The Danger of Labels: Why Misidentifying Dogs Hurts Everyone

It’s illogical to believe that a dog’s appearance — like the shape of its head or the width of its chest — determines its behavior, temperament, or risk of aggression.

Yet this flawed thinking continues to influence public perception, legislation, and shelter policies. And the consequences are devastating.

Public fear and knee-jerk laws often target dogs labeled as “pit bulls” —even when there’s no evidence the dog is a pit bull.

Shelters make life-and-death decisions based on how a dog looks, not how it behaves — leading to the euthanasia of sweet, adoptable dogs simply because they resemble a stigmatized breed.

Families are punished, and responsible owners face prejudice based on appearances, not facts.

Science tells a different story.

Peer-reviewed studies have debunked the myth of an “inherently dangerous breed.” A dog’s behavior is shaped by a complex mix of genetics, training, environment, and human interaction — not just how it looks.

That’s why PBFSA is proud to be part of the national DNA sampling process, contributing to South Africa’s government-led research on aggression and breed identification. The goal? To replace fear and stigma with facts and clarity.

Think about this:

Would you rather live in a community that protects people based on a dog’s actual behavior — or one that punishes dogs based on outdated, disproven myths?

A safer, more compassionate society starts with truth — not fear.

Support fair, behavior-based evaluations