Humane Society of Broward County - Everything You Want to Know About Pit Bulls

Myth 2: Do Pit Bulls turn on you?
Fact: No dog “turns on you.” Some dogs after they mature might try to challenge their place. Spaying and neutering can help with that as well as obedience training. Remember, no matter what breed of dog you have, small kids should always be supervised and taught how to interact with dogs and animals.

Myth 3: Will a Pit Bull that shows aggression towards other animals go after people next?
Fact: People aggression is a totally different behavior than animal aggression. Although these dogs can have a high prey drive and they were bred to fight each other, they were originally bred to not be aggressive towards humans. The people who fought their dogs had to be able to reach in and pull their dog out of the “pit.” Dogs that did bite were not bred and were often killed. A Pit Bull that shows aggression towards a human is not characteristic of the breed. Not only is it inhumane to use animals for purposes of fighting and gambling but it is also a felony in the United States, whether you are the person fighting the animals, breeding them or attending the fights you are subject to arrest.

Myth 4: Are red nose Pit Bulls more aggressive?
Fact: Absolutely not. The color of the nose or hair is no indication of temperament. Genetics and environment shape a Pit Bulls temperament not the color of their hair or nose.

Everything You Want to Know About Pit Bulls (continued)

In the American Temperament Test Society statistics for various breeds tested for temperament, the American Pit Bull Terrier had a favorable rating of 83.9% which was higher than the Golden Retriever. This temperament test focuses on stability, shyness, aggressiveness and friendliness and the dog’s ability to distinguish between threatening and non-threatening situations. For additional information on the test and a complete listing of breeds, you can visit www.atts.org.

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