Dogs often called the man’s best friend have been with the human race from centuries. There are too many breeds of dogs. From the world’s smallest dog Chihuahua to the donkey like Great Dane, the breeds are never ending.

In a recent study carried out by the Researchers of the University of Pennsylvania to find out the most aggressive breed of dog, the short legged, yappy little dachshunds have scored the first position. They are also known as the sausage dogs for their elongated torso and tiny short legs.

Researchers have found that one in five sausage dogs have bitten or tried to bite strangers. Other than this, a similar number have tried to attack other dogs and at least 12 have snapped at their own owners.

Dachshunds basically belong to the Hound family of dogs. The name is German which means ‘badger dogs’. Though these cute little dogs are known for their playful and fun loving nature, the new findings have astonished many dog owners of this breed.

The findings which were published in the latest edition of the ‘Applied Animal Behavior Science’ journal have been criticized by many including Chris Moore, Secretary of the Northern Dachshund Association.

He said that as far as breeders in the UK are concerned, this is rubbish. It is not in the dogs' nature. I have never been bitten in 25 years.

The study ranked the little Chihuahua on the second place on aggression.  

According to lead researcher Dr James Serpell of the University of Pennsylvania, smaller breeds might be more genetically predisposed towards aggressive behavior than larger dogs.

The researchers came to this conclusion after studying the behavior of 33 breeds of dogs and questioning over 6,000 canine owners.

Basset hounds, golden retrievers, labradors, Siberian huskies and greyhounds were the breeds which scored low on the aggression scale. The study also revealed that rottweiler, pit bull and Rhodesian ridgeback score average or below average marks for hostility towards strangers.