American Pit Bull Terrier

American Pit Bull Terrier Dog

The American Pit Bull Terrier (APBT) is a breed of dog in the terrier group, one of several breeds loosely classified as pit bulls. These dogs are known for their strength, loyalty, and â€œgamenessâ€ (or tenacity).

Ownership of APBTs is controversial, due to a well publicised series of dog attacks by this breed over the last few decades. These attacks have led to the ownership of pitbulls being restricted or banned in many parts of the world. Many owners of pitbulls claim that well-bred pitbulls are not human aggressive, and suggest that the problem is due to the breed’s appeal to irresponsible segments of society who may breed or train the dogs to guard and fight.

American Pit Bull Terriers are often associated with the urban and hip hop culture, and many young (predominantly male) people purchase them on the grounds of wanting a ‘tough dog’, who usually ends up maltrained and in poor health.

The APBT is not recognised by the American Kennel Club, unlike its close cousins the the American Staffordshire Terrier and Staffordshire Bull Terrier. It is recognised by the UKC.

American Pit Bull Terrier Appearance

The American Pit Bull Terrier is the midsized breed of the three generally referred to as pit bulls (see also American Staffordshire Terrier (AST) and Staffordshire Bull Terrier (SBT)). Males should weigh 35 to 65 pounds (16 to 29 kg), females 30 to 60 pounds (16 to 27 kg), with height being proportional. The coat is short, single layered, and stiff but glossy. Any color is accepted and dogs may either have patches or be solid. All eye colors are accepted except blue. Ears are rose or semipricked, and may be cropped, although uncropped is preferred. The tail is short and tapering. The body is solidly built and muscular, with a wide chest. The head is wedge shaped with some slight forehead wrinkles.

Confusion Among Pit Bull Breeds

The three â€œpit bullâ€ breeds all have nearly identical standards, with only the acceptable sizes and colors varying. Also, the AST and the APBT have the same heritage. Many people still consider them to be simply different types of the same breed. Dogs registered with the UKC as an APBT are often dual registered with the AKC as an AST. Adding to the muddle is the fact that many people refer to any dog of these breeds, as well as American Bulldogs and sometimes Bull Terriers, as â€œpit bulls.â€

American Pit Bull Terrier Temperament and/or Characteristics

American Pit Bull Terriers can be very sweet, curious, intelligent, and clownish. They are noted for their outgoing, affectionate disposition and their fondness for people, and when raised with a firm but fair hand can make a wonderful family pet. ABPTs can also be stubborn, pushy and prone to display aggression towards other dogs. They are not a good choice of dog for a novice dog owner.

The American Temperament Test Society, Inc. breed statistics as of December 2004 show an 83.4% passing rate for the APBT as compared to an 81% overall pass rate for the Golden Retriever, showing that many of these dogs have stable and dependable temperaments. However, a firm, even hand and early obedience training are musts for this breed. Inexperienced owners tend to find them to be too much to handle – APBTs generally have a lot of energy and high prey drive; they need exercise and stimulation in order to channel that energy properly and not become frustrated and destructive.

American Pit Bull Terriers often display some level of dog aggression, especially towards strange dogs of the same sex or level of assertiveness. Early socialization and good training can mean that many individuals of the breed never display this trait. However, it must be remembered that this breed was traditionally developed for dog fighting purposes, and even pitbulls that were previously sociable may develop dog aggression as they mature. A responsible pitbull owner does not let their pitbull interact with strange dogs unsupervised, and knows how to break up a dog fight.

APBTs were never bred for human aggression or guarding behaviour, and stable examples of the breed are generally not suitable as guard dogs. It is important that APBTs who display any sign of human aggression are not bred from, in order to preserve the stable and friendly nature of the breed.

When selecting an American Pit Bull Terrier puppy, it is paramount to find a breeder who selects puppies for their good temperament and not for aggressive tendencies towards other dogs or towards humans. A good breeder should know the UKC standard, and should both health test and temperament test their breeding stock. A breeder who boasts about their dogs’ “guard dog” skills or “protective” behaviour is a giveaway that their dogs are bred for improper human aggression. It is also a good idea for prospective pitbull owners to research the breeder, ask for references and ask to see their facilities and other dogs they have raised. It is also a good policy for owners to have their dog microchipped where possible as this breed is often stolen in and near urban areas for ill uses.

Adult pitbulls are frequently also available from animal shelters. Reputable shelters will temperament test their dogs before adoption, so that only dogs with stable temperaments are available for rehoming. The advantage of obtaining an adult dog from a shelter is that its temperament is already known, and a dog with low dog aggression or low prey drive can be selected if desired.

As athletic dogs, American Pit Bull Terriers excel in many activities, including weight pulling, search and rescue, dog agility trials, and can even do well in some advanced obedience training. In the United States they have been used as narcotics detection police dogs and Search and Rescue dogs because of their tenacity, high energy drive, and versatility.

American Pit Bull Terrier History

Originally bred from English Bulldogs and other breeds brought to America from England and Ireland in the 1700s, they were used as working dogs on farms, but also for bullbaiting and dog fighting. When bred for fighting, the breeder would look for strength, gameness, and lack of aggression towards people. Any fighting dog that showed aggression towards its owner or handler would be culled on the spot. This created a line of strong dogs that, while being dog aggressive, would not turn on their owners. In the late 1800s to early 1900s, two clubs were formed for the specific purpose of registering American Pit Bull Terriers: the United Kennel Club and the American Dog Breeder’s Association. After dog fighting was made illegal in the United States, many dog owners wanted to legitimize the breed and distance it from its fighting roots. The name “Staffordshire Terrier” was adopted by some owners and was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1936. Later, the word “American” was added to reduce confusion with its smaller cousin, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier. Not all breeders, however, agreed with the standard adopted by the AKC, and continued to use the name APBT for their lines. Much confusion still remains in regards to the APBT, the AST, and the SBT.

Once an extremely popular family dog in the United States, the American Pit Bull Terrier’s popularity began to decline in the United States following World War II in favor of other breeds. Though still largely kept by families in its homeland, it has come under fire in the past thirty years for its association with inner city crime and drugs. Many people of ill repute mistakenly breed this dog for human aggression; exploit its incredible willingness to please its master by teaching it to aggressively guard property against humans; or leave it to roam the streets where it may get into fights with other dogs. Unfortunately, this breed is also often the most common target of dog abuse in urban areas. Outside of dog fighting and guarding a drug dealer’s property, the APBT is often beaten, starved, burned, and mistreated to make it particularly aggressive. After the owner no longer has any use for the dog (that is, after it loses a fight), the dog is left for dead or turned loose to find its way into animal control services, where it most likely will need to be destroyed. A large percentage of dogs euthanised in New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles are pit bull type breeds.

In jurisdictions where breed-specific legislation threatens ownership of American Pit Bull Terriers, owners are often advised by their peers to refer to their Pit Bulls and Pit bull crosses as ‘Staffys’ or ‘Amstaffs’, which may be exempt from such regulations. Purists among American Staffordshire owners find this unethical, and resent it, perhaps fearing that the ultimate result of the subterfuge will be restrictions on their breed as well.

In the United Kingdom, the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 prohibits the sale or breeding of “any dog of the type known as pit bull terrier”. Some jurisdictions in the Australian states of Queensland, New South Wales, and the United States have similar breed-specific legislation.

More Information About American Pit Bull Terriers

For more information about American Pit Bull Terriers, see the American Pit Bull Terrier Dog Guide.