Dogs are undoubtedly the most loved pets on the planet. And why not? They are loyal, friendly, enthusiastic, and are fun to be with. But not all dogs are the same. Some breeds of dogs are very aggressive and ruthless. In many cases, these breeds have been proved fatal for humans and unfit for petting. Many such dog breeds are banned in many countries and places. Here is the list of the 10 most banned dog breeds in the world.

1 The Japanese Tosa

The breed is the only breed used in Japanese dogfighting. These dogs are generally silent in nature but are large, thick, and strong like sumo fighters. They are banned because if they are recklessly trained, they can create many dog-related issues like reacting aggressively towards strangers and not following commands.

The Japanese Tosa originated from the Tosa Region in Japan 150 years ago when people of that place wanted a sumo-type wrestler breed for fights. To accomplish that, they started crossing the large breeds such as mastiffs, great Danes, bull terriers, and St. Bernards.

The rules of dogfighting in Japan say that the dog should not make any noise while fighting, so this breed remains mostly quiet but are fearless and courageous. When they do bark, it’s pretty heavy. The weight of this breed ranges from 35 to 60 kilograms.

They appear very large and have thick and blocky necks so they are good guard dogs. Just like other large and giant-breed dogs, the Japanese Tosa also live only up to 10 years on average.

There are rare incidents of these dogs being aggressive or violent, but since they share their ancestry with harmful breeds, they are banned in many countries including the UK, Australia, Denmark, UAE, Iceland, etc. (1, 2)

2 Dogo Argentino

Dogo Argentines are muscular and are capable of hunting wild animals such as wild boars and pumas. They were originally bred for using them as fighting dogs in Argentina, but along with being fighters, they became good hunters too. They started becoming aggressive and attacking people, so it is illegal to pet the breed at certain places.

A doctor named Nores Martinez bred Dogo Argentino in 1928 from the Cordoba fighting dog and other muscular breeds such as bulldogs and terriers.

Dogo Argentino is generally white in color with a number of black patches on the white canvas. They have a muscular and strong body and are considered one of the most aggressive breeds in the world.

Because of their aggression, they have been banned in countries such as the UK, New Zealand, Ukraine, Denmark, etc. In the US, they are only banned in particular states namely Colorado, New York, and Michigan.

At first, they were not intended to be bred in any way which will make them aggressive towards people, but there are many instances recorded of Dogo Argentino being aggressive and violent towards people. They are aggressive to such an extent that they have literally attacked and killed their middle-aged owners. (1, 2)

3 American Pit Bull Terrier

The American pit bull terrier breed is considerably more intelligent than the other pit bull breeds. They have a good physique and are enthusiastic but if they are not socialized rightly, they are dangerous and fearsome. Since not all American pit bull terriers are safe, they are banned in many countries.

The American pit bull terriers are the result of breeding the old English terriers and old English bulldogs. Those two breeds are now, however, extinct, but their gameness, athleticism, and strength have been carried by the American pit bull terriers.

The breed originated in the UK and from the time they arrived in the US in the 19th century, they were known as the American pit bull terrier.

They may act aggressively towards humans and animals because they inherit certain genes from their ancestors or might have socialized inappropriately. Anyways, if it makes them dangerous, it is better to not pet them.

Only some American pit bull terriers are harmful, but their overly enthusiastic temperament and powerful body can cause trouble. They are legally banned in countries such as Australia, New Zealand, Ecuador, France, Germany, and Spain. They are also banned in the province of Ontario and some US states as well. (1, 2)

4 Presa Canario

These are a very loyal breed, but their attacks are unexpected and unpredictable. They were first used for guarding and protecting cattle and sometimes for dogfighting. Presa Canarios are muscular and their attacks can be fatal and dangerous. They are banned in some countries because of their unexpected attacks.

During the colonial period, breeds like Bardino Majorero which were spread in the Canary Island were crossbred with molossoid kinds of dogs. In the mid-20th century, Presa Canario, which was then named “Dogo Canario,” was near extinction.

There are heavy muscular dogs and are 60 to 66 centimeters in height. They are said to be very loyal towards their master and are very suspicious towards strangers.

They are robust, self-confident, and have balanced temperaments, but instances have been recorded of them killing humans. One such incident happened in 2017 in Ireland when three of these dogs killed a woman.

They are banned in countries such as the UK, New Zealand, Australia, Ukraine, Singapore, etc. (1, 2)

5 Neapolitan Mastiff

Neapolitan mastiffs are an Italian breed and are considered friendly in temperament but a fully grown mastiff can be dangerous around small kids because of their massive bodies. Even not fully trained and psychologically ill mastiffs can be threatening to their masters and other people.

The time of their origin goes back to 700 BCE, in the Roman Empire when they were used as war dogs, gladiators, and guardians in the Roman Empire. The breed is very closely related to cane Corso.

The Neapolitan mastiff weighs up to 50 to 70 kilograms and is 60 to 70 meters high. They usually have black, grey or leaden color and they only live up to 10 years.

The breed is officially banned in Singapore and few states in the US. In some countries, a psychological evaluation has to be passed by the dog if you want to adopt or buy one. (1, 2)