There seems to be less actual pit bull facts and more pit bull myths these days. Some negative press due to owner negligence, coupled with fear makes for some wild rumors about the breed. Here are the facts.
1. Myth: Pit bulls Turn on Their Owners
Fact – Pit bulls do not all the sudden just snap and turn on their owners. This is one of many pit bull myths. Pit bull behavior is no more or less erratic than any other breed. There are a number of reasons for aggressive behavior amongst dogs. It can stem from improper training, failure to provide regular exercise and socialization, harsh punishments or improper rewarding.
When aggressive behavior in dogs is ignored, the next stage can lead to an attack. Recognize your dog’s behavior and correct it properly. Owners that aren’t diligent in their obedience training fuel fire to pit bull myths. While pit bulls may show aggression towards other dogs, this is merely defensive posturing that you see with any breed.
2. Myth: Pit bulls have Locking Jaws
Fact – Studies have been conducted on the jaws of pit bulls and have found that they are no different from any other breed. There is no indication of any locking mechanism within the teeth or jaws of a pit bull. They also do not possess any super strength bite power per square inch (PSI). Labrador Retrievers have scored a higher bite PSI than pit bulls, and Rottweilers actually have a stronger bite force than pit bulls as well. In fact, the pit bull bite force is similar to – and sometimes even falls short of – the power of the German Shepherd and the Labrador Retriever. See where the pit bull ranks on the Top 30 Dog Bite Force List. The locking jaw is one of the most frightening pit bull myths.
3. Myth: Pit bulls are Born Aggressive
Fact – Pit bulls may be bred to be aggressive like any other breed by irresponsible owners but they are not born aggressive. With proper pit bull obedience training, pit bulls can be as loveable and docile as any other pet. Pit bulls are easy to train: they are intelligent and eager to please, and clicker training – the method popularized by Karen Pryor – is a lot of fun with such an athletic breed. Training your pit bull is a must, whether on your own or through a professional. They are also surprisingly not a good choice for a guard dog, simply because they love people! When trained and raised properly, pit bulls are gentle, loving dogs who love adults as well as children. Pit bull myths like this is what leads to glib people lobbying for breed specific legislation.
4. Myth: Pit bulls are Responsible for the Largest Number of Attacks on Humans
Fact – It is difficult to get recent accurate statistics on dog bites. The last known study conducted by the CDC (Center for Disease Control) was for a 20 year period and concluded in 1998. Below is taken from the CDC website regarding these pit bull myths.
The result: It does not identify specific breeds that are most likely to bite or kill, and thus is not appropriate for policy-making decisions related to the topic. Each year, 4.7 million Americans are bitten by dogs. These bites result in approximately 16 fatalities; about 0.0002 percent of the total number of people bitten. These relatively few fatalities offer the only available information about breeds involved in dog bites. There is currently no accurate way to identify the number of dogs of a particular breed, and consequently no measure to determine which breeds are more likely to bite or kill .-Source CDC.
5. Myth: Pit bull Brains Swell causing them to go Insane
Fact – This has been rumored for other dogs as well as the pit bull. There are no scientific facts or basis for this belief. A pit bulls brain will grow at a similar rate to any other dog breed. Pit bull brain swelling would only occur in disease or injury, something every animal is susceptible to. Fear and lack of education allow pit bull myths like this believable to some. Overall, pit bulls are a healthy breed, though some may experience hip dysplasia, while other health issues such as skin problems or allergies may arise.