Dispelling Myths about Pit Bulls

It’s our time to shine! In preparation of National Pit Bull Awareness Day, we asked our Facebook fans, ’What is the #1 myth about pit bull type dogs that you’d like to set the record straight on?’

Whether it’s the locking jaw myth, aggression myth, or the myth that they will turn on us, we are constantly out there showing everyone how incredibly loving our pit bulls are, as evidence by the photos from our fans. Thanks everyone for sharing.

The fact that they are all vicious killers and aren’t worth anyone’s time.

I hate it when people say that “they can snap at any time.” Honestly, this is true of people and no one runs around saying it.

That they are killers. Haha. They might lick you to death!

That they are bred to be vicious.

That they are any different than any other dog when it comes to biting and aggressive behavior and that their behavior is genetic rather than how they are raised. I once watched a lady pet my red nose while she told me that at first she thought she might be a pit bull, but she couldn’t be because she was afraid of those types of dogs. I didn’t have the heart to tell her she was petting one.

That the breed is naturally aggressive.

That pit bulls are different from other dogs. All dogs can be aggressive to other dogs or humans. It was German shepherds, Dobermans and Rottweilers that were the bad, aggressive dogs, but it’s really the owners not the dogs!

That they cannot be trusted around children.

That they have “locking” jaws.

That they’re unstable and aggressive. As our two cats, our neighborhood dogs, and all the minders and dogs at his daycare can attest, our boy is the sweetest, calmest, friendliest, most goofily playful critter on four feet. My female cat and I are much more aggressive than my dog is–by far!

Dangerous. I have two who are the sweetest and it breaks my heart when they are judged by their looks. My younger one always wants to say hi but often gets passed because of his appearance!

That they aren’t worth the “trouble” it takes to raise them.

I have three myths I’d like to see dispelled.
1. Locking jaw.
2. Pit bulls always turn on their owners and attack the children.
3. People saying, “as long as they were raised right they will be okay.”

This last one bothers me as it is so untrue. Pit bulls can be fighting dogs and turn into therapy dogs (some examples are the Michael Vick dogs). Please explain that one to those fools out there. Sure, it’s nice to have a puppy (any breed) but just because a pit bull (or any other breed) has been abused, does not mean that they will turn on you as an adult. Myself, I would prefer the adult dog, what you see is what you get and old dogs learn new tricks and manners.

That they are mean. Let me tell you, I’d rather be locked in a room with a bunch of pit bulls any day over most people I come across.

That they have locking jaws.

That they are bad with children. I have older children and my pit bull just turned one. Honestly, he spends his days making sure they are alright, and only when they are all in the house at night, have been fed, and are in bed does he call it a night. He would give his life for his pups.

That they all have the capacity to just snap one day and attack with no warning.

That they are unpredictable and have a natural instinct to kill.

The three myths I would like to see dispelled are these:
1. Pit bulls feel no pain
2. Pit bulls have locking jaws
3. Pit bulls are aggressive and will attack owners and children.

My lovely girl is a licker! Loves the cats and ferret, thinks the best night ever is snuggling on the sofa, and is visibly hurt when someone won’t pet her. I was always afraid of pit bulls until we rescued our girl…it will always be a pit bull from now on for us.

That they are a dangerous breed.

That they’re dangerous and that restricting them, banning them, or euthanizing them will make the world a safer place. This makes me so angry! And yes, I meant to shout.

They will lick you to death and push you out of the bed while trying to cuddle tightly against you at night. Oh, I’m sorry you asked for myth: I hate people thinking only thugs and gang members own and “use” pit bulls! Our pups are part of the family and we are not thugs or in a gang!

That they just “snap,” then attack.

That they’re inherently mean.

That they can’t be rehabilitated.

That they are not “super villains,” they are not stronger, don’t have more bite power, and don’t have “locking jaws.”

That you should cross the street if a pit bull is coming your way. I promise I will not bug you or bite you! But if you want to pet me I might lick you and ask for a tummy rub.

I would like to dispel the myth that pit bulls are vicious, unpredictable animals. My four will always be predictably curled up on the end of my bed when it’s cold, they will always wag their entire bodies when they meet new people, and they may get you down and lick you to death! They are the best kissers on the planet.

That they are aggressive, dangerous dogs by nature.

One that angers me is that pit bulls will kill children. That is so far from the truth. They are lovable and friendly dogs.

Pit bulls hate people.

That they are vicious.

That they’re unsafe with kids. My pit bull is amazing with kids. She sees them as her personal project to protect and lick clean.

Because my little girl has scars (from multiple tumor surgeries) that she was a fighter.

That they are dangerous and turn on you! I am an adopter of three pit bulls! They love my kids to death.

That they are different from other dogs! They are just a dog, people!

That they are an inherently vicious breed. Nothing could be farther from the truth!

That they’re anything except regular ol’ dogs. They need the same love, affection, and opportunities to flourish that any other dog does.

That they “enjoy” fighting. What they enjoy is pleasing their owners. If that is what a sick owner wants from them, they are that loyal that they will die or suffer to prove it. Sad.

The myth that they will “turn” on people, that their vicious nature will eventually come out.

That they are unsafe to have around children!

That any pit bull with any scar whatsoever was used to fight or as a “bait dog.” Yes, it happens, but not like the general public thinks.

That their jaws lock when they bite.

That all are vicious.

That they’re any more dangerous than poodles or Labradors or Chihuahuas. All dogs are wolves under the skin, it’s how they’re brought up and trained that counts!

That they are unpredictable and are always on the edge of snapping.

That they are born aggressive and will “turn” on their people. I have four cuddly pit bulls that I trust completely and love unconditionally!

That they have locking jaws.

That you can never trust them because they’ll turn on you. So wrong.

“Pit bulls are mean!” Told to me by a little girl I met while walking my little pit bull. She did pet my dog, Lucy and agreed that she had funny ears before acknowledging that maybe not all pit bulls were mean.

Yep! That they are dangerous dogs! So sad. They are beautiful loving angels!

~ Teri Armijo Beltran

~ Joe Kozlosky

No two dogs are the same. Each one has to be treated as a separate individual. The term there are no mean dogs is a crock, however, there are more good ones than bad in most cases.

Pit bull is not a breed but an approximate mix of 18 dog types and their jaws do not lock!

That pit bulls are mean and don’t make great pets let alone a service dog. Haha, my pit bull is my service dog and my and my kids’ best friend.

That they are no different than any other breed of dogs! They just want the love they give in return! They have personalities like people do, have dislikes and likes! They have certain likes of food, other animals, etc. So what makes them any different? They live like all others!

Someone once called them alligators with fur. Really love to see the ignorance of aggression squashed.

The one I hear the most from people visiting our animal shelter is that they will turn on their people some day and attack for no reason regardless of the dog’s history. As many time as I hear it I have no response. How can I dispute something that is so illogical?

My favorite myth so far is that their brains grow beyond the capacity of their skulls and that is what causes them to “go crazy.” Ha. Have you ever heard something so silly?

There is no pure breed pit bull, no red nose, blue nose. A pit bull is a mixed terrier, wonderful American mutt. It does not have a locking jaw, but rather a super licking tongue to give endless kisses with!

“Pit bulls turn on their family” and “pit bulls bite more people than any other breed” when statistically we know that neither one of these are true statements, just ignorant ones.

That their natural propensity to cause harm differs from any other strong breed dog.

That “pit bull” refers to a specific type or breed of dog, when really it’s a number of characteristics that are exhibited in many breeds. How many dogs never get a chance and die because they look a certain way? You can’t judge a book by its cover with people, and you can’t do it with dogs either.

Their personalities are as varied as any other dog. They have individual personalities.

That pit bulls are solely bred for fighting and that if used for fighting they can not overcome it. Many bully breed rescues prove that wrong every day.

German Shepherds have a stronger bite than a pit bull. NO dogs’ jaws have the ability to “lock.” They are NOT vicious by nature…PEOPLE can train them to be bad dogs, it’s NOT the dog’s fault.

That their jaws lock. This isn’t physically possible! Oh yeah, and that they’re not kid friendly. The only problem we have with Sadie is that she won’t stop licking our friend’s toddler in the face! She just wants to repeatedly kiss her!

Bad dogs are made by bad humans and poor breeding. This breed is sweet in nature and wants to please their owners and are overall goofballs. They are a joy to own.

Pit bulls are 80-pound or more dogs.

Their teeth point/curve backward so you cannot get loose.

That they are born to fight. This is a learned trait. They were bred to be “nanny” dogs to watch over families’ children, not to fight.

I would like to see the myth, that they are vicious because of their breed, dispelled. They’re “born” that way. They could be sweet until they “click” and “go off.” All this is bologna!

That they are tough dogs and don’t feel pain, are unpredictable, and are not to be trusted around kids. Pit bulls are the softest, blanket loving babies. They love to snuggle and seek out warm, cushy couches, preferably with a human to share it with. They are typically great with kids and super loyal to those who show them the love they deserve.

That they are not good with children. And that they have a “killer instinct.” Where do people come up with stuff sometimes?

I’m sick to death of hearing from uninformed people that pit bulls are inherently dangerous to humans.

Pit bulls are not natural born killers. Ask my new stray kitten that just adopted us and our rescue pit bull, Lulu Belle. They are inseparable and play all day.

That they bite more people than any other breed. I have worked with animals all my life and have never been bitten by any bully breed, but I have been bitten by more small breeds than I can list here.

I don’t have a pit bull, but had a Rottweiler back when they were deemed “evil and vicious” by society/media the same as pit bulls are being looked down upon now. I can relate to what all owners go through with the crap people say about your babies. My boy never snapped, turned, or attacked. He protected us and loved everyone. The facts: No dog has lockjaw, all have the ability to be great friends with animals/children/people when trained and loved unconditionally (unlike humans). So bring on the myths because us dog parents know the truth!

Along with the usual myths, a disturbing one I heard was you can’t love them. The hell I can’t!

Pit bulls aren’t born mean, they are taught how to be mean! And the whole “snap” theory. Any dog “could” snap I guess.

This myth kills me: Pit bull-type dogs have locking jaws.

I get asked on a daily basis “does he bite?” Ugh! Then I find myself educating perfect strangers on the street about dogs and their behavior.

I have trouble with the myth that all pit bulls will turn on their owners too. “You know one day she’ll snap and kill you and your family, right?” Someone said as my beautiful girl Bonnie was lying down asking for a belly rub. Really? I don’t even know what to say to that.

“As a breed, the pit bull is a liability.” Well you wouldn’t think of a Schnoodle (schnauzer poodle mix) as a liability but as an owner of one, I can tell you he is. Not a man walks by that he doesn’t change to an aggressive dog that can draw blood. I work with him daily on this and am always cautiously responsible with him when around others.

Pit bulls are no more aggressive than I am, and I can assure you, I’m not nearly as loyal as your average pit bull! My Anpan has been with me going on four years, and I had to teach him to growl, while we were playing. He’s been attacked by other dogs at the dog park on four separate occasions, and he’s the first one to go submissive, it’s me they have to worry about! He’s my baby boy!

The belief that their ears should be cropped. Please don’t cut their ears!

That they are born bad, when in all actuality, I have never seen a mean one!

Pit bulls are no more aggressive than any other breed of dog, in fact, they are less aggressive than many other breeds.

Pit bulls and children: They received their nickname for a reason and have exceptional tolerance for children. My dogs acknowledge ear tugs and tail pulls with kisses. And my 1-year-old will bring me his snack to open so he can feed it to the dogs. Kids and pit bulls just fit.

That they are born evil and nothing will change that.

“It’s unsafe and irresponsible to have pit bulls around children.” There is no other animal in the world that I’d trust around my girls other than my three pit bulls.

“You know, one day he’ll just ‘snap’ and bite your face off.” When people say that, it makes me worry more about them, than him!

That they are “naturally” aggressive!

That they are vicious dogs who bite and kill people.

I don’t own a pit bull, but I would love to set the record straight that they do make good family dogs even with babies. I am so tired of hearing people say they are not good with kids. It is so not true.

Lock jaw. There is no such thing. Their anatomy (jaws included) is no different than any other breed. Muscle yes, lock jaw, no.

Worst pit bull myth: they are bred to be aggressive.

That they are all vicious killers just waiting for victims!

Two big myths are that pit bulls will suddenly turn on their owners and that they cannot live with other animals or children. I can prove those all wrong with my personal kid and with my foster kids.

They will “turn on you” for no reason.

That their farts smell nice.

The myth that any pit bull, regardless of how nice they seem has the capacity to “turn” and attack people. Not true!

It has been said that the pit bull-type dog does not feel pain, which is very untrue, they feel pain the same as any dog.

They are aggressive and will turn on you. The only pit bull that turned on me was doing so to give me a big kiss!

I would just like to say that I have two pit bulls and a standard poodle and the pit bulls will lick you to death and my standard poodle is the one that bit someone so, the stereotype is way off when it comes to pit bulls!

That they’re only owned by thugs, drug dealers and people who “want” aggressive dogs. They’re amazing family pets and have been for generations.

They are unpredictable, killers, and mean. In fact, they are devoted to their owners, very loving, and smart. They are made mean by poor owners.

The myth that a pit bull that has issues with other dogs or with cats will somehow be vicious towards people as well. Not true! Animal aggression is miles away from turning into human aggression, and one does not lead to the other.

That they were bred for the sole purpose of fighting.

That even the nice ones can snap or turn on you at any time! Makes me so mad. I’m pretty positive that my dogs will never snap or turn on me.

That breed discriminatory legislation is necessary or has any positive effect.

The same thing I am sure everyone else will say: That they are hostile/aggressive and would just as soon rip your throat out. They’d rather kiss and snuggle! And, no, mine is not the exception (though she is exceptional).

Truth: They are lovers, not fighters! They are the biggest lovers of them all.

That they are somehow different from other dogs. Dogs are individuals – they each have their own personalities, likes and dislikes, and pit bulls are no different.

If they were fought in their past they can’t be changed. Not true either.

I would like to dispel the myth that pit bulls are inherently dangerous, and abused pit bulls are incapable of love and don’t feel pain.

That you can’t have pit bulls around a baby because it will eat it…I just had baby and my pit bull and new baby are best friends.

“It’s how they are raised.” No it’s not! It’s how they’re treated now! So many dogs are rehabilitated from fight rings and they were actually raised to fight! The Vick dogs are a perfect example.

Its all how they are raised.” This I would like to see ended. My two rescued pit bull type dogs were not raised by me, but they are now loved by me – and they are well-behaved, sweet and loving dogs with manners better than most people.

The myth that pit bulls are “cat eaters.” My kitties bully the heck out of my poor pit bulls, but at the end of the day they’re cuddled up together.

That they are such strong dogs they can’t feel pain and that their jaws lock when they really don’t!

That they will suddenly change at 18 months to 3 years of age. Any dog can change with social maturity, just like we often change from 18 to 30!

That they are all bad dogs. They are not, it is how they are raised and treated. I have seen the smallest dog be vicious, and the biggest pit bull playing with small children. It is not the dog, it is the people that raise and train the dog.

As a breed, they can just attack or become aggressive, any time. I always hear, “They (dogs) lived together for years, then one day, they turned on each other or owner.” Obviously, something happened to initiate attack.

When though up to now they’ve been fine, one day they will snap!

Biggest myth to dispel: All pit bulls are inherently aggressive, dangerous dogs that will turn on any other dog or human with no warning and no reason.

They will eventually attack their owners.

That they won’t ever forgive. My foster boy comes from a rough start, and he is the most lovable, cowardly, emotionally sensitive dog I’ve ever had. If we have a bad day in general and come home ready to throw something, he takes it personally!

That they are just mean and vicious when they are so kind and gentle.

That they are “inherently dangerous” as stated by the Maryland Court of Appeals.

That they love any less than any other dog; quite the contrary.

That all of them are vicious.

That dog fighting is acceptable because pit bulls enjoy it.

think most of us feel the same way…the myth that they are vicious and can snap at any moment. My Ginger just got certified as a therapy dog and I’m so proud of her. She has proven her temperament time and again.

They do not have jaws that lock and need medication to deter biting (yes I heard that one).

The idea that you should keep your kids away from a pit bull (or worse, give up your pit bull when you have kids) is just crazy. Obviously, children should always be respectful in approaching a strange dog, but Staffordshire terriers were bred in England to be protective of children and my pit bull mix loves the little guys more than anything.

I hate when people tell me that all pit bulls will eventually “turn” on their owners without warning. I also fume when I hear the locking jaws comment or that they bite with some ridiculous amount of force like 800 PSI (it’s really not very easy to measure, but it’s in the low two hundreds if that is even accurate and they are behind several other breeds of dog.

That they’re mean. It angers and breaks my heart when people say rude comments or give my Gordo a horrified look. He’s always got the goofy pit bull smile on his face, and I think, how can they be afraid of that precious face?

They enjoy fighting. Any decent human being that has ever had the misfortune of watching distressing footage of a organized dog fight can see and hear how traumatized these animals are when being forced to fight for their lives!

That they are mean and will turn on you unexpectedly. When I use a gentle leader on my pit, people assume she will bite so I have to muzzle her.

That they may turn on you and bite you with locking jaws.

I hate hearing that pit bulls have a lock-jaw. No dogs have a jaw that automatically locks. Pit bulls are strong and boisterous and loving and sweet, but in no way will their jaws lock, even if they are chewing on their favorite bowling ball, like my big boy Connor.

Bred to fight. Make people aware they were born to kiss.

I wish people knew how trustworthy they are around small children. They seem to read how gentle they need to be with little ones. They are some of the gentlest dogs you will ever see around kids.

That they are innately vicious and mean. Totally not true. They are gentle lovers. It’s the vicious and mean humans who train these innocent creatures to be attack dogs who should be vilified.

They want to love, not fight!

That they have locking jaws! Not true and they don’t have stronger jaws than an alligator.

That they want to attack you.

That they were born to fight, they’re aggressive, and not good with children, so not true! They are extremely loyal, loving, entertaining clowns, and very smart!

They are born bloodthirsty and aggressive. You should never leave them alone with your children because they will attack them. They are not good family dogs.

The myth that I would like to put to rest is that pit bulls, unlike other breeds of dog, can behave completely normal one moment and then “snap” in an instant, even on their owners. I am so tired of this one.

I would like to see the myth that pit bulls are inherently viscous dispelled. My pit bull blue boy and all the others I know are sweet, loving and loyal pets.

The myths I can’t stand the most have already been addressed, I just heard them all tonight at city hall during a BSL proposal. One additional thing that bothers me is the myth that most owners of “pit bulls are bad, criminal types. They usually back this up with examples from hysteria-laden “news” reports or so-called statistics from hate-mongering websites.

Please educate people on the “lock jaw” myth!

That they’re more aggressive and mean than any other dog out there – a dog to be feared. The big myth, in my opinion, that holds people back from resolving all the other myths about them. I want to shout: These dogs were bred to love people!

That there is any such thing as any dog being “inherently” dangerous than others. It’s time we call it for what it is: canine profiling.

That all pit bulls are aggressive. I’ve never met an aggressive dog who hasn’t been trained by its owner to be that way.

Agreed – the theory that all pit bulls are dangerous and aggressive, which is so far from the truth!

That pit bulls aren’t family dogs. Disagree! I used to baby-sit for a family that had a red-nosed pit bull named “Red,” naturally, and he was awesome with both the boys and loved to play fetch with them…and he was a great foot warmer.

That they are mean, bad dogs and are awful with kids. The truth is they are cover-hogs who love giving kisses and protecting everyone and they are some of the smartest dogs as well.

Pit bulls are the best dogs I have ever had. They adopt you into their pack and you are family!

They are like any other dog, but it is the owner that makes them get the bad reputation.

Pit bulls can be a service dog.

Pit bulls tested #1 over Golden Retrievers as being trainable for service dogs! That says it!