Pit bulls are unfairly known for poor behavior, and this is due to a complicated set of reasons ranging from racism to lack of education and misunderstanding.
Being “pro-Pit” or “anti-Pit” is of little value. Attributing poor behavior solely to a specific dog breed like a pit bull is not scientifically accurate. Dog behavior is influenced by a complex interplay of genetics, environment, training, and socialization.
Certain factors have contributed to the unfair reputation of pit bulls for poor behavior in some contexts. One factor is their history of being bred for dogfighting. High-profile cases including Atlanta Falcons football team quarterback Michael Vick who illegally and abusively housed and trained pit bulls for fighting brought media attention to cruel dogfighting.
Pit bulls’ physical strength and powerful jaws mean that improper handling or lack of socialization and education can lead to severe incidents. It is crucial to emphasize that breed-specific stereotypes are not scientifically validated and should not be used to make blanket assumptions about individual dogs.
That being said, according to Forbes Advisor in April 2024, dog bite claims historically average around 45,000.00 dollars. Homeowner insurance pays for dog bites, so many well-known home insurance companies have strictly banned certain breeds of dogs, including pit bulls. This is unsupported scientifically and is discriminatory and antagonistic to particular communities.
Dog advocates including the American Kennel Club, Best Friends Animal Society, the Humane Society, and others have openly stated that when companies discriminate against dogs they also discriminate against their humans. In a request to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, the Animal Defense League says “The use of breed lists has a detrimental impact on three groups: uninformed consumers, people of color, and consumers of low or moderate means.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention determined that from 1979 to 1998, pit bulls were involved in the most fatal-to-humans dog attacks (Sacks et al, 2000).
Other peer-reviewed research supports that pit bulls bite more frequently and more severely (Essig et al 2019).
The research is likely flawed in many ways that make decisive conclusions difficult. To authoritatively determine if a breed bites more often would require knowing both the number of biting dogs and the total number of dogs in a specific breed. Until dogs undergo several decades of census-gathering as is done with humans, it is impossible to say which breed is more likely to bite.
The solution to behavior problems associated with dog bites surely begins with responsible dog guardianship, along with properly socializing and educating our dogs to be the best members of society that they can be.
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