The American Pit Bull Terrier: Dangerous or Not: To Which Theory Do You Subscribe?

The American Pit Bull Terrier...the best friend you could ever have or the most dangerous dog on the planet. Which theory do you subscribe? If you are a proponent of the latter, you have never really experienced the loyalty of a true friend. You have just read the newspapers, watched TV, and let the media tell you what to think. Do you really want to be "that" person, or do you want to learn the facts for yourself? Let's begin the journey.

"Myth" versus "The Truth" about the American Pit Bull Terrier

Bad breeders and inaccurate press coverage unfortunately taint the American Pit Bull Terrier's reputation. Because of this reputation, there are a number of myths about the breed. Those outside the American Pit Bull circle tend to take these myths as absolute truth. So let's take a look at the myth versus the truth about this breed:

Myth One - Pit Bulls are just born mean. This is no truer than any number of stereotypes applied to humans and the color of their skin. Pit Bulls are "bred" mean by irresponsible breeders and then sold to irresponsible owners. In 2002, the American Pit Bull was tested, along with 121 other breeds, in temperament. On average, other breeds ranked 77% on the scale that measured inherent "meanness." This means that on average, only 23% of the dogs tested were pre-disposed to having a bad attitude. The American Pit Bull ranked in the 95-percentile, meaning only 5% of those tested had attitude problems at birth.

Myth Two - American Pit Bulls "lock their jaws" until their prey is dead. The press and activist groups bent on eliminating the breed love to trot out this juicy little nugget when trying to convince others of the dangers of the pit bull. There is only one problem...it is simply not true. Every study in existence confirms there is no special mechanism that allows the American Pit Bull to "lock its jaw."

Myth Three - American Pit Bulls are naturally aggressive toward humans. There is only one response to this "truth" - BULL! American Pit Bulls, like their terrier cousins, are aggressive toward other dogs. But aggression toward humans was bred out of the American Pit Bull long ago. Any "natural aggression" toward humans is most often attributed to bad breeding and irresponsible owners.

Myth Four - The American Pit Bull can suddenly "turn" on people. Again, this is simply false. The American Pit Bull, like ALL DOG BREEDS, does not just "turn" on humans. Any aggression is always preceded by some kind of warning. There is always a reason behind any attack. The reputation of "turning" on their owners can usually be attributed to an inexperienced owner not recognizing, or ignoring, the warning signs.

So why should you choose to add an American Pit Bull Terrier to the family?

Now after reading the myths, and the prevailing truths about the American Pit Bull, why should you choose to bring one home? There are actually several reasons. One, they are fiercely loyal and are easily trained (though you should consider having an expert help with the training if you are a first-time Pit Bull owner). They do have behaviors that can be considered "aggressive" or "dangerous" if the owner does not acquire the proper knowledge.

On the other hand, with the proper training and proper respect for this remarkable breed, the American Pit Bull Terrier can be the best friend, the best protector and the best dog you have ever allowed to become part of the family. Just don't allow 60 Minutes or 20/20 to be the depth and breadth of your research when deciding to get one of these amazing creatures.