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 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

[hotpotato]

Westies are good dogs, gotta watch out for deafness though,

I think you have that confused with another breed. It's not a common ailment for westies.

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.

The darker variety you refer to is the Cairn terrier. Occasionally, they whelped white puppies which originally were destroyed. Eventually, an advantage was seen to keeping the white offspring (less likely to be confused with the prey they were hunting and getting shot) and the whites were bred to whites. That's where westies came into being. I have no idea where you got the idea about the deafness. It's simply not the case.

I just worry that with their rising popularity there will be a rise in bad breeders.

There are bad breeders for all variety of breeds and even those that breed hybrids. Lot of puppy mills out there. Avoid them. Look for a good breeder. They are not difficult to find.

[hotpotato]

The only complaint was every time I opened the door she would run like heck. I have talked to many owners of Westies who have said the same.

Yep. That's quite common. Even happens with obedience trained westies. Chasing prey is so instinctive, that all other "unnatural" acts go right out the window. Westies must be on leash when not fenced. Too many sad tales of those who did otherwise.

[hotpotato]

every time I opened the door she would run like heck.

btw, you should see the "anti-escape" mechanisms around my house to prevent just that. :-)

[hotpotato]

In addition to Westies, consider a Bichon Frise.

*Very* different dogs.

they are the easiest dogs to train I've ever had

One reason why :-)

The only downside (I think it's a positive) is that they don't shed, so they have to be groomed every three or four months.

Same with westies. Except grooming is more frequent. And to do it correctly, the fur should be pulled rather than clipped. Sounds awful (or did to me at first) but many of them go to sleep during the grooming process. Most just don't like being made to stand still for *anything.*

But I pay to rescue about 10 of these dogs a month, and I intend to use this as my source when one of my babies passes on.

Anyone that works in rescue gets my respect. I've done rescue off and on and sometimes... I have to take a break as it becomes too heartbreaking for me. So I make items for them to sell. Most people do not understand what all is involved in rescue. I know. Thank you.

[bootless]

There's Riley! Thanks for posting those pictures. As mentioned before, my childhood dog was a wonderful male Irish Terrier named Kelly. What a smart, loyal, big-hearted dog! He even grinned. Really. Both sets of teeth.

[MeekOneGOP]

Thank goodness my new baby Yorkie isn't on the list, LOL!! He might 'bloody' your ankles!!

[MeekOneGOP]

When my dog is around, I let him do the driving. He's not even a Greyhound ! :O)

[patton]

Tut

[Central Scrutiniser]

The westie is a breed that has a higher rate of cogenital deafness than other breeds. But its not as bad as dalmations or bull terriers. Its a genetic trait for white coated dogs. That's why I wince when I see good breeds like the westie in a sleazy pet store in the front window. The Irish Terrier group used to buy the dogs whenever they saw one at a pet store from bad breeders and spay or neuter it so that it couldn't pass on the genes.

[Logic n' Reason]

Them thar Chow Chows will flat tear you up!!

BTTT

[TheGeezer]

We have a number of dogs, all strays (although one was actually abandoned in our yard - tied to a tree! - which we kept). The size ranges from 7 to 100 pounds, with brains from rocks to border collie. I like the mid range best. Borders are cool, but you've got to have the energy to keep them occupied.

[rintense]

This list is nothing more than political correctness at its best. Rotties are excellent dogs with children, as are Dobies. The problem is, the folks who put this list together failed to realize that these breeds are notorious choices for people of ill-repute. While some dogs are naturally aggressive, I blame the people who train them for bastardizing and unfairly maligning the breeds.

[Space Wrangler]

I've had my border collie for 10 yrs now, and hands down, the best, smartest, most loyal dog I've ever had. She's been with me since my junior year of college. She went with me on my big post-college sabbatical out west for 8 mos. She was there when I got married (well, I had her brought to the outdoor reception!), and has now 'adopted' my now 3 yr old daughter as her own. I think more of that dog than I do alot of people. Even at 10 she's shown little sign of slowing down. About the only thing I can really tell that she doesn't do as well as she used to is go up in the air for a frisbee. I've noticed she is being much more careful about how she lands, whereas before she'd go up, get the frisbee, and worry about the landing after that. Great breed!

[New Horizon]

Huskies are also hyperactive and as dumb as a box of rocks.

They have an attention span of approximately 2 seconds.

[FLCowboy,]

When my son was a toddler, the neighbor's St. Bernard got loose and entered my yard where my son was playing. For no reason, the St. Bernard became aggressive, and actually grabbed my son by the head. I grabbed a shovel from the garage and convinced the dog to drop my child. My wife got the the child to safety, and I beat the dog all the way to his yard, while my wife called the sheriff.

The neighbors got rid of the dog, or I would have eliminated it.

[7thson]

I house sat for someone who had two Doberman pups. The most clumsiest and stupidest dogs I have ever met.

[Dutchgirl]

Beautiful and accurate pictures of Golden's. They really do smile.

A lady in my bible study class received a Golden puppy from Seeing Eyes for the blind. She is raising it to be socialized for all kinds of situations and the dog goes every where with her, including the grocery store, worship and the private school where she teaches.

Even at 6 months of age, "Nina" is a great dog. She is not distracted by children, is already housebroken, doesn't chew and is affectionate when it is time to receive attention, non-demanding when it isn't. She practically disappears in social situations, sitting calmly at Pat's feet.

The only problem is that Pat has become attached and will have a really hard time letting her go when the time comes... I contrast this with my daughter's Jack Russell Terrier- somewhat like contrasting Mother Theresa and Jack Nicholson...

[7thson]

I remember growing up, we had a lovable mutt named Andy. In most places we lived, we just let him loose and most times he stayed in the yard. He started to go downhill we he was 16 or so, and had to put him to sleep. I was twelve and it was very sad.

My sister - a few years later - obtained a pure bred beagle. I forget the lineage name but we called him Scuttlebutt. I learned to love beagles then - male beagles, the females are too high strung - and I believe they have an easy going personality and good with children.

Another dog that I am really beginning to like are labs. Every lab I have come across are nice and friendly and lovable. At this time, my wife and I have three cats. But sometime in the future, I believe I will get a lab or a beagle.

[stationkeeper]

Have always had Golden Retrievers....just lost a 14 year old and our 15 year old is fading.....the wife and i want to consider another breed and have discussed border collies.

How rambunctious are they? We like to keep the dog (s) in the house, good idea with a B.C.?

[AnAmericanMother]

Labrador Retriever bump!

Shelley, The Labrador of Doom (at least for pheasants)