Are large dogs more aggressive?

When you’re worried about being bitten by a dog, you may be more worried about a larger breed of dog. If a German Shepherd charges toward you while you’re out for a run, for instance, that’s much more frightening than if it’s a Boston Terrier.

This has caused some people to believe that large dogs are more aggressive and more dangerous. But is that true?

Smaller breeds are actually more aggressive

Interestingly, studies have found that the opposite is true. Smaller dogs tend to be more aggressive than larger dogs, which may mean that they are more likely to bite. Some of the reasons for this temperament could be that these dogs feel they have to be aggressive in order to protect themselves, whereas larger breeds feel more confident. It’s also been noted that smaller dogs tend to live longer, and age itself could be a contributing factor.

The difference for someone who gets bitten, naturally, is the amount of damage that either dog can inflict if it does bite someone. A smaller breed may be more aggressive, but a bite may be ineffective or cause very little damage. A larger breed may very rarely show any signs of aggression, but if they do, the ramifications could be very serious indeed. They could easily kill someone, especially a child.

If you’ve been bitten by a dog and you have high medical bills and other costs to consider, it may be time to look into your legal options to seek compensation. The dog’s owner may have breached their duty to protect you from harm – perhaps they knew they had a dangerous dog but they still didn’t restrain it properly – and could be liable for those costs.