The Truth About American Pit Bull Terriers- Myths about Pit Bulls

I find it rather interesting that Horatio Nelson Jackson took his Bulldog-type dog, Bud, cross country as a part of the first transcontinental car trip. If he had decided to try this in 2003 versus 1903, he'd have to map out his trip avoiding hundreds of towns and cities that ban these dogs. He probably wouldn't have made it all the way across without some complication or another. I mean now days, breed bans are everywhere, most of which are based on myths and opinions of political officials that don't want to do the proper research to determine that the sci-fi dog they've created just doesn't exist.

It an unfortunate the opinions and thoughts that have change about the dog breed throughout the years. The American PIt Bull Terrier was once seen as loyal, trusting, loving, and gentle. Now, the dog breed is seen as aggressive, feared, hated, and malicious.

The bad reputation that surrounds the Pit Bull has also created some very interesting myths about the breed. If these myths were true, the breed would be some super-human dog. The people that actually believe these myths (no offense to anyone) must really believe that the Pit Bull and all its similar counterparts are some creation of a science fiction novel.

One dog breed in hundreds that varies in anatomy, to include bone structure and nervous system, and even mentality just sounds ridiculous, since it's a known fact that all dog breeds originated from the wolf. Unless there's a special wolf species that contributed to this super dog breed, I'd like to see the reports and studies. Heck, I'd like to see the wolf.

But, anyway, here are the more common Pit Bull myths.

Pit Bulls are prone to attack humans because they were bred for protection and guard. Incorrect. These dogs were bred for dog fighting, and dog fighting alone. Many modern breeders of the bully breeds such as the APBT and AmStaff have to have guard dogs such as Dobermans, Rotts, and German Shepherds to protect their breeders, as they are gentle enough to allow themselves to be stolen. This is included for dogs bred for gameness.

Pit Bulls don't feel pain. Untrue. As an animal, they feel pain, just like your average Collie. The difference is that Pit Bulls have a higher pain tolerance than other dog breeds, so they can withstand higher pressure and pain. What is true, is that Pit Bulls have a unique traits that allow them to exhibit tenacity and perseverance in maintaining their grip on an object.

They clamp on with their front teeth and chew with their back teeth. There is no dog breed that has the jaw structure that would allow them to use their front teeth to grip onto an object while their back teeth chew at the same time. If this myth were possible true, the Pit Bull would have to have moveable jaw parts, but both the upper and lower jaw bones are fixed, meaning they can't move in any direction but up and down.

Pit Bulls have a higher bite force in psi's (pounds per square inch). There has been extensive research and tests performed in regards to a Pit Bulls bite force. Many media sources claim that they have a bite force of 1,200 psi, 1,800 psi, 2,000 psi, or even 2,600 psi. It's just not true or possible. The jaw and facial anatomy of the Pit Bull is not different than any other dog breed, except for extremely short muzzled dog breeds. On average dogs can reach a bite force of 320 pounds of pressure. Granted the German Shepherd, American Pit Bull Terrier, and Rottweiler, were all three tested using a bite sleeve, and the APBT registered with the least amount of pressure of the 3 dogs.

Pit Bulls are inherently dangerous. Nope. Sorry.... Pit Bulls are the nanny dogs of all dog breeds. The dogs of the breed that are inbred, over bred, and housed in unsanitary conditions, are those that are more likely to have behavioral concerns, aggression being a possible concern.

Pit Bull attacks are similar to that of shark attacks. Well, this is a sad one to debunk. The American Pit Bull is of the same descendant as the lab, poodle, terrier, husky, and any other dog breed you can image. They are all descendants of the gray wolf. It's feasibly impossible for any dog to attack like a shark, lion, tiger, or any other species other than a wolf or canine. Oh, an nor do they act, hunt, or have any other behavior as a shark, tiger, or lion. They act like dogs, descendants of wolves, who are predatory animals. Also, on the same note, dogs are mammals, sharks are fish; mammals have fixed jaw bones, sharks have 2 mobile and independent jaws.

Pit Bulls will attack even if they are not provoked. From what you hear in the media, it does seem like pit-bull type dogs attack out of nowhere. I mean loving family dogs attack the child or grandparent. Well, usually you don't hear all the acts before the attack, you tend to just hear dog attack. Plus, when you hear, "He never showed signs of aggression before. It was all out of the blue," you just assume the dog has been great all along, but no dog of any breed just attacks for no reason. There are always signs of even the slightest hints of aggression at some point in the dog's life. A little dominance here, a little snarl there- that's aggression. Most owners who don't understand or is unable to read dog behaviors, are those that claim, "he never showed signs of aggression." Plus, think about it, if you were mistreating your dog by leaving him chained on a logging chain for 5 years, fed when you thought about it, and he suffered all weather extremes in his small dog house, if he even had one, you're not going to admit any of that to the media when the dog attacks your child or someone else's.

Pit Bulls are ticking time bombs. Again, this myth is similar to, "Pit Bulls will attack even if they are not provoked." This is a lovely one-dimensional argument that has absolutely no proof or evidence to support. These dogs do not have chemical in-balances, and they're not just fly off the handle.

Pit Bulls attack unlike any other dog breed. Pit bulls are often claimed to be different that other dog breeds in their anatomy, temperament, manner of attack, and ferocity. It's just not true. They're built just like any other dog. But, with selective breeding, they are just more muscular. Just like the Saluki is thin and the Chihuahua is small.

Pit Bulls attack more than any other dog breed. Sorry no statistic can properly tell you this. There are so many people that can't ID a Pit Bull if their life depended on it, and many of these people are the ones that determine which dog breed caused the attack. Even the CDC has inaccurate information in their dog attack statistics, as it can be hard to identify a dog properly. See Severe Dog Attacks and Pit Bull- Type Dogs for more information about dog attacks and statistics.

All Pit Bulls are dominant dogs. Not true. Pit Bulls are dogs, and dogs are pack animals, which means some will be dominant and some will be passive.

I am not advocating every single person who reads this to go out and adopt or purchase an American Pit Bull Terrier, but I do think that it's only fair to hear the truths about the breed that is most commonly defamed and spoken in a derogatory manner.

American Pit Bull Terriers are your average loving, people pleasing, friend to all dog. They're quick to pick up training commands, and they big cuddle bugs. The breed is a very hardy one with no common health disorders (of course they do suffer health concerns, but nothing common amongst the breed). Sounds great...

But, they're also, stubborn, hard- headed, and strong willed. These dogs need proper training and socialization from the start.

Yes, they can be great with children, but you, as the adult, have to train and socialize the dog. And, you, as the adult, have to make a conscious effort to never leave a dog, of any dog breed, alone with a small child, even if properly trained. You can't control a dog if he's in a different room.

I hope that those who have fear about the APBT, open their heart just a little and see what really lies underneath the muscles and strength. Think about Petey on the Little Rascals, or think about the dog from the first "Cheaper by the Dozen." Great dogs who were great with children. But that takes work. You can't expect to bring home a puppy, juvenile, or adult dog and assume that it will be everything that you wanted and more.

Just don't shut out any breed just because of what you hear in the media, as the media is not always accurate, and with dog attacks, the media is never 100% truthful.

I just hope that the APBT and other pit-bull type breeds while have their image reshaped as the German Shepherd, Great Dane, and other dog breeds of the past. It starts today. It starts with you...

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