What’s in a Name? Effect of Breed Perceptions & Labeling on Attractiveness, Adoptions & Length of Stay for Pit-Bull-Type Dogs
This 2016 multi-part study by Gunter et al. offers compelling evidence that breed labels influence human perception of dogs, often reinforcing unfounded stereotypes that negatively impact adoptions, particularly for those believed to have American Pit Bull Terrier (APBT) ancestry. Across three experimental studies and one shelter-based intervention, the researchers consistently found that when dogs were labeled by breed, especially breeds stigmatized in public discourse, they were rated as less desirable, even when their appearance was identical to unlabeled counterparts. Notably, when breed labels were removed in a real-world-shelter setting, live outcomes improved for all dogs, with the most dramatic gains seen in dogs previously identified as APBT types whose adoption rates rose and euthanasia rates dropped. This body of work underscores the disconnect between breed-based assumptions and actual behavior, supporting a growing body of research advocating for the removal of breed labels in sheltering practices to reduce bias and promote more equitable outcomes for dogs.