So confused...

Their heads and jaws are the same as any other breeds - no special parts at all. Their jaws to not lock, stay clamped or anything except sheer will power (again common terrier type temperament). I never watch the Detroit animal cops because it makes me so mad. That show is totally political and totally pro-breed banning. They spend a good deal of time on most of their shows talking about how aggressive all pit bulls are, how all pit bull owner fight them, how no one who didn't want a fighting dog would want a pit bull. Other times they are just in general spreading myths about the breed and I believe it is to support their policy of destroying all APBTs that come into their shelter and the breed ban that is in effect there. Not everything that is said on TV (even by police officers) is true.

This is an excellent website about the common myths about pit bulls and the facts on the subjects. The locking jaws thing is probably one of the most common.
THE REAL PIT BULL--Your online source for American Pit Bull Terrier info!


[/QUOTE]Ithink it's dangerous to claim that their bites and attacks aren't any more serious then say a golden retriever. They are worse. Part of my mom's despisement of pitbulls is because she used to work for a pediatric plastic surgeon who specialized in recontructive surgery. During her 10 years with him, she has witnessed the aftermath of 4 attacks by pits on children(2 of them were dogs in their own home) One girl's leg was nearly severed, my mom said that if you didn't know better, you'd think it had been a shark that did the damage.[/QUOTE]
Dangerous to who exactly? The specific Golden attack I was talking about was severe - the dog lunged out of the kennel and ripped her neck open. I heard a story of a Viszla (another sporting type dog) who bite it's owner's thumb off. There are plenty of disfiguring attacks on children and adults by breeds other than APBTs. I had nerve damage to my hand from multiple bites done by a 4 1/2 month old puppy (not even a pibble ). Large dogs are capable of severe damage regardless of breed. APBTs are a powerful breed and again they have a very strong will which combined can be horrible if the dog attacks. However I can't say the same isn't true of many large dogs.

[/QUOTE]I don't support breed-banning but I do agree with the muzzling in public, the mandatory $50,000 insurance policy, and the fencing laws. however, I do think muzzling should be mandatory for all dog individuals who are biters regardless of breed. If anything, for sheer self-protection in a sue-crazy society.[/QUOTE]Regardless of breed is the key though IMO.


I don't dare compare bites from a poodle or even rottie to that of a pit. They can't compare. The worst attack inflicted by a rottie is not as bad as the worst attack inflicted by a pit. Period. I wish pit-enthusiasts would wake up and realize that. You can love a breed but don't be delluded about what and how they really are. A dog that has been bred for centuries to fight and take down large beasts. They weren't bred to be cuddly family dogs.[/QUOTE]Actually both breeds (Rot ties and Pit Bulls) have had dog attack fatalities which would mean the worst attack inflicted by both is about the same. I am all for being honest about the breed which is why I posted two great, honest sites by APBT lovers about the breed. Throughout history this breed (or really group of breeds) have been admired for their ability to be a good family dog. Stafford shire Terriers (a type of "pit bull") are still known as "the nanny dog" in some parts of the world. The main problem is that most average owners do not know there is a difference between human aggression and animal aggression.

While there are breeds which were created for human aggression (guard dog work) APBT's were not one of them. APBT's instead were created for animal aggression - taking down prey animals, bull baiting (a "sport") and dog fighting (also a "sport"). There are lots of breeds bred to "take down large beasts" but are not usually considered dangerous in the way APBT's are. Great Pyrenees are bred to kill or chase off anything which might attack their sheep including wolves, coyotes and mountain lions. Irish Wolfhounds were bred to hunt wolves and large game as were Borzoi, Scottish Deerhounds and Greyhounds. Great Danes were bred to take down wild boar among other things. Rhodesian Ridgebacks hunted lions. Weimaraners originally were used to hunt bear, wolves and big cats. Doxies were created as badger dogs - not huge prey but aggressive prey for sure. Pretty much every terrier breed was created to hunt and kill animals of some sort.