The American Pit Bull Terrier has a long history of being a physically active, muscular, very agile breed. He has maintained this build type for over 150 years.
Pitbulls have been known to have a bad reputation for aggression for many years now. However, there is a side to this dog that you do not get to hear or see often.
Contrary to them being these muscular and hardy dogs they have several very loveable personality traits.
What most people do not mention is that these dogs are great family dogs and are good with children. That is why they are also known as “Nanny dogs.”
This is a dog breed that you will fall in love with. But what else might you not know about the Pitbull Terrier?
Stay with us as we debunk some of the myths about this dog. We will also look at some of the ways you can take care of these doggos once you bring them home.
So, let us get right into it.
About the American Pitbull Terrier
These dogs are often confused for the American Stafford Terries but they are different breeds. We are not surprised by that because it is easy to see why that might be the case.
Pits are not the most popular dogs and several countries and states have imposed bans on these dogs. This is mainly because of their past.
But dog lovers often overlook the good side of this dog and they mostly know him for his historic fighting roles and protection.
And by judging by the statistics you cannot blame them for this. Between 1979 and 1996 there were over 60 Pitbull Dog-Bite-Related Fatalities which are high compared to other breeds.
However, over recent years their roles have changed from being fighters and protectors to becoming more family-friendly dogs.
There is a reason that they started developing roles as ‘nanny dogs’ amongst some dog owners over the years.
To better understand why many misconceptions surround this dog, we should look at their history.
Origin of the Pitbull Terrier
This dog breed did not reach where he was by accident.
Their history can be traced back to England in the early 19th century where they were created by crossing terriers and “bully” type dogs.
The breeders did this because they wanted to create a dog that had the eagerness of a Terrier and the strength of a Bulldog.
Bulldogs were known for their roles in bear and bull-baiting a sport that saw its end in 1835. This sport had a large fan base including Henry 7 and Queen Anne as fans.
However, there was an emergence of a more sinister sport and it was dogfighting. This would change the course of this dog for the worse because people would introduce a gene to make the dog more aggressive.
This aggressiveness was mainly towards other dogs and not humans.
Fortunately, this sport was made illegal, and in recent years, these dogs have taken more family roles that made them more friendly.
The PitBull(s) confusion
AKC recognized the American Pit Bull Terrier in the 1930s as a purebred pooch.
However, when this happened, they changed the name of the breed to American Staffordshire Terrier. They wanted nothing to do with the aggressive past of Pits, and in the process, Staffies were bred according to their standards that would make them different.
Stafford Terriers were bred mainly for conformation this is what made them different.
The doggos that were not bred according to the Staffordshire standards became what we now know as the American Pitbull Terrier.
Difference between Pitbull and Staffordshire Terriers
One question that still baffles dog lovers is whether the American Staffy and the American Pit Bull Terrier are the same dogs.
Some claim that the Staffy is smaller and has different mannerisms while others tend to think that these dogs are the same.
But here are the 2 main differences between the two;
- Staffies are physically shorter, heavier, and stockier.
- The American Staffordshire Terrier is used as a dog show while the Pitbulls Terriers are not.
They are both known to be great family dogs and if you are looking to choose between the two it all comes down to what you prefer.
While you are at it you might as well learn about the different Pit Bull types to get a better understanding of them.
The pros and cons of an American Pitbull Terrier
Pros
✓ Pits make great watchdogs.
✓ If socialized and trained well they make perfect family dogs that are great with children.
✓ These dogs do not need a lot of grooming.
Cons
✘ They can have aggression towards other dogs and animals.
✗ Many cities and several countries like the UK have a ban on these dogs.
✘ These have a high exercise requirement.
General Characteristics and Appearance of the Pitbull Terrier
| American Pitbull Terrier summary table | |
|---|---|
| Height | Males can vary between 18 to 21 inches and females are between 17 to 20 inches |
| Weight | Between 30 to 60 pounds for males and 30 to 50 pounds for females |
| Lifespan | 8 to 15 years |
| Breed Type | Terrier |
| Purpose | Is a very family-friendly and also a companion |
| Suitable For | Families in general |
| Grooming requirements | Low |
| Color Variations | Grey, white, brindle, black, red, brown, tan, blue and even fawn |
| Health concerns | hip and elbow dysplasia, cataracts and Alopecia |
| Temperament | intelligent, loyal, loving, friendly, Energetic, Playful, Affectionate and obedient |
| Other names | Pit or Pitty |
Size
This American Pitbull is characterized as a medium-sized dog.
The size of this dog will vary from one to the other depending on the genes that they inherit from the parent.
Generally, female Pits are smaller than their male counterparts having a height of between 17 to 20 inches and weighing between 30 to 50 pounds. Male Pit Bull Terriers have a height that ranges from 18 to 21 inches and weigh between 30 to 60 pounds.
Physical appearance
These dogs have stocky and muscular bodies with angular heads.
They have broad faces and short muzzles. Their tails are slightly thick and have whip-like ends and their ears are small to medium-sized and are high set.
The eyes can be round to almond-shaped with various colors that include yellow, green, brown, grey, and even blue.
Coat appearance
American Pit Bull Terriers have a stiff, glossy, and short coat.
The good news about these dogs is that they do not shed much. They mostly shed about twice every year.
Unfortunately, this is not the dog for you if you are an allergic sufferer.
Temperament and personality traits of the American Pitbull Terrier
| Traits | Rating |
|---|---|
| Friendliness |  |
| exercise needs | |
| Trainability | |
| Ease of care | |
| sociability | |
In general, the American Pitbull Terrier is a loving, friendly, and affectionate dog.
Although they may have gained a badass reputation over the years for their involvement in dog fights, they are extremely friendly to people. They may, however, show aggression towards other animals, especially male dogs but this is something that you can work on with socialization and training.
These doggos are also eager to please and intelligent making them highly trainable.
Their high intelligence means that they can become easily bored and destructive. They are known to chew a lot and are very good diggers so you should make sure that you keep them busy enough.
Pits are pooches that form strong connections with their owners and family and may easily suffer from separation anxiety due to frustration. They will not hesitate to let the neighbors know you left them alone by barking.
Frequently asked questions
What is the lifespan of an American Pitbull Terrier?
Pitbull Terriers live for an average of between 8 to 15 years.
What dogs created the Pit Terrier?
The American Pitbull Terrier was created by mixing bully-type dogs for their strength with Terriers for their eagerness. By doing this, breeders were able to not only create a strong dog but also one that was agile.
In which countries are American Pit Bull Terriers banned?
Pitties are banned in a total of 12 countries including the UK, Poland, Some States in the US, Denmark, Norway, New Zealand, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Finland, and some parts of Puerto Rico.
American Pit Bull Terrier puppies
A Pit can give birth to a litter of between 2 to 5 puppies but in other cases, they have been known to have litters of up to 7 pups.
These puppies take about 18 months to reach maturity but some can take up to 24 months. It all depends on the genes that your pup will have.
The cost of buying a Pit Bull Terrier ranges from $1000 to $3000 for a single pup.
Grooming an American Pit Bull Terrier
When it comes to grooming, Pit Terriers are pretty straightforward because they are not high-maintenance dogs.
Their short coats do not shed much and will only require several brushes to distribute oils and keep the coat healthy.
Bathing them several times in a year will keep them in the best condition. Checking their ears for any signs of infections and cleaning should be done weekly while at the same time trimming their nails to prevent them from becoming too long.
Dental hygiene should also be a top priority for you if you own this dog and should be done by giving them dental chews and brushing them regularly.
But you should remember to make grooming a positive experience for your American Pit Bull Terrier.
Exercising a Pitty
The American Pit Bull Terrier is an athletic and extremely energetic dog which means that exercising him is very important.
These dogs will need around 90 minutes of exercise in a day done in two sessions.
You should be able to challenge them both physically and mentally. Some of the ways that you can do this are by taking them to two walks a day, going for runs, taking the dog for hikes, and even playing games like fetch.
They also excel in agility sports and are great at mind games.
American Pit Bull Terrier feeding requirements
If you want your Pit Terrier to stay healthy you need to make sure that you feed him on a high-quality and balanced diet.
They need meals that are high in proteins for the building and repair of muscles.
Their age and their level of activity will affect how much food you are going to give to them.
But the general rule of thumb if to give them 30 calories for every pound that they weigh.
| American Pit Bull Daily Food Consumption | |
|---|---|
| Calories | 900 to 1800 |
| Cups of Kibble |  |
Pit Bull Terrier training
Training this dog is like going for a walk at the park and is as easy as it gets.
They are brilliant and eager to please, which makes them highly trainable. These dogs learn new tricks and commands and are known to be very responsive.
The best way to train them is through positive reinforcement and reward-based training which are what they respond best to.
Use verbal praises, high-value treats and even toys that he loves are rewards during training. Reward and praise him for every command and response that he gets right.
You should never use punishment as a way of training this dog or any other aversive training method. These can be problematic and they never work.
Socializing a Pit Bull Terrier should be done early on when they are still young by introducing him to as many people as possible, animals, and different environments.
You can blow away out of the window any misconceptions about this dog by training and socializing them early on.
This is your best bet for having an extremely well-behaved Pitty.
Some of the known health problems
Just like any other dog breed the American Pit Bull Terrier has some hereditary health issues.
Getting a Pitty from a responsible breeder can best help to prevent the occurrence of some of these health issues.
So, here are some of the health issues that you can expect;
Hip and elbow dysplasia are prevalent in dogs of this size.
Cataracts or poor vision can lead to a complete loss of sight.
Summary
The American Pit Bull Terrier is a smart, courageous, loyal, and muscular dog that is suited for any family and dog lover.
We as Mydogsinfo hope that we have dispelled some of the misconceptions surrounding the American Pit.
These dogs may not be so ideal for novice dog owners because they need owners who know and understand the needs of active dogs like him.
You should have no problem training this dog because he is eager to please and very intelligent.
Before you decide to get this pooch you should make sure that he is legal in your country and your state.
Use the comment section below and let us know if you love these dogs and also leave any questions if you have any.
There you go WOOF!
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