7 Myths about Pit Bulls and Bully Breeds

You probably know one or at least a few people who talk about how "scary" pit bulls are and how they should be banned. But how often have these people actually had an encounter with a bully breed? It's likely that they're simply making assumptions.


If you're not sure what a "bully breed" is, the most common are the American Bulldog, The American Staffordshire "Staffy" Terrier, the Bull Terrier, the Bullmastiff, and the most-recognized American Pit Bull Terrier. We'll debunk seven common misconceptions about all of these bully breeds that will surely change your mind about them!

Myth #1: Pit bulls and bully breeds are the most "dangerous" types of dogs. 

Fact: According to a peer-reviewed study that analyzed 10 years' worth of dog bite and bite-related incidents, American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) researchers determined these dog bites were classified as preventable issues unaffected by the dog's breed. Researchers suggested solutions such as breed-discriminating laws were ineffective in preventing dog bites, since a dog's breed is simply not enough of a determining factor.

You may also notice when some media outlets report a dog bite or an attack, the dog's breed is almost never mentioned unless it's a pit bull (or any breed thought to be "aggressive"). This also furthers the stereotype of bully breeds being aggressive. According to a study published in the Veterinary Journal, dogs that are assumed to be pit bulls are identified incorrectly about 60% of the time, and one in three shelter dogs were misidentified as pit bulls. It is very possible that many of these reports are inaccurately identifying other mixed-breed dogs as pit bulls.


Myth #2: Pit bulls can lock their jaws and have the strongest bites. 

Fact: Let's be clear here - there is no dog breed on the planet that has the ability to "lock" its jaw. The strength of a dog bite is directly correlated to the dog's size, so naturally larger dogs bite harder. A pit bull's bite is actually weaker than the German Shepherd's or the Rottweiler's*.

*Bite strength does not mean these dogs are more dangerous! These breeds just happen to be larger and physically stronger than pit bulls - this does not make them "bad."


Myth #3: Pit bulls are more dog-aggressive than other dogs.

Fact: Any type of dog can become aggressive towards other dogs and "snap," regardless of their breed. A study on canine aggression found that dog-aggression did not differ between pit bulls and bully breeds when compared to the control group - Golden Retrievers. No scientific study has ever confirmed that a specific breed is more aggressive toward other dogs than others.

Myth #4: Pit bulls and bully breeds are naturally mean. 

Fact: Modern pit bulls and pit bull-type dogs are reported to have very positive temperament scores. In fact, they score higher than 100 of the 130 dog breeds examined! About 20% of all dogs with homes can be identified as a bully breed. If a dog breed was actually bad, then why would it be so popular?

Myth #5: Bully breeds are not adoptable. 

Fact: All dogs are adoptable! Unfortunately, bully breeds make up close to half of shelter populations, probably due to people's misconceptions swaying them to choose another dog. The reality is many adoptable pups come from terrible conditions, so any rescue dog takes some levels of patience regardless of their breed. Pit bulls are actually a lot more lovable and loyal than they get credit for, so why not give a sweet bully boy or girl a good home?

Myth #6: Pit bulls were originally bred to fight, so they're set in their ways.

Fact: Today's bully breeds descend from an English bully breed whose goal was to take down bulls and other large animals. When this method of baiting animals was banned in the 1800s, people decided to fight their dogs against each other and even bred them with smaller dogs so they could move more quickly in fights. While the pit bull's origin is a violent one, this does not mean all bully breeds are fighting dogs. All dogs were initially bred for a purpose: pit bulls to take down bulls, English Mastiffs to hunt, and Border Collies to herd. While yes, some of these instincts remain genetic, proper socialization and training can reduce the risk of behavior problems in all breeds. Some pit bull owners in the 1800s instead bred their dogs to be loving companions and did not "fight" them, which results in the goofy, sweet-tempered pitties we see today. It can be assumed that the modern pit bulls are usually not selectively bred and therefore are just as trainable as any other dog.

In short: pit bulls were originally bred to overpower large animals, but this was hundreds of years ago and does not necessarily hold true today, especially since so many bully-types are mixed breeds.

Myth #7: Bully breeds are adorable and have the cutest square-shaped heads. 

Image by Joe Stoltz from Pixabay 

Fact: This is actually 100% true. No lies here!


Hopefully this fact-vs.-fiction guide has affirmed your love for bully breeds, or maybe eased your fears about them. Any dog can become aggressive when it is not properly trained, regardless of the breed. All a dog needs is love, care, proper training and a responsible owner. If you can, consider opening your home to foster some bully-babies or even adopt your own pit-pal!