The American Pit Bull Terrier Dog
Breed in Brief:
Origin: United States
Height: 17-19 inches at
the shoulder preferred
Weight: 25-80 pounds on
average
Exercise Needs: High
Grooming Needs: Low
Life Expectancy: 12-15
years
Good With Kids: No
Trainability: Medium
Common Misspellings: Pitbull, American
Pitbull, Pitbull Terrior, Pitbull Terriors,
Pitbulls
Alternate Names: The American Staffordshire
Terrier, low and wide, low-rider, blue whale,
bully, bullie
For centuries, the Bulldog had been bred for
the simple purpose of baiting bulls, and this
practice continued into the 19th century.
Strong of build and possessing an uncommon
courage, these bull-baiting dogs were taller
than the modern day variety of bulldog.
They stood more upright and often had longer
muzzles and long rat-like tails.
Perhaps with the idea of instilling even more
courage and moxy in the dogs, these
old-fashioned bulldogs were crossbred with
terrier bloodlines, most likely members of the
black-and-tan variety, though some claim it was
the now-extinct White English Terrier or the Fox
Terrier that helped to create this fascinating
new breed. Either way, the results were a
dog that possessed all of the strength and power
of the bulldog, coupled with a game and
aggressive nature, so common amongst the terrier
breeds. While he was originally
known as the Half and Half, the Bull-and-Terrier
Dog, the Pit Bullterrier or, sometimes, the
simple Pit Dog, he would eventually come to be
known as the Staffordshire Bull Terrier in the
country of England.
By 1870, these muscular canines were making
their way into America, where they would come to
be known as the Pit Dog, Pit Bull Terrier, the
American Bull Terrier and the Yankee Terrier.
By 1936, they were accepted into the AKC Stud
Book, where they were originally listed as
Staffordshire Terriers. By 1972, however,
it was decided that the American version of the
Staffordshire Terrier was larger and noticeably
heavier than his European counterpart. To
reflect this and distinguish the two as separate
breeds, the name for the American version would
become the American Staffordshire Terrier.
The American Pit Bull Terrier is a
powerfully-muscled canine, built for incredible
strength despite a smaller stature and with
great agility in addition to sheer power.
Nicely proportionate, he is compact and fit with
good width and depth to the chest, strong
shoulders, good hips and a build that is
slightly rectangular. The head of the
American Pit Bull Terrier is a noble wedge with
small eyes of various colors, the ears either
cropped or left in the preferred natural state,
which is either a rose-styled ear or a
half-perk.
The Pit Bull Terrier can be found in any
color, though black-and-tan, liver colored, or
dogs with more than 80% white or more are
discouraged. Any eye color is permissible,
as well, though dogs with pink eyes or eyes of a
very light shade should also be considered
unfavorable.
Recently, a large number of "merle" Pit Bulls
have appeared on the scene. Highly
mistrusted by reputable breeders, this color is
considered to be the sign of an outcrossing to
other breeds, considering the merle coloration
has only appeared within recent years.
Potential buyers should be wary of breeders
touting "rare" colors - a Pit Bull should be
chosen for type and personality, first and
foremost. Color should be the least of
your concerns.
Much controversy has erupted over the
temperament and accused unpredictability of the
American Staffordshire Terrier or Pit Bull Dog.
On one hand, fans of the breed are quick to jump
to its defense, stating that the Pit Bull is a
very intelligent and loyal family pet, safe when
raised around children and providing good
protection for the home. Others, however,
argue that the Pit Bull Terrier's history of
being bred as a fighting animal makes him highly
unpredictable and that many individuals are very
unstable.
Questionable ethics and a rash of backyard
breeders makes it essential that potential
pet-owners take the time to familiarize
themselves with this breed and to ensure they
are well-educated, prior to purchasing a puppy.
While it's impossible to know whether or not
your puppy stems from a desirable blood line or
not, one can still start to determine whether or
not a breeder is responsible by interviewing
them, visiting them to see the sire and dam of
the puppies, as well as the surroundings and to
ask questions regarding their breeding and
rearing practices. Dogs from questionable
surroundings should not be purchased under any
condition. While any dog can prove
aggressive and undesirable, the sheer power and
keen intelligence of the American Pit Bull
Terrier can make him dangerous when angered,
abused or injured.
Aggressive individuals or dogs that seem
particularly timid, skittish, or hyper should be
avoided at all costs.
The Pit Bull is a very agile and athletic dog
of extremely high intelligence.
Consequently, he needs his fair share of
exercise, not only to prevent this compact and
muscular canine from getting obese, but also to
stave off destructive behaviorisms, such as
scratching and chewing. At the very least,
he should be taken for several brisk walks per
day, though a fenced-in yard or trip to dog park
is preferable, particularly if you have a
younger canine, with more energy to burn.
Due to his high intelligence and athletic
ability, the American Pit Bull Terrier does very
well in agility courses, provided you can
convince this sometimes stubborn breed that this
is something enjoyable that they want to do.
Obedience courses can also prove a welcome way
to get out and move around a bit, as well as
helping to ensure that your dog develops
essential socialization skills with both people
and other canines.
The American Pit Bull Terrier requires little
special treatment when it comes to grooming.
A bi-weekly or monthly bath will suit him well,
and a simple brushing with a stiff bristled
brush will help to remove any dead hair or
dander, as well as giving his coat a glossy
sheen. This can be done once a week, which
gives you and your dog essential hands-on time
and will help you to observe him for any sign of
potential problems.
The ears of the Pit Bull should be monitored
for any sign of redness or foul odor.
Being that they are a fold-ear breed, careful
examination should be done on a weekly basis and
the outer edges of the ear can be cleaned and
maintained with a cotton swab or Q-tip. It
is essential that you do not put the swab down
into your dog's ear canal, however, for doing so
can not only cause him great discomfort, but can
also affect his hearing.
Nails should be neatly trimmed on a regular
basis and your dog's teeth should be observed
regularly for any sign of dental problems.
The American Pit Bull Terrier can be a very
easy individual to train, provided they believe
that they need training. Notoriously
stubborn and keenly intelligent, these dogs seem
to have a will of their own and react adversely
to a strong hand. Persistence is essential
when dealing with the Pit Bull (if you break
routine and let him get away with something,
rest assured that he will make the most of the
opportunity). Positive reinforcement and
regular routines are essential to the training
of an American Pit Bull.
Obedience training is essential for your
American Staffordshire Terrier, not only to
teach him basic commands, but also to promote
good socialization with other people and
animals.
Like any breed of dog, the American Pit Bull
Terrier is subject to a variety of health
concerns. Your best bet is, when deciding to
choose a new American Pit Bull Terrier puppy,
check around with several breeders and ask about
the various health issues that can affect these
beautiful little dogs. A reputable breeder
should be well-versed in the health concerns and
should be able to give you more details, as well
as showing you the sire and dam of your
potential puppy.
Generally, the American Pit Bull Terrier is a
very hardy and robust dog, with very few health
concerns. Dogs with light color or
odd-colored (two different colored) eyes are
occasionally prone to vision problems, such as
night blindness, and a rash of unethical
breeding has seen an number of blue pit bulls
with increased skin problems as of late though,
on the whole, the most common issues seen in the
breed are hip and elbow displasia.
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The American Pit Bull Terrier is a
wonderfully intelligent dog. Fans of the
breed are quick to jump to their defense and
speak highly of the dog's loyalty and how good
he can be with children and other animals.
The truth of the matter, however, is that owning
an American Pit Bull Terrier requires a great
deal of responsibility. With American on
alert and news reports of dog attacks keeping
them in the public eye, parts of the general
public tend to see the Pit Bull as a danger or
menace to society - dog fighting rings and
unethical breeders only add to this suspicion
and have led to breed legislature in many areas.
If you do consider a Pit Bull, realize that you
will be an ambassador for the breed.
Due to the sheer strength of the Pit Bull,
they are not advised as a family pet for
inexperienced dog owners. While not all
Pit Bulls are aggressive and some individuals
are wonderful with children, patience can run
short when skin is pinched, tails are pulled or
ears are twisted. The Pit Bull is also a
very energetic and playful individual who can
knock down small children, even when he has the
best intentions at heart. Additionally,
the American Pit Bull Terrier has a naturally
aggressive bloodline, which can make them
ill-suited for homes with cats or other canines,
regardless of sex.
There are a wealth of resources online that can help you learn
more about the American Pit Bull Terrier dog breed. We've compiled a
list of Pitbull Terrier information sites to assist you in quickly
locating quality information about the American Pit Bull Terrier dog
breed, while avoiding the "garbage" sites that are nothing more than
poor attempts to capitalize on the popularity of dog breeds in
general. If you know of a American Pit Bull Terrier information site
that offers unique, quality information and photos of the American
Pit Bull Terrier breed, please contact us with the URL and a brief
description so that our editors can consider it for inclusion in our
list below.
American Pit Bull Terriers are a very photogenic dog breed. By
looking at Pitbull Terrier pictures, you can usually gain more
insight into what these dogs and puppies are like as a breed, and
this can help you decide if you really want to become a American Pit
Bull Terrier owner. The following sites below offer pictures of
American Pit Bull Terrier dogs, American Pit Bull Terrier puppy
photos, funny American Pit Bull Terrier photos and more. Enjoy!
Now that you have decided that the American Pit Bull Terrier is
the right breed for you, it's time to start the process of finding a
responsible Pitbull Terrier breeder from which to buy a healthy,
well-socialized puppy. Not all breeders are alike; there are good
breeders - and bad breeders. Don't be in a hurry to buy the first
American Pit Bull Terrier puppy you find at the cheapest price
available! To buy a puppy from a responsible American Pit Bull
Terrier breeder, you may need to pay more and wait longer. The
additional money and waiting time will be well worth it. Buy a puppy
in haste from a newspaper ad, pet store or "backyard breeder", and
you'll likely also purchase a great deal of additional expense and
heartache, since you will likely end up falling in love with a puppy
with health and behavioral problems that will likely need special
care, plenty of veterinary visits, regular medication - or even
euthanasia. But do your homework and find a responsible, caring
American Pit Bull Terrier breeder who home-raises their puppies with
love, screens their breeding dogs for health problems, offers a
health guarantee and post sale support, and who genuinely loves the
Pitbull Terrier breed and is in it for the love of the breed, rather
than profit, and you can be fairly well assured of getting a
healthy, happy, long lived and affectionate family companion that
will provide you and your family with many years of joy, laughter
and companionship.
Further information about choosing a responsible breeder...
Here are a few breeder directory sites that we recommend. These
sites attempt to screen advertisers to ensure that the breeders
listed are responsible and sell healthy, home-raised American Pit
Bull Terrier puppies to carefully screened buyers. There are many,
many sites now online that advertise dog breeders - many are a Mecca
for puppy mills and backyard breeders. We recommend that you steer
clear of these resources in favor of sites that are more selective
in the breeders whom they allow to advertise.
We Highly Recommend:
American Pit Bull Terrier clubs and rescues web sites can help
you learn even more about the American Pit Bull Terrier dog breed,
help you locate a responsible American Pit Bull Terrier breeder, or
help you find a American Pit Bull Terrier dog or puppy in need of a
second chance for a loving, forever home. We've compiled the
following list of American Pit Bull Terrier clubs and American Pit
Bull Terrier rescues web sites for your convenience:
Choosing a name for your American Pit Bull Terrier puppy can be a
daunting task! There are so many names to choose from that it can
take a lot of thought and research to find just the right name for
your Pitbull Terrier. Usually, it's best to get to know your puppy
for a few days or weeks. Often your puppy's personality will help
you decide on just the right name to choose. Does he have a sense of
humor? A serious side? A goofy way of cocking his head to one side?
A strange love of cantaloupe? By observing your new American Pit
Bull Terrier puppy over the first days or weeks, you should at least
have a clue about what type of name you want to give. There are a
ton of dog names and pet names web sites on the internet. Some are
wonderful information resources, while others, unfortunately, are
just "garbage" sites set up with the sole purpose of cashing in on
visitor hits for this popular subject.
We recommend the following sites to assist you in choosing a name
for your new American Pit Bull Terrier puppy. These sites offer
inventive, unique, original and creative pet names suggestions that
have helped thousands of new puppy owners in selecting just the
right name for their new baby!
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