The last Saturday in October marks National Pit Bull Awareness Day, an opportunity to separate fact from fiction about these often misunderstood dogs. Whilst media portrayals have painted pit bulls as inherently dangerous, research and statistics tell a different story.

Understanding the Term "Pit Bull"

Firstly, it's important to note that "pit bull" isn't actually a single breed, but rather a term that encompasses several breeds including the American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, and Staffordshire Bull Terrier. This broad categorisation often leads to misidentification and skewed statistics.

Temperament Scores

The American Temperament Test Society (ATTS) regularly evaluates dog breeds for aggression, shyness, and friendliness [1]. Pit bulls consistently rank in the top 20% of all breeds tested for temperament.

Results show that American Pit Bull Terriers have a pass rate of 87.6%.  This is higher than many popular family dogs, including Golden Retrievers (85.6%) and Collies (80.8%).

Pit bulls earned the nickname “nanny dogs” in the early 20th century because they were known for their gentle and protective nature around children.

A Look At The Research

There have been a number of studies that have shown that dog aggression is not linked to the pit bull breed:

- A comprehensive study published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (2014) analysed 256 dog bite-related fatalities and found that breed was not a reliable factor in bite incidents [2].

- A study in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior (2019) found no significant difference in aggression between pit bulls and other breeds [3].

- A 2017 study by RMIT analysed dog bite incidents across Victoria and found that breed-specific legislation had no significant impact on reducing dog bite incidents [4].

- Research from the University of Melbourne's Animal Welfare Science Centre showed that focusing on dog breed alone was not an effective approach to preventing dog attacks [5].

- Research from the University of Sydney's Faculty of Veterinary Science showed that breed was not a reliable predictor of aggressive behaviour [6].

Responsible Ownership

The National Canine Research Council's analysis revealed that the vast majority of dog-related incidents are preventable and often relate to [7]:

- Lack of proper training and socialisation (76% of incidents)

- Inadequate supervision (84% of cases)

- Irresponsible breeding practices (64% of cases)

Media Bias

Media reporting plays a significant role in shaping public perception. Studies have shown that media reporting on dog bites shows significant breed bias, with pit bull incidents receiving disproportionate coverage [8, 9]. Also, positive stories about pit bulls are significantly underreported compared to negative ones.

Pit Bulls at Work

Pit bulls thrive in various roles such as narcotics detection dogs, search and rescue dogs, and therapy animals.

A 2020 study of therapy dog programs showed pit bulls had a 95% success rate in certification programs [10]. Pit bulls work as therapy dogs in hospitals, schools, and nursing homes. Children's reading programs often use pit bulls as patient listeners for struggling readers.

Challenges Facing Pit Bulls

Despite evidence of their temperament, pit bull breeds represent over 20% of dogs entering rescue shelters and often have longer adoption times than other breeds. Pit bulls also face challenges like breed-specific legislation (BSL) making it more difficult, and often more expensive, to adopt them in certain locations.  Often BSL requires pit bulls to wear restrictive muzzles in public, regardless of their behavior or level of training.  These obstacles are due to the stigma, rooted in outdated stereotypes rather than facts.

How You Can Help

We can all contribute to changing perceptions of this loyal breed:

Conclusion

The evidence is clear: pit bulls are not inherently more dangerous than other dogs. Like any dog, they respond to training, socialisation, and the environment they’re raised in.

On this National Pit Bull Awareness Day, let’s evaluate dogs as individuals and advocate for responsible ownership and fact-based policies.

As the proud owner of two adopted American Staffy crosses, I’ve experienced firsthand the love and loyalty these dogs offer. That’s why our 100% Kiss-a-Bull collection celebrates their joyful spirit, with designs featuring smiling pit bulls. You can explore the collection here.

Together, we can help give pit bulls the fair chance they deserve.

References

[1]: American Temperament Test Society. (2023). Breed Statistics. https://atts.org/breed-statistics/

[2]: Patronek, G. J., Sacks, J. J., Delise, K. M., Cleary, D. V., & Marder, A. R. (2014). Co-occurrence of potentially preventable factors in 256 dog bite–related fatalities in the United States (2000–2009). Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 243(12), 1726-1736.

[3]: McMillan, F. D., Serpell, J. A., Duffy, D. L., Masaoud, E., & Dohoo, I. R. (2019). Differences in behavioral characteristics between dogs obtained as puppies from pet stores and those obtained from noncommercial breeders. Journal of Veterinary Behavior, 29, 71-79.

[4]: Thompson, K., & McGreevy, P. (2017). A decade of dog bite injuries in Victoria (2005-2015): A critical review of regulation and prevention strategies. Australian Veterinary Journal, 95(1-2), 406-412.

[5]: University of Melbourne Animal Welfare Science Centre. (2016). Dog Bite Prevention: Analysis of Australian Statistics and Prevention Strategies.

[6]: McGreevy, P., & Bennett, P. (2014). Challenges and paradoxes in the companion-animal niche. Animal Welfare, 23(1), 81-87.

[7]: National Canine Research Council. (2022). Dog Bite Risk and Prevention: The Role of Breed. https://www.nationalcanineresearchcouncil.com/research-library/dog-bite-risk-and-prevention-role-breed

[8]: Cohen, J., & Richardson, J. (2016). Pit Bull Panic: Media Risk Criminology and the Construction of Dog Breeds as "Dangerous." American Journal of Sociology, 122(1), 69-112.

[9]: Martinez, A.G., Pernas, G.S. (2020). Media Bias in Dog Attack Reporting. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, 23(2), 221-234.

[10]: Therapy Dogs International. (2020). Annual Breed Certification Report.