Dog training expert explains why there is 'no such thing' as dangerous breeds

dailyrecord.co.uk:

If you've recently got a dog, you might be wondering the best ways of training it. Keeping yourself and other dogs safe is key, no matter what breed you've got.

Dogs, like humans, can be reactive and their behaviour is often heavily influenced by what's going on around them.Many people think that the way a dog behaves is down to the type of breed, but according to one dog behavioural expert, this isn't true and the stigma surrounding this is harmful.

John McGuigan is the owner of Glasgow Dog Trainer, a professional training company that began more than 16 years ago. It offers 1-2-1 dog training for all behavioural problems, and sparked from a keen interest that he developed in his own dogs that saw people seeking his advice.According to him, a dog's behaviour isn't down to the breed, but rather a combination of different elements within their lives and surroundings.He explained: "There's a number of factors that make up behaviours.

Genetics, environment and current conditions make up all behaviour in all species, so there's no such thing as a dangerous dog breed."We often hear about dog attacks in the media, most recently the woman in Liverpool being mauled to death by five American bulldogs.But John says that these types of incidents are "extremely rare", and that we generally only hear about dog attacks from breeds which people think are aggressive.So what are some of the conditions that can lead to a dog becoming aggressive?John says it's similar to how humans react in threatening circumstances: "If someone's standing too close to me, that'll affect how I respond to them.