Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Can Old English Sheepdogs be Mean?

I saw an interesting statistic concerning dog attacks in the United States and Canada. A study showed that 66% of all dog related fatalities from 1982 to 2007 were from just two breeds: pit bulls and rottweilers. Another study showed that between 1979 and 1988, at least 25 breeds were involved in over 200 human fatalities. Combining the two earlier studies (a span of 20 years) shows the occurrence off an Old English Sheepdog attacking and killing a human being in the U.S. or Canada is zero

It is sometimes believed that certain breeds are inherently aggressive towards humans and should not be allowed as pets. Because of the popularity of certain potentially dangerous breeds, these dogs are frequently owned by owners who are irresponsible. The owners do provide sufficient training, and sometimes encourage aggressiveness in their dog training. 
The opposing view is that no breed is inherently aggressive towards humans, and that banning one breed will move the irresponsible owners to start owning other breeds that haven't yet been banned. 

What are the top 5 dog breeds least likely to bite?

1) Golden Retriever
2) Labrador Retriever
3) Shetland Sheepdog
4) Old English Sheepdog
5) Welsh Terrier

Although Old English Sheepdogs are a playful and loving breed, we should be aware that they are a herding breed. Their large and physical bodies can knock over children and the elderly (and me on a few occasions). Just like any dog breed, it is wise to properly train your Sheepdog, and always supervise their playful activity around children. 

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