Birefringence is critical in dual-polarization fiber-laser-based fiber-optic sensing systems, as it directly determines the beat frequency between the two polarizations. A study of pump induced birefringence in dual-polarization fiber lasers is presented here, which shows that the pump induced birefringence is a result of the interplay among pump induced refractive index change, laser dynamics, and anisotropy inside fiber lasers. For erbium-doped fiber lasers, pumping at 1480 nm is better than pumping at 980 nm in lower pump induced birefringence. Moreover, injection at 532 nm for an adequately long enough time can permanently reduce anisotropy and, hence, reduce pump induced birefringence.