What is the least trusted dog breed owner in Florida, and why is it pit bull owners?
The question of dangerous dogs vs. irresponsible dog owners continues to rage. Are some breeds just inherently dangerous? Or is it always the fault of the dog's owner?
Studies, such as a recent one published in Science Magazine, have shown that traits traditionally ascribed to specific dog breeds — such as hostility and violence — are found in all breeds to varying degrees.
"Behavioral factors show high variability within breeds, suggesting that although breed may affect the likelihood of a particular behavior to occur, breed alone is not," the study said, "contrary to popular belief, informative enough to predict an individual’s disposition."
A 2009 study published by the Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances found that owner behavior and training had more of an impact on dog aggression than breed.
But people have their opinions, and whether it's the dog or the dog owner, some of them are just less trusted than others. Bisnar Chase, a California law firm that specializes in dog bite claims, decided to find out which ones and ran a survey.
Which dog breed owners are the least trusted in Florida?
Based on a nationwide panel survey of 3,000 adults, Bisnar Chase found that the least trusted dog breed owners in Florida were:
Owners of pit bulls
Owners of wolf hybrids
Owners of Rottweilers
"Pit bull owners are the least trusted, according to media portrayals and contentious headlines," the report said, "However, pit bull advocates argue that pit bulls can be among the most loyal and affectionate breeds when raised in a loving and well-trained environment. Many pit bulls are overbred, abused, and mistreated, and many don’t enjoy the life of an expensive purebred canine and are used for fighting."
Pit bulls (and/or their owners) were, in fact, the least trusted breed in every single state in the nation except for Maine (wolf hybrids), New Hampshire (Doberman pinschers), and New Mexico (German shepherds). But pit bulls came in second in all three.
We're top dog! Florida is the most dog-friendly state in U.S., study finds
What are pit bulls?
Most pit-bull-type dogs descend from a dog-fighting breed created through a cross between the Old English bulldog and the Old English terrier and were often trained for use in dog-fighting and bear-baiting. They developed a reputation for dangerous and deadly behavior due to their habit of latching on while biting and their incredible strength.
And that's the problem. When pit bulls are trained to be violent and aggressive, they're awfully good at it. Some owners choose them exactly for that reason. Even if they're not specifically trained for violence pit bulls that have been abused and mistreated can be a danger to anyone around them.
According to a study looking at the total attacks by dogs kept as pets between 1982 to 2009, pit bulls made up only 6% of the dog population but were responsible for 68% of dog attacks and 52% of dog-related deaths. Last year a pit bull attacked a 6-year-old North Port boy, who later died of his injuries.
However, it should be pointed out that those numbers may include dogs that should not be considered "pit bulls" due to vague definitions. The term "pit bull" is a broad description of several dog breeds with almond-shaped eyes, muscular necks, smooth, short coats and broad chests, such as American Staffordshire terriers, American bull terriers, American pit bull terriers, and even the American bulldog.
A 2016 University of Florida study found that even DNA analysis often couldn't find genetic links to pit bull classifications, leading to shelter workers mislabeling dogs as pit bulls.
Are pit bulls banned in Florida?
No, and they can't be banned by local governments or public housing.
SB 942: Authorization of Restrictions Concerning Dogs, went into effect last June and updated Florida's existing "Dangerous Dogs" laws. A previous change had permitted local bans on dogs if they were above a certain weight or size, as long as the ban didn't prohibit specific breeds, but it allowed breed-specific ordinances adopted before Oct. 1, 1990, to stay in place.
The bill added public housing policies to the existing law so that they could make restrictions on the owners of dogs that had bitten or attacked people but prohibited any local ordinances or policies that declared a dog dangerous based on breed, size or weight. It also removed the pre-1990 grandfather clause, which instantly made pit bull bans in Miami-Dade County and the city of Sunrise null and void.
This removed what animal shelter nonprofit organization Best Friends called "the number one reason for surrender to shelters." Pet owners moving to public housing had to face "an impossible choice between giving up a beloved family member or moving someplace without such restrictions."
Should dogs be banned by breed?
According to the American Kennel Club, which doesn't recognize "pit bull" as a specific breed, no.
"Many experts have also observed that public perceptions of which breeds are most dangerous have changed throughout the decades. In the 1970s, Doberman pinschers were singled out. In the 80s, German shepherds (were) targeted. In the 90s it shifted to Rottweilers, and today it’s pit bulls," an AKC release stated. "This begs the question, will your breed be next? Or can we finally put the responsibility for dangerous dogs where it really belongs — on irresponsible owners regardless of breed."
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Pit bull owners least trusted in Florida, U.S., survey shows
