Pit Bulls were once a proud American icon. They are war heroes, movie stars, police dogs, therapy and service dogs. They are amazingly loyal companions. But, over time, the actions of a few that have taken the qualities – like loyalty, strength, and an eagerness to please their family – that make these dogs such amazing companions and used them in a negative way has caused the entire breed to be criticized.

According to nationalpitbullawarenessday.org, Bless the Bully’s, a non-profit rescue and education effort in Tennessee, introduced the National Pit Bull Awareness Day idea and it took off like wildfire. Now, the entire month of October is known as National Pit Bull Awareness Month, while pit bull devotees will recognize October 28th across the country as National Pit Bull Awareness Day.

National Pit Bull Awareness Day (NPBAD) is a day of appreciation and education designed to change perceptions and stereotypes about pit bulls and their responsible owners. NPBAD was established to educate and foster positive communications and experiences in the communities in which we and our dogs live, and it is an initiative dedicated to restoring the image of the American Pit Bull Terrier.

It’s no secret that pit bulls, and pit-mixes, are at the very core of breed-specific legislation, discrimination, and negative bias among the nation’s media and government. Despite continued efforts by supporters, much of the general public is overwhelmingly misinformed about the breed.

Just look at the number of myths widely believed about the breed – that they’re inherently dangerous, that they have “locking jaws,” that they don’t feel pain… these are myths that contribute to the negative bias against these incredible dogs:

Anyone that has had the pleasure of sharing their home and their lives with this loyal, dependable, and loving breed has without a doubt experienced the prejudice from the misinformed public. A pit bull owner walking their dog down the sidewalk sees pedestrians cross to the other side of the road to avoid them. Pit bull owners are limited in the communities in which they can reside with their four-legged family members. They are restricted from airlines, dog-friendly restaurants, and even entire counties.

So, what can you, as a Pit Bull supporter, do to raise awareness? The founder of National Pit Bull Awareness Day offers the following advice:

While we can’t all be on television educating about our dogs, we all can make a difference in our own way. We all can and should play a part in correcting false information and changing the perception of these incredible dogs. We are their voice, and they are depending on us to educate the public (not only about the breed in general, but with respect to responsible ownership practices), to dispel the false information out there, and to restore their reputation as a great American icon. Leading by example is a great place to start!

If you’re a pit bull owner, be an ambassador for the breed! At any opportunity, inform and educate. Show the world that gorgeous pit bull smile. Be a responsible owner.

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But is there any truth to these stereotypes, or have we all just been brainwashed to believe that some dogs are somehow inherently more aggressive than others? 

Mixed results

The results of studies detailing which dog breeds are the most aggressive will probably shock you, however, the number of studies that have been conducted around this topic mean the results are actually pretty mixed. 

University of Pennsylvania study

In one 2008 study by the University of Pennsylvania, researchers looked at how 30 different breeds behaved in various situations of fear, stress, and anxiety. That study found that it was, in fact, Chihuahuas and Dachshunds who were the most aggressive toward both humans and other dogs. However, given their slight frames, they were also less likely to actually cause severe injuries, no matter how aggressive they were. 

In the same study, Pit Bull Terriers were found to be the most aggressive towards other dogs, but they weren’t higher up than other breeds on the scale when it came to being aggressive towards their owners or strangers. 

University of Bristol study

In a recent study out of the University of Bristol’s School of Veterinary Sciences, United Kingdom dog owners were surveyed to find out potential risk factors for dogs showing aggression toward humans in three different contexts: when with family members, and around strangers both inside and outside of the house.

The researchers of the ‘Human directed aggression in domestic dogs (Canis familiaris): Occurrence in different contexts and risk factors’ study, published in December in the journal Applied Animal Behaviour Science, surveyed over 14,000 dog owners in the UK, collecting just under 4,000 responses.

About three percent of the dog owners that participated in the survey reported aggression, which was defined as “barking, lunging, growling or biting” toward family members. About seven percent reported aggression toward strangers in the house, and five percent reported aggression toward strangers out of the house.

Older dog owners participating in the survey (as in, the humans were older, not the dogs) reported less aggression toward family members and toward strangers entering the house, while older dogs were more likely to be aggressive outside of the home. Spayed female dogs were less aggressive in all three categories. 

Dogs that had been purchased from breeders were less aggressive than those bought or adopted from pet shops or rescue groups. Attending puppy class correlated with less aggression toward strangers both inside and outside the whole — but attending a training class for four or more weeks was related to more aggression toward a family member. Keep in mind that they could have been attending puppy class for so long because of previously shown family aggression. 

Abandoning breed stereotypes

As you can see, the mixed results of these studies show that there are many factors that can contribute to a dog’s aggression level. It’s not only about their breed. 

It’s important to understand that all dogs have the potential to bite. It makes no difference which breed the dog is or whether it’s a big dog or a small dog. Even dogs that are normally very friendly can be prone to biting people under certain circumstances.

Some other factors that can contribute to a dog being aggressive include:

• Illness or injury: If a dog suddenly starts to snap or growl when touched, it may mean that it is injured or feeling unwell. For example German Shepherds tend to be aggressive when hurt, but other than that they are docile and loving in nature.
• Fear: A fearful dog can develop aggressive behavior, for example, if they’ve been abused, traumatized, or attacked previously. 
• Possessiveness: Also known as resource guarding, some dogs may become aggressive when threatened with their favorite toy or their food being taken away from them.

Preventing aggression

When it comes to preventing aggression (no matter what breed of dog you have), there are a number of different things you’ll need to do to ensure you’re raising a well-adjusted and well-behaved dog. Most importantly, your dog’s behavior needs to be predictable in a variety of situations, making it easier for you to control them and understand how they may react to certain stimuli. 

• Socialization: Making sure your puppy had adequate exposure to other dogs, people, sounds, sights and smells within their critical socialization (ideally before they’re 16 weeks old).
• Use positive reinforcement training: Instead of punishing your dog when they do the wrong thing, reward them for doing the right thing. Give your dog treats when they behave calmly around other dogs, or whatever it is that usually makes them behave aggressively.
• Get professional help: If you’re struggling with your dog’s aggression (and it can be scary!), don’t be ashamed to reach out to a professional dog trainer for assistance. They’ll be able to assess your dog’s behavior and create a plan for helping you and your dog get your life back. 

Helping owners and pets

If you’re passionate about dogs and want to help both animals and their owners live happy, healthy lives together, why not consider becoming a veterinary assistant? You’ll be able to spend your days doing something you love, working with dogs and their humans to create harmony and understand the deeper cause of an issue.

About the Author:

Emma is a professional writer and blogger, with two furry friends and a lot of pet behavioral and pet health knowledge to share. She has written for numerous big animal magazines and health sites, and is a regular contributor to The Catington Post.

In June of 2018, Delta Airlines announced an updated service and emotional support animal policy that prohibited pit bulls from all flights, regardless of whether they were legitimate service or emotional support dogs.

Nearly a year after countless legitimate service dogs and emotional support animals were turned away from the airline based solely on their breed, federal officials announced that airlines were, in fact, NOT permitted to deny access to service dogs and ESA’s because of their breed.

Still, the airline defied federal mandate and continued to prohibit pit bulls from flying alongside disabled passengers on board their planes. Delta was given 30 days to comply with federal guidelines or “face enforcement action.” The airline continued to discriminate against the breed—or any dog that looked like it might be mixed with a pit bull-type breed—until about 2-and-a-half years later on January 11, 2021 when Delta finally agreed to follow U.S. Department of Transportation’s newest guidelines. It is unclear whether the airline ever faced enforcement action by the DOT.

New 2021 DOT guidelines grant airlines to right to prohibit all Emotional Support Animals, including dogs, but require all airlines to allow Service Dogs, regardless of breed, to fly in the cabin alongside disabled handlers.

This means, for the first time in more than two years, pit bulls will now be allowed on Delta flights, as long as they’re legitimate service dogs and all required documentation is submitted and verified.

Not surprisingly, Delta joined United, American, and Alaska Airlines in no longer giving on board access to emotional support dogs. At this time, Southwest Airlines still allows properly documented ESAs on board and has not announced plans to change their policy just yet.

The new rules don’t mean that pets can no longer travel by air, but requires passengers with pets or emotional support animals (with the exception of Southwest Airlines, so far) to transport them as pets and pay a pet fee. If the same number of animals that previously rode free as ESAs fly as pets in 2021, airlines are projected to earn upwards of $50 million in pet fees.

Pit bulls have been illegal in Denver since 1989. That was until November when 64.5% of voters elected to repeal the 31-year ban in favor of new ordinance that allows—while still highly regulating—ownership of “pit bull type dogs” including the American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, and mixed breed dogs having the physical characteristics of these breeds.

And on January 5, Gumdrop, a 3-year old Pit Bull at the Denver Animal Shelter became the first in the city to be adopted since 1989.

The handsome and lovable gray-and-white pup was found in December as a stray. After the mandatory stray hold, he was made available for adoption and shortly after, found his new family. Gumdrop, renamed Odin by his new family, is now living the good life with his new family in Colorado Springs.

Although he was the first adopted, Odin was not the first pit bull made available for adoption. That honor goes to “Penguin,” a black-and-white pit bull still at the Denver shelter hoping to find the perfect forever family.

What began as a way to support the emotional needs of its passengers evolved into a very bumpy ride for airlines.

In the beginning, only passengers with a legitimate need for emotional support used the service. But, as with anything, they gave the world an inch and we took the proverbial mile. When word got out that emotional support animals (ESAs) were allowed to travel cabin-side with their owners, free of charge, with not much more than a letter of need from a therapist, an entire new industry was born.

Today, anyone, anywhere, with almost any type of domestic (and some exotics) animal can go online, answer a few multiple-choice questions, and buy an “official ESA letter” that grants them access to certain places where pets aren’t allowed.

Until the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) released their final rule, that access included air travel.

Airlines for America said that the number of passengers traveling with emotional support animals had skyrocketed in recent years and that the misbehavior of some emotional support animals “has ranged from mauling and biting to urinating and defecating.”

In January of 2020, the DOT proposed a new rule to eliminate access for Emotional Support Animals, asking the public to comment before making their final decision. More than two-thirds of the 15,000-plus comments the DOT received supported the rule change.

The updated rule addresses the concerns raised by individuals with disabilities, airlines, flight attendants, airports, other aviation transportation stakeholders, and other members of the public, regarding service animals on aircraft. According to a statement, the Department “recognizes the integral role that service animals play in the lives of many individuals with disabilities and wants to ensure that individuals with disabilities can continue using their service animals while also reducing the likelihood that passengers wishing to travel with their pets on aircraft will be able to falsely claim their pets are service animals.”

Under the rule, emotional support animals are no longer allowed, and actual service animals are restricted to dogs that are “individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability.” Dogs providing psychiatric support to an individual will need to be specially trained as well.

The rule also clarified exactly which animals can be allowed on-board aircraft. Previous passengers took advantage of ESA loopholes, bringing all manner of animals onto planes including pigs, kangaroos, a peacock, ducks, turkeys, iguanas, and various others. Now, only specially trained service dogs will be granted access rights.

This doesn’t mean that pets can no longer travel by air, but requires passengers with pets or emotional support animals to transport them as pets and pay a pet fee. If the same number of animals that previously rode free as ESAs fly as pets in 2021, airlines are projected to earn upwards of $50 million in pet fees.

And, in a big win for advocates against breed-specific legislation, the DOT also stood by an earlier ruling that prohibited airlines from banning certain breeds of service dogs.

Every so often, there is a story in the news about a family dog that turned on a child or another family member. While the reporting may make it seem like a random event, when a dog bites or jumps at a human, there is always a reason. If you’re concerned about having a dog in the home, for this reason, taking the time to understand why dogs attack can help you create a safer environment for your family and your dog.

Do Not Mistake Fear for Aggression

Some states only allow owning one dog that is deemed a dangerous breed. However, these states face a lot of challenges from dog owners and experts in canine psychology because determining which breeds are aggressive poses a problem. Everyone has their own ideas on what type of dogs have a greater tendency to attack, and those beliefs are usually based on personal experiences.

In truth, it is quite common for people to mistake aggression with fear because they don’t know how to read a dog’s body language. Many experts argue that aggression has nothing to do with breed and everything to do with upbringing. They claim that it is a learned behavior that is typically transferred from a dog owner.

Determine if Your Dog is Ill or Injured

It’s also common behavior for a dog to turn on its family if it isn’t feeling well. Your dog may have a common cold, arthritis, a headache, or any number of medical conditions that also affect people. However, while a person can tell someone what is bothering them, a dog’s communication abilities are limited.

When they are injured or ill, your dog may cower in a corner, hide behind furniture, or find other ways to avoid the family. If someone in the family seeks the dog out, it will likely become irritable as the result of not feeling well. If a dog bites or snaps at family members in this type of situation, a visit to the vet can uncover hidden illnesses or injuries.

Are Chronic Behavioral Problems to Blame?

If you didn’t take the time to properly train and socialize your dog as a puppy, he may develop antisocial behaviors as an adult. This will result in a seemingly mean dog. In truth, the dog never learned to be social. It may have developed psychological problems, including anxiety, that causes him to frequently growl or bite.

You can cure your dog of this undesirable behavior, but it will take time. You should start by taking frequent walks with it in populated areas, such as parks. Let it get used to being around people. Eventually, you should take it to dog parks where it can freely socialize with people and other dogs. As your dog spends more time with others, it will adopt a healthier demeanor.

Punishment Was Used Improperly

For dogs, growling isn’t bad behavior, but a warning system to let others know that they sense danger. If you punish your puppy every time it growls, it will grow up thinking that this “warning system” is bad behavior. The result is an adult dog that will attack or bite without giving any warning.

That may seem aggressive, but this is only because it was taught not to give that warning. This situation can be prevented by attending a training course with your puppy. Obedience training helps pet owners and puppies learn how to better communicate. That way, you will understand each other better as the puppy grows to become a well-behaved adult dog.

If you’re concerned about the behavior of your dog, a visit to your veterinarian is the best place to start. When a physical condition isn’t the cause of your dog’s behavioral issues, dog obedience lessons will probably help. Taking the time to understand why your dog behaves the way it does and teaching it to communicate better will help you enjoy a more rewarding relationship together.

About the Author: Cheryl Roy
While she has a solid education in law, Cheryl Roy wanted more than a job as a lawyer. She knew that people needed information and a better understanding of everyday legal matters. She began writing articles and guidelines to educate individuals and businesses. Now, she is collaborating with blogs, magazines, and outlets, being proud that her knowledge and her writing talent are helping everyone every day.

Pit bulls have been illegal in Denver since 1989. Yesterday, voters weighed in on Ballot Measure 2J, a move to effectively end the ban while creating a system of rules and contingencies to allow pit bulls to live within city limits.

According to Denver’s election results page, 64.5% of voters were in favor of repealing the 31-year pit bull ban in favor of new ordinance that allows—but highly regulates—ownership of “pit bull type dogs” including the American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, and mixed breed dogs having the physical characteristics of these breeds.

Under the new law, pit bull owners must register with Denver Animal Protection to obtain a “breed-restricted” license for the animal. The owner will have to provide the name and home address of the dog, two emergency contacts, an accurate description of the animal, and proof that the dog is microchipped and up-to-date on a rabies vaccination.

In addition, the new policy limits pet owners to two pit bulls per household. And requires owners to notify the city within eight hours if their dog bites or escapes. If the dog dies or the owner moves, the city must be alerted within 24 hours. If there are no incidents after three years, Denver Animal Protection will remove the breed-restricted license and the dog will be given the same license as any other dog in the city.

To celebrate this win for families and pit bulls, Boulder-based pet food company, “I and love and you” is giving 25% off all purchases from now through the end of 2020 using the promo code PITTYLOVE. What’s more, “I and love and you” will be donating 2,500 meals to My Fairy Dawg Mother, a rescue in in Denver that specializes in hard-to-adopt dogs – including pit bulls.

While the measure—and the many breed-specific restrictions written within— still shows deep-rooted bias against the breed, it’s passing provides an opportunity for real change and an eventual end to breed descrimination.

On Valentine’s Day, Denver Mayor Michael Hancock had no love for pit bulls. Although a bill to reverse a 30-year ban on the breed was passed by city council members by a vote of 7-to-4, Hancock vetoed the bill, leaving the pit bull ban in effect.

On Monday, February 24, city council once again met to vote on the matter, this time requiring a 9-vote majority to overturn the mayor’s veto and keep the highly publicized bill moving forward.

Sadly, only 8 council members supported the bill.

Although Mayor Hancock had until Sunday evening to make his decision, he announced on Friday his decision to veto the repeal, allowing council members the opportunity to regroup and prepare for a Monday, February 24 vote on the matter.

The ordinance originally passed city council with a vote of 7-to-4 in favor. A vote to overturn the Mayor’s veto will require 9 votes, meaning two of those “no” votes will have to change in order for pit bulls to be allowed to reside in the city for the first time in 30 years since the ban was enacted.

Mayor Hancock announced his plans to veto the bill to his constituents via a Facebook video where he cited a 1989 fatal attack in which a 3-year old child was killed by a pit bull as the basis for his decision.

And, wrote the following letter to City Council members:

Over the past several days, I have heard from thousands of residents passionately expressing their opinions on both sides of this issue. I want to thank everyone who has shared their views, especially those I have spoken to personally – experts in veterinary care, animal care and control, as well as residents of our city who have had experiences with the pit bull breeds – all to gain a broader understanding of what this change would mean for our community and those who own these dogs. After deep reflection and consideration, I find that I cannot, in good conscience, support this legislation and will exercise my authority as Mayor to veto it.

Let me say at the outset that I salute the sponsor of this ordinance, Councilman Herndon, and his fellow Council members, who have tried to craft legislation that creates a data and licensing system for these breeds that is supported by veterinary experts and encourages owners of pit bull breeds to manage their pets. Unfortunately, less than 20 percent of all pets in Denver are currently licensed, which raises significant questions about the effectiveness of this proposed new system. While much progress has been made in recent years to increase that number, more intentional efforts around responsible pet ownership, dog licensure and registration, and off-lease dogs are needed before this proposal should be considered. The reality is that irresponsible pet owners continue to be a problem, and it is the irresponsible owners and their dogs I must consider in evaluating the overall impact of this ordinance.

We cannot diminish the very real, very traumatic experiences of those who have reached out to me to share their stories. While I appreciate the effort that Councilman Herndon has put in to crafting this ordinance and its guardrails, I do not believe this ordinance fully addresses the very real risk to severe injury that can result from attacks from these particular dog breeds, especially should they happen to a child.

At the end of the day, I must ask whether passage of this ordinance would make our homes and neighborhoods safer or pose an increased risk to public safety? I have concluded that it would pose an increased risk. I encourage members of City Council to reconsider their approach to this ordinance, which has been in the municipal code for over three decades. If we were to make this change now, and harm comes to someone as a result, then we have done a disservice to the people of this great city.

This is Mayor Hancock’s first veto.

Denver City Council will vote on Monday, February 24 whether to uphold or overturn the Mayor’s veto.

City councilmembers voted to repeal the 1989-enacted pit bull ban in favor of new ordinance that allows—but highly regulates—ownership of “pit bull type dogs” including the American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, and mixed breed dogs having the physical characteristics of these breeds.

Under the new law, pit bull owners must register with Denver Animal Protection to obtain a “breed-restricted” license for the animal. The owner will have to provide the name and home address of the dog, two emergency contacts, an accurate description of the animal, and proof that the dog is microchipped and up-to-date on a rabies vaccination.

In addition, the new policy limits pet owners to two pit bulls per household. And requires owners to notify the city within eight hours if their dog bites or escapes. If the dog dies or the owner moves, the city must be alerted within 24 hours. If there are no incidents after three years, Denver Animal Protection will remove the breed-restricted license and the dog will be given the same license as any other dog in the city.

However, while this is a small victory for pit bull advocates and those that oppose breed specific legislation, the fight isn’t quite over yet. Denver Mayor Michael Hancock has not yet decided whether he’ll sign the ordinance.

In a statement from his office, a spokesperson said “Mayor Hancock wants to be thoughtful regarding his decision about this, and as such he hasn’t decided to sign the ordinance or not at this time.”

Hancock has until Friday to make a decision. If he chooses to veto the ordinance, City Council will need 9 votes to override his veto. Since only 7 councilmembers voted in favor of the repeal on Monday, it is unlikely to pass without Hancock’s signature.

If signed, the new ordinance would go into effect in 90 days.

According to the American Pet Products Association, there are nearly 90 million pet dogs in the United States. For most owners, their dogs are part of their families. But insurance companies often disagree. To them, dogs are a liability. In fact, homeowners with certain breeds of dogs may have trouble getting homeowners insurance. Read on and find out how pet liability policies work, where breed bias comes from and what it means for homeowners.

Homeowners insurance and pet liability

Homeowners insurance typically covers damage to your property and the belongings within it, but it also protects you in case someone is injured on your property. In most cases, liability limits fall between $100,000 and $300,000 if your dog bites someone or damages another person’s property. Anything above the set threshold would be an out-of-pocket expense.

Like most insurance stipulations, pet liability coverage is left to state departments. States like California have dog-bite statutes, which means that in most cases, an owner is automatically liable for any property damage or injury their dog causes. Other states, like Texas, have a one-bite rule that only deems an owner responsible if their dog has already bitten someone or acted aggressively in the past. Then there are states that turn to negligence laws when one-bite rules don’t exist and a dog’s behavior can be tied to an owner’s carelessness.  

Insurance companies can offer coverage based on their own risk tolerance, regardless of how your pet has behaved in the past. They might charge a high premium, exclude pet liability from your plan or deny coverage if you own a breed that is more likely to injure people or cause property damage.

Excluded dog breeds

Ask your provider if there’s a list of aggressive dogs or prohibited dog breeds that you can reference. Wondering whether your pup makes the cut? Excluded pets often include any dogs related to the following breeds:

• Akitas
• Alaskan Malamutes
• Chow Chows
• Doberman Pinschers
• German Shepherds
• Great Danes
• Bull Mastiffs
• Pit Bull Terriers
• Rottweilers
• Siberian Huskies
• Staffordshire Terriers
• Wolfhounds

Providers may look at historical claims or statistics, but they may also decide to deny insurance to owners with certain dogs based on media coverage. This became much more prevalent in the 1980s, when Sports Illustrated put a ferocious-looking pitbull on their cover with the headline “Beware of This Dog.” This fueled fear and changed public opinion about the breed.

The industry and owners at odds

More than 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs in the U.S. annually and more than 800,000 people seek medical attention, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Worse, sources suggest that dog bite cases have risen over time. It’s certainly an important issue, but is punishing homeowners with certain dog breeds a viable solution to the problem?

The Insurance Information Institute reports that dog-related incidents cost more than $600 million in liability claim payouts in 2016. Providers have to do everything they can to limit their risk. Some studies have shown that pitbulls, Rottweilers and other targeted breeds are more likely to kill people or lead them to seek medical treatment.

Pet owners and advocates say that breed violence studies are fraught with potential error. There are inherent difficulties in breed identification, especially among mixed-breed dogs. And because there’s inconsistency in the data on dog bites, it’s difficult to calculate an actual bite rate for any given breed. In a piece published by the Connecticut Insurance Law Journal, Larry Cunningham points out that even the authors of the CDC study have stated that “breed discrimination is wrong and is not supported by scientific evidence.”

What’s next

Scientists and veterinarians cannot confidently state why certain dogs are more aggressive than others. An article published by the American Veterinary Medical Association says that the tendency to bite is dependent on at least five factors: heredity, early experience, socialization and training, medical and behavioral health and victim behavior. A dog’s lifestyle also affects its tendency toward aggression. The most dangerous dogs are those that were bred for dog fighting or protection. Dogs that endure neglect and abuse are also more likely to attack. Clearly, breed is not the only factor that determines whether a dog will harm others. In fact, any dog can bite or cause property damage.

Of course, heartwarming stories and personal anecdotes aren’t going to change things. Better data, legislation that challenges existing practices and widespread education about animal behavior are needed to end breed bias.

How to prevent dog bites

Dogs bite for a multitude of reasons. Aggressive behavior is usually a reaction to a stressful situation. Dogs bite when they feel scared, threatened or startled. Dogs will also bite to protect themselves or their owners. Ultimately, an owner is responsible for training their dog and ensuring that he or she acts appropriately.

To reduce the risk of dog-related incidents, you should expose your pup to other people and animals when they’re young. This will show them how to behave and ensure they’re comfortable in diverse situations. Play non-aggressive games with your pet like fetch as often as possible.

Another easy way to prevent your pup from attacking others is to have them spayed or neutered. Dogs are nearly three times more likely to bite if they aren’t fixed.

If your animal displays aggressive behavior, contact your vet and consider hiring an animal behaviorist or trainer to help. Obedience training and supervision can make a big difference.

Additional insurance options

Knowing how to prevent a dog bite is important, but you’ll need to take other measures if you’re having trouble getting insured because of breed bias. Ask your provider if they’ll cover your dog if you behavior train or muzzle them. Websites like BADRAP and MyPitBullisFamily can help you find national or local insurance companies that don’t discriminate against owners with certain kinds of pets, like Hippo.

If you don’t want to switch providers but have limited insurance coverage, consider an umbrella policy. It would provide a specific dollar amount of liability coverage for incidents your standard homeowners policy does not cover. A $1 million umbrella policy can cost as much as $300 annually.

You can also get a separate policy that provides a higher coverage limit for damages. Some companies offer dog liability insurance specifically for homeowners with breeds that are usually blacklisted.

Before you make any decisions, consult with an insurance professional and discuss coverage options and pet-specific policies in your state. 

About the Author:

Hippo Insurance is a California-based insurtech company that is transforming home insurance for the modern household. Among its many innovations, Hippo allows homeowners to get a quote and purchase home insurance online in 60 seconds or less, save up to 25 percent compared with traditional insurers, and obtain smarter coverage for modern households. This includes protection for possessions like appliances, consumer electronics, and home offices.

When Delta Airlines released policies on flying with service dogs and support animals in 2018, those advocating for animals and the rights of disabled passengers questioned whether the new policies were discriminatory or illegal. Under the new policy, Delta Airlines banned any pit bull or pit bull-mixed breed dogs from accompanying their handlers on flights.

Nearly a year after countless legitimate service dogs and emotional support animals were turned away from the airline based solely on their breed, federal officials announced that airlines are, in fact, NOT permitted to deny access to service dogs and ESA’s because of their breed.

U.S. Department of Transportation officials said in a 28-page final enforcement policy that the Department “is not aware of and has not been presented with evidence supporting the assertion that an animal poses a direct threat simply because of its breed.”

Officials further confirmed that “a limitation based exclusively on breed of the service animal is not allowed under the Air Carrier Access Act.” This means, very clearly, that Delta’s latest service and support animal policies are both discriminatory and directly go against the Department of Transportation’s ruling.

This doesn’t mean that any service or support dog should automatically be permitted onboard, as the airlines are still granted the right to disallow individual dogs that pose a direct threat to the health or safety of others, on a case-by-case basis.

After the final enforcement policy was published, airlines were given 30 days to update their service dog and emotional support animal policies to comply with federal regulations. While Delta did update policies to comply with other changes, including discontinuing a policy that prohibited ESA’s on flights longer than 8-hours, the continue to uphold their pit bull breed ban, despite federal regulations against it.

It is unclear at this time how the U.S. Department of Transportation plans to enforce its air carrier service and support animal regulations and what actions will be taken against Delta and any other carriers that refuse to comply.