a. This is a common myth that I have heard from critics and detractors of the breed, as well uniformed media and owners. There is nothing physiologically different about an APBT's jaws than any other breed of dog. Their jaws can no more lock than a Poodles (with no offence to the breed).
However (probably holding basis for the myth) they do have considerable jaw strength. The wide jaws and prominent musculature allows them to hold on to an object if they want to. This trait is given somewhat due to the many uses in this breed's history. The selective breeding for strength and stamina also plays an important part in this.
2. MYTH: "All Pit Bulls are born vicious and/or born mean."
a. No breed of dog is inherently vicious or mean, however this is not to say that there will not be cases where abused dogs are, no matter what the breed. Each dog is an individual - a combination of its genes, upbringing, and training. The APBT is a breed that has been bred to have a high bite inhibition (to not bite) for humans. Even in their fighting past, NO human aggression was tolerated. A Pit Bull that would bite a human earned a bullet in the head, in those days. As inhumane as it may sound, this took place in the selective breeding that made our breed so wonderful today. An APBT that would bite was not allowed to continue, much less breed, as few people know this. This ensured that no bad genes would be allowed to pass.
3. MYTH: "Dogs that are aggressive toward other animals will turn on humans."
a. There is absolutely NO correlation between animal aggression and human aggression. Animal aggression CAN and DOES occur in ALL dog breeds. In the history of the APBT, although sometimes being dog aggressive, as stated before human aggression was not tolerated. A dog that was a danger to humans and prone to biting was NOT acceptable, even then. In fact, their high tolerance for pain makes them incredible dogs for children!
4. MYTH: "Pit Bulls bite/attack more people than any other breed."
a. Contrary to popular belief, bite statistics actually show otherwise. Other breeds, more likely to be seen as "nice dogs" usually top the bite list. Following are a couple of excerpts from two different bite studies.
1. Which dogs bite? A case controlled study of Risk Factors. (Kenneth A. Gershman, M.D., M.P.H*, Jeffery J. Sacks, M.D., M.P.H.*, and John C. Wright, PhD.
*ABSTRACT. Objective. Dog bites cause and estimated 585,000 injuries resulting in the need for medical attention yearly, and children are the most frequent victims. This study sought to determine dog-specific factors independently associated with a dog biting a non-household member. RESULTS. Children aged 12 and younger were the victims in 51% of cases. Compared with controls, biting dogs were more likely to be German Shepherds, OR Chow predominant breeds.
2. Dog Bite Study. By Paul Bourgeois. Star-Telegram staff writer, Fort Worth TX.
Quietly and methodically, Fort Worth Animal Control is looking for answers. Armed with a $168,000 grant from the Texas Department of Health, Animal Control is in the middle of a fourteen (14) month study...Some patterns have been discovered... Mixed breeds accounted for just over 18% of the attacks, but where the breed, or predominant breed could be determined, Chows were found to be more likely to bite. They accounted for 6.9% of the attacks. Shepherd and Shepherd mixes accounted for 6.7%, Retrievers; which include several types, 6.3%, Pit Bulls and mixes only 5.5%, and Rotweilers 4.9%.
3. Available Breed records show what a MYTH this is. Farmers Branch, Texas, a suburb of Dallas, has kept accurate records since 1980. During a seven year period from 1980 - 1987, this is what was recorded: Tolal Bites, 1,593; Pit Bulls 30 bites, or 1.89% of the total.
In conclusion, it is obvious that Pits in fact DO NOT bite more people than any other breed. It is far less than most would think. But in times now, it would be hard to conduct such a study, due to the fact that unrelenting media as well as uninformed people do not research a dog bite case, or dog attack. They call the dog a "Pit" before they know any facts, or what breed or mixture the dog actually is. Unfortunately for the Breed and us fanciers, they do not look into these cases as thoroughly as they should.