This is objectively untrue. Big dogs in general, and pitbulls in particular, are more stable than the average dog. Dachshunds are much worse. The problem is that pitbulls are stronger and can do more damage. So when things do go wrong, you get to hear about it in graphic details whereas you never get to hear how nippy the dachshund or the chihuahua was. And nobody reports being nipped by a chihuahua. This highly skews the statistics that you read.
Furthermore, people who own pitbulls are much more likely to have a criminal record or at least have aggressive attitudes. A lot of research has shown that dogs copy the attitude of their owners. The success of dogs, as a species, has much to do with their innate ability and desire to read their human owners and behave in compatible ways. In fact when you are depressed, your dog will display similar symptoms. So the truth about the proverbial pets and owners is true in unexpected ways.
Pitbulls were bred to fight bulls not people. Any pitbull that did not let go when its master grabbed him or turned on him was put to sleep. So genetically they are gentler with people than the average dog.
The ASPCA web site gives the breed an endorsement that could fit a golden retriever. It says, “A well-socialized and well-trained pit bull is one of the most delightful, intelligent, and gentle dogs imaginable.”
In general, pit bulls aren’t aggressive with people but are “less tolerant” of other dogs than many other breeds, says Pamela Reid, PhD, vice president of the ASPCA’s Animal Behavior Center in New York...Pit bulls were originally used for bull- and bear-baiting, and later were bred to fight dogs in an arena. They had “a fabulous reputation early on and were considered the ideal family pet because they were so good with people,” Reid says.
“Petey” from The Little Rascals was a pit bull. Helen Keller, President Theodore Roosevelt, and Fred Astaire all had the breed as family pets.
https://pets.webmd.com/dogs/features/pit-bulls-safety
See also:
25 Myths About Pit Bulls You Should Stop Believing
#1. Pit bulls have a bad temperament
While many assume pit bulls are bad tempered, they're among the most tolerant dogs, scoring better on temperament tests than the general dog population, according to studies by the American Temperament Test Society.
# 2. ...are inherently vicious
The Canine Humane Network notes: "Pit bulls are not inherently aggressive. On the contrary, according to the American Temperament Test, pit bulls and mixed breeds consistently score above the average for all breeds tested, year after year."
# 3... |
