans, 10 dog breeds are on the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's most dangerous list, meaning they tend to bite the most frequently. They are:

Pit bulls
Rottweilers
German Shepherds
Huskies
Alaskan Malamutes
Doberman Pinschers
Chow Chows
Great Danes
St. Bernards
Akitas

The breeds considered most likely to kill are pit bulls and rottweilers, and the CDC says that a chained dog is more likely to bite than an unchained dog.

The CDC also says the majority of dog attacks happen at home or in a familiar place, which is why choosing the right dog for your family is crucial.

Copyright 2004 by NBC17.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

[Lancey Howard]

A woman I worked with had a St. Bernard and had to get rid of it because it attacked her baby. I found out later that this kind of thing happens from time to time with St. Bernards.

[Indy Pendance]

I wish, these are run of the mill Shephards. When we first brought her home, I contacted the local German Shephard rescue people, and got advice about introducing to older German Shephards. They told us about some 'breeders' who were ruining the the breed by making larger and larger dogs. Lots of interbreeding and such.

It took about 2 months for them to establish the pecking order. There were a couple fights, but nothing serious, just little nips. The younger one won that battle, and they've been best buddies since. It's funny, the younger dog hovers over the older one, a protective stance of sorts. She's kind of been our 'radar' that something is going to happen. It's really interesting to see them exhibit this behavior.

We put baby gates up and she's confined to the living room and kitchen area now. At first, I did that because I didn't want her falling down the stairs, but now, we're going keep her somewhat confined. The carpet is crap (pun intended), so, it's not a loss, but it's pain cleaning it. We do make an exception and let her sleep in our bedroom during her clingy phase.

You're right about losing the brain. She would be so disoriented and lost. She's always been clingy to me, probably because she was so confused about who was her owner. When we first brought her home, she followed me everywhere, as a matter of fact, she's under my feet right now. As she became used to her new family, she settled down more, but after her attacks, she searches me out, and will not let me out of her site.

Sorry about your Airedale.

[Wombat101]

S*it! My new puppy is a German Shepherd/Rottweiler mix...Guess I better get the .357 ready for when she goes berserk in another year or so...

P.S. the ariticle is crap. I have owned 2 malamutes, 1 akita, 1 pinscher and a great dane. All were as gentle as lambs. It's the training and the socialization and the dog owner's sense of responsibility that's important.

[hotpotato]

They tend to be really popular with men. It's a rough and tumble breed, somewhat macho. The photo of those little guys shows heavily soft-coated westies (not the usual westie pup). This is not a show coat but I must admit... they are quite the cuties like that.

This is more standard for a westie pup (before ears are up).. not quite so much fur:

[potlatch]

Lol, did you name him O.J.??

[Indy Pendance]

Hahahah! love it!

[Central Scrutiniser]

Westies are good dogs, gotta watch out for deafness though, the breed was naturally dark, but they bred the white into it, and sometimes (as in bull terriers or dalmations) deafness is a side effect. They are cute dogs, I just worry that with their rising popularity there will be a rise in bad breeders.

I've fallen in love with the Irish, a stubborn and hard to raise dog, but they are fearless and apply reckless abandon to everything they do.

[scan58]

My divorced daughter and 5 yr. old granddaughter have 2 beautiful pit bull terriers. They are two of the most loveable, yet protective and well behaved dogs I have seen.
There have been several burglaries in her neighborhood...but not at her house.

[hotpotato]

I want to put in a good word for Rottweilers! I had mine for ten years and he was the smartest, sweetest most wonderful dog I have ever known.

I could have written these exact words. And added, he was the best house pet I ever had and wouldn't hurt a flea. Westie puppies love to play and they play rough. Once, when mine was a wee 13 month old puppy, she ran at him, jumped up and clamped onto the side of his jaw and hung there. He looked at me so sad as if to say "would you please please get it off." Never hurt her no matter how rough she played (and westies play rougher than any dog I've ever known... you're sure they are going to kill each other).

I quit taking him in public because stupid parents would bring little kids up to him and because he was so big, they didn't want to touch his head but instead, would jam their finger into his rear. He was one of those huge rotties with a bucket head, 145 lbs (that's a *real* 145 lbs unlike most dogweight that is guessed at). One couple brought their little girl up to him and she was eating an icecream cone and they told her to "go ahead, pet the nice doggie." She patted his head holding an icecream right inches in front of his nose. *I* knew he wouldn't hurt her but those idiot parents didn't. He just looked sideways at me and licked his mouth. He knew he wasn't supposed to take anything from anyone's hand unless I gave the command "take it." Was very gentle when he did. Unfortunately, they just don't live very long. Especially the larger variety.

[hotpotato]

LOL!! Hilarious! Thanks! I'm sending that around :-)

[blackbart.223]

I've owned two dobermans. While protective, they never bit anyone.

I have a Golden Lab now. We just walk and hunt Chuckar.

[NicNacPattyWac]

We've taken ours for a walk, and can see people walking way around us, to avoid being near her. What's sad is when she sees them coming her way, her little stubby tail starts waggin'.
She went last week for her annuals, and our vet made the mistake of saying "good girl"...he got his face washed.

[ChefKeith]

CDC- the same ones that bring Us stats on firearm deaths... < /sarcasam >

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

Goldens.

[hotpotato]

English bull dogs have a pretty good rep as far as I know. When I see one, I *really* really want to pet it.

If you're sitting where he wants to be, prepare to have a 70 pound bulldog take up residence on your lap

You should have a 145 lb Rottweiler that wants to climb into your lap and snuggle. Couldn't understand why he could do it when he was a pup and somehow... he reached a time when, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't fit his head, torso and four legs into the same space any more (at least he didn't have to worry about a tail :-).

Cute picture, btw. :-)

[CajunConservative]

It took about 2 months for them to establish the pecking order. There were a couple fights, but nothing serious, just little nips. The younger one won that battle, and they've been best buddies since. It's funny, the younger dog hovers over the older one, a protective stance of sorts. She's kind of been our 'radar' that something is going to happen. It's really interesting to see them exhibit this behavior.

My shepherd was like that with my dad when he would start having seizures. She knew when he was going into one and would lay at his feet during the episode.

[HannagansBride]

Someone please explain how the CDC gets involved with "dangerous dogs?" Are dangerous dogs a "disease?"

[LisaMalia]

My guess would be rabies.

[hotpotato]

Westies are the most dangerous, by far! A squirrel told me so!

Couldn't have been from personal experience that he was able to relate that info to you :-)

[hotpotato]

My sister's friend had a Yorkie, she lives in a fancy part of Scottsdale that used to be a desert preserve. A hawk swooped down and picked it up and ate it. Gotta be careful with them tiny little dogs...

Wasn't that in a movie?