Pit Bulls Literature Review

Literature Review

Stereotypes

Contrary to population beliefs in society, Pit Bulls not as aggressive than they are thought to be. According to testing by The National Canine Temperament Testing Association, Golden Retrievers, Poodles, Border Collies, English Setters, and a number of many other breeds are considered more likely to become aggressive than the breeds known as Pit Bulls. While the average score these dogs tested 82.4 percent, Pit Bulls scored a 86.5 percent (Frosek). In the same testings, Golden Retrievers came in with the score of 84.9 percent (Einhorn, 2011). This find is very interesting, considering Golden Retrievers are commonly referred to as the ‘family pet’ in the United States (dogtime.com). From this thought of Pit Bulls aggressive

Pit Bulls are also not alone in this trait. Many and most large breeds and cross breeds have a very strong bite, just like Pit Bulls. In fact, even smaller dogs can inflict a bite powerful enough to kill (dogwatch.com). This fact has been proven on multiple accounts, “Pit Bulls do not have any special physical mechanism or enzyme that allows them to “lock” their jaws. If you compare a Pit Bull skull to a skull of any other dog breed, you can see with the naked eye that both skulls share the same characteristics and general bone structure.” (Rock). In other attempts to prove that this myth is in fact true, some try to prove it by saying that where Pit Bull’s may not have a locking jaw, they are stronger than other dogs (Jasmine, 2013). Proven by a Dr. Bribin and other experts stating, “No evidence was presented to demonstrate that a Pit Bulls bite is any stronger than other dogs of its size and build.” (Jasmine, 2013). Based from both the stereotypes of Pit Bull’s being naturally aggressive and having a locking jaw comes media bias to the Pit Bull