Pit Bull Stereotype Awareness: Misunderstood Dog Breeds
They are one of the common breeds that end up in shelters.
Even in the U.K., one of the leading countries in animal welfare, the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 is still effective. Any sensible person would agree that punishing “vicious” dogs by euthanasia does not solve problems caused by some reckless handlers. Yet, some people quickly judge a dog by the cover and call animal control.
Despite this unfair treatment (and harassment), why do owners keep their pit bull-type dogs?
The answer is simple: because they like dogs, and they love their dogs. 🐾
Pit bulls can be trained to attack other dogs in dog fighting or serve the community as K-9 dogs. In other words, they are highly intelligent and learn and practice as they are taught. Their attentiveness and loyalty are unique to this breed, making them special to their devoted owners.
However, I am not here to go on and on about how wonderful these dogs are; I am writing to share how to curb stereotypes about this breed.
💡The genius psychologist Dr. Lisa Gunter and her team have researched how context influences our perception of dogs. Their findings suggest that pit bull-type dogs were perceived as friendly and adoptable when accompanied by older people or children, as opposed to rough-looking male handlers (Gunter et al., 2016).
💡Moreover, without breed information, pit bull-type dogs were perceived as more attractive than similar-looking dogs! Isn’t this amazing?
💡They also found that shelter staff sometimes incorrectly guessed dog breeds compared to DNA analysis (Gunter et al., 2018). While DNA tests may not always be affordable for accurately identifying a dog’s breed, relying on visual identification can lead to biases. It is crucial to exercise caution when labeling a dog as a pit bull, as one mistake can have a profoundly negative impact on both the dog and the owner.
Want positive pit bull stories? Check out this playlist exclusively for pit bull-type dogs and their families!❤️🐶
Reference
Gunter, L. M., Barber, R. T., & Wynne, C. D. (2016). What’s in a name? effect of breed perceptions & labeling on attractiveness, adoptions & length of stay for pit-bull-type dogs. PLOS ONE, 11(3). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0146857
Gunter, L. M., Barber, R. T., & Wynne, C. D. L. (2018). A canine identity crisis: Genetic breed heritage testing of shelter dogs. PLOS ONE, 13(8). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal. pone.0202633