Pit Bull Mix board and train in Gloucester, MA

A large study published in Science in 2022 surveyed owners of 18,385 dogs and sequenced the DNA of 2,155. It found that breed explains just 9 percent of the variation in behavior between individual dogs, and that for traits such as how easily a dog is provoked, breed is almost uninformative. The same study found American pit bull terrier the most common breed ancestry among its mixed-breed dogs, and one that people shown photos and video of those dogs guessed less often than the DNA warranted.

The ASPCA's position is that all dogs, including pit bulls, are individuals, to be judged by their actions rather than their DNA or their appearance. The AKC describes the related breeds warmly: the American Staffordshire Terrier as smart, confident and good-natured, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier as intelligent, quick to learn and eager to please. So a stay starts where it does for every dog, with what this one actually does.

Plenty of dogs play hard, and play can tip from fun to frantic. The AKC's Staffordshire Bull Terrier page advises owners to watch for escalation in enthusiastic play, especially after maturity, which is sound advice for any strong, excitable dog. In a stay, play is broken into short bursts with a pause and a settle between them, and the dog is paid for responding to a cue while still excited. Those pauses keep play below the point where good judgment drops away.

Some dogs also become choosier about other dogs as they mature. The ASPCA's statement says dogs of pit bull type may be more likely than other breeds to fight with dogs, and adds that this does not mean they cannot be around other dogs or are unpredictably aggressive. The practical goal is neutrality, walking calmly past dogs it does not need to meet, rather than friendship with every dog.

The go-home lesson, or the two coaching lessons that close Advanced, show you the play breaks, the settle and the neutrality distances your dog learned. Practice neutrality where you control the distance: an empty corner of Stage Fort Park on a weekday, not the dog park at its busiest. Canine Citizen Academy prepares a dog for the AKC Canine Good Citizen test, which some owners value as a record of good manners.

Massachusetts General Laws chapter 140, section 157, says no city or town shall regulate dogs in a manner specific to breed, and that no dog may be deemed dangerous because of its breed. Breed-neutral law does not excuse any dog from the basics, though: a current license, a leash where one is required and the city's beach calendar apply to every dog alike. Private sessions start from $94, and for families in Rockport, Gloucester, Essex or Manchester-by-the-Sea the Pup Van makes the trip for $10 each way.