Parents for Dog Bite Awareness

🐾 You’ve probably seen pit bull advocates wave around the American Temperament Test Society (ATTS) scores as “proof” that pit bulls are just as safe (or even safer) than other breeds. But here’s what most people don’t know: the ATTS was never designed to measure a dog’s suitability as a family pet. 

🔹 Origins of the ATTS

The ATTS was founded in 1977 by a hobbyist in the sport of “Schutzhund” which is bite work. Its purpose was to test working dogs for their ability to remain steady in the face of distractions and threats. It was never about identifying safe companion dogs for homes, families, or children. 

🔹 How the Test Works

The test lasts about is brief. Dogs are exposed to a series of increasingly uncomfortable situations, beginning with a friendly stranger and ending with a “threatening stranger.”

• Dogs that appear fearful, timid, or avoidant score poorly.

• Dogs that remain bold and even  aggressive score higher, depending on breed and context.

The ATTS itself states:

👉 “95% of dogs who fail do so because they lack confidence.”

👉 “Comparing scores with other dogs is not a good idea.”

🔹 Why Breed Comparisons Don’t Work

Scoring is adjusted by breed, training, and intended function. That means:

• A Labrador that nips a threatening stranger will score much worse than a protection trained German Shepherd that bites in the same scenario.

• A timid Lab that backs away may fail, while the Shepherd that responds with aggression may pass.

• The exact same behavior can receive wildly different scores depending on the breed and the judges’ interpretation.

In short: the ATTS is not apples to apples across breeds.

🔹 The Family Pet Problem

The ATTS favors boldness over caution. But in real life, most families would prefer a pet that avoids conflict rather than confronts it aggressively. A dog that “passes” ATTS by showing no avoidance and responding with aggression is not the kind of temperament you want around kids at the playground or sleeping next to a toddler. 

Ironically, when bloodsport enthusiasts wave around the ATTS results, they are proving the exact opposite of what they want: that pits are NOT suitable as family pets in normal homes. 

🔹 The Bottom Line

Before quoting ATTS scores:

✔️ Understand it is not a test of pet suitability.

✔️ You cannot compare scores across different breeds.

✔️ Aggression may be rewarded, not penalized.

✔️ It was never designed to measure safety in the home.

So when pit bull advocates boast that “pit bulls score higher than goldens and labs,” they’re misusing the data. What the test actually measures is confidence in the face of threat and not safety around children, neighbors, or other pets.

Families deserve clarity, not cherry picked talking points. Public safety should always come first. 💔🐕

-JL

#dogbiteawareness #publicsafety #truthmatters