Revealed: The innocent–looking dog breeds that can turn DEADLY – after a teenager is killed by her 'soft' blue–merle lurcher
When it comes to deadly dogs, XL Bullies, Pit Bull Terriers, or Dobermans might spring to mind.
But a shocking incident has highlighted that it's not just these tough looking breeds that can turn deadly.
Jamie–Lea Biscoe, 19, was fatally bitten in the neck by Shy, a seven–year–old blue–merle lurcher, at home in Leaden Roding, Essex, on Friday evening.
The teen's father, Jack Biscoe, 37, found his daughter collapsed on the floor in his bedroom at around 10.45pm.
Police rushed to the scene where Jamie–Lea was pronounced dead, before Shy – described as the 'softest' pet and Jamie–Lea's 'best friend' – and her puppies were seized by officers.
Now, vets have revealed the breeds that have been involved in the most fatal incidents over the last 35 years.
And surprisingly, the list includes several smaller, innocent–looking dogs.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, an RSPCA spokesperson said: 'While some dogs are large and powerful, that doesn't mean they're more likely to show aggression than any other type of dog.'
Jamie–Lea Biscoe, 19, was fatally bitten in the neck by Shy, a seven–year–old blue–merle lurcher, at home in Leaden Roding, Essex, on Friday evening
Here in the UK, five dog breeds are deemed so dangerous that they're banned.
These are the Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, Fila Braziliero, and the XL Bully.
However, the RSPCA points out that there's 'not robust research' to demonstrate that these breeds or types are any more aggressive than other dogs.
'Aggressive behaviour can be influenced by factors such as how they're bred, reared and experiences throughout their life,' it explained.
'Breed isn't a good way to predict risk of aggression.'
Despite the prohibition of the Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, Fila Braziliero, and the XL Bully, dog bites have increased by 154 per cent in the past 20 years.
What's more, between 1989 and 2017, 48 people – including 20 children – died in dog–related incidents.
Of the 62 dogs involved, the majority (53) were dog breeds not on the prohibited list.
Police rushed to the scene where Jamie–Lea was pronounced dead, before Shy – described as the 'softest' pet and Jamie–Lea's 'best friend' – and her puppies were seized by officers
Between 1989 and 2017, 48 people – including 20 children – died in dog–related incidents – including one involving a Jack Rusell Terrier (stock image)
Among adults, Staffordshire Bull Terriers were involved in the most incidents (4), followed by American Bulldogs (3), German Shepherds (3), and Pit Bull Terriers (3).
French Mastiffs (2), Staffy types (2), Rottweilers (2), and unknown breeds (2) were the next most common dogs on the list.
The remaining incidents involved an Alapaha, a Bull Mastiff cross, a crossbreed, a German Shepherd–Doberman cross, a Neapolitan Mastiff, a Springer, a Springer or bull breed mix, a terrier type, and a Weimaraner.
Meanwhile, the fatal incidents involving children included several smaller dog breeds.
One Alaskan Malamute was involved in a fatal attack, as well as a Lakeland Terrier, two Jack Russells, and one Terrier.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, the RSPCA spokesperson said: 'Aggressive behaviour is a complex interaction between how a dog is bred as well as lifetime experiences.
'All dogs are individuals and whether or not a dog displays aggressive behaviour comes down to how they've been bred, reared and their life experiences.'
The Kennel Club agrees with the RSCPA, and says that 'no breed of dog is inherently dangerous'.
'Scientific research has proven that the Pit Bull Terrier and related breeds are physiologically no different from any other breed of dog,' it explains on its website.
'Dr Lehr Brisbin at the University of Georgia has proved the skeletal structure of the Pit Bull Terrier's jaw is no different from that of any other dog with respect to "jaw locking" – they simply have strongly muscled jaws in common with many other breeds.'
The Kennel Club agrees with the RSCPA, and says that 'no breed of dog is inherently dangerous'. Pictured: a Weimaraner
The latest attack comes three years after dog walker Natasha Johnston, 28, was killed after she 'lost control' of a pack of eight animals.
Following on from Ms Johnston's tragic death, both the RSCPA and the Kennel Club called for 'urgent action' to tackle dog control.
'We're devastated by the tragic incidents, like this, and agree that urgent action is needed to tackle dog control and irresponsible ownership,' the RSPCA spokesperson said at the time.
'However, the current approach to dog control is not working and we're calling on the UK Government to commit to a considered approach to tackling dog bite incidents that will better protect public safety while also ensuring good dog welfare.
'We want to see the UK Government commit to tackling the root causes of aggressive behaviour in dogs which are complex but include improving and enforcing current breeding and dog control regulations, and to promote responsible dog ownership, in order to effectively protect public safety while also ensuring better dog welfare.'
The Kennel Club added: 'The problem of dangerous dogs is a social one and needs to be tackled through the enforcement of effective legislation that seeks to curb irresponsible owners of all types of dog and better educate the dog–owning public to prevent incidents before they occur.
'We believe that preventative legislation should be based on the principle of 'deed not breed' and centre around the introduction of dog control notices, a form of statutory improvement notice for dog owners of all types of dog.'
HOW DID DOGS BECOME DOMESTICATED?
A new study has found that dogs and humans have sustained loving relationships with each other for at least 14,000 years (file photo)
A genetic analysis of the world's oldest known dog remains has revealed that dogs were domesticated 20,000 to 40,000 years ago in a single event by humans living in Eurasia.
Dr Krishna Veeramah, an assistant professor in evolution at Stony Brook University, said: 'The process of dog domestication would have been a very complex process, involving a number of generations where signature dog traits evolved gradually.
'The current hypothesis is that the domestication of dogs likely arose passively, with a population of wolves somewhere in the world living on the outskirts of hunter-gatherer camps feeding off refuse created by the humans.
'Those wolves that were tamer and less aggressive would have been more successful at this, and while the humans did not initially gain any kind of benefit from this process, over time they would have developed some kind of symbiotic [mutually beneficial] relationship with these animals, eventually evolving into the dogs we see today.'
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