PITBULLS:
One of The Most Loveable Dog Breeds
America's Sweetheart: The Pittie
In the United States, the term Pitbull is often used to describe a
number of breeds in a group that includes
the American Put Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier,
American Bully, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, and sometimes the American
Bulldog, as well as any crossbred dog having similar physical characteristics
to these breeds. These dogs have great physical and mental strengths
that make them great partners for responsible owners.
Source: DMCASF: October is Pitbull Awareness Month.
Pitbull Myths
Myth 1: Pitbulls aren't good family dogs.
A common pit bull myth is that they don’t make good family pets. According to Efimova, who works with tons of pitties and their families, that just isn’t the case. “We know that countless pit bull-type dogs and pit bull mixes make wonderful family dogs and pets and are loved by adults and children,” Efimova told The Dodo. In fact, the American staffordshire terrier scored high for “affectionate with family” by the American Kennel Club. The truth is, just like people, dogs are their own individuals, and you shouldn’t stereotype a dog from any breed (pit bulls, by the way, are a general type of dog and not even a breed). “All dogs are individuals, and this includes pit bull-type dogs,” Efimova said.
Myth 2: Pitbulls are inherently aggressive.
Some people think that pitties are born aggressive, but this isn’t true for a vast majority of pit bulls (or any dog breed for that matter). “Again, all dogs are individuals!” Efimova said. “I’m going to keep repeating that since far too many of us lean on broad generalizations (and myths) when it comes to dog breeds and behavior.” According to Efimova, no breed is inherently any one thing. “Aggression is not a trait but an umbrella term for a series of behaviors,” Efimova said. “And all behavior is a product of many factors beyond genetics, including prenatal development, socialization and learning history.”
Myth 3: Pitbulls have a locking jaw.
It’s commonly believed that pitties have a “locking jaw” that clamps
down when they bite into something, but pitties don’t actually have any
special mechanisms in their jaws that make them lock into place. “No dog
has a locking jaw, and since pit bull-type dogs are dogs, neither do
they,” Efimova said.
Source: The Dodo. 11 Pitbull Myths and Why They're Wrong.