Dog
American Pit Bull Terrier Champions
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Pronunciation:
uh-mer-i-kuhn pit bool ter-ee-er
Breed Description:
The American Pitbull Terrier breed of dog is a medium sized breed of dog that is known for their sturdy and muscular appearance. They should have a very thick chest, muscular build and a slightly longer body than it is tall. The dog should be stocky in appearance but should never look fat. In addition, they should be a very agile dog with a very large, square head and noticeably strong jaws. The ears should hang forward and are usually cropped short. The tail should be long and taper to a point.
The coat of the American Pitbull Terrier should be short and thick. It should cover the dog completely and should be hard in texture and shiny. The American Pitbull Terrier can be found in any color or color pattern including red, tan, blue, black, white, brindle, black and white, white and tan, and brindle and white.
Temperament:
The American Pitbull Terrier breed of dog is an affectionate and loving breed that can be a well-rounded family dog. They are generally very people oriented and thrive when they can be with their owners. They are very intelligent dogs that can learn quickly. In addition, they are usually eager to please their owners as long as they have strong owners who can set clear and consistent rules. This is not a breed for new or inexperienced dog owners. The breed can do very well with children and is usually very patient and gentle with them. In addition, the American Pitbull Terrier can do well with other animals and with proper socialization, they can do well with other dogs. The breed is known for being very courageous and tend to be suspicious of strangers. They will protect their family with their own life and can make an excellent guard dog.
Height:
The average height of an American Pitbull Terrier is between 18 to 22 inches.
Weight:
The average weight of an American Pitbull Terrier is between 35 to 55 pounds, however, weight can vary significantly and some American Pitbull Terriers have weighed as much as 110 pounds and as little as 22 pounds.
Health Problems:
The American Pitbull Terrier breed of dog is considered to be a healthy breed, however, they do suffer from several serious health problems including aortic stenosis, heart murmurs, hip dysplasia, allergies, hypothyroidism and cataracts.
Living Conditions:
The American Pitbull Terrier breed of dog can live anywhere, including apartments if they are properly exercised. They should not live outdoors since they can suffer from aggression problems if they are left on their own too much.
Exercise:
The American Pitbull Terrier breed of dog is an active breed and they really do need a lot of exercise. Expect to give them about 60 minutes of exercise each day or about three very long walks. They make excellent jogging companions.
Life Expectancy:
12 to 15 years
Grooming:
The American Pitbull Terrier breed of dog is a very easy breed to groom and they require little to no maintenance to keep their coats healthy. On average, you should expect to brush your dog on a weekly basis to remove dead hairs and dirt. A wipe down with a damp cloth will keep them clean and they should only be bathed when it is absolutely necessary. Ears should be cleaned on a regular basis and nails should be clipped once or twice a week.
Origin:
The American Pitbull Terrier breed of dog actually shares the same history as the American Staffordshire Terrier; and while they are considered to be the same breed, many changes have occurred to separate them. Originally, the Pitbull Terrier was developed in England by crossing the English Bulldog to a number of terrier breeds in an effort to create a better fighting dog. The breed was originally used for both bull-baiting and dog fighting and was known as the Staffordshire Bull Terrier.
When the breed was imported not the United States in the mid to late 1800's, some changes were made to make the Staffordshire Bull Terrier bigger, stronger and imposing with a larger head. The breed became commonly known as a Pitdog or Pitbull Terrier and was a popular fighting breed during the late 1800's, however, when fighting was banned in 1900, the breed faced extinction. It was during the early 1900's that the American Pitbull Terrier began to be known as a separate breed from the American Staffordshire Terrier. The latter becoming the accepted show breed and the American Pitbull Terrier becoming the fighting breed. Today, efforts have been made to make the American Pitbull Terrier a more versatile family pet. Comments
The standards for all the breeds accepted to the AKC are used here for breed information, and those not part of the AKC are resourced from FCI standard information, where it is written and coded into the club rules for those breeds.
