You hear all kinds of things about dogs, especially when it comes to various breeds. For example, some people swear that pit bulls are a dangerous, aggressive breed that should be kept away from people, while others insist that pit bulls have been unfairly given a bad reputation.
Here’s the reality: Any dog can be aggressive, which may have a lot more to do with a variety of factors than their breed. However, some breeds can do a lot more damage to a victim of a dog attack than others – pit bulls among them.
Separating fact from fiction, where pit bulls are concerned
Bully breeds don’t seem to be inherently more likely to attack someone than any other animal. Studies indicate that the real factors that tend to contribute to a dog’s aggressive behavior include:
- The age of the dog, with older dogs more likely to bite than younger ones
- The dog’s gender, with male dogs more inclined to bite than females
- The dog’s own level of anxiety or fearfulness
- How well the dog has been socialized by its owner
Further studies also indicated that small dogs are actually more likely to bite than medium-sized or large dogs, so that definitely would make it seem like pit bulls and other “dangerous” dogs aren’t nearly as volatile as anecdotal evidence would make it seem.
That being said, you’re going to experience a lot less harm if you’re attacked by a 10-pound Shih Tzu, with its small, flat mouth, than you would from a bully breed simply because of the size difference. The other issue is that a pit bull’s mouth is larger and its jaw is stronger than you find on a small dog. That makes them capable of doing a lot of more damage, very quickly.
If you or your loved one has been injured in a dog attack, you may have more legal options than you realize. It’s wise to find out more about how to protect your rights.