American Pit Bull Terrier

While the Pit Bull is often maligned for its fearsome jaws and dog fighting history, Pit Bulls should be better known for their sweet, intelligent, outgoing and affectionate, people-oriented nature. Pit Bulls are fiercely loyal to their guardian and that is why, like all dogs, their disposition depends entirely on the owner.

While the American Pit Bull Terrier is recognized as a different breed from the American Staffordshire Terrier – one would be hard-pressed to find many differences outside of the American Pit Bull Terrier’s larger size.

American Pit Bull Personality
Fiercely loyal to owner
Exuberant and energetic but not hyper
Often need to be “top dog” with other dogs
Excellent sense of smell
People-oriented dog

American Pit Bull Terrier Size
50-80 pounds
18-22 inches at the withers (shoulders)

American Pit Bull Family & Home Life
Strong but sweet, does best with discipline mixed with love
Needs stimulus; walks, fetch, agility training, obedience classes
Known to be overly exuberant (“The Pit Bull Wiggle”) and could knock children over unintentionally
Would rather be with people than with other dogs
Natural guard dog due to their innate sense of loyalty

American Pit Bull Training & Exercise
Pit’s excel at training because they are both intelligent and extremely eager-to-please their owner
Excellent running partners due to their large, strong physique
Some pits (specifically rescued or adopted) are not good candidates for open exercise dog runs – unfortunately their possible fighting past combined with their need to be “top dog” can be dangerous with multiple dogs and personalities running about.
Similarly always keep Pit’s on a leash in public places

American Pit Bull Coat
Short, close, stiff to the touch, and glossy
White, black, tan, brindle or with patches are the common coat colors

American Pit Bull Care
Fine in apartments if given sufficient exercise
Due to thin coats they are better in milder temperatures or require a dog coat/sweater for colder weather
Average shedder; brush using a bristle brush and add some grooming oil to make coat shine

American Pit Bull Health
Strong, healthy breed
Like most big dogs they are prone to hip dysplasia or hereditary cataracts in old age
White pit bulls often have skin allergies

American Pit Bull Lifespan
12-14 years

American Pit Bull Terrier History
In the 1800′s Pit Bulls were brought over from England and Ireland as fighting dogs bred from bull-and-terrier crosses. The dogs bred were allowed to be dog aggressive but never to show aggression towards the owner and thus became known as a good companion or guard dogs. In 1936 the breed was recognized by the American Kennel Club. Pit bulls are have long been used for everything from police to farm to therapy work.

Sadly, due to the Pit Bull’s dark history of dog fighting often thugs will raise these dogs to either fight or as an aggressive guard dog. This has made the Pit Bull the most legislated-against dog in the world and the most common dog found in animal shelters. However as any proper Pit Bull owner will tell you, it is bad owners that are dangerous not the breed. Celebrities like Jessica Biel, Jon Stewart, Bernadette Peters and Rachael Ray are proud Pit owners.

American Pit Bull Terriers are also known as Pit Bull Terrier or American Pit Bull.

American Pit Bull Terrier Rescue
Please visit Pit Bull Rescue Central at www.pbrc.net to learn more about the multitude of rescued Pit Bulls that desperately need a home.

PHOTO: Kpo!:D