Terrible animals with a touching look appeared in our lives thanks to the efforts of breeders. The American Pit Bull Terrier was bred specifically to compete in dog fights.
The dog has endurance, a powerful jaw, and a low sensitivity threshold. He has a different idea of pity and the correctness of actions.
In some countries of the world, such as Great Britain or Spain, the breeding of four-legged fighters is strictly limited and carried out under government control.
In Germany, Denmark and some other countries, the American Pit Bull Terrier is prohibited.
Origin story
At the end of the nineteenth century , when the baiting of large wild animals by dogs was officially prohibited, humanity was left without its favorite pastime and could not come to terms with it.
The cruel spectacle was replaced by a no less cruel spectacle, in which two fighting dogs performed in the ring. To create the ideal fighter, it was necessary to take the grip and pressure of a bulldog and the lightning speed of a terrier.
Pit bulls can be considered a more decorative version of the American Staffordshire Terrier.
As for aggression towards a person, this can really be achieved. It’s not for nothing that fighting dogs are prohibited in some civilized countries of the world. But we are talking specifically about upbringing; puppies do not have innate aggression. That is why in the USA, after the ban on dog fighting, strict monitoring was carried out over the reproduction and training of fighting breeds. Their numbers should have been reduced so that those left idle, prepared for merciless animal fights, would not be used as weapons against people .
The public was actively involved for this purpose. The media published articles about pit bulls attacking a person and his aggressive behavior. Thus, demand was reduced and numbers were reduced.
For more than a century, professional breeders carefully checked born puppies for aggressiveness. If he showed aggression to a greater extent than is allowed by the norms, then he was destroyed.
The man struggled with the fighting qualities of the creature he himself had created. Today, breeders claim that with proper upbringing, their pets pose no danger at all. They are loyal to their owner and can even be good nannies for children. But we should not forget that trusting an animal will be a person’s mistake, but not the beast’s misconduct.
Today, the talents of American fighters are used for the benefit of people. They serve in law enforcement agencies of many countries around the world, including the USA, CIS countries and Russia. They have an excellent sense of smell and are able to accurately determine the location of drugs.
Pit bull, or American pit bull terrier, killer dog or devoted child?
Recently, another wave of opinions has risen against fighting dogs and against the pit bull breed in the first place. The history of this pure breed is majestic, the media and strange people only know how to spread false information, thanks to which our smaller brothers have become victims of PR. This article is dedicated to the most loyal and affectionate dogs - Pit bulls
The pit bull is too smart an animal to use human force.
The following circumstances prompted me to write this article: the boundless courage of dogs of this breed and their exceptional devotion to man, which has been proven in practice for many centuries; the rumor that accompanies this dog breed: many unscrupulous people who breed pit bulls used it as a counter-advertising to sell their “champion dogs and their offspring.” I personally remind all other opponents of this breed: sooner or later it will be clear that a pit bull, with normal upbringing and care from an intelligent owner, is absolutely safe for people and dogs!!!
Every person experiences a fear of loneliness in their life. It was this feeling that gave me the idea of getting a dog. Before this, I had only encountered cats in my life; the Yorkshire terrier was the most common. Having a useful habit of running in the morning, I watched with interest the picture of dogs faithfully running on the heels of their owners, among whom was a red pit bull. My boyfriend has been talking about a dog for a long time. And on the eve of my birthday, he gave me a small, affectionate and beautiful pit bull.
Of course, I raised her myself! =) At first, “a puppy is a puppy”: she slept on the sofa, there was always a lot of energy in her eyes, and a sea of affection in her behavior, but my surprise about this dog became limitless, whereas at 5 months she understood everything that they told her (place, wait, give, take). And no one taught her this. Having made sure that a pit bull can “play chess” if taught, training with her became much more interesting. Raising this dog has its own taboos: “This dog CANNOT BE BEATEN!!! She’s too smart for that, you can just bite her ear a little.” A pit bull is more than a dog: it waits like a monk, searches like a hunter, and loves like God.
As a result, Lyalya (nickname) has grown safely to the age of 1 year - and this is an ideal dog, smarter than only people. I have never seen kinder dogs, and I can say that only an insidious creature, such as a person, teaches them cruelty!
A little from the history of this breed: AMERICAN PIT BULL TERRIER (American Pit Bull Terrier, American Pit Bull, Pit Bull Terrier), a breed of working dogs. Pit bull terriers have a rich fighting past. The ancestors of the American Pit Bull Terrier are dogs of the bulldog and terrier type, successfully crossed with each other in old England. During the colonization of America, they found a new homeland there. Engravings from the 15th to 18th centuries show dogs engaging in the same type of dog fighting and hunting as modern American Staffordshire Terriers and Pit Bull Terriers. In the USA, the name “American Pit Bull Terrier” began to be used in stud books in 1898. The United Kennel Club recognizes it as an independent breed. The American Pit Bull Terrier is an agile, well-built dog with well-developed muscles. The Pit Bull has not lost its hunting instinct and is suitable for hunting small predators, birds and even wild boar. Famous for strength and fearlessness. In a number of countries, the distribution of pit bulls is subject to severe restrictions. They are banned in Sweden, in the UK they can only be bred with muzzles, and male dogs must be sterilized. The importation of pit bulls into a number of areas of the United States is prohibited. The specialization of this breed, created for fighting, cannot be ignored. This dog can become a good companion and family pet only in the hands of a very experienced dog breeder.
Concluding my first article, I would like to wish everyone loyal friends and understanding roommates.
Breed standard
There is an opinion that pit bulls do not have breed standards; they can look too different. But that's not true. The first and most important of them, which was already mentioned above, is the absence of an aggression gene . As for other important characteristics, they are established by the UKC parameters.
- APBT is home to the USA,
- the head is small, rectangular in shape, flattened on top and convex in the cheek area,
- the muzzle is wide, square in shape,
- The jaws are powerful and strong, the grip comes from a bulldog. Scissor bite,
- ears are allowed in their natural form or cropped,
- the neck is clearly defined, of medium thickness, powerful and muscular,
- almond-shaped, wide-set eyes
- The body is compact and muscular. The back is short. The chest is deep, but not wide. The stomach is taut. The tail is short in proportion to the proportions of the body. limbs are long and strong,
- The coat is short and close to the body. It feels hard to the touch. There is no undercoat. Absolutely any color is allowed.
Description of the breed
UKC standard dated 05/01/2017 “American pit bull terrier”, “Pitbull”. Group 3 "Terriers". Height 43-49 kg. Weight 20-30 kg.
The Pit Bull Terrier is a strong, robust dog with pronounced muscles. Power and athleticism are her main traits.
The Pitbull's playfulness is combined with strength and endurance.
Standard Exterior Features:
| HEAD | Square shape, wide forehead, straight nose with prominent open nostrils. |
| EYES | Almond-shaped, medium in size, widely spaced. The look is direct and purposeful. |
| EARS | Set on high. They can be cropped, or they can be left in their natural form - this does not affect the assessment. |
| TEETH | White, evenly spaced, forming a scissor bite. |
| NECK | Muscular, wide, medium length. |
| FRAME | Rectangular shape, sloping muscular sides, straight wide back. |
| LEGS | The limbs are of medium length and have a stable appearance. The length of the front leg (measured from the point of the elbow to the ground) is approximately half the height of the dog at the withers. |
| TAIL | Short, set low, thick at the base and tapering to a point. |
| WOOL | Quite dense and short. |
| COLOR | Any color is allowed with the exception of merle type color (uneven coloring of the coat in the form of darker and lighter areas of the same color). |
The merle color is defective and indicates the presence of abnormalities or diseases in the dog.
The breed description contains disqualifying characteristics:
- deafness;
- short tail;
- albinism;
- merle color;
- long hair;
- anger or excessive timidity;
- cryptorchidism.
Size and weight
The UKC standards do not specify parameters such as size and weight. But there are other systems in which it is customary to monitor the pet’s weight and growth literally month by month.
- immediately after birth, the scale should show from 250 to 500 grams,
- in the first month of life – from 2 to 4 kilograms,
- in the second month – standard from 6 to 9 kg. Height – from 25 to 30 cm,
- at three months the weight should be no more than fourteen kg. Height increases to 30-36 cm,
- at four months the weight can already be twenty kg, and the height reaches forty-four cm,
- at five months, the permissible weight is twenty-five kg, and the maximum height approaches forty-six centimeters,
- a six-month-old puppy weighs from nineteen to twenty-eight kg. Height can vary from 38 to 48 cm,
- at nine months, growth is from 42 to 50, and from 28 to 46 kilograms.
By the year the dog has grown to the level at which it will most likely stop. In rare cases, a dog can grow another couple of centimeters by the age of one and a half years. The maximum height of an adult is fifty centimeters. The maximum weight for an adult is set at forty kilograms.
How long does a dog live?
American pit bulls are naturally in good health, but the quality of life and further condition of the pet depends on the care and attitude of the owner. On average, the lifespan of pit bulls is thirteen to fifteen years .
When there were battles in the arenas, the dog died either from overwork or from injuries. Nowadays, under good conditions, pitas can live three years longer than expected. In order not to cause any disease, do not forget to undergo preventive examinations with a veterinarian twice a year.
Character and abilities
This is a super fighter - he is brave, strong, reliable, but at the same time soft and affectionate towards those who are dear to him. Small size and strong build reveal a true hunter, and agility and grace mark a loyal friend with whom it is always a pleasure to play.
Aggression towards humans is not typical , so they are excellent companions for families. Pit bulls are often eager to please and overflowing with enthusiasm, and have a particularly warm relationship with children. These are excellent climbers - they are not stopped by obstacles, they can and are able to perform various tricks, they are agile and capable of success in agility.
Pit bull terriers are friendly, so they are not used as guard dogs.
The character of a pit bull is determined during upbringing and training; often the dog does not initially show aggression - this can be a cause for concern if mistakes are made in training.
The dog's temperament is quite stable ; it combines the spontaneity of a child and the prudence of an adult. An important characteristic of the pit bull breed is its pronounced intelligence , curiosity and desire to understand the world around it.
Dogs are quite independent, but loyal and try to please their owner, they are aware of their physical strength, but superiority over humans does not interest them. Aggression may manifest itself towards relatives. In case of danger, the pit bull will rush to protect the owner.
Attention! If improperly trained, a dog can be aggressive and extremely dangerous, so a novice dog breeder should not experiment; this breed is suitable for an experienced dog breeder.
A breed created for fighting, in our more humane times it is used for purposes that are far removed from violence and cruelty, for example as a bodyguard or participation in agility competitions. The American Pit Bull Terrier is an excellent hunter and hardy traveler. Their skills are often used by law enforcement agencies.
Pitbull in the movie "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood"
Pitbull clenching jaw
You've probably heard that once a pit bull's jaws are closed, no one will be able to open them. This information is nothing more than a horror story so that people are afraid of fighting breeds and do not strive to increase their number. You really should be afraid, especially if you come across an angry specimen. But as far as the peculiarities of the jaw structure are concerned, there are no secrets here.
Research by Dr. Eye Lehr Brisbin has shown that the jaw and jaw strength of pit bulls is the same as that of other dogs. True, teeth and bite make it clear that one bite can be enough to cause serious injury.
