If you’ve been thinking about welcoming a new dog into your home then you’re not alone – Kennel Club figures show that the number of people looking for puppies has surged to record levels in recent years.
But with 221 different breeds of pedigree dog to choose from, 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 crossbreed.
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.
Different breeds of dog also tend to have very different personalities – with some more likely to lash out with nips, nibbles and even bites.
Of course any dog is capable of delivering a damaging bite, while most dogs of any breed are unlikely to do any damage unless seriously provoked, but there are certain breeds who have temperaments making them more likely to be aggressive than others.
Researchers in the USA carried out a survey of some of the estimated five million canine bites suffered in the country each year, seperating them into types of dog.
Here are the 10 breeds of dog that they found were most likely to bite.
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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.
![The German Shepherd is one of the world's most useful dogs - being used as everything from guard dogs to drug detection dogs by police forces and armies around the world. One of the attributes that makes them good at these tasks is that they are willing to bite if required - for instance to stop a criminal. Inevitably a dog will occasionally make a mistake and bite someone in a way that is not acceptable.](https://www.scotsman.com/webimg/b25lY21zOjVlZDQ1ZWFjLTkxMzEtNDdkMC05NjA3LTVmZDQ5YTQwMDRkNDpjZDNhYWM4Mi1iMjI2LTQ4MmQtODZkNC0wNGQ1YzgzNjkzYzk=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
5. German Shepherd
The German Shepherd is one of the world's most useful dogs - being used as everything from guard dogs to drug detection dogs by police forces and armies around the world. One of the attributes that makes them good at these tasks is that they are willing to bite if required - for instance to stop a criminal. Inevitably a dog will occasionally make a mistake and bite someone in a way that is not acceptable. Photo: Canva/Getty Images
![The Border Collie is the world's most intelligent dog breed, but they have been bred to herd and protect livestock - using their teeth if necessary. They may well give a nip while playing or exercising with their owner, but a stern word will let them know it's not acceptable. In every other way they are a loving and gentle family dog.](https://www.scotsman.com/webimg/b25lY21zOjc0ZjhjZTJkLTMyMWEtNDFjMy05ZGY4LTdjYTQ3ZWEzYmZiOTo2OWVkODJkYi05YjM0LTRmZjgtYWI2Mi0xYjhhOWJjMTFhZmM=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
6. Border Collie
The Border Collie is the world's most intelligent dog breed, but they have been bred to herd and protect livestock - using their teeth if necessary. They may well give a nip while playing or exercising with their owner, but a stern word will let them know it's not acceptable. In every other way they are a loving and gentle family dog. Photo: Canva/Getty Images
![When you're as tiny as a Chihuahua it's perhaps not surprising that you feel the need to stamp your authority on situations. This can result in the tiny pups being both noisy and nippy - traits that need to be dealt with early in life or they may become permanent.](https://www.scotsman.com/webimg/b25lY21zOmJkZTc3NTAxLTc2YTMtNGQyMy1iYThhLTM0M2FlNmY1ZjI0MTphZGE0MmY1Ny0wMzJjLTRlNWMtODIzOS00YWY1MGJmMzMzNjg=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
7. Chihuahua
When you're as tiny as a Chihuahua it's perhaps not surprising that you feel the need to stamp your authority on situations. This can result in the tiny pups being both noisy and nippy - traits that need to be dealt with early in life or they may become permanent. Photo: Canva/Getty Images
![An unexpected entry in this list, the adorable Cocker Spaniel is unlikely to do any damage but owners will know that they often nip as puppies. The majority of adult dogs will grow out of the habit.](https://www.scotsman.com/webimg/b25lY21zOmM5Y2E1YTQ0LWQzZjUtNDVkZS1iOWVlLTBiOGViOTkwYmFhYzo3ODAyZmNjNC1iZWQzLTQ4M2QtODEzZi02MDU3ZTIwMTBjYmI=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
8. Cocker Spaniel
An unexpected entry in this list, the adorable Cocker Spaniel is unlikely to do any damage but owners will know that they often nip as puppies. The majority of adult dogs will grow out of the habit. Photo: Canva/Getty Images