Beware of THESE Dogs.

The truth of the matter is, all dogs can be provoked or egged on to bite. There's no such thing as a "bad" breed. Practically all kinds of dogs are trainable. Allowing dogs to socialize with other dogs also helps in turning them into creatures that are much gentler and more tolerant.

Dog owners should have their beloved pets trained to follow basic commands like come, sit, lie and stay. Subjecting dogs to some sort of obedience or training school represents one way of effectively preventing many dog-biting incidents.

Here's a look at the various dog breeds that are considered potentially aggressive.

* Chow Chows are one-person dogs that tend to bite without any warning.
* Old English Sheepdogs are very protective of their owners so they might be aggressive if anybody tends to be too close to its owners.
* A Llasa Apso often gets cranky when around kids.
* Rottweilers are extremely protective of their masters.
* Chihuahuas aren't too fond of kids. They'd rather be with adults than play around with tots.
* Toy Poodles bite people and other animals out of self defense. Unfortunately, 'playing' according to you may be perceived as a form of 'attack' to them.
* Dachsunds aren't known for their patience.
* Giant Schnauzers are very dominant. They often challenge adults.
* The Pekinese isn't all that tolerant.
* Miniature Pinschers usually have aggression issues because they've got this "big dog-little body" mindset going on.

Here's a rundown of breeds that are typically gentle but can't shake off their "bad dog" image.

* Boxers are pretty good with kids.
* Bulldogs are very playful and gentle.
* Great Danes, while considerable in size, happen to be kind and affectionate.
* Mastiffs are especially quiet and docile.
* German Shepherds are great with kids too.
* Rottweilers are also capable of tenderness and affection.