Olson, K.R., Levy, J.K., Norby, B., Crandall, M.M., Broadhurst, J.E., Jacks, S.

, Zimmerman,
M.S., (2015). Inconsistent identification of pit bull-type dogs by shelter staff. The
Veterinary Journal, 206, 197-202. Retrieved from http://ac.elscdn.com/S109002331500310X/1-s2.0-S109002331500310X-main.pdf?_tid=7f6fdcbedef5-11e5-9e6100000aacb35d&acdnat=1456758349_cd068d8888c08dc5c49e47870dfdefff

In this study, researchers found that animal shelter staff often misidentify dog breeds
based upon observation. This phenomenon is not restricted to shelter workers, as it was found
that visual observation is an inaccurate indicator of breed in large surveys. This misidentification
is vitally important in localities where it is illegal to own a pit bull-type dog because they are
viewed as dangerous. The authors suggest that instead of focusing on breed bans based on visual
observation, a more effective solution to preventing dog bites is increased education on dog
behavior and body language. This study is helpful because it notes that breed-specific legislation
is often difficult to execute because a visual assessment is not sufficient to determine a dogs true
breed. Additionally, the authors note variations with dogs of the same breed, indicating that
breed itself is not a good criteria to judge potential aggression. These facts support that
legislation is often arbitrary and legislators do not consider all factors of animal behavior in their
assessments.