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Dogs That Bite 2023: Here are the 10 breeds of adorable dog likely to bite and snap at humans - including the loving Jack Russell 🐶

David Hepburn
·4-min read
Some dogs are more likley than others to deliver painful bites. (Photo: Canva/Getty Images)
Some dogs are more likley than others to deliver painful bites. (Photo: Canva/Getty Images)

If you’ve been thinking about welcoming a new dog into your home then you’re not alone – Kennel Club figures show that the number of people looking for puppies has surged since the start of the global pandemic.

But with 221 different breeds of pedigree dog to choose from, there’s plenty of thinking to do before you select your family’s latest four-legged addition – whether you want a large dog, family-friendly dog, or crossbreed.

There’s even academic guidance to seek out, with Psychologist Stanley Coren’s book ‘The Intelligence of Dogs’ ranking breeds by instincts, obedience, and the ability to adapt.

It may surprise some that the Jack Russell Terrier is the dog most likely to bite. These popular small dogs were originally bred to hunt and kill rats and other vermin, so giving chase and biting are very much in their DNA - although can be minimised with training. (Photo: Canva/Getty Images)
It may surprise some that the Jack Russell Terrier is the dog most likely to bite. These popular small dogs were originally bred to hunt and kill rats and other vermin, so giving chase and biting are very much in their DNA - although can be minimised with training. (Photo: Canva/Getty Images)

Different breeds of dog also tend to have very different personalities – with some more likely to lash out with nips, nibbles and even bites.

Of course any dog is capable of delivering a damaging bite, while most dogs of any breed are unlikely to do any damage unless seriously provoked, but there are certain breeds who have temperaments making them more likely to be aggressive than others.

Researchers in the USA carried out a survey of some of the estimated five million canine bites suffered in the country each year, seperating them into types of dog.

Here are the 10 breeds of dog that they found were most likely to bite.

The Siberian Husky is not a breed for a novice dog owner. They are intelligent and playful but can get belligerent, rowdy and destructive - particularly if they don't get the huge amount of exercise they need or if their owner doesn't fully assert their dominance. This problematic behaviour can unfortunately include biting. (Photo: Canva/Getty Images)

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Another breed banned in the UK, the Japanese-born Tosa Inu is a dog that was bred for fighting, with a fearsome bite. Like all dogs, they can become gentle family pets if properly trained, but it's a serious challenge to do so, and there's alway a chance that they could deliver a nasty bite if scared or anxious. (Photo: Canva/Getty Images)
Another breed banned in the UK, the Japanese-born Tosa Inu is a dog that was bred for fighting, with a fearsome bite. Like all dogs, they can become gentle family pets if properly trained, but it's a serious challenge to do so, and there's alway a chance that they could deliver a nasty bite if scared or anxious. (Photo: Canva/Getty Images)

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An unexpected entry in this list, the adorable Cocker Spaniel is unlikely to do any damage but owners will know that they often nip as puppies. The majority of adult dogs will grow out of the habit. (Photo: Canva/Getty Images)
An unexpected entry in this list, the adorable Cocker Spaniel is unlikely to do any damage but owners will know that they often nip as puppies. The majority of adult dogs will grow out of the habit. (Photo: Canva/Getty Images)
Another dog designed to herd and protect, the Rottweiler sometimes gets a largely undeserved reputation for being aggressive. Most Rottweilers are very gentle dogs, but if they are not trained properly they can have a dangerous habit of lashing out in self defence when the actual threat level is small. (Photo: Canva/Getty Images)
Another dog designed to herd and protect, the Rottweiler sometimes gets a largely undeserved reputation for being aggressive. Most Rottweilers are very gentle dogs, but if they are not trained properly they can have a dangerous habit of lashing out in self defence when the actual threat level is small. (Photo: Canva/Getty Images)
The German Shepherd is one of the world's most useful dogs - being used as everything from guard dogs to drug detection dogs by police forces and armies around the world. One of the attributes that makes them good at these tasks is that they are willing to bite if required - for instance to stop a criminal. Inevitably a dog will occasionally make a mistake and bite someone in a way that is not acceptable. (Photo: Canva/Getty Images)
When you're as tiny as a Chihuahua it's perhaps not surprising that you feel the need to stamp your authority on situations. This can result in the tiny pups being both noisy and nippy - traits that need to be dealt with early in life or they may become permanent. (Photo: Canva/Getty Images)
When you're as tiny as a Chihuahua it's perhaps not surprising that you feel the need to stamp your authority on situations. This can result in the tiny pups being both noisy and nippy - traits that need to be dealt with early in life or they may become permanent. (Photo: Canva/Getty Images)
The Border Collie is the world's most intelligent dog breed, but they have been bred to herd and protect livestock - using their teeth if necessary. They may well give a nip while playing or exercising with their owner, but a stern word will let them know it's not acceptable. In every other way they are a loving and gentle family dog. (Photo: Canva/Getty Images)
The Chow Chow is a fiercely loyal and protective dog, meaning that there's no danger of their owner getting a bite. Issues can arrive when they think their owner is being threatened, or simply if they take against a stranger, leading to a chance of a bite. It means they should be kept under strict control all the time. (Photo: Canva/Getty Images)
The Chow Chow is a fiercely loyal and protective dog, meaning that there's no danger of their owner getting a bite. Issues can arrive when they think their owner is being threatened, or simply if they take against a stranger, leading to a chance of a bite. It means they should be kept under strict control all the time. (Photo: Canva/Getty Images)
No longer recognised by the UK Kennel Club after they were banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act, the Put Bull is still a popular pet in the USA. The main issue with this type of dog is not only that they are slightly more likely to deliver a bite than other breeds, but that their bite is so powerful that it can do severe damage - leading to several fatalities each year. (Photo: Canva/Getty Images)