ARE PIT BULLS    DANGEROUS !?!?.........

 

The very idea that the Pit Bull Terrier is a highly dangerous type of dog is severly misplaced. Since the 1980's the Pit Bull type has been responsible for about three human fatalities a year in the United States.

Dog-related fatalities are a tragedy and should never be discounted as anything less.  However, it is important and necessary to emphasize that a fatal dog attack is an exceptionally unusual event.  Approximately 20 deaths per year in a dog population of approx. 53 million yields an infinitesimal percent of the dog population....  that being the case, that equals less than .0000004% of the pit bull population involved in a human fatality.

If the breed of dog was the primary or sole factor in determining how dangerous a dog is, it would stand to reason that since there are literally millions of Rottweilers, Pit Bulls and German Shepherd Dogs in the United States, there would have to be countless more than an approximate 20 human fatalities per year. 

Although there are no accurate or even near accurate census records for dogs in the U.S., in some populations pit bulls are estimated to comprise some 30-40% of the dog population, making it by FAR the most popular breed.  (go to any large cities community shelter, New York City, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Dallas, Atlanta, etc, and you'll see the majority of it's shelter population pit bull type dogs).  Considering that there are an estimated 53,000,000 dogs in the U.S., and assuming that pit bulls make up 20% of that population, there would be approximately 10,600,000 pit bulls in our society.


Since only an infinitesimal number of any breed is implicated in a human fatality, it is not only unreasonable to characterize this as a specific breed behavior by which to judge an entire population of dogs, it also does little to prevent fatal or severe dog attacks, as the real causes and events that contribute to a fatal attack are masked by the issue of breed and not seriously addressed. While any dog-related fatality is one too many, a dozen or so incidents out of 55 million individual dogs is not exactly an epidemic. Compare the number of dog-related fatalities to the number of murders, negligent homicides, and fatal accidents caused by humans, and the number will pale in comparison. If we're more afraid of dogs (or 'pit bulls') than the people around us, our fear is misplaced. Every year, more than 2,000 children in the U.S. are killed by their own parents or guardians either through abuse or neglect. A child is more than 800 times more likely to be killed by their caretaker than by a pit bull. In 2000, 25,000 people were killed by drunk drivers. More people are killed annually by lightning, falls in playgrounds, bicycles, choking, drowning, and even tripping over their own slippers than all fatal dog attacks combined, regardless of breed (or mix of breeds).


Ofcourse fatalites are one issue, the other is attacks or bites that require trips to the Emergency Room. Do you know that people are 3 times more likely to be admitted to the Emergency Room for a bite by another person than by a dog??? Emergency Rooms also treat over 13 times as many sports-related injuries as dog bites. Not to mention many, many more kitchen utensil injuries, skateboard injuries and just plain overexertion.






Considering all this, why DO we get so excited about this particular class of injury?
Enter the irrational.  In part due to unwarranted and over-reported media hype we learn to fear animals with pointy teeth much more than to fear riding along in hunks of metal at over sixty-five miles per hour.

As far as Pit Bulls go there is also the misconception that just because a dog is dog aggressive that it's also likely people agressive, when the truth is dog aggression and people aggression are two completely different things.  Pits are the only breed in history to actually have been selectively bred for bite-inhibition towards people. Why?

Because back when pits were used for pit fighting, each pit had to be extensively handled before, during and after a pit fight, and any dog that showed any aggression towards a person was of no value to a handler and was culled, never bred. Pits are one of the few breeds that could be in the throws of a violent fight with another dog yet turn around and lick it's owner....in other words, have the ability to distinguish and separate dog aggression and people aggression.


In the midst of fostering dogs over the years, I've had to break up numerous fights between pits and between other breeds of dog. It was always the fights between other breeds that wound up with me getting bit, never though breaking up a fight between two pits. One reason for that is that if you look at a fight between other breeds, there is a lot of snapping and biting all over the place, whereas pits tend to grab and hold.

Because of this breeds history, dog aggression is a common issue with the breed. There are exceptions though, especially when early socialization takes place. Most pits do fair better either in an only-dog household or a household with a dog of the opposite sex. Even with a Pit that is dog aggressive, that in no way means that it will be aggressive towards people or children.  The breed's high tolerance of pain makes them quite tolerant of what a toddler can often dish out. While some dogs would nip at a tug of the tail or the ears, a pit tolerates such behavior easily.



Here is what highly reputable, major organizations have to say about pits:

AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB

resource:www.akc.org

Staffordshire Bull Terrier (also referred to as a Pit Bull)

TEMPERAMENT:"From the past history of the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, the modern dog draws its character of indomitable courage, high intelligence, and tenacity. This, coupled with its affection for its friends, and children in particular, its off-duty quietness and trustworthy stability, makes it a foremost all-purpose dog."


UNITED KENNEL CLUB

resource:www.ukcdogs.com

American Pit Bull Terrier

CHARACTERISTICS: "The essential characteristics of the American Pit Bull Terrier are strength, confidence, and zest for life. This breed is eager to please and brimming over with enthusiasm. APBTs make excellent family companions and have always been noted for their love of children."



ASPCA

resource:www.aspca.org - Pit Bull Information

Pit Bull Terrier

BREED CHARACTERISTICS: "Even though pit bulls were bred to fight with each other, breeders took pride in producing dogs who were trustworthy and friendly to people. Handlers had to be in the pits with the dogs during fights, sometimes having to pull them apart to end a fight. Any dog who redirected their aggression to a person was culled. These “early” pit bulls typically lived in their owner’s homes and actually earned the nickname of “nursemaid’s dog” because they were so reliable with young children."