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We’re officially a nations of dog owners, with the UK’s most popular pet living in around one-in-three households (and rising).
That means that there are around three million pooches living here, with more people choosing to join the army of dog lovers every week.
Of course, if you are looking to welcome a dog into your family, there are 221 different breeds of pedigree dog to choose from, alongside numerous crossbreeds, so there’s plenty of thinking to do before you select your family’s latest addition.
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.
Choosing the right breed is absolutely essential – for example opting for a small dog if you don’t have much room at home, or a hypoallergenic dog if you suffer from allergies.
And one thing you might like to consider is that different breeds are known for having different personality traits - including differing levels of aggression.
Before they were domesticated, dogs had to fight for everything from food to territory – so signs of aggression were essential to their survival.
Many of these has been bred out to create the perfect family dogs we know today, but other retain the wilder characteristics.
There can be good reason for this – for example for those used as service or guard dogs – but prospective owners should be aware that this is the case before choosing to welcome a certain dog into their homes.
It should also be said that individual dogs may display attributes that are unusual for their breed, and all dogs have the potential to be aggressive in certain situations.
That said, here are the 18 breeds most and least likely to show signs of aggression.
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5. Newfoundland
The huge Newfoundland is the very definition of a gentle giant. Their lack of aggression means that they are known as 'nanny dogs' due to their gentle nature and the fact that they get on so well with young children. | Canva/Getty Image
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6. Japanese Chin
A more unusual breed in the UK, the Japanese Chins are known for their sweet, loving, and affectionate nature. They may well be vocal when it comes to strangers coming into their homes, but that's pretty much where any aggression will stop. | Canva/Getty Images
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7. Bernese Mountain Dog
It would be a pretty big problem if the enormous Bernese Mountain Dog was an aggressive breed - thankfully they are another breed of monumental dog who are gentle giants. They are particularly gentle with children and make wonderful family pets - as long as you have enough room and enough cash to pay for all that food! | Canva/Getty Images
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8. Bulldog
Both the English Bulldog and the smaller French Bulldog tend to be fairly peaceable breeds - they actually have very powerful jaws but are unlikely to use them for anything more harmful than chewing a favourite stick. | Canva/Getty Images