Pit Bull

American Pit Bull Terrier

With his incredible love for his master, the Pit Bull is a remarkably affectionate dog in need of human attention. He will make a good pet. His muscles hide a heart of gold. However, his acquisition is not for everyone. Being a powerful dog, he requires sufficient and adequate control. Some elderly owners or children may not be able to ensure this control.

Height 40 to 50 cm
Weight 13 to 30 kg
Life expectancy 12 to 14 years
Hair Loss Medium
Excercise Need High

Index

Personality Appearance Characteristics Breeders Pictures Tips Health History

Quick Overview of the Pit Bull

Temperament

  • Good playmate
  • Gentle and patient
  • Affectionate
  • Social
  • Hunter

Appearance

  • Stocky and muscular
  • Short and smooth coat
  • Variable color
  • Variable size

Health

  • Likely to suffer from bone diseases: degenerative myelopathy, hip dysplasia
  • Likely to suffer from skin problems: scabies, skin allergies

Temperament of the Pit Bull

The Pit Bull will make an ideal playmate and be gentle and patient with all of his family members. As with all breeds, there are exceptions. The Pit Bull was bred to be brave and cheerful, to continue doing what he naturally does facing adversity. These qualities make him stubborn, tenacious and fearless.

Like any large dog, he must be supervised when he is with children. Life with this breed is always an adventure. He is a fun loving dog who is always ready to play. He must be given daily sessions of intense exercise.

Although he is a hardy dog, he does not like cold weather and must be protected accordingly.

This breed should be trained in the practice of obedience because it is a good bonding activity. As he is often not very good with other dogs, he must be kept on a leash when they are nearby.

The Pit Bull has a high tendency to hunt prey, as he is bred to hunt and herd livestock. However, the dog is not naturally aggressive towards people and is affectionate with children. Depending on his socialization as a puppy, he can learn to restrain himself from any unjustified aggression towards other dogs.

He is a strong, energetic, agile and powerful dog. Determination is one of his most remarkable traits. Whatever he does, he will put his heart and soul into it.

Whether he's escaping a poorly fenced yard to explore the neighborhood, destroying your new sofa when he's home alone, or climbing onto your knees to cover you with kisses, the Pit Bull won't give up easily.

pitbull personnalité

Breed Appearance

pitbull

Strong and stocky, but light on his paws, the Pit Bull is among the dogs with the most muscles in proportion to his body weight.

Height

Between 40 and 50 cm (15.75 to 19.69 inches) for the male
Between 40 and 50 cm (15.75 to 19.69 inches) for the female

Weight

Between 13 and 30 kg (28.66 to 66.14 pounds) for the male
Between 17 and 30 kg (37.48 to 66.14 pounds) for the female

Color

The color of this breed is varied. He can have black, fawn, white, brown, red or any other color. This variation is due to the fact that the breed is a mixture of different types of Bulldogs and Terriers.

Hair

This breed stands out for its short, smooth coat.

Morphology

The Pit Bull has a low center of gravity and appears slightly longer than tall. The muscles of the neck and head are particularly well developed. His eyes are small and his ears are sometimes clipped or not (the latter are shaped like a rose).

Although most dog lovers are familiar with the term Pit Bull, it is often hard to know which dog it is. This is also due to the fact that the FCI (Fédération Cynologique Internationale), the largest international dog breeding coordination organization and the CKC (Canadian Kennel Club) have not yet recognized the breed as an independent one.

According to the FCI breeds nomenclature, this breed belongs to group , section and is #

Characteristics of the Pit Bull

Does this dog suit your lifestyle?

Every dog breed has its own characteristics. However, the actual character of a dog can vary from one to another within the same breed.

Find out if the Pit Bull is your ideal dog breed with our quiz.

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Life in an apartment
Good first dog
Tolerates solitude
Tolerates cold weather
Tolerates hot weather
Affectionate
Friendly with children
Friendly with strangers
Friendly with other animals
Hair loss
Drooling level
Easy to care for
Robust health
Easy to train
Intelligent
Tendency to bark
Tendency to nibble
Protective
Instinct to hunt
Adventurous spirit
Energy level
Level of intensity
Need for exercise
Playful

Pit Bull puppies near me

Pit Bull pictures

Tips About this breed

The Pit Bull is very receptive to training and eager to please. It is therefore strongly recommended to bring him to obedience classes as soon as possible. As he is a dog prone to canine distemper and parvovirus, it is therefore important that he receives all his vaccinations before coming into contact with other dogs or going to places that others animals visit.

If he is well-behaved and obedient, you will have a great breed ambassador who will help fight the prejudices and misconceptions people have about it.

Like any other breed, he can develop behavioral problems if mistreated, ill-bred, unsocialized, etc. This could lead to inappropriate aggression. Any large, strong and powerful dog that attacks can do a lot of damage.

This is why a serious temperament assessment is important when it comes to dogs of a certain size. Contrary to the myth propagated by the media, aggression towards humans is not a problem specific to this breed.

Indeed, he tends to do better than average in temperament tests.

Become an avid student of "canine body language" and get to know your dog like the back of your hand. This will help you anticipate and prevent potential conflict between dogs. Learn about the behaviors that indicate that a dog is becoming angry during a play session.

Be ready to step in and watch for other triggers that might stimulate your dog in a conflict. Pay attention to the behavioral changes that develop as your Pit Bull goes through changes in his life.

Health of the Pit Bull

Due to his athleticism and the diversity of his origins, this type of dog tends to be hardy.

As it is a very energetic and active breed, he needs daily exercise. The more vigorous it is, the better. Good health allows him to overcome boredom and possible destructive behavior. Like the Greyhound breed, he has a particularly strong hunting instinct.

Keeping him on a leash is undoubtedly an important part of his socialization to "play nicely". Always be sure to keep him on a leash to prevent him from running away if he spots potential prey.

To keep him in good health, you need to spend a lot of time with him. The Pit Bull is very close to his family and expects to be a part of the family life in every possible way. This makes him prone to separation anxiety. He needs time with the people he loves.

He may develop hip dysplasia and knee problems, that can be worsened if he becomes overweight. And, as he gets older, arthritis can also become a problem. Active joints and a slim figure will reduce these effects on your dog.

One way to fight breed stereotypes and make your Pit Bull more welcoming in places outside your home is through training. A well-trained dog goes a long way in dissipating the prejudices about the breed. Plus, mental stimulation is great for your dog. Finally, it allows you to spend more time together, both for training and trips.

GROOMING

The Pit Bull should be groomed regularly and fed a quality diet to keep his coat shiny.

Daily brushing may seem too much, especially for a breed that requires minimal grooming, but if you want to restore shine to your dog's coat, brush the coat daily with a rubber curry comb.

Use circular motion to stimulate circulation and spread the dog's natural oils throughout the coat. Brushing removes dead hair and flaky skin cells, which can dull the coat. You can also use a massage glove that fits your hand to capture loose hair and shine the coat.

The good news about this breed's short coat is that you don't need to wash your dog frequently. However, when you do, choose a natural shampoo without chemicals or pesticides and rinse well.

It is recommended that you only use shampoo formulated for dogs. Shampoos for humans may contain scents or ingredients that can irritate your Pit Bull's coat and skin.

Avoid using soaps containing alcohol, coal tar, or sulfur-based products. Improve the shine of his coat by conditioning the fur after shampooing.

It can happen that even short-haired dogs have a rundown coat full of sores, scabs, and hot spots. If your pet suffers from allergies due to food, fleas, or environmental irritants, his coat will be dull and dry. Indeed, your dog may scratch and bite his own skin in an attempt to reduce the intense itching that accompanies exposure to irritants.

Dry, scaly skin and a poorly groomed coat can also indicate systemic disease. Always consult your veterinarian for advice and treatment regarding skin or coat problems.

History of this breed

The origins of this breed go back to the early 19th century in England, Ireland and Scotland.

The dog's ancestors were the result of experimental crossbreeding between different breeds of Bulldogs and Terriers in order to lure the bear and the bull, a blood sport in which the dog was trained to attack until the biggest animal was defeated.

When baiting was banned in the 1800s, dogs were then bred for dog fighting.

Contrary to his questionable reputation known as aggressive, this breed is considered by many to be a friendly dog ​​with an outgoing temperament.

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Last Updated: 10/01/2021

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