“Pit Bull” is not actually the name of the breed: Pit Bulls include American Pit Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers and Pit mixes.
According to the American Temperament Test Society Inc., pit bulls were found to have a more friendly temperament than Beagles, Chihuahuas or Toy Poodles!
Pit Bulls are used as drug and bomb sniffing dogs.
Pit Bulls served as our country’s mascot during World War I and II because they were so popular!
Myth or Fact?
Pit Bulls are dangerous to humans because of their brutal and aggressive nature.
MYTH: While pit bulls can be aggressive with other dogs, they are naturally kind and loving with humans.
They were originally bred to be fighting dogs—meaning while they can be aggressive with one another, they needed to be obedient to their owners and gentle around humans.
Pit Bulls are only used as fighting dogs and should be banned to keep the public safe.
MYTH: Only about 1-2% of people breed pit bulls for dog fighting. These are usually criminals or gang members who also participate in a wide variety of other illegal activities.
Pit Bulls have “locking jaws” which cannot be opened after they bite down.
MYTH: There is no functional difference between the jaws of pit bulls and any other dog breed. Rumors that Pit Bulls have more bite pressure per square inch than any other breed of dog is also FALSE. Testing has shown that the highest recorded pressure per square inch for a pit bull was 235, while the scores for German Shepherds and Rottweilers were 238 and 328 PSI.
Pit Bulls were once the number one “family dog.”
FACT: During the early part of the 20th century, Pit Bulls were the most popular breed of dog.
Pit Bulls are actually ideal candidates for therapy dogs.
FACT: Because Pit Bulls are intelligent, gentle and naturally trainable, they make great therapy dogs.
Pit Bulls have the nickname the “Nanny Dog.”
FACT: In England, Pit Bulls are so popular and have a well known reputation of being great with children.
Famous Pit Bulls
“Sergeant Stubby” was an all American war hero who saved his entire platoon from a poison gas attack, and even singlehandedly caught a German spy.
Petey, the loveable pup on the original “Little Rascals” TV show was an American Pit Bull Terrier.
Cheyenne, Dakota, and Tahoe are heroic search and rescue dogs that have been used in many high profile cases, including the Lacy Peterson case and during the Space Shuttle Colombia disaster.
“Popsicle,” an abandoned pit bull rescued from a drug dealer’s freezer, was able to sniff out 3,075 pounds of cocaine in the largest drug find in Texas history.
You can learn more about Pit Bull Myths and Facts at TheDogPark.com, North Shore Animal League America and RealPitBull.com just to name a few.