Why are Pit Bulls considered dangerous if they are really friendly? After all, many of places outright forbid them, including insurance agencies, condo associations, and even the whole city of Montreal. Unfortunately, when it comes to identifying the differences between dog breeds, there is a lot of useless data available (“Pit Bull” isn’t truly a breed either). Due of these erroneous statistics, numerous groups have incorrectly labeled some breeds as “aggressive.”
Inherently Neutral Dogs
Dogs aren’t always bred to be aggressive. Inadequate puppy socialization is a common cause of aggressive adult dogs. They probably suffered maltreatment or starvation until they were adults as well. Pit Bulls are popular among dog fighters not because they are particularly vicious, but because they are a powerful and huge breed.
Several types of dogs have been unfairly labeled as aggressive
As “aggressive” dogs go, Pit Bulls are in excellent company. Rescue dogs, such as St. Bernards and German Shepherds, are another kind of dog that often gets a bad reputation. St. Bernards are known for their heroic mountain rescue efforts and are often regarded as gentle giants by specialists on the breed.
Heroes in canine form include German Shepherds as well. The K9 community loves these sturdy puppies because they excel as drug-sniffing and bomb-detecting dogs. The last person alive on 9/11 was located in Halifax by a German Shepherd named Trakr. The Siberian Husky is another kind of dog that often gets a bad reputation. These canines were developed to be caring and trustworthy companions for young families.
Pic Credit : www.foundanimals.org
Some Dog Bites Go Unreported and Others Do
Do you believe that reports of bites from Pit Bulls or Chihuahuas are more common? Surely Pit Bulls are known to bite. It’s not because people think Pit Bulls are more aggressive. Since bites from Chihuahuas can’t inflict much harm, they may be more prevalent than stated. There is no correlation between breed and aggressiveness, according to animal behaviorists.
The reality is that canine aggressiveness may increase with dog size. The results are also not what one would expect. Puppies with a Napoleon complex are statistically more prone to act aggressively than large canines.
The Number of Dog Bites Is Irrelevant to the Probability of Being Bitten by a Dog
If you’re not good with numbers, please bear with us. The number of recorded attacks by Pit Bulls is not indicative of the breed’s actual incisiveness. Let’s simplify things to make our point clear: Imagine a town with a population of 100 Pit Bulls and 10 Pugs. Ten Pugs and twenty Pit Bulls in the same town each bite a resident at least once. Although Pit Bulls are more inclined to bite, they are the ones that actually do so. Statistics suggest that all Pugs are vicious, but only 20% of Pit Bulls are… the Pug is “more aggressive” than the Pit Bull, as could be expected.
Should the general public be more wary of Pugs than of Pit Bulls? Obviously not. Some individuals mistakenly assume that Pit Bulls and other “aggressive” breeds are more harmful because of statistics like these. Canadians’ perception of huskies as hostile originated with their misreading of data. There was a large number of reported husky bites simply because they’re a very popular breed among northern pet owners – not because they’re vicious dogs.
Having doubts?
Dogs should be evaluated on an individual basis, not categorized based on breed, when it comes to aggressiveness. We’re not the only pet experts staunchly opposed to policies that discriminate based on breed. As a whole, the following parties concur:
- Humane Society of the United States
- American Bar Association
- American Kennel Club
- American Veterinary Medical Association
- American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- National Animal Control Association
- National Canine Research Council
- US Department of Housing and Urban Development
- The Obama Administration
Then How Can I Avoid Dog Bites???
Avoiding dog bites is a matter of reading individual personality, not breed. Learn how to judge dogs by their body language, not by size or stereotypes. Always monitor children when they’re around dogs, particularly pets you don’t know very well.
Pit Bulls Aren’t Just Not Aggressive, They’re Exceptionally Sweet Dogs
Pit Bulls are unusually gentle dogs and make very good family pets. Any good Pit Bull owner will agree. And unfortunately these loving animals overcrowd shelters. So if you’re looking for a loyal and affectionate dog, the first place to look is your local shelter. You’ll save a life – and gain a best friend for life!
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