• iconNews
  • videos
  • entertainment
  • Home
  • News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • Australia
    • Ireland
    • World News
    • Weird News
    • Viral News
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Science
    • True Crime
    • Travel
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV & Film
    • Netflix
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • TikTok
  • LAD Originals
    • FFS PRODUCTIONS
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Citizen Reef
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube

LAD Entertainment

YouTube

LAD Stories

Submit Your Content
5 most dangerous dog breeds in the UK might surprise you

Home> News> UK News

Updated 14:49 5 Oct 2023 GMT+1Published 14:20 5 Oct 2023 GMT+1

5 most dangerous dog breeds in the UK might surprise you

The most dangerous dog breeds have been based on the number of bites suffered, according to Merseyside Police.

Anish Vij

Anish Vij

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.

Advert

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:

5. Rottweiler

It's no surprise rottweilers made it on the list.
Getty stock image

Weight: Female: 35–48 kg, Male: 50–60 kg

Height: Female: 56–63 cm, Male: 61–69 cm

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

German shepherds were included on the list.
Jacques Julien/Getty

Weight: Male: 30–40 kg, Female: 22–32 kg

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

Getty stock image

Weight: Male: 15–27 kg, Female: 13–22 kg

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

Staffordshire bull terriers are responsible for a large number of bites.
Mike Linnane / 500px/Getty Images

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

That's right, cute little Jack Russells were responisble for the most bites.
Olga Pankova/Getty Images

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 image

Topics: Dogs, Animals, UK News

Anish Vij
Anish Vij

Anish is a Journalist at LADbible Group and is a GG2 Young Journalist of the Year 2025. He has a Master's degree in Multimedia Journalism and a Bachelor's degree in International Business Management. Apart from that, his life revolves around the ‘Four F’s’ - family, friends, football and food. Email: [email protected]

X

@Anish_Vij

Advert

Advert

Advert

  • Most powerful passport of 2026 revealed with UK and US not in top 5
  • Dog owners given stark warning as family's Jack Russell dies from venomous snake bite in UK
  • 5 most dangerous dog breeds in UK might surprise you as XL Bully ban comes into force
  • Signs that your pet might be overheating as temperature in UK set to hit up to 28 degrees

Choose your content:

2 hours ago
  • TikTok/@chadwfranke
    2 hours ago

    Ruby Franke’s son reads disturbing journal from before she was given prison sentence

    Chad Franke has shared several diary entries that he wrote in the months leading up to his mum's 2023 arrest

    News
  • WBRZ News
    2 hours ago

    Man made chilling comment after shooting dead son’s karate instructor live on TV

    Gary Plauché took the law into his own hands after finding out his son was being abused

    News
  • NASA
    2 hours ago

    NASA discovers new planet ‘remarkably similar to Earth’ in solar system

    Unfortunately it's a long way away and absolutely freezing

    News
  • SWNS
    2 hours ago

    Girl, 5, is dying from childhood dementia as parents share early sign they missed

    Holly Nayler has a mental age of between 12 to 18 months, due to her rare health condition

    News