If you’ve been thinking about welcoming a new dog into your home then you’re in good company – Royal Kennel Club (the new name for the UK Kennel Club) stats show that the number of people looking for puppies has surged to record levels.
Dogs come in all shapes, colours and sizes - there are 221 different pedigree dogs recognised by breeders in the UK, from Affenpinscher to Yorkshire Terrier (there are sadly no dog breeds starting with the letter ‘z’!).
So 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 an easy to train dog.
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There is even scientific research to guide you, in particular psychologist Stanley Coren’s groundbreaking book The Intelligence of Dogs.
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.
One thing worth considering is that some types of dog are more likely to be aggressive than others.
Before they were domesticated, dogs had to fight for everything from food to territory – so aggression was 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 24 breeds of dog most and least likely to show signs of aggression.
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17. Portuguese Water Dog
Sometimes aggression can be caused due to a lack of understanding so often the most intelligent dogs can be the least aggressive. The Portuguese Water Dog is one such bright spark that has the added bonus of being low-shedding so suitable for allergy sufferers. | Getty Images for Westminster Ken
18. Havanese
A more diminuative pup that doesn't suffer from the 'small dog syndrome' that often leads to aggression is the Havanese. These dogs were originally bred in Cuba and just like to snuggle up with their owner. If they aren't able to they may get a little grumpy, but never aggressive. | Canva/Getty Images
19. 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. | Getty Images
20. 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