Anyone who has ever owned a pit bull knows that there are many misconceptions about the breed. Some are unable to find an apartment that allows pit bulls. Homeowners are sometimes unable to get insurance if they have a pit bull. They are banned in some dog parks and there are even entire cities that ban the breed. Much of this is due to some common myths about pit bulls. Below is a brief discussion about some of the most common.

Pit Bulls Have a Locking Jaw

This would almost be laughable if it did not contribute to the unfair bad reputation of pit bulls. The anatomy of a pit bull, including the functionality of the jaw, is exactly the same as all other dogs. It does not feature a locking mechanism nor can a pit bull clamp down with the front teeth while chewing with the back, which is another myth.

Pit Bulls are Human Aggressive

The opposite is true. For those who love to hate pit bulls, the discussion usually starts back in the days when the dogs were first bred to be used in bull baiting and fighting. During this time human aggression was bred OUT of pit bulls. The handlers had to be able to control the dogs. They didn’t want to live in constant fear of being attacked, so human aggression was bred out.

Let’s look at temperament testing which judges, among other things, a dog’s aggression toward humans and other animals.

The general passing rate for all breeds is about 77%. Pit bulls, however, achieve a passing rate of over 83%! That means that pit bulls pass on a higher scale than the average of all other breeds.

Pit Bulls Feel No Pain

Many dog lovers wish this were true. That would make it much easier to bear the horror stories of how these beautiful dogs are abused in so many ways. The truth, however, is that pit bulls, like all dogs, do feel pain.

They feel pain in the exact same way as other breeds. There is no built in numbing agent that allows them to keep fighting to the death. Instead, it is their loyalty and obedience that causes them to continue on no matter the pain that they are in.

Their Brains Swell Causing them to Suddenly Be More Aggressive

In the 1970’s Doberman Pinschers were the dogs considered most dangerous. In the 1980’s it was Rottweiler’s. When it became the pit bulls turn for this unfortunate title, the dog inherited some of the myths that once belonged to the former title holders.

It was once thought that Dobermans brains would swell causing a sudden outburst of violence that would leave a trail of corpses. Now some say this about pit bulls. It wasn’t true then, and it’s not true now.

There are many other pit bull myths. Just remember that pit bulls are the same as any other breed of dog and in the hands of loving and capable owners, they make wonderful and loyal family pets.