Temperament
Temperament of Pitbulls
Recent temperament testing data shows that the breeds commonly included in the pitbull-type category — the American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, and American Bully — score within the top 20% of all breeds evaluated. These results reflect their exceptional temperament and support their success as service animals, therapy dogs, K9 police dogs, and, most commonly, beloved family pets.
Furthermore, the temperament test findings align with scientific research on canine behavior and aggression, which consistently shows that pitbulls display positive temperament traits and are no more aggressive than other breeds.
91.3%
Temperament test average for pitbull-type breeds is 91.3%, compared to the 83.0% average across all breeds.
Top 20%
Pitbull-type breeds score within the top 20% of all breeds evaluated.
<10%
For dogs assessed as aggressive, breed explains less than 10% of the variance in aggression.
Temperament Test Scores
"The ATTS Temperament Test focuses on and measures different aspects of temperament such as stability, shyness, aggressiveness, and friendliness as well as the dog's instinct for protectiveness towards its handler and/or self-preservation in the face of a threat."
Pitbull-Type Breeds
- American Pit Bull Terrier: 87.6%
- American Staffordshire Terrier: 85.7%
- American Bully: 100%
- Staffordshire Bull Terrier: 91.9%
Source: ATTS Breed Statistics
Other Large Breeds
- Doberman Pinscher: 80.1%
- German Shepherd: 85.7%
- Golden Retriever: 85.9%
- Labrador Retriever: 92.4%​
- Rottweiler: 85%
Source: ATTS Breed Statistics
Pitbull-Type Breeds vs. Average
- Average score for the 198 breeds included in this analysis: 83.0%
- Average score for pitbull-type breeds: 91.3% (better than 158 of 198 breeds tested, or in the top 20%)
The ATTS data used for this analysis includes 198 breeds with a test population size of 5 or more dogs using the latest available temperament test data (January, 2023).
Studies on Breed-Specific Behavior
Studies on breed-specific behavior, temperament, and aggression.
Pitbulls : Golden Retrievers
There were no significant differences in aggression between the legislated breed group (including pitbull-type breeds, Dobermans, Rottweilers, and others) and the Golden Retriever control group.
Source: Journal of Veterinary Behavior
Pitbulls : Other Strong Breeds
There was no difference in aggression or behavior between pitbull-type breeds (subjected to the strictest regulations) and other breeds impacted by BSL but subjected to fewer regulations, such as Bullmastiffs, German Shepherds, Dobermans, Mastiffs, and Rottweilers.
Source: Journal of Veterinary Behavior
Aggression Study
Factors such as breed explained less than 10% of the variance in dog aggression, individual experiences play a much larger role. Aggression is strongly linked to an individual dog's experiences and environment — it is not a trait that can be associated with any specific breed.