There is no set list of dangerous breeds or blacklisted breeds, though there are several breeds that many agree fall into one or both of these categories.
Blacklisted Breeds
A blacklisted breed is a breed that many insurance companies refuse to cover. Many pet insurance companies do not cover these breeds, and some homeowners’ insurance companies will exclude you if you own one of these breeds. PetPremium has no list of ‘blacklisted breeds’ and insures every pet.
Click on any of the commonly blacklisted breeds below to learn more about them in our breed database.
- Akita Inu
- Alaskan Malamute
- Chow Chow
- Doberman Pinscher
- German Shepherds
- Great Danes
- Mastiff
- Perro de Presa Canario
- Pit Bull Terrier
- Rottweiler
- Siberian Husky
- Staffordshire Terrier
- Wolf-Hybrid
Dangerous Breeds
Dangerous breeds are deemed to pose a greater threat to people than average. Dangerous breeds are usually more likely to bite someone or cause other bodily harm or property damage.
Click on any of the acknowledged dangerous breeds below to learn more about them in our Breeds Center.
- Akita Inu: The American Kennel Club warns potential owners that Akita Inus can be difficult dogs to own. They are especially aggressive towards other dogs of the same gender, but you may just luck out and get your own Hachikō.
- Boerboel: There are two common types of Boerboels: Boerboel Mastiffs who were used as soldiers and protectors, and Boerboel Hounds who were used for hunting. Though the myth that Boerboels hunted lions in their home of South Africa is very unlikely, there is evidence that the breed fought leopards.
- Bullmastiff: The Bullmastiff is a cross between Pit Bulls and Mastiffs, and is considered extremely fearless by nature. Bullmastiffs accounted for 5% of dog bite fatalities in 2014.
- Doberman Pinscher: Doberman Pinschers typically pose a threat to strangers but not to their owners due to their aggressive but loyal personality. Their strength makes them ideal guard dogs, and though they are a fairly intelligent breed, they can be a danger to misperceived threats.
- Dogo Argentino: The Dogo Argentino breed is banned in several countries, and restricted in many more. They were originally bred to hunt large prey like boar and mountains lions, but have since also been used for dog-fighting.
- Fila Brasiliero: The Filas ’ predominant trait is called “ojeriza”, or the distrust of strangers. They are one of four banned breeds in the UK.
- Japanese Tosa: Tosas are Japanese fighting dogs who were known for fighting stoically and silently. They are one of four banned breeds in the UK.
- Perro de Presa Canario: The Presa Canario’s name translates to the Canary Dog of Prey. Presa Canarios were first bred to kill stray dogs, and still sustain their fighting instinct today.
- Pit Bull Terrier: Pit Bulls and Terriers were bred together to make the ideal dog for dogfighting. Though Pit Bulls are considered more animal aggressive than human aggressive, they are largely considered to be the most vicious breed of dog and were responsible for over two-thirds of dog bites in the US last year. They are one of four breeds banned in the UK.
- Rottweiler: Rottweilers accounted for the second largest number of dog attacks in 2014 and caused 10% of dog attack fatalities. Rottweilers are very territorial over their home and family, and therefore can pose a threat to strangers.
- Wolf-hybrid: Wolf-hybrids are considered dangerous due to their unpredictability, attributed to their half-domestic and half-wild genetic makeup. Wolf-hybrids often attack as a result of the prey drive they have maintained from their wolf genetics. Many states have outlawed wolf-hybrids.
Keep in mind that while you should be cautious around dangerous and blacklisted breeds, dogs are just as much individuals as people are, and not all dogs fall into their breed’s stereotypes.