Pit bulls are bred to emphasize attack characteristics.
The dangers of pit bulls are considered by policymakers in several jurisdictions to be very real. Denver, Kansas City, Missouri, South Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Miami and the entire province of Ontario in Canada have banned ownership of pit bulls. Pit bull breeding has emphasized several characteristics that tend to make the dogs dangerous.
Jaw Strength
Pit bulls' jaw strength means that their bites cause much more damage than those from other types of dogs. These dogs have been bred attack and fighting dogs and jaw strength is one of the characteristics prized by breeders. As a result, pit bulls often bite with a much stronger force than that managed by other breeds.
Innate Aggressiveness
Although some pet advocates assert that dogs are not born with any particular temperament, some experts on the issue disagree. Katherine Houpt, director of the Animal Behavior Clinic at Cornell University, believes that pit bulls have a higher level of instinctive aggression than other dogs. This is often exacerbated by the owners, because people who want to own this type of dog often do so for its aggressiveness, leading to that trait being further encouraged.
Hold and Shake
Pit bull bites often cause much more damage than other dog bites because of the way that terriers naturally attack prey. The pit bull doesn't let go of something after it bites. Instead, it clenches down its jaws to lock the victim in its mouth and then proceeds to shake its head back and forth. This creates incredible tearing and rending damage to someone caught in the jaws of the animal. The result is a wound with a higher potential for permanent damage than with other types of dog bites.
Stubbornness
Pit bulls are often bred and trained to be tenacious and stubborn. Often, a yell or a growl at an aggressive dog of another breed will back it down, but this is not the case with pit bulls. Once an aggressive pit bull wants to attack something, it will keep attacking until damage has been done.
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