The five most dangerous dog breeds in the UK will probably surprise you.
With there being a 34 percent increase of police recorded dog attacks in England and Wales over the past five years, it's easy to forget that these guys are supposed to be 'a man's best friend'.
This comes after a number of brutal American XL bully attacks that have taken place this year.
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The most recent incident ended in tragedy after a 54-year-old man in Sunderland died when he was attacked by a suspected XL Bully.
And just a few weeks ago, an 11-year-old girl was savaged by an XL bully in Bordesley Green, Birmingham.
However, according to figures from Merseyside Police, it seems that the most dangerous dog breed in the UK is pretty unexpected.
The figures are based on number of bites suffered and here are the top five:
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5. Rottweiler
Weight: Female: 35–48 kg, Male: 50–60 kg
Height: Female: 56–63 cm, Male: 61–69 cm
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This domestic dog is known in German as Rottweiler Metzgerhund, named after Rottweil butchers' dogs, as their main use was to herd livestock and pull carts laden with butchered meat to market.
4. German Shepherd
Weight: Male: 30–40 kg, Female: 22–32 kg
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Height: Male: 60–65 cm, Female: 55–60 cm
The German Shepard was originally bred as a herding dog, for herding sheep.
They can be difficult to manage if they lose their temper.
3. Pitt Bull Terrier
Weight: Male: 15–27 kg, Female: 13–22 kg
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Height: Male: 45–53 cm, Female: 43–50 cm
The American XL bully, many of which have allegedly come to the UK illegally, is thought to have been bred from a number of breeds, including the American pit bull terrier.
This breed was banned in the UK in 1991.
2. Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Weight: Female: 11–15 kg, Male: 13–17 kg
Height: Female: 33–38 cm, Male: 36–41 cm
Although the second dog on the list has been featured in a number of attacks over the years, many have argued that it's due to poor training from owners.
1. Jack Russell
Weight: 6–8 kg
Height: 33–36 cm
That's right, the number one most dangerous dog breed in the UK, based on number of bites suffered, is the teeny weeny Jack Russell.
For what these dogs lack in size, they certainly make up for with aggression.
Because the small terrier was brought up on fox-hunting, if it's not been walked or attended to in a while, it gets rather annoyed.
Featured Image Credit: Getty stock imageTopics: Dogs, Animals, UK News