Step 1 : Introduction to the question "7. Staffordshire Bull Terriers, whilst typically courageous and devoted, are a misunderstood breed. Many ignorant people think they're vicious. Why is this?"
...1. They are used as a mascot for Hell's Angels 2. Their brains grow too quickly for their skulls making them temperamental 3. They have a unique enzyme in them which makes them suddenly turn on their owners 4. A mixture of media bias, irresponsible ownership/breeding and how the breed physically looks The media prints what people love to hear and the public love something to hate - something to really get angry about. There are also many irresponsible owners of the breed out there that refuse to train them and simply use them to perpetuate a "tough guy" image. They are also hideously over-bred which means people are breeding dogs with genetic temperament issues (dogs which need a one-way ticket to the spay/neuter clinic!). Finally, many people think that just because a breed had strong jaws and big muscles, it is automatically vicious. This reason I find the saddest of all. Behind every aggressive dog is an irresponsible human. The idea that they have an enzyme in them that makes them suddenly "turn" on people or that their brains grow too quickly for their skulls is totally untrue - as is the idea that they're a mascot for Hell's Angels.
