American Pit Bull Terrier
Alternative names
APBT
Country of origin
United States
Common nicknames
pit,bulldog
Classification and breed standards
UKC:	Terriers	Stds
Notes
Many AKC registered ASTs can also be registered with the UKC as APBTs.

The American Pit Bull Terrier (APBT) is a breed of dog in the terrier group, one of several breeds loosely classified as pit bulls. Image File history File links Unbalanced_scales. ... Shortcut: WP:NPOVD Articles that have been linked to this page are the subject of an NPOV dispute (NPOV stands for Neutral Point Of View; see below). ... Download high resolution version (1376x1492, 1394 KB)American pit bull terrier (named Tuttle) seated. ... The United Kennel Club (or UKC) is the second oldest all-breed registry of purebred dog pedigrees in the United States and the second largest in the world. ... © The American Kennel Club (or AKC) is the largest registry of purebred dog pedigrees in the United States. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Trinomial name Canis lupus familiaris The dog (Canis lupus familiaris) is a domestic subspecies of the wolf, a mammal of the Canidae family of the order Carnivora. ... For other uses, see Terrier (disambiguation). ... The American Pit Bull Terrier is one of several bull terrier breeds, often kept as a pet. ...

Ownership of APBTs is controversial, due to publicized media stories of "pit bulls" having attacked children and strangers. This has led to the ownership of APBTs and "pit bulls" in general being restricted or banned in many parts of the world. For example, in Ontario, Canada, APBTs were declared to be a significant threat to the public, and were thus banned from the province^[1]. 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.

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 Largest registry for the APBT is the American Dog Breeders Assoc. who has over 50 clubs nationwide that offer Shows and Weight pulls. © The American Kennel Club (or AKC) is the largest registry of purebred dog pedigrees in the United States. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The United Kennel Club (or UKC) is the second oldest all-breed registry of purebred dog pedigrees in the United States and the second largest in the world. ...

Appearance

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), an APBT should be roughly around eight to twenty two inches tall. 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. There is no specific preferrence for nose color in the APBT standard. The life expectancy of this breed is approximately twelve to fourteen years. This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Blue merle Border Collie puppy Merle is a colour combination in dogs’ coats. ...

For more information on the breed please refer to the UKC and or ADBA standards

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 Aidan was measured at having a bite of 130-235 pounds^[2] (compared to a Rottweiler, was measured at 328 pounds). Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The National Geographic Society was founded in the USA on January 27, 1888, by 33 men interested in organizing a society for the increase and diffusion of geographical knowledge. ... This article is about the dog breed. ...

Confusion among Pit Bull breeds

APBT Standard

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 Pit Bull Terriers are a working breed, and American Staffordshire Terriers are the exact same breed, with the same ancestors. The only difference being that the AST is the show strand and tend to be bigger and more 'pet'-looking than the APBT, since they don't retain much of the working attributes of the APBT. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... The American Bulldog is a breed of working dog developed for catching livestock and for protecting property. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

Temperament

When treated well, APBTs typically have sunny personalities. They are very sweet, curious, intelligent, and clownish. They are noted for their outgoing, affectionate, eager-to-please disposition and their fondness for people. They adore attention, often relishing the company of humans and are notorious for their loyalty to their masters, even giving their lives for them. When raised with a firm but fair hand an APBT can make a wonderful family pet, however, APBTs can also be stubborn and prone to display aggression towards other dogs. Thus, they should not be the first choice of dog for a novice dog owner.

Also, as of August 29, 2005: the "owning, breeding, transferring, importing or abandoning" of APBTs is illegal in Ontario, Canada, given that it was found that the APBT breed "poses a danger to the public"^[3] .

Many APBT have stable and dependable temperaments. However, a firm, even hand and early obedience training are musts for this breed. Inexperienced owners tend to find them to be too much to handle - APBTs can be quite "bouncy". They generally have a lot of energy and high predator drive; they need exercise and stimulation in order to channel that energy properly and not become frustrated, bored, and destructive. Obedience Training usually refers to the training of a dog and the term is most commonly used in that context. ... Prey drive is the instinctive behavior of a herbavore to flee or evade capture by a predator. ...

Despite the stereotype, the average, sound-minded pit bull is not a threat where children are concerned. Though the AKC and UKC recommend that no child be left alone with any adult dog, the APBT, like many of its relatives, is a breed far more likely not to know its own strength and knock a toddler down in its exuberance by accident rather than by force. Generally, this is a breed that loves to play. It is also a breed that is very strong for its size and weight, so adults and older children are better recommended to take the dog on its leash.

APBTs often display some level of dog aggression, especially towards strange dogs of the same sex or level of assertiveness. Early socialization and good training can mean that many individuals of the breed never display this trait. However, it must be remembered that this breed was traditionally developed for dog fighting purposes, and even APBTs that were previously sociable may develop dog aggression as they mature; as a breed they mature later than usual, between the ages of two and three years. A responsible APBT owner does not let their dog interact with strange dogs unsupervised, knows how to avoid a dog fight, and has trained their dog to heel. Dog aggression is a term used by dog owners and breeders to describe canine-to-canine antipathy. ... The term socialization is used by sociologists, social psychologists and educationalists to refer to the process of learning one’s culture and how to live within it. ...

APBTs were never bred for human aggression or guarding behavior; generally they only will attack if they perceive an immediate threat to their masters or families rather than seeing every person as an intruder upon their territory. They were originally bred against human aggression because in the pit fighting days the handlers had to be able to handle their dogs as well as treat their wounds, and if necessary, quickly pull the dog out of a fight for various reasons. Any dog that did show the slightest sign of human aggression in that day was 'culled', and therefore, not allowed to carry on its bloodline. For that reason stable examples of the breed are generally not suitable as guard dogs. It is important that APBTs who display any sign of human aggression are not bred, in order to preserve the stable and friendly nature of the breed, and equally important that man aggressive dogs are never kept.

When selecting an APBT puppy, it is paramount to find a breeder who selects puppies for their good temperament and not for aggressive tendencies towards other dogs or towards humans. A good breeder should know the UKC standard, and should both health test and temperament test their breeding stock. A breeder who boasts about their dogs' "guard dog" skills or "protective" behavior is a giveaway that their dogs are bred for improper human aggression. It is a good idea for prospective APBT owners to research the breeder, ask for references and ask to see their facilities and other dogs they have raised. It is also a good policy for owners to have their dog microchipped where possible as this breed is often stolen in and near urban areas for ill uses; in the U.S. a dog license is recommended as well as most areas require them. A microchip is an identifying integrated circuit placed under the skin of a dog or cat. ...

Adult pit bulls are frequently also available from animal shelters. Reputable shelters will temperament test their dogs before adoption, so that only dogs with stable temperaments are available for adoption. The advantage of obtaining an adult dog from a shelter is that its temperament is already known, and a dog with low dog aggression or low prey drive can be selected if desired.

As bright, athletic dogs, American Pit Bull Terriers excel in many activities, including weight pulling, search and rescue, dog agility trials, flyball, and can even do well in some advanced obedience training. In the United States they have been used as narcotics detection police dogs, Border Patrol dogs, hearing dogs and Search and Rescue dogs because of their tenacity, high energy drive, and versatility. In a home they make wonderful dogs to go on a morning run with, take out on errands, and play fetch. They do best in a home with a backyard and a tall fence as they do "vertical jumps" much like any terrier breed, especially the Parsons Russell Terrier (formerly Jack Russell Terrier). APBTs will also do fine in an urban setting so long as they are walked and exercised often. Weight pulling is a dog sport involving a dog pulling a cart or sled, loaded with weight, a short distance across grass, carpet or snow. ... Search and Rescue (acronym SAR) is an operation mounted by emergency services, often well-trained volunteers, to find someone believed to be in distress, lost, sick or injured either in a remote or difficult to access area, such as mountains, desert or forest (Wilderness search and rescue), or at sea... Dog agility is a sport in which a handler directs a dog through an obstacle course in a race for both time and accuracy. ... Dogs from two teams race against each other over parallel lines of jumps. ... Police dog getting ready to search a vehicle for drugs A policemans dog is a dog that is trained specifically to assist police and similar law-enforcement personnel with their work. ... A hearing dog is a specific type of assistance dog specifically selected and trained to assist people who are deaf or hearing impaired by alerting their handler to important sounds, such as doorbells, smoke alarms, ringing telephones, or alarm clocks. ... Search and Rescue (acronym SAR) is an operation mounted by emergency services, often well-trained volunteers, to find someone believed to be in distress, lost, sick or injured either in a remote or difficult to access area, such as mountains, desert or forest (Wilderness search and rescue), or at sea...

History

Old Picture circa 1930s

Originally bred from bull-and-terrier crosses brought to America from England and Ireland in the 1800s, they were popular in emerging cities for the sport of dog fighting. They were originally created for the sport of bull-baiting. And as that became illegal, their purpose was changed. As the country grew, many dogs traveled with settlers to new homesteads where they were sometimes used as working dogs on farms. When bred for fighting, the breeder would look for strength, and gameness: from its bulldog and terrier ancestors it inherited the instincts to never give up and to bite down and never let go. A breeder also knew that a dog like this could be very dangerous to people and difficult to control if it were a man-biter, so he would look for the crucial trait of non-aggression towards humans. Any fighting dog that showed aggression towards its owner or handler would be culled immediately. This created a line of strong dogs that, while being dog aggressive, would not turn on their owners. In the late 1800s to early 1900s, two clubs were formed for the specific purpose of registering APBTs: the United Kennel Club and the American Dog Breeder's Association. The first dog registered by the UKC was the founder's pit bull, Ringer. After dog fighting became unpopular in the United States, many dog owners wanted to legitimize the breed and distance it from its fighting roots. The name "Staffordshire Terrier" was adopted by some owners and was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1936. Later, the word "American" was added to reduce confusion with its smaller British cousin, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier. Not all breeders, however, agreed with the standard adopted by the AKC, and continued to use the name APBT for their lines. Much confusion still remains in regards to the APBT, the AST, and the SBT. Once an extremely popular family dog in the United States (in fact, the dog in the Our Gang movies was an APBT), the American Pit Bull Terrier's popularity began to decline in the United States following World War II in favor of other breeds. Pit bulls have been used for a variety of things from police to farm work as catch dogs. They have an excellent sense of smell and make good cattle dogs because they are a "tough" breed (can take being kicked by cattle and bounce right back up.) Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... Two dogs fighting Dog fighting is a physical fight between canines, sometimes involving the pitting of two dogs against each other for the entertainment of spectators, and for the purpose of gambling. ... Bull-baiting is a blood sport involving the baiting of bulls. ... Siberian Husky. ... The American Dog Breeders Association,Inc. ... 1936 (MCMXXXVI) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... A poster for the 1931 Our Gang comedy Love Business featuring depictions of (from left to right): Pete the Pup, Jackie Cooper, and Norman Chubby Chaney. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000...

American Pit Bull Terriers and the law

American Pit Bull Terriers 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 usually 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 [2]. Two dogs fighting Dog fighting is a physical fight between canines, sometimes involving the pitting of two dogs against each other for the entertainment of spectators, and for the purpose of gambling. ...

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. Athletics, also known as track and field or track and field athletics, is a collection of sport events. ... Dog agility is a sport in which a handler directs a dog through an obstacle course in a race for both time and accuracy. ... Weight pulling is a dog sport involving a dog pulling a cart or sled, loaded with weight, a short distance across grass, carpet or snow. ... Schutzhund is a dog sport that was developed in Germany in the early 1900s to test whether German Shepherd Dogs (GSD) act and peform in the manner that the breed was intended, rather than simply evaulating a dogs appearance. ...

American Pit Bull Terriers 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 euthanized. 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. An animal control officer (also, more informally: dog catcher or dog warden or ) is an employee of, or a contractor to, a municipality, charged with catching stray or loose dogs, cats, and sometimes other animals, and bringing them to a compound or animal shelter, where the animals are held for... “NY” redirects here. ... Nickname: Motto: Urbs in Horto (Latin: City in a Garden), I Will Location in the Chicago metro area and Illinois Coordinates: , Country State Counties Cook, DuPage Settled 1770s Incorporated March 4, 1837 Government  - Mayor Richard M. Daley (D) Area  - City  234. ... Flag Seal Nickname: City of Angels Location Location within Los Angeles County in the state of California Coordinates , Government State County California Los Angeles County Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (D) Geographical characteristics Area     City 1,290. ...

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. Breed-specific legislation (BSL), is any law, ordinance or policy which pertains to a specific dog breed or breeds, but does not affect any others. ...

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. Similarly, in Ontario, Canada, the ownership of APBTs has been banned in the Dog Owners' Liability Act. The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 is a piece of UK legislation that was introduced in response to various incidents of serious injury or death resulting from attacks by aggressive and uncontrolled dogs, particularly on children. ... Slogan or Nickname: Sunshine State, Smart State Motto(s): Audax at Fidelis (Bold but Faithful) Other Australian states and territories Capital Brisbane Government Constitutional monarchy Governor Quentin Bryce Premier Peter Beattie retiring as of 13. ... Slogan or Nickname: First State, Premier State Motto(s): Orta Recens Quam Pura Nites (Newly Risen, How Brightly You Shine) Other Australian states and territories Capital Sydney Government Constitutional monarchy Governor Professor Marie Bashir Premier Morris Iemma (ALP) Federal representation  - House seats 50  - Senate seats 12 Gross State Product (2004... Motto: Ut Incepit Fidelis Sic Permanet (Latin: Loyal she began, loyal she remains) Capital Toronto Largest city Toronto Official languages English Government - Lieutenant-Governor James K. Bartleman - Premier Dalton McGuinty (Liberal) Federal representation in Canadian Parliament - House seats 106 - Senate seats 24 Confederation July 1, 1867 (1st) Area [1] Ranked...

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

Pit Bulls in the media

• Pete the Pup, from Hal Roach's Our Gang comedy short films of the 1920s and 30s, later known as The Little Rascals. An APBT was again used for the 1994 Little Rascals film remake as well.
• Dakota, Tahoe and Cheyenne are search and rescue dogs that have responded to over 100 searches for missing persons, including the search for the astronauts of the space shuttle Columbia explosion and the search for Laci Peterson. [3]
• Popsicle, a United States Customs dog, is famous for sniffing out one of the biggest cocaine busts in Food and Drug Administration history. [4]
• Bandog Dread (Ch Bandog Dread, SchH3, IPO3, WH, WDS, CD, TD, U-CDX, S.D.-ducks/sheep) owned by Dianne Jessup was the most titled dog of any dog of any breed in history. He obtained multiple titles in conformation, competition obedience, Schutzhund, weightpull and herding.
• RCA was the first certified hearing dog in Alaska. [5]
• Backup, the dog featured on the hit tv show "Veronica Mars", is a pit bull.
• Penny Lane, Rachel Bilson and Adam Brody's dog, is a pit bull.
• Tina, Jessica Biel's dog, is a pitbull.
• Jon Stewart, of The Daily Show, owns two pitbulls.
• Rachel Ray, TV food personality, owns a pitbull.

Pete the Pup, in a scene from 1931s Fly My Kite. ... Harold Eugene Roach, Sr. ... A poster for the 1931 Our Gang comedy Love Business featuring depictions of (from left to right): Pete the Pup, Jackie Cooper, and Norman Chubby Chaney. ... Short subject is an American film industry term that historically has referred to any film in the format of two reels, or approximately 20 minutes running time, or less. ... The 1920s is a decade that is sometimes referred to as the Jazz Age or the Roaring Twenties, usually applied to America. ... Face The 1930s (years from 1930–1939) were described as an abrupt shift to more radical and conservative lifestyles, as countries were struggling to find a solution to the Great Depression, also known in Europe as the World Depression. ... Year 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1994 Gregorian calendar). ... The DVD cover for the 1994 feature film version of The Little Rascals. ... Space Shuttle Columbia (NASA Orbiter Vehicle Designation: OV-102) was the first spaceworthy space shuttle in NASAs orbital fleet. ... Laci Peterson, born Laci Denise Rocha (May 4, 1975 – ca. ... Customs is an authority or agency in a country responsible for collecting customs duties and for controlling the flow of animals and goods (including personal effects and hazardous items) in and out of a country. ... Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. ... hi “FDA” redirects here. ... A Conformation point in dog breeding and showing is any one out of a long list of dog attributes known as the breed standard. ... Schutzhund is a dog sport that was developed in Germany in the early 1900s to test whether German Shepherd Dogs (GSD) act and peform in the manner that the breed was intended, rather than simply evaulating a dogs appearance. ... Official language(s) English[1] Spoken language(s) English 85. ... This article is about the Veronica Mars television series. ... Rachel Sarah Bilson (born August 25, 1981)[1] is an American actress. ... Adam Jared Brody (born December 15, 1979) is an American film and television actor. ... Jessica Claire Biel (born March 3, 1982) is an American actress and former fashion model best known for appearing in several Hollywood films such as Summer Catch, the remake of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and The Illusionist, as well as for her early television role of Mary Camden in the... Not to be confused with John Stewart or John Stuart. ... Rachael Domenica Ray (born August 25, 1968 in Cape Cod, Massachusetts) is the host of the Food Network television programs 30 Minute Meals, $40 a Day, Inside Dish, and Rachael Rays Tasty Travels. ...

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

American Pit Bull Terrier

• Clubs, Associations, and Societies
  • American Dog Breeders Association
  • Working Pit Bull Terrier Club of America
  • Pitbull Federation SA
  • National dog breeders council of SA
  • UKC Breed standard

• Directories and Informational Pages
  • The APBT FAQ
  • Our Pitbulls
  • Working Pit Bull - Official Pit Bull Site of Dianne Jessup
  • Man Bites Dog
  • [6] - Ontario's Ban on Pit Bull.
  • LawDogsUSA - LawDogsUSA is a 501(c)3 (pending) nonprofit organization whose sole purpose is to provide law enforcement agencies with high quality narcotics, explosives and arson detection dogs - free of charge.

• Misc. & Other Links
  • A Little Vicious - Immy Humes' American tragicomedy about a pitbull on death row
  • American Pitbull - Braverman Production's documentary about the breeders and the breed (in production)
  • Bad Rap
  • For Pits Sake
  • Pit Bull Rescue Central

Image File history File links Commons-logo. ...

References

1. ^ http://www.attorneygeneral.jus.gov.on.ca/english/about/pubs/dola-pubsfty/dola-pubsfty.asp#TOC_03
2. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7jhrxy0HKs
3. ^ [1]

• Popular Dogs Series: Bully Breeds magazine
• American Pit Bull Terriers - Fact or Fiction by Dawn Capp book