TRAINING
RESOURCES
PIT BULLS
What you should know about a misunderstood
breed.
Source: HSUS and BadRap.org
WHAT IS A PIT BULL?
“Pit bull” is a name often used when referring to breeds such as the American Pit Bull Terrier,
American Staffordshire Terrier, and Staffordshire Bull Terrier, as well as mixes of any of those
breeds.
A pit bull can make a great family pet, but they are not the dog for everyone. They are bold,
active creatures and can get into all sorts of adventures (and misadventures). If you
considering a pit bull, ask yourself if you are willing to learn all you can about this breed so
you can educate people and handle the negative image, looks, and comments from the public.
Also ask yourself if you have time to train, socialize, exercise, and provide a safe environment.
It doesn't take an exceptionally strong or dominant person, to raise a pit bull. It takes a good
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LGAR | Pitbulls – What you need to know about a misunderstood breed
dog owner. Pit bulls, in the end, are nothing more -- and nothing less -- than dogs. Finally, ask
yourself if you will be able to make a lifetime commitment to this breed. Only through
responsible ownership can we change the pit bull’s image.
MYTHS & MISONCEPTIONS
PIT BULLS HAVE LOCKING JAWS
No. Pit bulls have just the same old mouths as every other kind of dog -- and not even the
strongest around.
An academic study, "Cranial dimensions and forces of biting in the domestic dog," does show
that bigger- and wider-skulled dogs have stronger bites. It's worth noting, though, that not all
pit bulls have big, wide skulls -- these dogs come in a huge variety of sizes, especially
compared to the world of dogs at large. And, it goes without saying -- though I'll say it anyway
-- that even if a dog has a big, wide skull, this does not make the dog any more likely to bite.*
No one, meantime, has found any dog to have a locking jaw. This anatomical trait is a myth.
PIT BULLS TURN ON YOU
No dog “turns” on you. Healthy pit bulls with stable temperaments are succeeding in countless
homes across the continent. Dogs that bite people are typically troubled individuals, set up to
fail by irresponsible and/or reckless owners who've ignored or disregarded the classic warning
signs that come with nearly any dog bite. In general, biting dogs have been set up to fail by
improper handling, abuse and/or damaged genetics. Profiling dog breeds works against the
goal of reducing dog bites. Bite prevention education resources such as these offered by the
AVMA can help build safe, humane communities without resorting to the kind of ineffective
paranoia that comes from targeting select breeds. For a well-researched source of information
on canine aggression, visit The National Canine Research Council.
Some dogs, after they mature, might try to run your household if you are not giving him clear
guidelines. Spaying and neutering can help with this, and obedience training is a must! (Do not
get a pit bull if you are a pushover!) And remember, no matter what breed of dog you have,
children should always be supervised and taught how to interact with dogs.
PIT BULLS HAVE TO BE TRAINED TO FIGHT
NO! Pit bulls are terriers, and terriers tend to be scrappy with other animals if unsocialized,
poorly managed or otherwise left to their own devices; just as farmers have used Jack Russell
Terriers to do battle with badgers, foxes and other animals, unscrupulous people have
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LGAR | Pitbulls – What you need to know about a misunderstood breed
exploited the terrier drive in pit bulls against other dogs for 'entertainment' purposes. Like any
breed of dog, pit bulls can run the gamut from very dog aggressive to exceptionally dog
friendly and each dog shares some potential to fight other dogs if mismanaged. Avoiding dog
fights involves understanding terrier traits and basic canine behavior in general.
Dog fighters use pit bull breeds because they are strong, agile and have a desire to please their
owners. Unfortunately, pit bulls abuse in this circumstance contributes to the negative myths
surrounding them.
A properly socialized, well managed pit bull should never find himself in a dogfight because
he's accustomed to the presence of other dogs and - IMPORTANT! - he has a smart and
responsible owner willing to keep him safe from situations that could invite the unhappy
possibility of a scuffle.
A PIT BULL THAT SHOWS AGGRESSION TOWARD OTHER
ANIMALS WILL GO AFTER PEOPLE NEXT
No. Aggression toward people is a totally different behavior
than aggression toward animals. This myth has generated a
host of damaging anti-pit bull hysteria. Although these dogs
can have a high prey drive they were originally bred not to
be aggressive toward humans.
Just as hunters don't fear their coonhounds, experienced dog
people understand that aggression towards other animals
and human-directed aggression are two totally different
behaviors in canines. We've heard this frightened quote, "He
went after a dog (or cat) and our kids might be next!" This
popular myth has generated a host of unnecessary and
damaging anti-pit bull hysteria. Like any breed of dog that
we see in family homes today, a properly raised, well
socialized, responsibly owned pit bull should never be
aggressive towards humans.

Despite what some people
believe, pit bulls actually make
great pets for families. In tests
done by the American
Temperament Test Society, pit
bulls were generally less
aggressive when faced with
confrontational situations that
produced negative reactions
out of many other
stereotypically "friendly" dog
breeds, such as beagles and
poodles.

PIT BULLS ARE MEAN, AGGRESSIVE, VICIOUS DOGS.
No more vicious than golden retrievers, beagles or other popular dogs! In yearly tests of over
240 dog breeds by the American Temperament Testing Society (ATTS), pit bulls consistently
achieve a passing rate that's as good as or better than the other most popular breeds.
In a study of 122 dog breeds by the American Temperament Testing Society (ATTS) pit bulls received a
passing rate of 85.3%. This rating is higher than that of a golden retriever!
How did your favorite breed do? Check here: ATTS.org
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LGAR | Pitbulls – What you need to know about a misunderstood breed
In the ATTS test, a dog is put through a series of confrontational situations. Any sign of panic or
unprovoked aggression leads to failure of the test. The achievement of pit bulls in this study
disproves once and for all the old tired belief that pit bulls are inherently aggressive to
people. Like any breed of dog, a healthy pit bull that is properly raised will reflect the good
care his owners have invested in him.
PIT BULLS MUST BE KEPT AS ONLY DOGS
It can be a challenge, but many pit bulls can co-exist in multi-dog households. Individual
personalities play a large part in successfully managing an environment with more than one
dog (of any breed), but spaying/neutering, obedience training, an appropriate level of
exercise and a firm hand will go a long way to successfully integrate multiple dogs into your
life. Bottom Line: it all depends on the individual dog. A dog being labeled a pit bull tells you
nothing about how that pup will be with other dogs.
And regardless of breed, good socialization is always recommended, to help dogs play nice.
PIT BULLS CAN’T TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
ANIMALS AND CHILDREN
Not true. Bully breeds do have a naturally high prey
drive and may act aggressively toward smaller animals
(such as cats). This is not, however the same behavior
as human aggression or predation. The bully breeds
traditionally have been known for their kindness to
children.
DID YOU KNOW?
Early in the 20th century,
pit bulls were actually the
No. 1 family dog.
Want to keep your kids safe around dogs, pit bulls or
otherwise? Make sure to supervise them, teach little
humans the right way to approach and interact with our canine friends and pay attention to the
signals a particular dog is giving off. Also, keep in mind that a dog's breed does not tell you
how good that dog is with kids -- so you can't assume a beagle is safe anymore than you can
assume a pit bull isn't.
PEOPLE WHO OWN PIT BULLS ARE DRUG DEALERS, GANG MEMBERS OR DOG FIGHTERS
Many different, reputable people are “owned” by pit bulls – including teachers, doctors,
business executives, celebrities, and even former presidents. It’s unfortunate that the breed has
fallen into the hands of owners who use them to support their illegal activities.
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LGAR | Pitbulls – What you need to know about a misunderstood breed
SCARS OR CROPPED EARS INDICATE A DOG'S BEEN "FOUGHT" OR USED AS "BAIT"
A pit bull can have scars for lots of different reasons so it's best to avoid assuming the worst.
They're bold, active creatures and can find themselves in many misadventures if not properly
cared for. A scarred dog may have been a stray on the streets and scrapped with other strays
over food or territory without any prompting from an irresponsible owner. He may have started
those fights, or tried like heck to avoid them, or anything in between. He may be an active dog
that ran through brambles on a hike with his owner, tumbled with a cat or other dogs in his
home, nosed in too close to a wild urban animal such as a raccoon, or cut himself while trying to
dig out of a poorly secured yard. He may also have developed a skin condition known as
mange, which causes patches of missing fur.
Badly cropped ears typically reflect an uneducated dog owner's attempt to mimic the
professional crops that are popular with UKC and AKC show dogs.
While we hate that there are people who would abuse animals, the term 'bait dogs' is very
overused by the well-intentioned but misinformed. Unless there are witnesses to the cause of
injury, mysterious bite marks on a dog remain an unhappy mystery with an unknown
perpetrator. To shout "bait dog!" whenever a dog with bites appears keeps a popular myth
alive and may actually be encouraging copycat crimes by offering animal abusers ideas we
would rather they didn't have.
TEMPERMENT AND CHARACTERISTICS
The pit bull is energetic and playful, loving, comical, loyal, eager to please, intelligent, easy to
train, strong and athletic, and bonds well to people. Tolerance for other animals varies from dog
to dog and can change as the pit bull reaches maturity – between 2 and 3 years of age. Even if
you pit bull is friendly with other dogs, it is your responsibility to keep him socialized and properly
managed around other dogs. Never leave your pit bull (or any dog) unattended when he is
playing with another dog, and avoid having food or toys out, which may lead to competition
between dogs
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LGAR | Pitbulls – What you need to know about a misunderstood breed
Understanding Different Dog Tolerance Levels
A Normal Trait that is as Flexible as it is Manageable
Source: BadRap.org
This page is designed to help demystify the common trait of dog-dog aggression. Dog aggression
shows up in numerous breeds, and it's generally "no big deal"...unless you deny it, misunderstand it
or exploit it. Like so many dog owners, we expect that our dogs have the potential to show some
degree of dog aggression in select situations. Our job as responsible stewards is to keep our pets
out of those situations by reading their body signals and understanding their individual limits. At
the same time, we work to improve the tolerance of each dog through appropriate socializing
opportunities. Because dog aggression is not a "one size fits all" trait, outlined below are four very
common levels of dog-tolerance that we've come to recognize in our work with the dogs.
Typical Dog Tolerance Levels in a Group of BAD RAP Ambassadogs:
1. DOG SOCIAL
A dog that truly enjoys the company of other dogs, including housemate dogs; very
easy going and forgives even the rudest dog manners. Dog-social dogs include most
puppies and a percentage of socially mature (14 months and older) dogs. Example:
Beanie is a mature female who is social and relaxed around all dogs. In contrast, the
immature red dog, Penny, in the bottom right of the photo is not as dog-social as
when she was a puppy. She's very typical in that she's losing her puppy-like tolerance
as she matures. A bad accidental fight could shift Penny far away from her dog social
beginnings.
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LGAR | Pitbulls – What you need to know about a misunderstood breed
2. DOG TOLERANT
Typically non-reactive on leash and either indifferent or friendly to other dogs. Is
well socialized and shows relaxed, easy body language in the presence of new
dogs. May not ‘love’ dogs that he doesn’t know, but has decent tolerance for rude
behavior; a long fuse. Enjoys known dog friends and, in general, succeeds with
housemate dogs. Example: Honky Tonk is quite fine with other dogs but doesn't seek
them out like a puppy might.
3. DOG SELECTIVE
Has dog friends but is more selective. May dislike certain ‘types’ of dogs and/or is
easily offended by rude dog manners. Can be described as 'bitchy.' Likes to dictate
the rules during dog-play, and may need reminders to use good manners during
play. Can succeed with housemate dogs with supervision. Example: Sally showed
'dog aggressive' behavior when she came to us, but with clear direction and
supervised socializing opportunities, is not likely to show this behavior unless she's
pushed passed her limits.
4. DOG AGGRESSIVE
Has a very limited number of dog friends; sometimes, no dog friends; may be
opportunistically leash reactive with a weak handler and/or no training; may have a
short fuse during play, even with dogs that it knows; needs heavy supervision during
play and a good leader when out on leash. Many live successfully with housemate
dogs (usually opposite sex) with proper supervision and safe management protocol.
Example: Taz was labeled 'Dog Aggressive' when we first met him because he was
very quick to tell dogs off. His tolerance levels have increased dramatically, thanks
to lots of socializing opportunities and good direction from his caretakers. We
watched him shift to Dog Selective personality and in his new home he's actually
quite Dog Tolerant!
Note: All the dogs in this photo were introduced slowly and enjoy each other's company under
supervision. While none of the dogs illustrated are 'Dog Aggressive,' like any breed of dog, they may
certainly act aggressively towards other dogs if they're mismanaged, provoked or otherwise set up to
fail. Dogs that we would label as Dog Aggressive can make fantastic pets with the right management
(leashes!).
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LGAR | Pitbulls – What you need to know about a misunderstood breed
The Bell Curve of Dog Aggression:
Dog tolerance levels are flexible and are determined by environmental factors (handler influence,
training and socializing efforts) as much as they are determined by genetics. Dog Social dogs can
become less social as they come into their maturity, and Dog Aggressive dogs can become much
more tolerant with good direction and proper socialization. In our experience, with the combined
factors of maturity, socialization, good leadership and training, most pit bull type dogs with true
'terrier' personalities fall comfortably in the middle spectrum of this bell curve.
Resources:
BadRap.org
PBRC.net
Orpitssake.org
Vrcpitbull.com
Animalfarmfoundation.org
The Working Pit Bull – by Diane Jessup
Pit Bulls for Dummies – by D. Caroline Coile, Ph.D.
An American Pit Bull, Terrier Handbook, by Joe Stahlkuppe
The Ultimate American Pit Bull Terrier, by Jacqueline O’Neil
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LGAR | Pitbulls – What you need to know about a misunderstood breed