'I'm a dog behaviourist - five breeds are the most unpredictable with aggression'

It’s been just a matter of months since Downing Street unleashed a ban against XL Bullies, amid a nightmarish 21% spike in dog attacks. And while this American canine has certainly been at the forefront of debate, it’s unclear what other breeds are unpredictable when it comes to violence.

Jeanette Muldoon, a dog behaviourist at the Family Dog Club, says there are many other pups that can also act aggressively when their needs aren’t met, but claims this is a very complex picture. She told The Mirror: “I don’t believe there is an aggressive dog breed as such.

“I believe there are some breeds which, if their needs aren’t met, may show aggressive tendencies through frustration. Most of aggression in dogs stems from a lack of understanding of behaviour and body language.”

Jeanette claims that ‘working breeds’ – initially bred to perform various tasks – may be ones to watch in regards to unpredictability. This includes the likes of German Shepherds and Boxers, which have been used in the police force, alongside Rottweilers and Dobermanns.

You may also be surprised to know that Labrador Retrievers are in the working dogs list – despite being one of the most popular dogs in the UK, according to the Horse and Hound. But Jeanette explains they only rarely become aggressive without a physical outlet, given they are very athletic dogs.

Typically, Labradors need at least two hours of exercise a day – which is not uncommon for larger breeds. Without this, they can become frustrated and may then resort to biting and growling. Jeanette continued: “The bigger the dog the more potentially dangerous they could be if they show aggression.

A Labrador dog holding a TV remote in its mouth

“There are [also] lines of dogs that have been bred for aggression [and fighting]…. but many of these dogs are sadly dumped as they don’t always show the aggression these breeders want in their dogs.”

Despite this however, Jeanette warns that any canine can become aggressive when responding emotionally to a situation, and it isn’t just solely down to genetics.

Knowing a dog’s triggers, previous bad experiences, medical conditions and even the environment they were born into can make all the difference to ensure a dog will not act out of frustration. “Aggression can certainly be linked to trauma,” Jeanette added.

“If a dog has had a traumatic incident or past, then this can cause them to react in certain situations in an aggressive manner. If a dog isn’t able to ‘flight’, they may look to fight for survival. There are also pathways within their brains that can be impacted by current and past traumas, which can cause them to react in a aggressive way.”

While it’s impossible to ‘train your dog out of aggression’, you can certainly help them feel more comfortable, and in turn, make them less likely to lash out. Jeanette continued: “There is so much you can do to help with aggression, you need to start with management and look into how you can reduce the rehearsal of aggression. Then the emotional well-being of the dog needs to be considered, and this is the biggest part.

“Are they in pain? What is worrying them? Are they tired? Are they scared? If you just look at the symptoms you won’t get to the cause of the aggression. Then you put management in place, training is part of it but a very small part. If a dog owner is experiencing aggression they need to look to work with a behaviourist.”

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