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Misconceptions About Pitbull Bites

There are a number of misconceptions surrounding dogs labeled as 'pitbulls,' particularly regarding the strength and severity of their bites. Some of these misconceptions include that pitbulls have 'locking' jaws, have the most powerful bite, and are more likely to 'snap' or bite without warning than other breeds. However, these misconceptions are entirely unfounded and contradicted by scientific studies on dog bites. In this article, we present evidence from scientific studies and insights from veterinary experts that effectively dispel these misconceptions, which contribute to unnecessary fear and lead to ineffective public safety measures like breed-specific legislation (BSL). Unfortunately, such misconceptions also negatively affect shelter adoption rates for pitbull-type dogs and other dogs and mixes that can be labeled as 'pitbulls' based on their appearance.

Science-based Facts About Bites 📑

Locking Jaws

  • No dogs (of any breed or type) have physical characteristics in their jaw that would cause or allow them to "lock" their jaws. Furthermore, pitbull-type dogs do not have a unique or morphologically different jaw structure from other dogs.
  • Dogs of all breeds can exhibit "bite and hold" and "shaking" behaviors when biting. These behaviors have been traced back to wolves (the ancestors of domestic dogs) and can, therefore, be found in all breeds. For example, many dogs display these behaviors when playing with toys such as ropes and stuffed animals.

Bite Strength

  • While bite strength can vary significantly between individual dogs of the same breed, the average bite strength of pitbull-type dogs has been measured to be 235psi - 28% lower than the average bite strength (325psi) of the breeds tested and fully in line with other dogs of similar sizes and strengths. For example, the bite strengths of German Shepherds and Rottweilers were both measured to be stronger at 238psi and 328psi, respectively. In fact, the breed with the most powerful bite is the Kangal, which has been measured to be 743psi - over 3x stronger than the bite strength of pitbull-type dogs.
  • Scientific studies have determined that the strength of an individual dog's bite is directly related to its overall size and strength - not to its breed. Furthermore, none of the referenced studies list breed as a relevant factor affecting bite force in their conclusions.

Bite Severity

  • A recent study that analyzed 140 serious dog bite-related incidents concluded that there is no difference (in the medical treatment required following a bite or in the type of bite inflicted) between bites by breeds stereotyped as "dangerous" (legislated breeds such as German Shepherds, Rottweilers, and pitbull-type dogs) and other breeds of similar sizes and strengths that are not stereotyped as "dangerous" (non-legislated breeds such as Boxers, Bulldogs, and Labrador Retrievers).
  • After analyzing a comprehensive collection of scientific and expert sources, including numerous scientific studies, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) concluded: "Controlled studies have not identified this breed group (pitbull-type dogs) as disproportionately dangerous."

Aggression & Biting Without Warning

  • Since 2016, over 65 different breeds have been involved in dog bite-related fatalities (DBRFs), confirming that serious dog-bite incidents are not a breed-specific issue. This evidence also confirms that many breeds can unfortunately have unstable individuals who can bite without warning (aka 'snapping'), causing serious incidents or DBRFs.
  • A study that analyzed canine aggression in different breeds concluded: "Comparing the results of non-legislated breeds and breeds affected by legislation (such as pitbull-type dogs), no significant difference in aggression was found - a scientific basis for breed specific lists does not exist."
  • Another study concluded: "It would be inappropriate to make assumptions about an individual animal's risk of aggression to people based on characteristics such as breed."

Errors in Medical Studies On Dog Bites

  • ​A selection of disputed limited-scope medical studies, commonly referenced by special-interest groups that support BSL (breed-specific legislation), suggest that bites by pitbull-type dogs are more severe than bites by other dogs. To investigate the data and claims made in these studies, a recent study titled "Defaming Rover: Error-Based Latent Rhetoric in the Medical Literature on Dog Bites" conducted an in-depth qualitative review of these studies and concluded that they contain rhetoric and misinformation, including: "clear-cut factual errors, misinterpretations, omissions, emotionally loaded language, and exaggerations based on misunderstood or inaccurate statistics." In other words, these studies are scientifically unsound sources for breed-risk information (as they contain errors and invalid methods). Some were even found to include cherry-picked data to support unscientific conclusions.

characterization of Bites By Pitbulls

  • The term 'pitbull' is not a breed but a generic term used to loosely describe a dog type (or category) of dog based solely on its physical appearance—not on genetics or lineage. This term can encompass any medium-sized dog that exhibits physical traits from any of the numerous bully-type (or bulldog-type) breeds, and it may include characteristics found in over 20 unique breeds and even more mixed breeds. Therefore, assigning any bite characteristic to 'pitbulls' in general—or even to a dog type—is a flawed and problematic proposition, given the diversity of breeds and mixes that can be labeled as 'pitbulls.'

A Logical Conclusion 🐶

Research from scientific studies and insights from veterinary experts has conclusively refuted the notion that bites from pitbull-type dogs are inherently different or more severe than those from other breeds of comparable size and strength. This is of course not comparing the bites of pitbull-type dogs to the bites of smaller breeds like Chihuahuas or Dachshunds, but rather with other large or strong breeds such as Akitas, Bullmastiffs, Cane Corsos, Dobermans, Dogo Argentinos, German Shepherds, Huskies, Rottweilers, among many others. Can dogs labeled as 'pitbulls' inflict injuries? Of course they can, but the same is true for numerous other strong breeds and mixed breeds. The truth about the severity of dog bites, supported by substantial scientific evidence, is that a dog's bite strength and the severity of the bite are more closely linked to the dog's size, strength, and energy level rather than its specific breed.

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