Is it true that Pit Bull's lock their jaws when they bite?

Answer 1

I'm being honest when i say this, from experience, many of the answers here are wrong based on what people have heard or what people think or assume. I've trained dogs of various breeds in RingSport which is a mostly a personal protection event mixed with obedience. I've trained German Shepherds, Malinois, "Pit Bulls" Dobermans, and Rottweilers most of my life as a decoy for these events. I can tell you from experience. It does not depend on the breed at all. It depends on the dog itself and nothing else. One of the biggest scoring factors in this sport is the full and firm grip of the bite. This can and has decided victories in many events. The theory that a "pit bulls" jaws lock are incorrect. What it is, is taht the dog has been conditioned and trained to have a full and firm grip on its target. This can be accomplished by many training sessions using a puppy tug or a bite sleeve or a spring pole. The concept is to agitate the dog to the point where he/she learns that the only way they will keep the "prey" is to have a full and firm grip. I've tested teh theory of pitbulls with many dogs of the breeds. For their size and stature, they ahve a good bite with a good amount of pressure behind it. However, i have seen teh same amount of pressure or more from German Shepherds, Malinois, and Dobermans. In perticular Malinois. The theory that once the jaws are locked you cant get them open is a lie. The thing is, people haven't used common sense when trying to get a dog to release soemthing. All dogs need to breath just like humans. When dogs are agitated or worked they breath through their mouths. When they bite something and you want them to let go, you push down on teh prey item and you pull up on teh dogs collar. Eventually, the dog will let go because it will have to breath. It might take a couple of seconds or a couple of minutes but the dog has to breath and to do that they have to drop the prey item. The head shake seen by the dogs is actually a lack of complete confidence. In history, there are only a few dogs that do the head shake innately and the pit bull is not one of them. The pit bull was bred to grab and hold prey just like the Shepherds, Malinois, and Dobermans. The head shake is a trait attributed to Mastiffs and dogs with lineage from Mastiffs to include Rottweilers and Bulldogs. ALso, you can make a dog open its mouth using your hands alone. Simply place your fingers ant the two most pointed ends of teh muzzle (the front of the muzzle) and seperate. Not the most safe way of doing it but it works. I have seen dogs in my time that have incredible bites and grips from all breeds i've trained. It depends on the dog itself NOT the breed.

Answer 2

It is purely a myth about locking jaws. I seen a lot of answers here that I truely agree with, and quite a few I disagree with also.
I own an American Pit Bull Terrier AND a Staffordshire Bull Terrier; both are considered pit bulls, while in truth only one IS the pit bull.
I play with tug toys with both my dogs quite frequently. My pit cannot or will not lock on to the toy, while the Staffie does lock on. Both my dogs have been trained with the 'out' command. Anything in their mouth (including food) gets dropped from their mouth when I tell them 'out', no matter how much they want that item, treat, toy, etc...
The reason for the myth is that all pits, wether true pits or pit associated breeds, have stronger jaw muscles. Staffies have even stronger muscles in their jaws than true pits, so that was how the myth was born.

Answer 3

Pitbull Jaw Lock

Answer 4

Urban myths

Many sources propagate the myth that "pit bulls" have a "locking jaw" mechanism, and that the dog cannot let go once it has bitten. It is indisputable that pit bulls generally have strong jaws for their size. However, as stated by Dr. I. Brisbin (University of Georgia) "The few studies which have been conducted of the structure of the skulls, mandibles and teeth of pit bulls show that, in proportion to their size, their jaw structure and thus its inferred functional morphology, is no different from that of any breed of dog. There is absolutely no evidence for the existence of any kind of 'locking mechanism' unique to the structure of the jaw and/or teeth of the American Pit Bull Terrier." Furthermore, the "pit bulls" that compete successfully in protection sports such as Schutzhund obviously do not display an inability to release their grips after biting, as releasing the decoy's sleeve on command is an integral part of scoring the competition [4].

An interesting variant of the 'locking jaw' story is reportedly[5] told by Tom Skeldon, Lucas County (Ohio) dog warden, who said that an impounded "pit bull" that had been used in fighting started "going wild," biting at the walls of the kennel. He shot the dog with a tranquilizer, and then left it for five minutes to let it pass out. When he came back the dog had indeed passed out, but not before it had leaped up and clamped its jaws on a cable used to open the door of the kennel. "Everything else was relaxed, the dog was out cold, but its jaws wouldn't let go of that cable, and he was hanging in midair," said Skeldon. "Not even a jaguar will do that."

Answer 5

A pit bull's jaws do not lock it is a myth. Pit bull's just have 3200 pounds of continuous pressure in their jaws. Pit bull's wont let go though until they aren't mad anymore. That is why people assume their jaws lock.

Answer 6

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Is it true that Pit Bull's lock their jaws when they bite?

Answer 7

Didn't you people ever hear "believe nothing that you hear and only half of what you see and read?"
My grandson, a blue pit, is the most lovable dog. He scared the daylights out of me when I first saw him at my door. He's a big baby and a licker. When we play keep the water bottle away from him, his jaws appear to lock on the bottle but he gives it back very quickly. Never a growl or a dull moment.

Answer 8

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A friend recommened it to me a few years ago, and I was amazed how quickly it worked, which is why I recommend it to others. The dog training academy also has as an excellent home training course.

Answer 9

They don't actually lock...but due to the great strength in their necks and jaws they are nearly impossible to detatch from another dog or person when they attack, but they do not attack at random, only when abused or mistreated.

Answer 10

NO they CANNOT lock their jaws !!!!!! this is a big fat myth !!!!!! yes,they have strong jaws and can hold on but there is no evidence to prove their jaw structure is any different from any other breed....