Blood sports (pitting a dog against bulls or bears) were very popular in ancient Britain.These sports provided entertainment for both the working class and royalty, and dogswho fought well were treasured. Blood sports were outlawed in England in 1835, but illegal dogfighting continued in backyards, cellars, and the back rooms of pubs. Today’s American Pit BullTerrier, or APBT, is probably descended from the bulldog and terrier crosses used in these fights.The dog that developed in America in the 17th and 18th centuries was a bigger dog; settlers needed
A larger, more powerful dog to protect their homesteads.
Although illegal dog fighting has continued, with the APBT
and APBT crosses in the midst of it, APBTs have also found
a home in the hearts of many owners as courageous yet
gentle companions.
An APBT is a medium-sized dog whose muscular build
makes him appear larger than he actually is. Males are normally
between 18 and 22 inches tall at the shoulder and
between 40 and 60 pounds, with females slightly smaller.
The head is blocky with strong, muscular jaws, round eyes,
and either cropped ears or natural half-pricked ears. The
body is strongly muscled, giving the appearance of great
strength. The coat is short and is stiff to the touch, but shiny
and glossy. APBTs can be any color.
Grooming an APBT is easy; the short coat can be brushed
once or twice a week with a bristle brush or curry comb.
APBTs require daily exercise. A long, brisk walk is good,
as is a session of weight pulling, a game of retrieve, or a session
on the agility course. Although APBTs can run, and can
run quite quickly, they do not have the body build of a long-distance runner, so their exercise
should not be centered around that type of activity. To prevent the dog from running off and to
make sure problems with other dogs do not occur, all exercise should be within a fenced-in yard,
or the dog should be on leash.The ancestry of APBTs includes dogs who were bred to fight, often with other dogs. Therefore,not all APBTs can be social with dogs outside of their own family. However, if APBT puppies are
socialized well to puppies of other breeds, sizes, and colors, then they often can learn to enjoy other
dogs’ company and learn to play nicely. All APBTs must be supervised when interacting with other dogs, though, and those that show aggression should no longer be allowed to socialize.Training should be a part of every APBT’s upbringing, notjust because a powerful breed such as this needs to learn manners,but because the breed is bright and enjoys learning. The training should be firm yet fair, and lots of fun.APBTs are excellent watchdogs. With the bulk to stand behind their bark, they can be quite imposing. However, to their family, APBTs are gentle, affectionate, and silly clowns.They love to be the center of attention. They are also very tolerantof kids and take roughhousing well. When raised withother pets, they can be very gentle and patient, although interaction with other animals should always be supervised. APBTscan suffer from allergies, and hip dysplasia can be a problem.Incorrect, overly aggressive, or overly fearful temperaments arethe biggest problem within the breed today.
BREED IN BRIEF
Occupation: Fighter,guardian, companion
Size: 18 to 22 in tall; 35 to60 lbs
Longevity: 11 to 13 years
Exercise: Moderate
Training: Easy; hard to keep focused
Grooming: Easy
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