That is insane!
It is not that crazy when you consider dog bite statistics and homeowner liability. Large dogs can do a lot of damage when they bite. And some breeds are more inclined to bite people, because they have been bred for aggressive tasks, like guarding or blood sports.
Home owners insurance companies assess risk and potentially aggressive dogs are a big liability for the insurer. Not all insurance companies black-list by breed, but many will want to know how big your dog is and if it has a bite history. They may let you take out a home owner policy, but not provide coverage for damage done by your dog. If you want coverage for dog-related injuries, you might need to pay extra or get a separate policy to cover the dog.
The list of breeds that are most frequently banned by insurance companies are:
- Pit bull
- Rottweiler
- Chow chow
- Presa Canario
- Akita
- Doberman Pinscher
- Wolf hybrids
- Mastiff
- German shepherd
This list also matches up pretty closely with dog bite fatality statistics. Pit bulls and rotweillers are responsible for the majority of dog-bite related deaths in the US over the last decade or two, with the other listed breeds all being involved in a smaller number of deaths. Considering how rare dog bite fatalities are in general, it is really concerning if a breed is associated with even a small number of deaths, especially if the dog breed is not very widespread, like Akitas and Presa Canarios. Pitbulls, Rottweilers, and German Shepherds are much more popular dogs, but even when you correct for population size, these dogs have a higher relative risk, compared with the average dog. Pitbulls are especially high-risk.
Lack of proper training and poor husbandry likely contribute to these numbers. But breed is definitely a factor in predicting behavior, including aggressive tendencies. Dogs that have been bred to fight or to defend and dog breeds that are bigger and physically stronger than other dogs will be naturally more dangerous to people. It is not that surprising, in my opinion, that some dogs pose a higher risk of serious injury due to their genetic heritage and breed characteristics.
As a large dog owner, I think it is really important to always keep in mind that a dog is not just a pet. It is a living creature and a natural predator. Dogs can be trained and their behavior can be molded in many ways, but at the end of the day, dogs are dogs and they will tend to do what comes naturally for them ... or whatever they were bred to do.
Terriers will hunt and kill. Hounds will scent and bay. Herding dogs will nip and herd. Retrievers will retrieve. Guardian dogs will guard. Fighting dogs will fight.
Individual dogs can go against type and stray from the expectations of the breed, but if you want a dog that behaves in a particular way, it makes sense to give consideration to the breed and pick one that fits your needs, rather than trying to fight against the grain.