Last Updated on June 3, 2023 by Pets Feed
The American Pit Bull Terrier Terrier is one of the most popular dogs today. While it’s hard to imagine today due to the stigma it faces, the story of the Pit Bull begins on the farm like a watchdog for livestock. Subsequently, he became popular in dog fighting, an undesirable practice that seemed to distance him from his past as a nanny.
The pit bull does not have a certain behavior, the education and training it receives totally influence its adult stage, whether with a friendly, reserved or reactive temper. For this reason, in this ‘ Pets Feed ‘ breed sheet, we will explain everything you need to know about this beautiful dog.
In addition to the character of the pit bull, we will also review its physical characteristics, history and the care that is essential to it and that must be taken into account if we are considering adopting one. Read on and find out all about the American Pit Bull Terrier.
| Breed name | American Pit Bull Terrier |
| Country of origin | Great Britain |
| Weight | 13 – 27 kg |
| Height (at the withers) | 33 – 53 cm |
| Life expectancy | 10 – 14 years |
| Body | Medium |
Photos of the American Pit Bull Terrier
Physical characteristics
The American Pit Bull Terrier is a robust medium -sized dog with a short coat. Athletic and in shape, with an attentive look and a brilliant coat, it combines strength, power and confidence, while remaining agile and graceful.
Adult males weigh 16 to 27 kg with a tourist height of 46 to 53 cm. The females weigh 14 to 23 kg and 43 to 51 cm
Distinctive features
- Head: the head is large and wide. The skull is large, flat, wide between the ears. The muzzle narrows from the foot to the nose.
- Jaws: scissors bite. The jaws are strong. Average, white teeth.
- Ears: the ears are tied high, sometimes cut.
- Eyes: Eyes are well spread, placed low on the skull. Eye color can be anything.
- Body: the chest is deep. The ribs are convex. The back is short but strong. The belly is well proportioned.
- Members: members are placed in parallel with each other. The hocks are worn quite low. The thighs are long and muscular. The legs are gathered in a ball, have strong claws and dense pads.
- Pelage: the coat is short, near the skin. The coat is shiny, hard to the touch. The sub-point is missing. The color can be anything.
Character and behavior
He is a super fighter – he is courageous, strong, reliable, but at the same time soft and affectionate towards those who are dear to him. The small size and the strong physique give a real hunter, and dexterity and grace – a real friend with whom it is always a pleasure to play.
Aggressiveness towards humans is not characteristic of this breed, so they are excellent companions for families. Pit bulls are often eager to please and enthusiastic, and have a particularly warm affinity for children.
With children
The American Pit bull Terriers get along well with the children, such a dog will become your child’s best friend. It is important to teach children to treat the dog with respect, not to draw their tail or the muzzle, not to touch his eyes.
With other animals
This dog makes the same, if treated with aggression, we can expect an answer. The American Pit bull Terriers are not good with cats or other dogs, they can only live together if they grew up together.
Health
If the pet is an American Pit Bull Terrier, the owner should be aware of what health problems most often occur in this breed. In general terms, pit bulls are considered tough animals with strong immune defenses, but they are also prone to the following diseases:
- Hypothyroidism is an overweight problem with the thyroid gland. Most often, middle-aged dogs are affected. This condition requires daily medication prescribed by your veterinarian.
- Allergy – causes severe itching. It can be both a food and an allergic reaction to environmental irritants (plants, skin parasites, dust).
- Cardiovascular disease is often a congenital defect, but other heart diseases do occur.
- Dysplasia – accompanied by severe pain and deformation of the joints. The more severe the degree of the disease, the stronger the pain. At the last stage, immobilization is possible, the harbinger of which is lameness.
Life expectancy
With appropriate care, Pit bull can live from 10 to 14 years old.
Care
Since they are short-haired dogs, you won’t have any care issues in this regard. Be sure to monitor the cleanliness of the ears and eyes, cut the claws in time and bathe the animal at least once a month.
Exercise
The American Pit Bull Terrier has a high activity level, so the Pit Bull needs at least two walks a day of at least 3/4 of an hour. Combining walks with exercise is a good practice to strengthen muscles and relax inside the house. Its energy levels are high and we need to be aware of this once we adopt it.
Fun facts
- The American Pit Bull Terrieris not a good choice for people who can give them little or no attention.
- This dog must be trained and socialized when he is young to overcome the tendencies of the breed to stubbornness and autonomy, which combined with his strength can make him difficult to manage if he has not learned that you are the manager.
- The Pit Bull must be kept on a leash in public to avoid aggression against other dogs. It is not a good idea to let these dogs run free in dog parks. If he may not be fighting, he will never back down and he is fighting until the end.
- If this dog is not properly socialized as a puppy, he can become aggressive towards other dogs.
- Breed-specific legislation almost always includes this breed. Take into account the rules in force in your region and in neighboring regions if you are traveling with your dog.
- The American Pit Bull Terrierhas a great need to chew and powerful jaws allow to handle inexpensive or fragile toys quickly. Only give strong, hard toys that cannot be chewed or swallowed.
- The Pit Bull is best suited for owners who can offer firm, fair training and gentle, consistent discipline.
- In a fight, the American Pit Bull Terrier never retreats and fights to his last breath.
- Pit bull has powerful jaws, because of this, he very often has a need to chew something. It is necessary to provide the pet with durable toys, otherwise it will chew on things, furniture …
- Many countries have imposed a ban on the maintenance and import of American Pit Bull Terriers into the territory of the state.
History of the breed
Today’s Pit Bulls have their origins in 19th century Britain, but their history dates back to the time of the Roman Empire. This breed comes from molded fighting dogs, originally used to fight bulls and bears. With the banning of these fights in England, fans of these “sports” began to breed lighter dogs to make them fight. Terrier dogs seem to have been used, thus obtaining greater agility without losing combativeness.
The American Kennel Club (AKC) recognized the American Pit Bull Terrier at one point, but was later removed from its records because it did not want the bad press that a fighting breed caused. Thus, American film buffs developed a new breed from the pit bull of that time, the American staffordshire terrier.
There is a common misconception in modern society that the Pit Bull is a type of dog and not a breed of dog, but in reality, the Pit Bull is a breed with all the necessary powers. Not only is it a set of dogs with similar hereditary characteristics, but there is a defined standard for the breed.
The fact that the American Kennel Club and many other canine organizations do not agree to register the American Pit Bull Terrier does not mean that it is not a breed. It is simply a breed that is not recognized by these institutions, but by other institutions such as the United Kennel Club.
Currently, the American Pit Bull Terrier is recognized by certain film enthusiasts, such as the United Kennel Club and the American Dog Breeders Association, but it is not recognized by the Fédération cynologique internationale (FCI) or the AKC. However, some entities affiliated to the FCI recognize the breed, as is the case with the Argentine Cynological Federation.
The breed is currently considered one of the potentially dangerous dog breeds, but it remains one of the most popular in the world.
