Chihuahua
Most people think that they’re perfect for kids because they’re small, but that’s not the case at all. They’re known to be a stubborn breed that’s hard to train. They can also become jealous of young children and aggressive.
Alaskan Malamute
These dogs are notorious for being difficult to train because they’re hardwired to be pack leaders and not followers. They’re known to attack smaller animals and children to show dominance and they need socialization with other dogs and humans too.
Rottweiler
Rottweilers were bred for their strength. They were used for pulling carts and herding livestock. They’re loyal animals but have a tendency to react violently towards strangers. They have strong personalities and need strict training in order to control them.
Bullmastiff
Bullmastiffs can grow to be very large and can be aggressive, which can pose a risk around small children. They don’t seem to be aware of their size so can knock kids down and trample on them without realizing it.
Saint Bernard
These gentle giants are beautiful, lovable, and very playful. They’re easy to train and can behave around children. The biggest problem with them is that they can hurt kids by accident because of their playful nature and their massive build.
Weimaraner
Weimaraners are very energetic dogs and because they’re hunting dogs, their hunting instincts kick in around small creatures, which could include your kids. These dogs wouldn’t hurt your kids on purpose but they can because of their high energy levels.
Australian Shepherd
This breed is very energetic and brave, which makes them great watchdogs and disaster rescue dogs. They need daily walks because they’re so energetic. They can become aggressive with kids as they may see them as pups that need discipline.
Siberian Husky
Huskies are extremely energetic dogs and need a lot of time and attention. Trying to keep up with its needs can become exhausting. Huskies might also become jealous and want to compete with your small kids for your attention.
Affenpinscher
These dogs are known for being really playful and mischievous. They’re an extremely stubborn and inquisitive breed. Small kids might play rough with them because they’re small and that might result in the dog snapping at the child to defend themselves.
Chow Chow
People can mistake these dogs for good pets for their kids because their fluffy hair makes them look like cuddly soft toys. They’re overly jealous and can become obsessed with their owners, which could cause a risk for small kids.
Afghan Hound
These dogs were bred as guard dogs and for hunting, so they need discipline and training. If untrained they become disobedient and quite destructive. They might see small kids’ playfulness as a form of aggression towards them and react badly.
English Toy Spaniel
These dogs like to be dominant and in charge. They’re small and cute but can be quite aggressive to other dogs, children, and even adults if they feel threatened. That’s why if a child mishandles them they may get bitten.
Greyhound
Greyhounds are usually bred for racing because of their speed and energy. Although these dogs are often associated with racing, but they are loving gentle giants. When it comes to Greyhounds, looks may be deceiving, although we think they are quite adorable!
French Bulldog
Even though they’re a playful breed that doesn’t mean they’re good to have around kids. They’re very demanding and need training otherwise, they act out by being aggressive or mischievous. They need a firm authoritative approach to be well behaved.
Japanese Chin
These tiny dogs are adorable and great companions. But they’re very demanding of their master’s attention and affection and don’t want to share them. If they’re too pampered they feel they’re the boss but if they feel neglected they become jealous.
Shih Tzu
They are the least recommended owning if you have small children in the family. They get frightened and over excited easily, which in some cases, can result in young kids getting bitten. This is especially the case if there’s rough play.
Pekingese
These small dogs may be cute and cuddly but don’t like being treated like toys. They’re very independent and don’t like to be cuddled and manhandled, which kids won’t understand. Pekingese need a lot of discipline and authority to behave.
Dalmatian
These beautifully spotted dogs need constant attention, socialization, and affection from their owners. If you have small children around you won’t be able to dedicate the amount of time this breed needs. If they feel neglected they develop behavioral problems.
Cane Corso
This mastiff breed originates from Italy and has been around for years. They were bred to participate in blood sports, battle, and hunt. They’re fantastic guard dogs but shouldn’t be kept as pets because of their dangerous and aggressive tendencies.
Beagle
These dogs are medium-sized, very confident, and self-assured. So much so, that they have no issues showing aggression to other bigger dogs. They need a lot of attention or otherwise, they’ll chew everything and dig up your garden.
Neapolitan Mastiff
These dogs are gentle creatures despite their enormous size. They’re very affectionate with their owners but are extremely strong, which makes them a hazard around kids. They can accidentally sit or step on small kids, or even knock them over.
German Shepherd
These dogs are known for being loyal, smart, and very obedient when well trained. However, they have an aggressive side, which makes them dangerous to have around kids in general. They’re very powerful animals with sharp teeth to be aware of.
Great Dane
This breed is one of the tallest dogs, which can be dangerous around small children. They need to be trained from young, but even then one can never be sure if the dog decides to become aggressive one day.
Wolfdog
As their name states these majestic-looking dogs are half-wolf. That means that they have wild instincts within them, which can manifest itself at any time. For this reason, it’s not advisable to have them as pets especially around small children.
Staffordshire Terrier
This breed is very strong and can easily become aggressive. They need to be trained in order to keep them from misbehaving. They’re known to be gentle with humans, but they still have a violent streak to watch out for.
Presa Canario
This breed has a bad reputation for not being fit to be a pet. These dogs were bred to be sheepherders on farms because of their size and demeanor. It’s capable of taking a human down if it so wishes.
Miniature Pinscher
This tiny dog is very possessive with its food and toys and is willing to fight a child if they feel their food or toy could be taken away. They’re also dominant and aggressive with other dogs but are ok around cats.
Japanese Tosa Mastiff
Some countries have banned these dogs from being kept as pets because they were historically bred to fight. They’re described as being fearless and aggressive even with their owners. It wouldn’t be safe to have these dogs around your kids.
Dogo Argentino
This Argentinian breed is tough and has also been banned from being kept as a pet in many countries because of their aggressive nature. Even if they’re trained, they’ve been known to attack humans or other dogs without warning.
Rhodesian Ridgeback
These dogs have been used for tracking lions in southern Africa, which should tell you that it wouldn’t be a good idea to keep them as pets. They have been known to jump fences and attack children if they feel threatened.
Maltese Poodle
Breeders simply won’t sell Maltese Poodles to families with small children because they’re so small and fragile. Children don’t realize if they’re playing too rough and can seriously injure the dog accidentally because they might think it’s a toy.
Border Collie
These dogs are extremely smart and agile and they excel in competitions where they need to perform tricks. They’re very energetic and need to be active. For this reason, they are not patient with kids and tend to snap easily.
Akita
These dogs are very big, powerful, and independent. They have a unique temperament and need special care as they have been bred to be solitary work dogs. That’s why they don’t enjoy being around too many people and especially children.
Jack Russell Terrier
They may be small and cute but they’re not the cuddly type of dog. They’re overly energetic and are very short-tempered. This means they have an aggressive streak, which poses a risk around small children because they might bite unexpectedly.
Shar-Pei
These big dogs are very reserved, independent, and appreciate their own space. Kids might see their wrinkles as a reason to cuddle and play with them but that’s when they could react badly because of their tendency to be aggressive.
Doberman Pinscher
These large and powerful animals were bred strictly as guard dogs because their courageous and highly intelligent. They’re not ideal around kids because they’re overprotective and they can resort to aggression when they feel the need to protect their owners.
American Bandogge Mastiff
Also known as a Bandog, is an incredibly strong animal. They are a cross between a Neapolitan Mastiff and an American Pit Bull Terrier. These dogs have been known to be aggressive and quite dangerous because of their muscular build.
Yorkshire Terrier
These tiny dogs look like stuffed animals they’re so cute. They’re not great around kids because they’re very fragile and can be easily injured if kids play rough or if kids pick them up incorrectly or even drop them.
American Pit bull Terrier
Originally bred to be aggressive fighting dogs so they have that instinct hardwired in them. If they bite, they tend to go for the throat and not any other body part. They’re all about dominance so shouldn’t be around kids.
Daschund
Daschund better known as sausage dogs tend to be aggressive and very possessive. They don’t have much patience for small children if they’re manhandled. They like to be pack leaders so they can bite kids trying to discipline them.
Standard Schnauzer
These Schnauzers are known to be aggressive especially with other dogs. They like dominance and if not trained from a young age can become difficult to manage. Because of their dominant nature, they’re not suited to be around small children.
Cocker Spaniel
These Spaniels have a negative trait which is a big enough reason to not have them around kids. They have what’s called ‘rage syndrome,’ which means they can become violent and lash out at any given moment for no apparent reason.
Wire Fox Terrier
These terriers are intelligent and are championship winners but they’re not easy pets. They’re not very good with other dogs or cats and are quite independent, which means they don’t like to be bothered. That’s why they’re not good with kids.
Newfoundland
The sheer size of these gentle giants poses a risk around kids. They may not intentionally harm your kids but they could knock them over whilst playing. A smaller adult might even have a problem controlling this large dog.
Irish Wolfhound
This is the tallest of all breeds and was bred to hunt wolves. They have an aggressive nature and are driven by an instinct to hunt smaller prey. That’s not a trait you want in a pet around your children.
Spanish Water Dog
These dogs are very high maintenance and need plenty of exercise every day. Without proper training, they can be difficult to handle. Without stimulation, they can become a nuisance around the house and possibly react aggressively to show their frustration.
English Foxhound
The English Foxhound has been labeled as one of the most difficult dog breeds because of their excessively active nature. They do well in open spaces as they were bred for hunting. They can be quite driven and boisterous too.
Harriers
Harriers look like over-sized Beagles but are not as gentle natured. They love to be active, explore, and dig. They don’t take well to other pets or any creature smaller than them and this could include your small child.
Cesky Terrier
This dog was created by breeding a Scottish Terrier with a Sealyham Terrier for hunting purposes. They’re very active and demand a lot of love and attention, which could be tricky with small children around because they would compete for your attention.
Finnish Spitz
These dogs are very shy and can be suspicious of new people and animals. This could be dangerous when introducing them to the family with small kids as they may feel threatened and attack. They also suffer from separation anxiety.
Skye Terrier
Training and maintenance of Skye Terriers are quite challenging because they have an aggressive nature, especially with other animals. They’re highly strung and chase down anything that moves and as a result, they tend to be snappy too.
Pharaoh Hound
They’re a very athletic breed that can jump exceptionally high, which means you’ll definitely need high fencing to keep this pup in your yard. Their instinct is to hunt and chase which could be dangerous with small kids running around.
Bull Terrier
These dogs were originally bred to be fighters so they’re very strong and muscular. This could pose a risk when you have children in the family because you never know when their fighting instinct could kick in.
Bully Gull Terrier
Also known as a Pakistani Bulldog, these dogs can be very dangerous because of their aggressive nature. They need consistent training and they need to be monitored all the time because their behavior can be unpredictably dangerous regardless of who’s around.
Caucasian Shepherd
These massive herding dogs that can weigh up to 200 pounds were bred to protect livestock from predators such as bears. They’re not ideal pets because they’re extremely powerful and can be dangerous and aggressive if not properly trained.
Kangal
This giant sheepdog comes from the mastiff family so they’re strong and are capable of fighting bears and wolves. They‘re said to be generally gentle pets but one can never be too careful when there are small children in the house.
Tosa Inu
These dogs were originally bred to be fighters are also known as Japanese Mastiff. They can weigh up to a staggering 200 pounds. Because of their aggressive nature, they have been banned from some countries including the U.K.
Perro De Presa Canario
Here’s another dog from the mastiff family and they originate from the Canary Islands. They were used as shepherds and to protect livestock from predators. There have been some that have killed people because they were not socialized and trained.
Basenji
This hunting dog originated from Central Africa and has been described as being alert, affectionate, and curious. However, they’re a little shy and reserved with strangers and children. They are said to be the second least trainable breed of all.
Fila Brasileiro
This beast of a dog is also known as a Brazilian Mastiff. It’s known to be aggressive and can be rampant and out of control. They’re banned in many countries because of the combination between their size and aggressive temperament.
Belgian Malinois
The Belgian Malinois is a herding dog that is extremely intelligent and highly energetic. They are often mistaken for German Shepherds, but they are smaller in stature. The Belgian Malinois is an amazing guard dog, and it is also often used by police departments as canine officers. Personality-wise, however, these dogs can be very aggressive, especially when other animals or small children are in the picture. Their bites are also extremely strong, with a force of 195 PSI.
Boxer
The Boxer is a popular dog in American households. They are playful, loyal, happy, and smart. They can also be very gentle with the children they are raised with, and they can get along with other animals. On the flip side, however, the Boxer has to be trained to be that type of dog. Without this training, a Boxer can be very aggressive. They are also large and have a powerful bite, which can make them quite dangerous, so seek out proper training if you get one.
American Bulldog
The American Bulldog was derived from the now extinct Old English Bulldog. Like it’s cousin, the English Bulldog, these dogs are stocky and strong. Unlike the English Bulldog, however, the American version is taller, more aggressive, and fearless, which can make them a bit more dangerous than other breeds. On the other hand, these dogs can be very friendly and sociable, and they can even be great family dogs, but proper training is essential.
English Mastiff
There have been a few Mastiff breeds on this list, and we are going to throw this one in, too. The English Mastiff is extremely large, which is why they can be so dangerous. Males can get over 200 pounds, in fact, which can easily knock a grown man over. Additionally, they were also bred as war dogs, so they were trained to be ferocious. Some English Mastiffs will still have this tendency, so it is best to seek help from a well-recognized breeder and trainer.
Boerboel
The Boerboel is from South Africa, and it is one of the most powerful and strong dog breeds in the world. Also known as the “Farmer’s Dog,” these dogs were bred as farming dogs and protectors, and eventually was used to hunt baboons and leopards. The Boerboel has a very powerful bite, up to 800 psi, and as you can imagine, they require a lot of training and a firm owner.
Labrador Retriever
What? The Lab? No! Not so fast…yes, the Labrador Retriever is an extremely popular family dog. They are great with kids and other pets, and if you are like most of us, you had one, have one, or knew someone who did. That being said, statistics show us that they have a pretty high number of attacks and bites. However, you also have to consider that they are the most popular dog breed in the US. So, take this with a grain of salt.
Ca de Bou
Strong, powerful, and intelligent are three words that describe the Ca de Bou, which is also known as the Perro de Presa Mallorquin. Though these traits might sound as if they are desirable, they can also create a very aggressive, ferocious dog if they are not left in check. Since they are so smart, they are not difficult to train, but they are also quite independent, so they need a professional trainer and a serious owner.
Dalmatian
The Dalmatian is a sensitive dog, which can easily become aggressive thanks to their high-energy, intelligence, and independent tendencies. They are also pretty adorable, and they don’t look aggressive, which makes people think they can get in a Dalmatian’s face or get too playful with them. This isn’t the case, and the Dalmatian breed is stubborn, and will not hesitate to bite if they feel threatened.
Russian Black Terrier
The Russian Black Terrier is calm and smart, but they are also huge. They are also confident, and they don’t take kindly to strangers, as they are very protective of their families. Bred to be guard dogs, these pups can easily weigh more than 140 pounds, which is a match for any human. So, proper training is a necessity for anyone interested in getting one.
Tibetan Mastiff
The Tibetan Mastiff makes a great guard dog, but in the wrong hands, this breed can certainly be dangerous. In Tibet, where these dogs were first bred, they were often chained to a pole as puppies in order to make them aggressive. One of these large dogs could also guard an entire village of people.
Czechoslovakian Vlcak
The Czechoslovakian Vlcak was originally used to guard the border of Czechoslovakia, and it was bred by the military. Often compared to the German Shepherd, they are also powerful and loyal. These dogs make good hunting companions, as they have an amazing sense of sight and hearing, but like other dogs on this list, they require a lot of training.
Moscow Watchdog
The Moscow Watchdog is a dog that was created by combining the Caucasian Shepherd, Saint Bernard, and Caucasian Ovcharka. As such, these are very powerful, aggressive, and even ferocious dogs. They look similar to a Saint Bernard, but are even more aggressive, and they are huge in size. As the name suggests, they make formidable watchdogs, and for people who are not familiar with aggressive breeds, they could be dangerous.
Dogue de Bordeaux
Also known as a French Mastiff, the Dogue de Bordeaux was originally used as a working and farm dog. Though some of these dogs can be very loving and friendly, it is certainly not uncommon for them to become aggressive. Thanks to their large size and history of aggression, they are banned in certain areas, and most insurance companies will not insure homes where these dogs live.
Beagle
The Beagle is a small, friendly, and common family dog, but at the heart of the matter is that they, too, can be a bit on the aggressive side. You have to remember that a Beagle is a hound, and thus, they are bred for hunting. The Beagle had to be alert and aggressive when out on a hunt, and many Beagles, if not trained out of it, will still allow that aggression out.
Bedlington Terrier
The Bedlington Terrier might be the most unique looking dog on our list, and it, too, can be quite dangerous. Like other breeds we have presented, the Bedlington Terrier was bred to hunt, and that instinct is still alive and well in modern dogs. They are stubborn, they bark, and they can be aggressive, especially towards other animals, so keep this in mind if you bring one into your home.