Can Pit Bulls "lock" their jaws?
This is a MYTH. The jaws of the Pit Bull are functionally the same as those of any other dog breed. The few studies conducted on Pit Bulls' skull structure, mandibles and teeth show that, in proportion to their size, their jaws are no different than any other 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," says Dr. I. Lerh Brisbin of the University of Georgia (from the ADBA booklet, Discover the American Pit Bull Terrier.)
When a Pit Bull is seen hanging by its mouth with a strong grip on something, be it a tug toy or a tree branch, it is doing so because it wants to--not because it can't let go. Similarly, statements that Pit Bulls have more bite pressure per square inch (PSI) than any other breed are false. Dr. Brady Barr of National Geographic tested and compared the bite pressure of a Pit Bull, a Rottweiler, and a German Shepherd. The Pit Bull had the lowest PSI of the three dog breeds at 235 lbs, and the Rottweiler had the highest (328 lbs). Domestic dogs average about 320 lbs. PSI.
For more information about the characteristics of Pit Bulls, see:
http://www.businessinsider.com/pit-bulls-breed-locking-jaw-myths-2014-2
http://animalfarmfoundation.org/pages/home
http://www.pitbullfaq.com
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