You may have heard many times that Mastiffs are very family-friendly dogs, but the truth is actually quite different.
Yes, it is true that most Mastiff breeds do love their owners a lot, but that doesn’t mean that they are not aggressive or won’t hurt other animals and humans.
In this post, I have listed 8 mastiff breeds that can display aggression if not trained or socialized well.
1: Bandog
They are the most aggressive dog breed. They were bred for hunting, fighting, and guarding property, but now, hardly anyone pets them because they have a really bad reputation.
A bandog can have 700 PSI, if we put that into perspective, a lion only has a bite force of 650 PSI, it’s 50 PSI less than Bandog, and that is insane!
A bite from Bandog can hurt someone really badly. They can even cause fatal injuries.
Bandogs btw aren’t a specific breed, they were created by crossing American Pit Bull Terrier or American Bulldog and a Neapolitan Mastiff or a Mastiff.
We don’t recommend this breed for first-time owners at all! Never go for a Bandog unless you are a professional or have tons of experience in handling larger dog breeds.
2: Cane Corso
Cane Corsos are known for their excellent guarding skill. They are good pets but when they get angry, they become unstoppable. Their sheer size and strong jaws are enough to injure anyone.
They are second our list as Cane Corso is one of the most brutal and powerful dogs.
According to a report, Dog bite attacks by Cane Corsos have increased dramatically in recent years. They are not only dangerous to humans but they can be dangerous to small dogs as well, like pomeranian, Pugs, Maltese dogs, etc.
They require proper training from an early age. If you don’t give your Cane Corso enough training, he may even show aggression towards their owners.
3: Kangal (Turkish Mastiff)
Kangals have the strongest bite force (743 PSI). Their bite force and fearless nature make them 3rd most dangerous mastiff breed.
Don’t go for Kangals if you have not petted any dog before as they are stubborn and independent.
A well-socialized Kangal isn’t aggressive to people and other dogs, but an untrained or unsocialized one is very dangerous, especially, to stray dogs and intruders.
They become even more dangerous at night. This breed needs a lot of space as they do not recognize property boundaries.
Just imagine how much damage 743 bite force can do to someone.
4: Tibetan Mastiff
Tibetan Mastiffs are often compared with Lions by dog lovers. However, there is a big difference between a lion and a Tibetan mastiff. Lions are almost quadruple in size, and no matter what Tibetan mastiffs do, they just can’t defeat a lion.
But the amount of braveness Tibetan Mastiffs have is similar to what Lions have. They are very brave dogs.
Tibetan mastiffs can be hard to train and but they are smart dogs and have a strong food desire, which could make things easier for some owners.
They might look imposing, but they are very gentle dogs and they love spending their time with their owner.
This breed can be little too protective, so complete training is necessary.
5: Dogo Argentino
Dogo Argentinos were primarily bred for dog-fighting, but some people were using them to hunt animals such as peccaries, pumas, and wild boars. They are perfect guard dogs!
They are extremely protective and caring; however, this is an aggressive breed. Like other mastiff breeds, they too need a lot of training.
Recently In California, two untrained Dogo Argentino attacked an 80-year-old woman brutally, and she lost her life.
That’s why, proper training and early socialization are so crucial. According to several studies, Dogs that are appropriately socialized as puppies are less likely to display behavioral problems as adults, including aggression and fearfulness.
6: Bullmastiff
If you like Bulldogs, you will like Bullmastiffs as well. They are a loyal and friendly breed. They can weigh up to 130 pounds and grows as tall as 27 inches. Which means they are not as big as other mastiffs on this list. But don’t let their stature confuse you as these dogs are very brave, protective, and can be aggressive at times.
Bullmastiffs are usually not aggressive, especially if they have been socialized from a young age, but they can attack if they suspect something is wrong.
7: Great Danes
They are the tallest dogs on this list. They are known for their gentle nature and good guarding skills. They are one of the most powerful mastiffs as well.
Great Danes rarely attack people or animals but there are some reposts that have been published regarding the attacks done by Great Danes.
You can read the report published by the Daily Mail, about how brutally Great Dane attacked a woman, and the woman ended up losing her life.
Like every large breed, they need proper training and socialization to stay calm and respectful towards other dogs and people.
8: English Mastiff
They are the biggest dogs. They can weigh up to 230 pounds, however even though they have a huge stature and a lot of power, they still aren’t known for attacking people. In fact, they are one of the most polite mastiffs.
But like every other dog, they can be aggressive too, and that is what happened in India. A man was walking with his English mastiff, then suddenly, his mastiffs attacked the person who was passing by.
The mastiff ripped off his jeans and left the guy injured severely. You can clearly see in the picture, his owner tried to keep him away from the victim, but because of the insane weight that the mastiff has, he wasn’t able to pull his mastiff away.
That’s why, it’s crucial to give your mastiff proper training, and if you are a first-time owner, it’s better to not pet a mastiff as they are huge and can be really difficult to control since they get angry.
I hope you liked this post.
Thanks for reading!
