We can find innumerable "Top 10 Most Dangerous Dog Breeds" lists on the web, talking about  what are considered the most dangerous dogs in the world. We have all heard and seen news about Pitbulls, Rottweilers, Chow Chows, Dobermans.  Even some breeds we would never imagine to be dangerous have made those lists, like the Great Dane, the Dalmatian, or the Saint Bernard. Unfortunately, many of these breeds have earned this reputation, but not because "viciousness" is inherent to the breed. There are breeds that because of their strong nature, personality and temperament, have been bred by vicious owners, to fight, to attack, to be overly protective.  These are dogs sought out by big "macho" types (including women) that want to get them precisely because of their reputation, and will be proud of their "vicious attack dog".

So, if you are looking for a list of the "Top 10 Dangerous Dogs" and descriptions of particular breeds that are considered dangerous, I'll disappoint you because I believe that all breeds can be dangerous… and all breeds can be wonderful.  A Chihuahua, a Yorki or a Spaniel can be vicious if it's in the wrong hands. Maybe their bites won't be as bad as an Akita's or a German Shepherd's, but they can be aggressive and attack nonetheless.

A feral dog, a wild dog, a street dog, can be a very dangerous dog. Sometimes they even form packs and they don't normally fear people. They will kill for food, and they will attack humans if they feel threatened. They can also be dangerous because they might carry diseases that they can transmit to other dogs. That's why we have to be careful when rescuing a lost dog.

An unsocialized dog can also lack the skill to live among people and they can definitely be unpredictable. A dog that has had no love or care, and has been kept as a guard in the back yard of a house with no constant human contact and no other dogs around, can be a threat.

A scared dog will attack if it perceives that there is no escape. Their "fight or flight" response created by fear will make them either run or fight in certain situations, and if they can't run, they will fight. This is often a problem found in stray dogs that have been out on the street for a while, but they can't be considered feral yet.

Dogs that are kept chained up will always be more aggressive than a dog. Even a dog kept in a kennel is not as aggressive as a chained dog. Being bound by a chain frustrates the dog, and even the best trained animal can become highly aggressive if kept in chains.

An untrained dog can become a danger.  Any breed of dog needs to have some basic training. Even the sweetest, calmest dog can have an unexpected reaction. It's important for the owner to know his or her animal, and that comes through bonding and training.

A hungry dog, no matter how incredibly gentle it's always been, will become aggressive when it's in need of nourishment. Heck, I know people that bite when they're hungry!

A sick dog can have unusual reactions. How would you feel if someone came up to turn you around to rub your belly if you are having a terrible tooth ache?

What we need to keep in mind is that no dog is 100% safe. If a dog owner thinks this, he or she is fooling him or herself, and might be putting others in danger. Most of the time, when a dog bites somebody, you will hear the owner say "he's never done that before". You have to watch your dog all the time, particularly around children, until you have gotten to know him or her well enough to be trusted around familiar people. Always watch them when they approach strangers. Even a particular smell can bring out aggression in a dog without warning.

If you are planning to get a dog, please keep in mind that every breed you find in any list of dangerous dogs can make a wonderful companion, but you have to be careful about where you get it, and what its history is. If you have children, don't adopt a grown [insert your dangerous breed here] that could have been used for fighting, or maybe kept in a chain in somebody's backyard, or mistreated by the previous owner. If you adopt such a dog, make sure you give him or her enough training and good socialization and always be aware of its history. Many dogs rescued from dog fighting rings have proven to be wonderful pets, but you have to be a responsible dog owner and know that they can be unpredictable.

So, in closing, I would say that THE MOST DANGEROUS DOG is the one that belongs to a bad owner.

Today, pets are considered members of the family. Our dogs and cats are like our children and we have to keep up with their vet visits and general care. But if you have pets, you have to be aware of the diseases that many dogs and cats are prone to catch. One of the most awful diseases a dog, and yes, even a cat can catch, is Heartworm disease.  So, what is heartworm disease?

Heartworm disease can be developed in dogs and cats that live in an environment where there are many mosquitoes. Mosquitoes carry Dirofilaria immitis, the larvae that causes this disease. If a dog or cat gets bitten by these mosquitoes, they can become victims of Heartworm disease. The larvae begin the development of the disease and are transferred directly into the pet’s skin when the mosquito bites them and feeds on their blood. As the name implies, this disease primarily affects the heart and often the lungs, even the liver. Symptoms might not appear for months after the animal's been bitten, but when symptoms finally appear, the disease is advanced. The growing worms take residence in the heart and lung arteries and that's when complications start. They will cause respiratory distress and finally heart failure.

The disease is easily preventable. Owners need to be aware of the areas they leave in and medicate their pets if they're in areas with large mosquito populations. They should give their animals Heartworm preventative drugs. The vet will check for the presence of Heartworm first, and if all's clear, he or she will give Heartworm prevention medication. If you haven't given these to your dog or cat and you leave in a mosquito prone area, there are specific symptoms that you can be on the lookout for. The most common signs that your pet could be affected by Heartworm disease include a decrease in overall energy level. Your pet easily gets tired and has difficulty breathing. He or she could also be coughing constantly. Look out for weight loss and a swollen belly.

It's a terrible disease and the treatment to cure it once it's taken hold is usually very harmful to the animal. Sometimes the pet doesn't survive the treatment itself. But you have to keep in mind that it is very preventable. It used to be that you could only find Heartworm larvae carrying mosquitoes in southern climates, but now, it's become a global problem. Even areas where you wouldn't suspect the presence of mosquitoes have seen a rise in abandoned houses with unattended pools that become focuses of infection. So, why risk it? Give your pet a once a month treatment for Heartworm and avoid having to go through the nightmare of having a sick pet, and the treatment necessary to cure it.