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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13. Labrador Retriever
One of the reasons that the Labrador is the world's most popular dog is its lack of aggression. Vigorous licking of faces is the main thing to look out for with this good natured breed. | Canva/Getty Images
14. Whippet
Any energy the Whippet has will be reserved for zooming around the park at high speed - with very little left for anything approaching aggression. When they are done with exercising they are equally happy snoozing on the sofa. | Canva/Getty Images
15. Basset Hound
It takes serious amounts of energy to be aggressive - reserves that the notoriously lazy Basset Hound will be loath to dip into unless really needed. | AFP via Getty Images
16. Golden Retriever
What's true of the Labrador Retriever is also usually true of close cousin the Golden Retriever. That's certainly true when it comes to levels of aggression. Other than enjoying a nibble of their owners when teething, this is a dog whose main emotion is love and devotion. | Canva/Getty Images