Pit Bull

This is an affectionate breed weighing around 10-35kgs and is medium in size. This breed widely misunderstood as being terrifying is probably one of the most affectionate breeds out there. It’s stubborn attitude coupled with its loyalty often makes it a favorite among families which need a breed which would both protect them and love them. American Pit Bull terrier is a pure breed and its life span is about 10-14 years. 

It is said that when one refers to pit bull, it not only means Pit bull terrier but a number of breeds simultaneously. Pit bull terrier can also refer to American Staffordshire terrier and maybe some other breeds which share certain features of the breed. There is surely some confusion related to the name of this breed. Another interesting thing to note here is that though the breed is not of American origin but brought into the states by immigrants from England, it is quite funny because the origin of this breed precedes the discovery of America.  This breed was bred to be fighter specie, the cross between an English Bull dog and a terrier. Hostility towards human was one of its major behavioral traits. Another interesting story of how Pit Bull had pit attached to its name comes from this sport that this breed used to take part in, where pits were filled with rats and this breed was let loose in them. The competition was who killed most rats in the shortest period of time. Because this sport happened in a pit, that is why they were called Pit Bull Terrier. This breed has also let a celebrity life as it appeared on a number of advertisements for US army recruitment. Adding to their celebrity status, this breed has appeared on the covers of life magazine a total of 3 times, which is way more than any other breed.  Contrary to their ferocious nature, this breed has been a hit with the kids and it was often referred to as the nanny dog because of its ability to take care of children. This breed is also exceptionally good at climbing over fences and finding its escape route. Despite their reputation of being ferocious, this breed isn’t the best guards in town, they can be too trusting and let their fake friends enter the compounds. There is a member of their breed which comes with a blue nose and because of this cute looking feature, it is pretty sought after. This breed I also born with a wrinkly forehead but that smoothens down as they grow older. There are also myths related to the pain feeling ability of this breed, they do feel pain but can easily block out the pain when they want. 

There are some controversies related to pit bulls and their temperament, this breed is very friendly towards humans but can be slightly aggressive towards other breeds, to get over that they need to be put through proper social training. This breed at one time the favorite among American’s has quickly become a breed which has been abused a lot. Pit bulls are abused a lot because they are used for dog fights. Pit bulls also have suffered through different name changes. This breed has been banned from England and Wales since 1991. 

It is said that American Pit Bull Terrier has been around for over 500 years. There are a number of wide ranging theories about how this breed came into existence. This breed is also famously and often incorrectly known as the American Bully. Utmost importance has been placed on the aspect of selective breeding whenever the history of American Pit Bull Terrier is spoken about. One of the most popular theories of how this dog came into existence is how a strong pit bull was found by the breeders and it was bred with numerous terriers to come up with this American pit bull terrier. This breed was bred in English Isles and were brought to the states after a couple of breeds were produced. This was a sporty breed and used for purposes like bear baiting and bull baiting when it was still based out of United Kingdom. When immigrants started coming in to America, pit bulls were brought as family members. They were bred as fighter dogs because of their intelligence and loyalty. They received a lot of publicity because of their qualities. However fierce they are thought to be, a lot of testimony shows that this breed was very good with kids to live up to the expectation of nanny dogs that Pit bulls were. A Number of stories about famous pit bulls do the rounds these days. Somewhere around the 20th century, this breed was used by the Americans as a catch dog which could look after cattle.

It is ironic that the Pit Bull is now banned in England though it owes its origin to the British Isles. They were brought to American by the English immigrants. The name says for them, the breed was bred to fight in a pit as a part of a sport. They were made to participate in sport called baiting a largely inhumane blood sport.In earlier days the dog was put in a pit with bulls and bears. This was banned around 1800s. The worse bit about this inhumane sport was that if the dog bit any of the handlers then they were culled on the spot as they were rendered unfit to be bred further. The Pitbull draws its dubious reputation from this.

This is one of those few breeds that you cannot consider as a loving family pet for young children. They were bred to fight and can be a little temperamental at times. In earlier times they were bred to fight and there can be moments when this dog will not show any prior signs of aggression but will attack within a short span. They can be easily provoked and can quickly turn aggressive. So, this may not be the ideal breed for you if you have young children in the family.

Pitbulls are not conducive with other pets as well. If you have another dog then remember that he or she cannot be left unattended when there is a Pitbull in their vicinity. They are not good with other smaller breeds also as they have a strong prey drive and can at times stalk small pets. They need a house with a yard they do not do well in an enclosed apartment kind of living. They are brilliant escape artists and should be kept under a close watch.

Fun Trivia

The Pitbull is dreaded by many. Most people are afraid of them though you have to remember that not all Pitbulls are aggressive. There are some lines that show still shows traits of bull fighting but they are known to be good family pets as well.

Movie Character

You will be surprised that the dog accompanying the kids in the movie ‘Little Rascals’ was a Pit Bull. Along with that they have featured in the movie Epic and Beyond the Myth.

Celebrity Pitbull owners

The reputation of Pitbull has not stopped celebrity owners from keeping them as pets. Hellen Keller was a proud owner of a Pitbull, Jessica Biel, Alicia Silverstone, Dr. Phil and Jon Stewart are proud owners of Pitbull.

Vital Stats:

Dog Breed Group: Terrier Dogs

Height: 17-19 Inches

Weight: 14-30 Kg

Life Span: 11 to 12 years

Pit Bull Maintenance & Effort

The coat of American Pit Bull terrier needs to be brushed at least once every week. The brush should be either have soft or medium bristles. Brushing has a lot of benefits such as getting rid of dead skin cells and reducing hair fall. Brushing needs to be done carefully and sensitive areas need to be looked at carefully. One can also use a wet wipe to get rid of the dirt on the coat of the breed. Regular wiping can ensure that the coat is not laden with dust and grim. Avoid rubbing the coat rather gently wipe it off. The ears of the breed need to be cleaned properly at least once a week, the ears are perky which makes them prone to dirt and wax. There can be a mild canine cleaner that can be used to clean the years of the breed. While cleaning the years, watch out for early signs of ear infections. Brushing the teeth of this breed once a week will also keep away oral hygiene problems away. Nail trimming should also be done once a while to keep the nails from clipping and breaking. 

There are a number of colors that this breed is available in. Some colors that this breed is available are black, tan, blue, gray, yellow, red, white and a combination of black and tan. Depending upon the breeding there can be various other combinations of colors that can be available. 

American Pit Bulls are medium sized, short haired dogs. The coat is not coarse but rather smooth. It also has a certain shine to it.  The shedding of the coat is also towards the lesser side. 

Your Pitbull is not that cumbersome when it comes to grooming. This is a smooth and shorthaired coat dog that is easy to groom. They just have to be brushed with a firm bristle brush regularly. If you have them at home then the will be low maintenance as they are average shedders.

They have short coat that is shiny to look at and stiff to touch. Along with this you would have to follow the regular grooming procedure such as brushing your dog’s teeth at least two to three times a week and giving it regular bath to maintain cleanliness and stop spread of any germs or infection from spreading.

Remember that your Pitbull has to be learned to be examined at a young age, this will prevent him from snapping later in his or her life. Puppies in general are not comfortable with someone checking their paws. Adapt this as a grooming technique from the very beginning to ensure a healthy companionship.

Feeding and Nutrition

This breed loves its food, it tends to chew on things. But for the healthy upkeep of the breed it is necessary that it should be put through a structured diet which has regular feeding schedules and quantities. Free feeding which refers to food being available to the pet whenever required should be avoided. Feeding should be done based on a schedule and erratic feeding should be avoided. The breed shouldn’t be fed within half an hour of the exercise rather the interval should be more. A pit bull terrier is a breed which has a strong exercise regime which means the diet should be such that it fulfills the nutritional needs of the breed.  The food should be high in proteins, carbohydrates and minerals and low in animal fat. Canned food is not as great as its price, it is also not very high in nutritional value. Carrots, diced potatoes and raw eggs are good for the breed in a way that they add shine to the coat of the terrier. Meat is a good source of important minerals and fat for the Pit Bull. Pit Bull puppies should be fed twice thrice a day and soft food. Adult Pit bulls need to be fed once or twice every day. In case the adult is being fed twice every day cut the portion size in half.