When you’re a small child, your parents may tell you not to play with puppies or kittens because those little guys can be mean. And when you grow up and become an adult, you probably adopt this sentiment as well. But how much should we really fear our furry friends?
After all, there’s no evidence that a kitten will bite you when it becomes a cat, right? The same isn’t true for dogs. Although cats may bite sometimes, dogs have been known to nip at children, chew on things like shoes, jump out windows and even attack people.
Dogs aren’t exactly angels either. While some large dogs such as German shepherds and Great Danes are generally docile and friendly, others such as bull terriers and chihuahuas tend to be somewhat aggressive and quick to startle their owners. In fact, one study found that smaller dogs were rated by pet-owners as being less friendly than larger dogs.
So why does this happen? It comes down to size, specifically the ratio between height and weight in relation to body mass index (BMI). This has something to do with the shape of your dog’s skull and its overall proportions. For example, a 150-pound (68-kilogram) boxer doesn’t necessarily weigh quite as much as a 200-pound (91-kilogram) golden retriever.
However, if both dogs had the same BMI, the boxer would likely be taller than the golden retriever. That means that the boxer would be shorter than the golden retriever from birth. As humans, we like tall people who look healthy and strong — just like we want to feel safe around big, burly dogs. Unfortunately, many breeds have been bred to be bigger and stronger than other breeds in order to fulfill these needs.
These larger dogs often appear stockier …