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Combating the Pit Bull Owner Stereotype

I'm afraid Aurora, CO Councilmember Bob Fitzgerald gets a lot of ink on my site - certainly more than he deserves - but while arguing for a pit bull ban he managed to say something that bears repeating in a discussion about stereotyping: "We don't want 'those people' here." Bob was talking about pit bull owners.

Bob is not alone in his feelings of ill will toward pit bull owners. But what is it that causes so many people to instantly judge pit bull owners not worthy of the same rights, privileges, and respect that most other dog owners enjoy? Why are pit bull owners so undesirable in a community?

If Bob were referring to a particular race of people with those words, he would be out of office faster than you could blink. On the other hand, if he were talking about criminals and murderers, he would get applause. Reaction to his words among pit bull owners was more of the former; we tend to see ourselves as responsible, law-abiding citizens with equal rights, and it shocks and angers us to hear someone say otherwise. On the other hand, reaction to his words among non-pit-bull owners did not provoke outrage, and I'm sure quite a few nodded their heads in agreement. Most people who are not familiar with responsible pit bull owners tend to see all pit bull owners as the type you hear about in the news - criminals, gang members, drug dealers, and thugs. And yes, Bob is right - no one wants "those people" in their upstanding community.

The Psychology Behind Stereotypes

Let's briefly talk about "confirmation bias". In psychology, confirmation bias is the process by which a person forms a theory and then searches for things that prove their theory while ignoring things that are contradictory. This is how stereotypes form and grow. The seed is planted, and each event that confirms the stereotype causes it to grow, while events that refute the stereotype are minimized or rejected. We can apply confirmation bias to the stereotypes of pit bull and pit bull owner. Events which confirm that a pit bull is a killing machine are counted and recalled over and over, while hundreds of thousands of normal, sweet, friendly pit bulls are completely ignored and events involving a heroic pit bull are fudged a little (perhaps the breed is not mentioned). Similarly, in the news, connections are frequently made between drug dealers and pit bulls, while responsible pit bull owners don't make the news at all.

The second element to consider is familiarity. Dr. Aaron Beck, in his book "Prisoners of Hate", suggests that hatred and violence toward others stems in part from a lack of familiarity, which results in a dehumanizing effect. The minority group is perceived as "outsiders", and as such it is considered acceptable for the majority to marginalize them and strip them of their rights. People who are unfamiliar with pit bull owners are reacting to the stereotype, not reality. Some individuals' only exposure to pit bull owners has been in a negative sense - perhaps they live near an irresponsible pit bull owner or were bitten by a pit bull. These individuals have strong confirmation bias and are very difficult to persuade that what they are familiar with is neither normal nor acceptable among responsible pit bull owners. On the other hand, individuals who have pleasant, normal experiences with responsible pit bull owners come to realize that pit bull owners are human beings just like them. It is vital that responsible pit bull owners do everything they can to foster familiarity and acceptance through demonstration of model behavior and actions which humanize them in the eyes of the majority group (non-pit bull owners).

As a responsible pit bull owner and a member of the pit bull owning community, it is up to you to combat the stereotype. If you do not rise above the stereotype, you are adding weight to the arguments of those who want to ban the breed-type (and, in the process, pit bull owners). You can fight the stereotype in many ways, through both words and deeds.

What You Can Do

Be an outstanding responsible dog owner. And by this I don't mean be a "good" dog owner or an "okay" dog owner. Do everything in your power to be the best dog owner you can possibly be. The fact that you own a pit bull is an automatic handicap. You will have to work harder to overcome that handicap than you would with a more socially acceptable breed of dog. With many breeds, people think that misbehavior is "cute" or tolerable. With pit bulls, the same behavior is considered "vicious" and "deadly". No, it's not fair, but that's the way it is. Don't let your dog behave in a way that other people might interpret as dangerous. Keep your dog under control at all costs. Make sure you have done plenty of socializing and training, and seek help from a professional if necessary. If your pit bull goes out in public, he needs to have perfect manners.

Mistakes happen. I have to temper the first rule with an acknowledgement that everyone screws up sometimes. It doesn't make you a bad person, but you have to accept responsibility for the consequences of your mistake. And learn from it. There's no reason for the same mistake to happen twice!

Be an upstanding citizen and a good neighbor. Remember, "those people" - the people that Bob Fitzgerald and others like him want to banish - are law breakers, social misfits, and thugs. Don't prove them right! Follow the laws, keep your lawn tidy, make friends with your neighbors, show interest in your local government, go to neighborhood meetings, and speak with maturity and wisdom. I know, I know, I sound like an after-school special, but I dare you to prove me wrong. No one can act like a thug, a slob, or a jerk and still leave complete strangers and lawmakers with a good impression. You have to do your part to separate yourself from "those people".

VOTE. VOTE. VOTE. The only way politicians get into office is because someone votes them in. And the only way politicians get out of office is because someone votes them out. With breed-specific legislation and breed bans on the agenda in cities and states across the country, you can not afford not to vote. There are many resources out there to help you decide how to vote, and when you do vote, be sure you know where the candidates stand when it comes to your four legged family member. If you're not careful, you will be voting for someone who wants to kill them. Non-voters, you're not off the hook - by not voting, you're still "voting" for BSL. The only way to keep pro-BSL politicians out of office is to vote against them.

Work toward public safety. Many people believe that pit bull owners are not concerned about public safety because we own a so-called "dangerous" dog breed. That could not be further from the truth, and we need to prove it. Be supportive of legislators and citizens who want better or stronger non-breed-specific dangerous dog laws. If you're a good teacher, offer to teach classes on dog safety at schools. Take every opportunity to educate others about appropriate behavior around dogs. If you and your dog are in a situation that you feel might be unsafe for you, your dog, or other people, don't ignore that feeling or lie to yourself. Take yourself and your dog out of that situation quickly. It's okay to say "Please don't do that around my dog" or "I need to put my dog away first". Some dogs (regardless of breed) are not good with certain types of people, children, or other dogs; don't put your dog in a situation where he feels the need to bite. Always think about safety first.

Be outspoken against dog fighting and irresponsible ownership. Again, you need to make a clear distinction between a responsible pit bull owner and "those people". You are not tolerant of misbehavior by other pit bull owners and you are not accepting of violence or abuse. Throw your support behind legislators who want to impose stricter (but non-breed-specific and reasonable) dog ownership laws, voice your disgust for irresponsible owners, and join the battle against dog fighting.

Take a hint from Bob Fitzgerald. He doesn't like pit bulls, but more than anything, he doesn't like pit bull owners. "Combating the stereotype" is less about your dog and more about you. Although your pit bull needs to be safe, well adjusted, and well mannered (as should all dogs, regardless of breed), your own actions ultimately prove or disprove the stereotype. It's important to be a good citizen and a responsible dog owner, but to actually defeat the stereotype, we all need to do more.

In other words, if you want to beat the stereotype, you should be a vocal responsible dog owner and an involved upstanding citizen.

Quotes Invoking the Pit Bull Owner Stereotype

"We don't want 'those people' (pit bull owners) here." - Bob Fitzgerald, Aurora, CO Councilmember

"I hate to see [Portage] become a magnet in the future for people who have these dogs (pit bulls)." - Portage Police Officer Adam Malchow

"I can't help but believe part of the allure of owning a pit bull is the danger. If it's not, then why bother?" - Harry Smith, CBS Early Show co-anchor

"Those who go to shelters seeking out breeds like Pit Bulls have an agenda that goes beyond just having a family pet. They are looking for something that is linked to violence, something that is intimidating..." - Jeff Graham, Mayor of Waterton, NY

"They [pit bull owners] have their reasons for owning this breed. Either they are criminals, using the dogs to protect their club house or their grow-op, or they fight them, or they are not very bright. Educated people are not attracted to pit bulls." - Animal Advocates Society of B.C.