Pit bulls, German Shepherds, Rottweilers and Mastiffs. What usually comes to mind when someone may think of these dog breeds? If they’re anything like the vast majority of today’s society, they would probably agree that these dogs are not safe, and that they simply are not a good choice when it comes to deciding what kind of dog one would want. 

Unfortunately, these dog breeds get a bad reputation when it comes to their behavior due to a common misconception that they’re inherently aggressive.

Any dog can bite. There is no evidence that supports the claim that certain dog breeds are aggressive by nature. It all depends on the dog’s individual history. 

Aggression is a learned behavior. Environmental influences are a major contribution to this “aggressive nature” that these breeds are thought to have.

Oftentimes, hostile dogs develop their behavior from the way they were raised. This is because they were abused as puppies, neglected or not properly socialized with other dogs and people. 

A big factor in why people always hear about dog attacks coming from these specific breeds is because of their strength.

If a German Shepherd and Chihuahua were compared to each other, there is no doubt that the German Shepherd is more powerful in every aspect. This means that there wouldn’t be as many reports of dog attacks coming from these smaller breeds because they are simply incapable of doing as much damage.

This does not mean that small dogs attack any more or any less than larger dog breeds. Attacks from smaller breeds may happen just as frequently as they do with large breeds; they are just underreported. 

It is unfair to put restrictions and bans on these dogs. It is also discriminatory to the responsible dog owners who have well-behaved “aggressive” dog breeds. 

These dog breeds can’t take complete fault. It is important to understand that humans play a huge role in the reason why there are so many dog attacks happening every single day.