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American Pit Bull Terrier

Bulldog Breeds

The Bulldog

 

American Pit Bull Terrier

The(APBT) is a breed of dog in the terrier group, one of several breeds loosely classified as pit bulls. Dogs of this breed are known for their strength, loyalty, and tenacity.

Ownership of APBTs is controversial, due to publicized media stories of dogs considered pit bulls. This has led to the ownership of APBTs and "pit bulls" in general being restricted or banned in many parts of the world. Owners of APBTs claim that well-bred APBTs are not aggressive toward humans, and suggest that the problem is due to the breed's appeal to irresponsible segments of society who do not know how to breed or train the dogs. APBT owners are also concerned that many of the dog attacks attributed to "pit bulls" are not perpetrated by actual registered American Pit Bull Terriers, but merely by poorly bred dogs that "look like" APBTs.

APBT and APBT-looking dogs are often associated with the urban and gang culture, and many young, predominantly male, people purchase them on the grounds of wanting a 'tough dog.' Dogs of any breed acquired for such purposes often end up maltrained, misused and in poor health.

The APBT is not recognized by the American Kennel Club, unlike the closely related breeds the American Staffordshire Terrier and Staffordshire Bull Terrier. It is, however, recognized by the United Kennel Club.

The American Pit Bull Terrier is also more favorably recognized by the American Pit Bull Registry

American Pit Bull Terrier

The APBT 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, save merle, 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; the muzzle is medium sized with the teeth forming a scissors bite. The nose is preferably black, but red-nosed pit bulls are not uncommon. The life expectancy of this breed is approximately twelve years.

In 2005, Dr. Brady Barr of the National Geographic measured the bite forces of many different animals, including domestic dogs for the documentary Dangerous Encounters: Bite Force. A Pit Bull named Aiden was measured at having a bite of 130-235 pounds.

Confusion among Pit Bull breeds:The three “pit bull” 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 “pit bulls.” There are actually 20+ breeds that can easily be mistaken for a pit bull.

American Pitbulls and the Law

American Pitbulls are sometimes used for dog fights. Although dog fighting is illegal in the United States and in most countries, it is still practiced, and is sometimes accompanied by gambling. Participating in dog fighting is a felony in most states, and United States federal law prohibits interstate transport of dogs for fighting purposes [1].

Most people who own these breeds direct their dogs' plentiful energy toward nonviolent athletic tasks. Some people train their pit bulls for dog agility. Others involve their pit bulls in weight pulling competitions, obedience competitions or schutzhund. The pit bull often excels at these sports. Out of the 25 dogs who have earned UKC "superdog" status (by gaining championship titles in conformation, obedience, agility, and weightpull), fourteen have been pit bulls.

American Pitbulls are increasingly being prevented from participating in these events, due to the introduction of local legislation requiring the breed to be muzzled and on leash at all times when in public — with no exceptions for dog sports or obedience competitions.

This breed is also often the most common target of dog abuse in urban areas. Outside of dog fighting and guarding property, the APBTs have been found beaten, starved, burned, mutilated, and mistreated to make them particularly aggressive. After the owner no longer has any use for the dog, the dog is left for dead, turned loose to die, or finds its way into animal control services, where it will most likely have to be destroyed. A large percentage of dogs euthanized in New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles are pit bull type breeds, despite the fact that in all three cities this particular instance of animal cruelty is a serious felony.

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, Pit Bull crosses, or even "pit bull looking" dogs as 'Staffys' or 'Amstaffs', which may be exempt from such regulations. Purists among American Staffordshire and Staffordshire Bull Terrier 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, varying from a total ban on ownership to muzzling in public.

The United Kennel Club was founded with an American Pit Bull Terrier. It was also the first registry to recognize them.

The American Pit Bull Terrier Club Of Australia Inc.

The American Pit Bull Terrier Club Of Australia Inc. condemns the Victorian State Government announcement of new attacks on the American Pit Bull Terrier breed and it’s owners. Club President Colin Muir said today that he was “appalled by the audacity of a Government elected twice on the promise of open, honest and accountable government yet the Bracks Government has not seen fit to consult with the key stakeholders in this issue – owners of the breed. This is the second time this government has legislated against this breed and both times they have done it by stealth. This is of particular concern when you consider the governments own data shows these measures are without basis. Victorian figures show less than 50 attacks by American Pit Bull Terriers from more that 3200 from all breeds or around 1.5 %. This is nothing more than a con on community expectations of a reduction in dog attacks. The Government is attempting to create a perception that they are addressing the problem of dog attacks, when in fact they are doing nothing that will cause a reduction. Mr. Muir says that legislation aimed at a particular breed of dog does nothing to tackle the problem of attacking dogs. It punishes responsible owners with good dogs. Irresponsible owners with offending dogs just simply change breeds or ignore laws anyway. Breeds of dog don’t bite people, individual dogs of all breeds do. Until we have a legal framework that recognises this, people will continue to be bitten while resources are continually waisted on enforcing laws on one small section of the dog owning community. Similar legislation in introduced in Australia and Internationally has failed to reduce dog attacks and come at a huge administrative and legal cost. Other initiatives that have resulted in huge reductions in attacks are being ignored. This is much more an issue of good governance than it is about dog attacks says Muir, If any government is serious about eliminating dog attacks they simply have to target laws that tackle irresponsible ownership irrespective of breed – coupled with proper enforcement and education with the appropriate resources. Colin Muir can be contacted on 0425 753 755.

American Pit Bull Terrier

Other names: Pit Bull Terrier, American Pit Bull, Yankee Terrier, APBT.

HEALTH CONCERNS:Possible hip dysplasia.

American Pit Bull Terrier

The American Pit Bull Terrier (APBT) is a descendent of the original English bull-baiting Bulldog and has historically been bred with working/performance goals in mind. The challenge of describing the American Pit Bull Terrier inevitably invites a long sequence of superlatives. The APBT is a supremely athletic, highly versatile, adaptive, gushingly affectionate, eager-to-please, all-around family dog. In courage, resolve, indefatigableness, indifference to pain, and stubborn perseverance in overcoming any challenge, the APBT has no equal in the canine world. Although the APBT was once used as a national symbol of courage and pride, the breed is largely misunderstood today.

Even though the APBT has historically been bred to excel in combat with other dogs, a well-bred APBT has a rock-steady temperament and, contrary to popular belief, is NOT inherently aggressive towards humans. However, as adults, some APBTs may show aggression towards other dogs. This fact, along with the APBT's strength and determination, should be taken into account when considering if the APBT is the right breed for you. As with any companion dog, socialization and consistent fair-minded training is a must from a very early age.

Although some APBTs may be suspicious of strangers, as most dogs are, and will protect loved ones if necessary, in general they do not excel in protection/guard work. If your main reason for getting a dog is for protection/guard work, perhaps a Rottweiler, German Shephard, or a Doberman Pinscher would suit you better. Or, if you really like the bulldog phenotype, look into an American Bulldog.

There are several types of dogs that are commonly called "Pit Bulls." Primarly, these are the American Pit Bull Terrier, the American Staffordshire Terrier (AST), and the Staffordshire Bull Terrier (SBT). All three of these dogs share common ancestry but have been subsequently bred emphasizing different breeding criteria. Due to this divergence, some people feel that they are now different breeds. Others choose to view them as different "strains" of the same breed. Neither view is wrong, as it comes down to how one defines what a "breed" is. This FAQ is primarily about the American Pit Bull Terrier, specifically those dogs of relatively recent game-bred ancestry. Some of the material may ring true for the AST and the SBT, but the authors are biased toward the APBT from performance-bred lines, and this bias will be clear throughout the FAQ.

History:

Among enthusiasts, the history of the APBT is as controversial as the breed itself is among the misled public. The breed's history is a recurrent subject of lively debate in the magazines devoted to the breed. In fact, this FAQ was hotly debated among the contributors before it reached its final form, and still everyone isn't 100% happy!Although the precise origin of the APBT is not known, we can reliably trace its roots back at least one hundred and fifty years or so [1] to England. During the late 18th and early 19th centuries the sport of bull-baiting was very much alive and dogs were bred to excel in this endeavor. The same type of dog was also used by hunters to catch game and by butchers and farmers to bring down unruly cattle. These dogs were called "bulldogs." Historically, the word "Bulldog" did not mean a specific breed of dog per se, but rather it was applied to descendants of the ancient Mastiff- type dogs that excelled in the task of bull-baiting. The "bulldogs" of yore were much different from, and should not be confused with, the loveable clowns of the show ring today. The old, performance-bred, working bulldog was closer in phenotype and spirit to the APBT and/or the modern American Bulldog. The use of the word "bulldog" applied to APBT's persists even today among APBT fanciers.When bull-baiting was outlawed in England in 1835 the sport of matching two dogs against one another in combat rose in popularity to fill the void. One point of contention about the history of the APBT is whether these pit fighting dogs were essentially a new breed of dog specially created for this popular pastime. Some authors, notably Richard Stratton, have theorized that the APBT is essentially the same breed as the Renaissiance bull-baiting dogs, largely unmixed with any other kind of dog, specifically terriers. These authors consider the present name, American Pit Bull Terrier, a double misnomer, since, in their view, the breed is not of American origin and is not a terrier. They explain the popular attribution of the breed's origin to a cross between bull-baiters and terriers as a retrospective confusion with the breeding history of the English Bull Terrier, which is a totally distinct breed that was never successful at pit fighting but whose origin is well-documented. Other authors who have researched the topic, such as Dr. Carl Semencic, argue that the APBT is indeed the product of a cross between bull-baiting dogs and terriers and that the breed simply did not exist in its current form during the Renaissance. They would argue that when we think of the terriers in the APBT's ancestry, we should not envision modern-day show dogs like Yorkshire Terriers, but instead working terriers (probably now extinct) that were bred for great tenacity in hunting. The problem of proof, which hangs over the discussion of any early breed history, is compounded in this case by the extreme secrecy of the breeders of pit dogs. In the 19th century pedigrees, if committed to paper at all, were not divulged, since every breeder feared letting his rivals in on the secrets of his success and replicating it. In any case, by no later than the mid-19th century, the breed had acquired all of the essential characteristics for which it is still prized today: its awesome athletic abilities, its peerless gameness, and its easy-going temperament. The immediate ancestors of the APBT were Irish and English pit fighting dogs imported to the States in the mid-19th century. Once in the United States, the breed diverged slightly from what was being produced back in England and Ireland. In America, where these dogs were used not only as pit fighters, but also as catch dogs (i.e., for forcibly retrieving stray hogs and cattle) and as guardians of family, the breeders started producing a slightly larger, leggier dog. However, this gain in size and weight was small until very recently. The Old Family Dogs in 19th century Ireland were rarely above 25 lbs., and 15-lb. dogs were not uncommon. In American books on the breed from the early part of this century, it is rare to find a specimen over 50 lbs. (with a few notable exceptions). From 1900 to 1975 or so, there was probably a very small and gradual increment in the average weight of APBTs over the years, without any corresponding loss in performance abilities. But now that the vast majority of APBTs are no longer performance-bred to the traditional pit standard (understandably, since the traditional performance test, the pit contest itself, is now a felony), the American axiom of "Bigger is Better" has taken over in the breeding practices of the many neophyte breeders who joined the bandwagon of the dog's popularity in the 1980s. This has resulted in a ballooning of the average size of APBTs in the last 15 years--a harmful phenomenon for the breed, in our opinion. Another, less visible modification of the breed since the 19th century was the selective intensification of genetically programmed fighting styles (such as front-end specialists, stifle specialists, etc.), as performance breeding became more sophisticated under competitive pressures. In spite of these changes, there has been a remarkable continuity in the breed for more than a century. Photos from a century ago show dogs indistinguishable from the dogs being bred today. Although, as in any performance breed, you will find a certain lateral (synchronic) variability in phenotype across different lines, you will nevertheless find uncanny chronological continuity in these types across decades. There are photos of pit dogs from the 1860s that are phenotypically (and, to judge by contemporary descriptions of pit matches, constitutionally) identical to the APBTs of today.


Bulldog Types