We have all heard every imaginable myth and lie that there is about pitbulls. Even people who have never seen a Pitbull could probably spat off a few of these myths. It seams like we are constantly being bombarded in the news paper and on the television all these so called Pitbull facts. Well we are going to dive right in feet first and debunk five of these myths.
#1 Pit Bulls When They Bite Lock Their Jaws
Dr. Lehr Brisbin of the University of Georgia:
“The few studies which have been conducted of the structure of the skulls, mandibles and teeth of pit bulls show that, in proportion to their size, their jaw structure and thus its inferred functional morphology, is no different than that of any breed of dog. There is absolutely no evidence for the existence of any kind of “locking mechanism” unique to the structure of the jaw and/or teeth of the American Pit Bull Terrier.”
I mean seriously I have never heard of any dog, let alone any mammal being able to lock its jaw.
#2 Pit Bulls Do Not Make Good Family Pets
Pit bulls make wonderful family pets. Their tendency to have a higher pain threshold than other dogs makes them very tolerant of children who sometimes like to be a little too rough. Although all young children should never be left unsupervised with any dog. Early and continued socialization makes them a joy to be around. They are not, however, a dog for every household. They take a higher degree of commitment than most other breeds as some can indeed be animal aggressive, but a Pit Bull should never be human aggressive. They also tend to be highly energetic and intelligent dogs which need adequate exercise and proper training. A good group obedience class which involves the whole family is strongly recommended.
#3 Pit Bulls Can’t Be Kept With Other Animals
Pit Bulls especially if they are socialized at an early age with other animals, like cats and other dogs, can be kept in the same household with no problems.
#4 A Pit Bull That Shows Aggression Towards An Animal Go For People Next
This is completely false, there are many dog breeds that will show aggression towards other animals. A prime example of this is the beagle. They live to chase after rabbits and will kill them if they get the chance. This of course is what we have bred to do, but have you ever heard of a beagle going after a person? I haven’t! Pit Bulls are no different, they have been bred over the years to control other animals. Not to attack humans.
#5 Pit Bulls Attack People More Than Other Dogs
This is not even close to being true. The majority of dog bites statistically come from lapdogs, the highest being the poodle! The total percentage of all dog attacks on humans which are committed by purebred pit bulls is only 0.89 per cent, not even a full percentage point!
I know this is just a short list of only a few of the myths that are out there about Pit Bulls, but hopefully we debunked a few of the more popular ones.
Posted in: Pit Bull Myths & Facts | 3 Comments »
