What is a Pit Bull?
The short answer is a " Pit Bull" is not a breed of dog, it is a generic term for any medium or large-sized dog with a 'block-head', short hair, and muscular build.
The following information comes from our friends at Animal Farm Foundation:
2014 Alumnus Jelly Bean
FEAR: “Pit bull” dogs have “locking jaws.”
FACT: “We found that the American Pit Bull Terriers did not have any unique mechanism that would allow these dogs to lock their jaws. There were no mechanical or morphological differences.” Dr. I. Lehr Brisbin, University of Georgia
FEAR: “Pit bull” dogs have massive biting power measuring in 1,000s of pounds of pressure per square inch (PSI).
FACT: On average, dogs bite with 320 lbs of pressure per square inch. The bite pressure of a German Shepherd, an American Pit Bull Terrier and a Rottweiler were tested. The American Pit Bull Terrier had the least amount of bite pressure of the three dogs tested. Dr. Brady Barr, National Geographic
FEAR: “Pit bull” dogs attack without warning.
FACT: “All dogs, including dogs commonly labeled "pit bull," signal their intent.” The institute of Animal Welfare and Behavior of the University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany temperament tested over 1,000 dogs.
FEAR: While there are some “pit bull” dogs with good temperaments, they are the exception not the rule.
FACT: The American Temperament Test shows the American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, and the Staffordshire Bull Terrier (three pure breed dogs, typically referred to as “pit bulls”), as well as the dogs labeled “Mixed Breed”, consistently score above the average for all breeds tested, year in and year out. The American Temperament Test Society
Every dog is an individual and should be evaluated as such.
FEAR: “Pit bull” dogs are more dangerous than other dogs.
FACT: There is no scientific evidence that one kind of dog is more likely than another to injure a human being than any other kind of dog.
“…Controlled studies have not identified this breed group [pit bull-type dogs] as disproportionately dangerous.” American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)