3 Myths About Pit Bull Dogs

3 Pit Bull Myths Unmasked
By Fredrick Miller

In today's society there is one breed of dogs that is vilified more than any other, the American Pit Bull Terrier (APBT). The media portrays these dogs as the most horrible, vicious, and ill-tempered dogs ever to exist. Unfortunately most people tend to believe what they see on the television and what they read in the newspaper. Because of the media these dogs have been shunned by most of society. Today the top 3 Pit Bull myths will be unmasked before your very eyes.

Myth 1: Pit Bulls attack the most people out of any dog breed.

Did you know that there are actually over 60 different dog breeds that people mistake for being an APBT? The media loves to call any short haired dog with a large head a Pit Bull. The media are thrilled any time they can classify a dog as a Pit Bull because it makes for fantastic headlines. Any time the words "Pit Bull Attack" appear in the news there is always a nationwide anti-Pit frenzy. This poor breed is misunderstood and is considered this generation's demon dogs. Just like in previous generations there were Dobermans, German Shepherds, and Rottweilers. According to the American Temperament Test Society's June 2010 temperament testing results, the APBT ranked better than common household dog breeds such as the Cocker Spaniel, Pomeranian, Beagle, Collie, and many others.

Myth 2: Pit Bulls attack without being provoked.

All dogs, including the APBT show warning signs before they attack. These Include body language such as tensing up, stares, ear positions, tail positions, and head positions. Most dogs also give vocal warnings such as barking and growling. The general public may feel that these particular dogs attack suddenly, but most people can't distinguish the warning signs from normal behavior. Any dog that has not had the proper training or has not been socialized well enough is naturally going to be more aggressive than a dog that has. Studies also show that dogs who spend their lives chained up are very territorial when compared to dogs that get to live both indoors and outdoors. So when someone enters the dog's territory it will be more aggressive. This goes for all dog breeds.

Myth 3: Pit Bulls can lock their jaws.

There is absolutely no research that backs this up. When looked at from a medical standpoint the APBT has the same type of muscle and jaw structure as every other breed. There is no mechanism that can cause an APBT's jaw to lock. Studies by National Geographic's Dr. Brady Barr have also proven that German Shepherds and Rottweilers have a far stronger bite force than the APBT.

As you can plainly see, the media has painted a very colorful and false picture about American Pit Bull Terriers. These dogs are actually very wonderful pets. Just ask anyone who owns one of these special animals. Hopefully after seeing these 3 Pit Bull myths unmasked you will change your perspective about the breed.

Fredrick Miller is an American Pit Bull Terrier activist. He was very skeptical of the breed for a long time until he and his wife took one in off of craigslist because someone was giving the poor dog away for free. This dog has turned out to be the most well behaved and loyal pet he has ever owned. This one little furry friend has swayed his heart.