A recent incident shook the city near Zamora. A 27-year-old girl was tragically attacked by a group. dogs aggressive and finally dead. Concerns are growing: “If this could happen to him, it could happen to any of us,” says one local resident. This tragedy highlights the need to better understand the nature of nature. dog attacks and that the breed of dogs is not always indicative of aggression.
The rural roads of Roales del Pan, where the unfortunate incident took place, are common for grazing and hiking. Surprisingly, the dogs involved three mastiffs and two Leonese mastiffsindigenous races known for their work grazing. Although Spain is home to more than nine million dogs, incidents like this are exceptional; statistics show that there are only one or two deaths a year caused by aggressive dogs.
Common beliefs associate certain breeds, such as Dogue de Bordeaux or Rottweilers, with a higher breed. potential for aggression. But the truth is that aggression in dogs is not strictly breed-related. In the past, even breeds that many thought were docile were involved in incidents.
Dog breeds: aggressive?
For example, the Netherlands was cataloged in 2017 21 potentially dangerous speciesRequires owners to have a license and special training. But does breed really define how a dog behaves? Training and education are very important elements in a dog’s behavior. As is clearly seen in Zamora, Even dogs bred for shepherding can make an unexpected attack.
“Biology does not follow mathematical rules. There is significant individual variability,” biologist Yolanda Cortés of the Biodiversity Foundation told El Confidencial. Although this is true Breeds such as the Mastiff were selected for guarding livestock; this does not necessarily mean aggression towards humans.. Mastiffs naturally develop. protective behavior and they defend what they see as their family.
A 2022 study in the journal Science challenged the idea: Some dog breeds have predetermined behaviors. After analyzing 2,000 dogs from 128 breeds and surveying thousands of owners, it was found that only 9% of behavioral differences were linked to breed, while 25% could be explained by individual genes. These findings underscore the idea that environment and education play a more important role than reproduction itself.
At the national level, Law in Spain classifies eight species as potentially dangerous. However, such classifications have been the subject of debate; Some argue that it is unfair to label an entire race based on the behavior of a few individuals.
There are still factors that need to be investigated in the recent attack in Zamora. For example, the combination of several breeds working together and the influence of the environment on their behavior.
In short, it is important not to fall into generalizations. attacks dogsAlthough heartbreaking and worrying, they are rare events. Races do not necessarily define behavior; the education, environment and maintenance are equally vital. Understanding this can help prevent future incidents and create a safer, more harmonious relationship between humans and dogs.