“Team Dog”: Separate is Not Equal

Do you want pit bull dogs and their owners to have the same opportunities as other dogs? Then we have to stop putting them on a different team — both literally and figuratively — and let them play for “TEAM DOG.”

Photo credit:: www.meridian.org.uk

Social psychologists have explored the concept of “in-group and out-group bias.” This means that people define themselves in terms of social groupings, and they tend to favor members of their own group and have negative feelings toward outsiders.

People also view in-group members as being similar to themselves, while out-group members appear to be very different. Once the in-group/out-group distinction has been made, these alleged differences appear even more exaggerated.

So when we make pit bull dogs and their owners a separate category (even with the intentions to celebrate them!), we’re inadvertently activating the in-group/out-group boundary among the general public, adopters, and politicians.

Dogs/owners become the in-group (“us”) and pit bull dogs/owners become the out-group (“them”). Any perceived differences between the two groups appear exaggerated.

The social categorization process is not going to disappear, but it can be shaped in ways that reduce bias.

These concepts aren’t unique to pit bull dogs; they apply to any “at risk” dog in a shelter, since the dogs most at risk will vary from region to region and shelter to shelter.

In our efforts to support the dogs most at risk, it’s important to recognize when the in-group/out-group distinction is counter-productive to our goal. 

Here are some benefits of letting everyone play for “TEAM DOG”:

• Every dog stays inside our “circle of compassion”;
• We minimize the perception that some dogs are different, and therefore deviant;
• Similarities between all members of the canine species are highlighted, instead of exaggerating perceived differences;
• New categories can emerge based on individual behaviors and personalities;
• We can make stronger adoption matches and enhance the human-canine bond; and
• The debate over breed-based discrimination is framed in a more positive and accurate manner.

Bottom line: Separate is not equal. If we want all dogs to have equal opportunities, then let them all play for “TEAM DOG.”

An Ode to My Dogs