Pet Guide: 6 Small Dogs That Bite
When you are choosing a pet dog, there are several characteristics you should consider, including temperament and aggressiveness. Since the dog will be around other pets and people in your house, you need to be certain that it doesn’t bite easily. Previously, people believed that small pet dogs don’t bite, but research has shown that even small dogs can bite you when provoked.
So, if you want to know if your small pet dog can bite you, here are 6 common breeds of small dogs that bite.
6 Small Dogs That Bite
One of the main reasons why pet lovers prefer smaller dog breeds for their pets is that larger dog breeds like Pitbulls, German Shepherds, and Rottweilers are known to be very aggressive. Their aggressive behavior makes them unbefitting companions because they can easily cause serious harm or death when they’re out of control. But some dog experts claim that the only difference between the large and small dog breeds in terms of aggressiveness and threat is the size of their physique.
They claim that small dogs are just not large and strong enough to cause serious harm or kill people, but they can bite. According to a recent study done by the University of Helsinki, smaller dogs are 49 percent more likely to be aggressive than larger breeds. Smaller dogs are also 38 percent as likely to be aggressive as medium-sized breeds. Therefore, it’s safe to conclude that small dogs are likely to be more antagonistic than their larger counterparts.
The same study further revealed that small dogs are less likely to heed their owner’s commands or follow them consistently. Furthermore, small dogs are more excitable (tendency to growl, lunge, bark, and snap at other dogs and people they’re not familiar with. They do so because they are more uneasy and fearful in terrifying situations.
These characteristics seem to be the main factors contributing to their aggressive behavior. Here are some of the main breeds of small dogs that are known to bite.
1. Dachshund
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Also referred to as the wiener dog, sausage dog, or badger dog, Dachshund is a short-legged and long-bodied dog breed. This hound-type dog can have smooth, wire, or long hair, which comes in various shades, including black, brown, chocolate, tan, red, etc. Its legs are short and stubby with disproportionately large front paws.
Its front paws are paddle-shaped to enable the dog to dig. This dog has loose skin designed to enable it to tunnel into tight burrows when chasing prey. Dachshund’s deep chest creates enough room for the heart and lungs to develop to full capacity.
This dog breed is playful but very stubborn. The stubbornness is mainly attributed to the fact that this dog is a hunting dog. That’s why Dachshunds are known to chase smaller animals and birds with a lot of zeal and ferocity.
Dachshunds can be very aggressive toward strangers and other dogs. They can easily bite you when provoked. Nevertheless, they are very intelligent and have the ability to follow training commands.
2. Chihuahua
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Chihuahua is a popular Mexican dog breed named after the Mexican state of Chihuahua. It’s one of the smallest dog breeds in the world. Chihuahua is a perfect pet dog that you can keep as a companion or for display.
Chihuahua’s most outstanding physical feature is the “apple-head” or “apple-dome” skull conformation. Chihuahua dogs with an apple-dome skull have large, round eyes and large erect ears. Their skulls are dramatically rounded with a well-defined stop that forms an almost 90-degree angle at the point where the muzzle comes into contact with the skull.
Chihuahuas of the older “deer” type have flat-topped skulls with widely set eyes and large ears. Their legs are long and slender. Nevertheless, the “deer” type isn’t classified as a different type of Chihuahua. Its digression from the other common type of Chihuahua is considered to be a normal fault.
The average height of a Chihuahua is between 6 and 9 inches (15 and 23 centimeters). But some Chihuahuas can grow up to 30 and 38 cm tall. The standard weight of an adult Chihuahua is 2.7 kilograms (5.9 lb.).
Chihuahuas can come in almost any color blend, from splashed to marked or solid. Its coat can be either short-haired (smooth) or long-haired (rough). In terms of temperament, Chihuahuas are great companion animals. They bond with their owners quickly and they are easy to train.
Their quick-witted nature makes these dogs easy to train provided you start training them early. However, this dog can be quite snappy around strangers and other dogs. Chihuahuas want to have all your attention.
3. English Cocker Spaniel
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English Cocker Spaniel is a breed of gun dog known for producing a wide range of puppies in a litter. This is a good-natured, sporting, and very active dog breed. It stands perfectly at the wilts and it’s compactly built.
There are two main types of English Cocker Spaniel: the field or working Cocker and the house Cocker. English Cocker Spaniel is the foundation of the American Cocker Spaniel. The name English Cocker Spaniel is only common in the United States. Outside the US, this dog breed is commonly referred to as Cocker Spaniel.
The term Cocker stems from the dog’s effectiveness in hunting woodcocks. A female English Cocker Spaniel can have up to 12 puppies in a litter. This dog breed comes in solid (self), roan, and particolored markings. Solid English Cocker Spaniels can be black, red/golden, or liver/brown colors with black or brown pigmentation.
English Cocker Spaniels are compassionate, kind, intelligent, alert, and determined dogs that make great pets. This dog doesn’t like to be alone for prolonged periods. It bonds easily with individuals in the family, especially the one who feeds it.
Sometimes this dog breed can be dominant and it can easily be rattled by poor handling, loud noises, and rough treatment. When provoked, an English Cocker Spaniel will bite. It doesn’t like to be around strangers or other dogs. But its level of socialization can improve with early training.
4. Beagle
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Beagle is a special breed of small scent dogs. It resembles the larger foxhound. This dog breed was primarily created to hunt hares. Its great sense of smell makes it the perfect dog for tracking and detection.
Many border control departments use Beagle to detect contraband at the crossing points, especially prohibited foodstuffs and agricultural imports. This dog breed has virtually no inherited health complications and it’s highly intelligent. That’s why it’s a popular pet dog.
The average height of a Beagle is 13-16 inches (33 to 41 cm), while its weight is between 22 and 25 lb. for males and 20 and 23 lb. for females. Its coat can be short-haired (smooth) or hard-coated for medium length. It can be a tricolor or a combination of white with black, tan, brown, or yellow.
Beagle is not only a great hunting dog but also a loyal companion. It’s a happy-go-lucky, amusing dog to be around, thanks to its beseeching expression. Since this dog breed was meant to hunt in packs, your Beagle will enjoy the company of other dogs.
But you should introduce it to other dogs, pets, and people in your family early enough so that they can develop a bond. Otherwise, this dog can be touchy at times, especially around strangers and other animals. It can easily bite you when provoked.
5. Jack Russell Terrier
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This is a small terrier dog breed that came from fox hunting in England. Jack Russell Terrier is mainly white-bodied with a rough, smooth, or broken coat. Its coat can be any color, including black, brown, golden, tan, etc. It’s relatively free from inherited health complications and it thrives on a significantly high level of stimulation and exercise.
The weight of an average Jack Russell Terrier is between 14 and 18 lb. (6 and 8 kg), while its average height is between 12 and 14 inches (30 and 36 cm). This dog breed is a working terrier, which means that you have to give it enough exercise. It’s a highly intelligent and fearless dog.
But it can easily become very moody and destructive, especially if it doesn’t exercise regularly. Provoking it at this time can lead to a bite. Jack Russell Terriers get bored easily and usually find their own ways to have fun, which is often very destructive. That’s why sometimes they are referred to as “Jack Russell Terrorists”.
6. Pomeranian
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Also referred to as Pom, Pomeranian is a dog breed of the Spitz family that is predominantly found in the Pomerania region (north-west Poland and north-east Germany). It is commonly categorized as a toy dog due to its small size. This dog breed descended from the larger Spitz-type dogs.
The average height of a Pomeranian dog is between 7 and 12 inches (18 and 30 cm), while its average weight is between 3 and 7 lb. (1.4 and 3.2 kg). A Pomeranian dog can live for up to 16 years, but most of them live for 12 years. This dog breed comes in a variety of colors, including orange, cream, white, or black.
Pomeranians have a thick double coat that needs to be groomed as frequently as possible to retain its quality. The thick coat needs to be trimmed after one or two months. This dog breed is typically very friendly and playful.
But it can also be very aggressive, especially toward humans and other animals. So, be careful when you’re trying to socialize with other dogs and strangers because it can easily bite them. Sometimes this dog can be very defensive with its territory.
