A LOW take-up of training is the major factor in finding of a study conducted by the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA), which reveals that more than one million dogs in the UK today display “aggressive behaviour”.

The news agenda has once again turned its attention on dogs and their owners following the savage attack by a Staffordhsire Bull Terrier on a six-year-old girl last week.

Understandably the youngster has been left severely traumatised by the incident and will require reconstructive surgery after the Bull Terrier bit-off her ear and injured both of her arms during the attack.Following the incident the PDSA says that many dogs exhibit aggressive behaviour because they have not been socialised and trained properly as youngsters.

The PDSA survey discovered 4.1million dogs do not attend training classes within the first six months of the life and 25 per cent of owners who had their dog as a puppy did not take adequate measures to socialise it.

Speaking to the Daily Telegraph, Sean Wensley, the PDSA senior veterinary surgeon, said: “The aggressive behaviour displayed by some dogs is a grave concern due to the serious and sometimes fatal consequences it can pose to both people and pets.