When it comes to pit bulls, there’s no shortage of myths and misinformation. You can hear those myths spouted by the media, legislators, the general public, and even so-called “experts” on the breed. Here are some of the more common ones.
Myth: Pit bulls have locking jaws. They can’t let go even if they want to.
FACT: No dog of any breed has ever been found to possess a mechanism in their jaw which would allow them to “lock” their top and bottom jaw together. There is no such thing as a locking jaw!
Myth: Once it bites down, a pit bull will not let go. You can’t even pry its jaws apart if you kill it.
FACT: Dogs bite for many reasons. The enormous majority of dog bites (from any breed) are nothing more than a nip or snap – a warning. Some dogs clamp down hard on prey objects – hence the popularity of tug toys, stuffed animals, and rope toys. The ancestor of many “bully breeds,” the Bulldog, was bred and taught to cling to a bull’s nose despite thrashing, tossing, and gouging. Bully breeds will hold on to things if they think they are supposed to. But they are also extremely obedient. A properly raised pit bull will yield to its owner’s command.
Myth: Pit bulls are genetically driven to kill people.
FACT: Dogs are not machines; they are living organisms. Like all living organisms, a dog’s behavior is influenced by both genetics and environment. How a dog owner manages his or her dog will determine whether the dog becomes a danger to humans. No dog is driven entirely by genetics to attack people, and no dog breed has been created or bred into such a state that all dogs of that breed are compelled to attack people. Most of the time, human mismanagement results in a human-aggressive dog. Dogs that are raised as beloved family pets are rarely involved in a fatal attack on a human.
Furthermore, pit bull type dogs are not considered guard dogs or attack dogs and are not commonly used as such. From the very beginning of the breed-type, pit bulls have been bred to be human-friendly. It would not make any sense for bull baiters or dog fighters to own a human-aggressive dog. Even dog fighters have to handle their dogs, often in the heat of a fight.
Responsible dog breeders understand that dogs are for companionship and love, not for illicit activities like dogfighting and attacking people. Responsible breeders understand the wonderful qualities that pit bulls have. They are interested in breeding quality dogs with excellent temperaments.
While some irresponsible breeders may try to produce human-aggressive dogs, these breeders are not the norm and their activities are looked down upon by those who truly love dogs.
Myth: Pit bulls are not good for anything except dogfighting.
FACT: Pit bulls have excelled in many working-dog sports such as agility, search-and-rescue, tracking, weight pulling, carting, Shutzhund, hunting, obedience, therapy, and more. They are also very loving, loyal, gentle, and attentive, making them ideal pet dogs. The AKC considers the American Staffordshire Terrier (one of the “pit bull” breeds) to be an all-purpose dog.
Myth: Pit bulls are very aggressive.
FACT: Pit bulls are no different from any other type of dog when it comes to aggression. Many of the behaviors we expect from and encourage in dogs, including hunting, tracking, guarding, and even playing, are actually modified forms of aggression.
While pit bulls are known for aggression toward other dogs, many other breeds and types of dogs are also known for such aggression. Interdog aggression is actually a very common behavior and is not limited to pit bull type dogs.
Pit bulls may be aggressive toward small animals. Again, this is common with all breeds and types of dogs. Dogs are essentially domesticated predators. They will exhibit predatory behavior toward small animals that they consider prey.
Some pit bulls may be aggressive toward people, but this is not unique to pit bulls. All breeds and types of dogs may be aggressive toward people. This is an individual trait that varies from dog to dog, and has a lot to do with the manner in which the dog was raised and trained. Dogs–including pit bulls–are domesticated animals that have been bred to be submissive toward people; breeders and owners who pervert this relationship are to be blamed for aggressive, out of control dogs.
In essence, aggressive behaviors are common and normal behaviors in dogs of all breeds and types. Pit bulls do not exhibit any aggressive behaviors that are unique or unusual when compared to other breeds or types of dogs.
The vast majority of dogs, including pit bulls, are not so aggressive that they constitute a danger to human health. It is ultimately the owner’s responsibility to raise, train, and manage his or her dog and to ensure that the dog does not pose a threat to its family or the community.
Myth: Pit bulls can not be trained or controlled.
FACT: This is difficult to address without generalizing about pit bulls. It is important to realize that pit bulls are dogs, and dogs are, generally speaking, trainable and controllable because they are intelligent domesticated animals. Pit bulls, likewise, are intelligent and domesticated, and like all dogs, they are obedient, friendly, and handleable. Naturally, individual dogs land on the spectrum of trainability and obedience at different points.
Pit bulls have excelled in areas such as agility, tracking, Shutzhund, search-and-rescue, therapy, and many other canine activities. LawDogs USA opted to use pit bulls exclusively as drug detection dogs because the organization found pit bulls to be so trainable and eager to please.
While not all pit bulls–or dogs, for that matter–may be particularly trainable, it is extremely rare for a dog to be so hopeless as to be unmanageable. The overwhelming majority of dogs are quite trainable and manageable, and any behavior problems that a dog displays is more likely attributable to owner error than to canine stupidity.
Myth: Pit bulls are unpredictable; they can turn on anyone, even their owner, at any time.
FACT: People who say that a dog is “unpredictable” don’t understand dogs. They hear a story about a neighbor’s friend’s cousin who was “just petting a dog, and suddenly it went crazy and attacked!” In the overwhelming majority of dog bite cases, the victim simply doesn’t understand or has missed canine warning signs. The owner may be similarly oblivious to his or her dog’s behavior or body language. For more information on dog behavior and aggression, check out “The Culture Clash” by Jean Donaldson.
Myth: Pit bulls do not feel pain.
FACT: This is an urban legend started by dog fighters to justify the cruel activity of dog fighting (after all, if it doesn’t hurt the dogs, how can it be cruel?), and perpetuated by fearful individuals who buy into the Hollywood monster myth of the unstoppable pit bull beast. There is no scientific evidence to support this idea. I personally know several pit bulls who are total wusses when it comes to something as simple as a vaccination.
Myth: If a pit bull bites down and tastes blood, they will become aggressive and unstoppable.
FACT: Dogs bite because they are scared, in pain, or defensive. They bite so that the offending person/animal/object will go away–and it usually works. As a result, dogs learn that biting is a very successful tactic for getting what the dog desires. Subsequent bites have nothing to do with the “taste of blood.” In reality, the dog is simply employing a proven successful strategy for dealing with things that are scary or threatening.
Myth: Pit bulls have jaw muscles that can clamp down with (insert high number here) PSI of pressure.
FACT: Many numbers are floating around that claim to be the PSI (pounds per square inch) of pit bulls’ jaw strength. The numbers range wildly, from 800 PSI to 2000 PSI. These numbers are completely unfounded; there are no scientific studies to back any of these numbers up. In fact, bite force cannot even be accurately measured in PSI; the proper term is “pounds of force” or “Newtons” (metric system).
One study conducted by Dr. Brady Barr of National Geographic showed that the average domestic canine has an average bite of 320 pounds of force. In one portion of the documented study, Dr. Barr tested three dog breeds, a German Shepherd Dog (GSD), a Rottweiler and an American Pit Bull Terrier (APBT). The Rottweiler bit with 328 pounds of force, the highest pounds of force ever recorded from a domestic dog. The GSD bit with 238 pounds of force, and the APBT bit with 235 pounds of force.
It is important to understand that bite strength differs depending on the size of the dog, the situation that led to the bite, the dog’s training, and the state of mind the dog is currently in. The damage that a dog does when it bites depends on the location of the bite, the victim’s behavior while being bitten (twisting away will cause more damage than holding still), and the size ratio between dog and victim, among other factors. Breed has very little to do with bite strength or level of damage. You can look at a dog bite and guess the dog’s size, the victim’s behavior, and perhaps even the motivation of the dog, but you cannot guess the breed of dog that bit a person by looking at the dog bite.
See also:
National Canine Research Council: Do Pit Bulls Inflict Injuries Unlike Other Breeds of Dogs?
Delise, Karen. The Pit Bull Placebo. Anubis Publishing, 2007.
Dog Bites: Information and Statistics–Canine Bite Force
Measurement of bite force in dogs: a pilot study (note: measurements are given in metric/SI)
Myth: Pit bulls with certain nose or coat colors are “rare”.
FACT: There are no “rare” nose or coat colors. Historically, pit bulls have been bred for performance and temperament, not appearance. This means pit bulls come in all different colors, shapes, and sizes. “Blue” coats (which are really just diluted black or grey coats) are a fad color right now, and greedy breeders are churning out “blue” dogs to make money off the fad, without concern for temperament or health. Similarly, “red nosed” pit bulls are very common. White pit bulls are often deaf. For more details about “rare” pit bulls, visit: http://www.realpitbull.com/myths.html (bottom of page)
Potential pit bull owners who are looking to obtain a pit bull would be wise to steer clear of breeders who are breeding specifically for certain colors. Such breeders are in it for the money and could care less about the health or temperament of their dogs. Heck, why not adopt a pit bull rather than support backyard breeders and puppy mills? You can find purebred pit bulls of all colors waiting desperately for a home in shelters and rescue groups across the country.
Myth: Pit bulls are only owned by drug dealers and gang members.
FACT: This is a stereotype perpetuated by uneducated, hateful individuals. The vast majority of pit bull owners are normal, law-abiding citizens.
Myth: Pit bulls make up only 1% of the U.S. population.
FACT: No scientific studies have determined the actual pit bull population in the U.S.
Random percentages seem to come out of thin air and are frequently bounced around in media reports without any legitimate source to back up such an assertion. I have heard population estimates ranging from 1% to 8% or more.
Still more problematic is the disagreement as to what a “pit bull” really is – and whether “pit mixes” should be included.
Pit bulls are undeniably a very popular and prolific breed-type. Some places, such as Oakland, CA, report that more “pit bulls” are registered with the city than any other breed. A few studies estimate that U.S. shelter “pit bull” populations reach 33% on average, and up to 50% or more in larger cities.
The prevalence of pit bulls in shelters indicates not only an overpopulation problem, but also that a significant number of pit bulls are owned by irresponsible owners and breeders when compared to other breeds and breed-types.
Unfortunately, however, without a very thorough and careful demographic study of “pit bulls” and their owners – something which has yet to be accomplished on a nationwide scale and may very well prove impossible – any pit bull population estimate is little more than a vague guessing game.
Myth: Pit bull brains swell and become too large for their skull, ultimately causing the dogs to “snap” and attack people.
FACT: This particular falsehood stems from myths surrounding the Doberman in the 1960′s. It has also been applied to German Shepherds, Rottweilers, and Chows, among others. Yet there is no truth to this myth.
There is in fact an extremely rare disease that causes a dog’s brain to swell: syringomyelia. It is most common in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. This disease damages neurological functions and causes severe pain and partial paralysis. Dogs with syringomyelia often scratch and whimper in pain. The disease does not cause random biting, and the paralysis makes it nearly impossible for a dog to attack.
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