Pit-bull myths

Where there are pit bulls, there are misconceptions. Here are a few common ones:

The locking jaw. The pit bull's ability to grab hold of a target and not let go dates back to its role as a Butcher's Dog controlling cattle by grabbing cows by the nose. This talent gave rise to the myth that these dogs have a specially engineered jaw structure that "locks" onto an object. There is no scientific evidence that pit bulls have greater bite power than many other large-breed dogs.

Fighters make good guards. If a menacing reputation can help keep a person safe, then pit bulls are a shoo-in. But historically they've been bred as human-friendly and aggressive to cows and other dogs.

Unfortunately, backyard breeding and hybridizing of pit bulls with large guardian breeds such as bull mastiffs and Rhodesian Ridgebacks may result in oversized dogs with the fighting skills of a pit bull and the aggressiveness of a guard dog.

Bad to the bone. There is no evidence that pit pulls are any more vicious than any other breed. In fact, in temperament tests on pit bulls for unprovoked aggression administered by the American Temperament Test Association pit bulls passed 83 percent of the time, which is above average.

A Jekyll-Hyde gene. When Seattle resident Heather Bauer was looking to adopt a dog last year, she was warned that a pit bull can "turn bad" at around 2 years old. Bauer decided on a Boston terrier. Like many myths, the warning is half-true.

"Most dogs begin to challenge for social position" at around 2 years old, says Dr. James Ha, an associate research professor in animal behavior at the University of Washington. "If behavioral challenges are anticipated and dealt with appropriately from the beginning, the dog quickly figures out their position and relationships and settles right down."

Lisa Wogan

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/living/2002810196_pitbullside19.html

 

amazing what some people say or think. Told my Father-in-law that i had a pit and he said " Any dog but that. Please tell me you didnt get a pit bull. "

Seems to think that my 10 week old Pit is the devil already, and no matter how well he is trained, he will eat my children when i have them.

 

your father-in-law is like some of the people that i'm around. But pit bulls are verey loyal to there human counter parts. A freind of my brother had a dog that would kill a stranger (man or woman) if you was just there or hearting one of the family members. But i have seen a 5 year old literally hang from he's ears and put her thoumbs in hes's eyes and not once did he ever gave a cross look. So if you get a dog from a good breeder young with young children you want have to werey about anyone boughtering them.

 

In fact...Iam the same as your father....but I would O N L Y trust a Bulldog...n o other breed....

 

my parents where that way..till i brought home a puppy and stuck it in there arms..that was it..now if its not a pit bull its not a dog..ps..my forum name was my first dogs name..and their jaws dont lock..they just dont want to let go..