Dog: Pitbull Dog - General, Recognition, Features, Temperament, Legislation, Types, Photo, Video

American pit bull terrier

The American Pit Bull Terrier (American Pit Bull Terrier) is a breed of dog, originating in the United States, that arose from the breed of bull-and-terriers, imported from the United Kingdom in the 19th century. like fighting dogs until these events were banned in 1976; They are currently raised as pets and athletes in legal sports (although it is still the breed of choice in dogfights, now held clandestinely).

Not to be confused with other physically similar breeds: Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Bull Terrier, American bully, American Bulldog, and even breeds such as the Dogo Argentino.

General

Name

The name confusion began when, in the early 1930s, the American Kennel Club decided to separate the breed as the American Staffordshire Terrier, in order to differentiate it from the American Pit Bull Terrier, which was the breed that was used as a fighting dog. The American Pit Bull Terrier has not been recognized by the American Kennel Club, while the slightly heavier and more robust American Staffordshire Terrier has been recognized.

Recognition

The American Pit Bull Terrier is a pure breed of dog and internationally recognized by various organizations, such as the Alianz Canine Worldwide, International Canine Kennel Club and World Kennel Union. And it is nationally recognized in its homeland by the UKC (United Kennel Club), ADBA (American Dog Breeders Association), NKC (National Kennel Club), APDR (American Preservation Dog Registry) and AADRI (All American Dog Registry International).

It is not recognized by the FCI and some other similar organizations, as the creators of this breed see it as a functional breed, and they mostly believe that recognition by organizations that promote only aesthetics could harm its functionality. Therefore, there is no effort for the Pit Bull to be recognized by organizations that only appreciate beauty.

Pit bull features

The APBT (American Pit Bull Terrier) is a medium-sized dog, males usually weigh 16 to 27 kg and females 13 to 25 kg. They are of athletic build and their breeding is primarily focused on the character and performance of the functional dog.

The bad reputation of this breed is mainly due to the fact that in the United States they were used as fighting dogs, although it is currently a crime. These animals continue to suffer violence and mistreatment from some breeders, who train them to fight. Currently, in more than 200 counties in the United States, it is a prohibited race, its possession is a crime. It is advisable to socialize with other dogs from puppies so that at adulthood the aggressiveness towards other animals is less.

Temperament

The UKC gives this description of the American Pit Bull Terrier character

«The essential characteristics of the American Pit Bull Terrier are strength, confidence and joy of life. This breed overflows with enthusiasm. APBT are excellent family partners. Because most APBTs present some level of aggression towards other dogs and because of their powerful physique, they require an owner to socialize and train them in obedience. The breed's natural agility makes it a very capable canine climber, so a good fence will be necessary. The APBT is not the best option for a guard dog, as they are extremely friendly, even with strangers. Aggressive behavior towards humans is not characteristic of the breed and is highly undesirable. This breed handles very well in performance events or sports, due to the good level of intelligence and its willingness to work. ”

In the U.S., of 41 dog deaths in 2016, 22 were the work of pit bulls.

Legislation

In many countries there is special legislation for potentially dangerous dog breeds. For example, some governments, such as Australia, have banned the importation of specific breeds, including the pit bull, and require the castration of all existing dogs of those breeds in an attempt to slowly eliminate the population.

In Malta it is illegal to have a Pit Bull Terrier, and if those dogs are brought into Malta, the responsible person is tried and the dogs caught and killed. In Spain, Colombia and Chile they must use muzzle and strap when walking; if it does not meet these requirements the owner is fined.

In Venezuela, from 2010, each copy must be registered with the municipal authorities. However, these animals must remain permanently in captive conditions.

In Bogotá (Colombia) they are on the "dangerous dogs" list, along with other breeds such as Tosa Inu and the Fila Brasilero. This decree obliges them to be registered with a local mayor's office, to buy insurance, and only to walk around with their muzzles and ties. Your commercial breeding is prohibited.

In Spain it is considered as a potentially dangerous breed of dog by Royal Decree, so for its possession the License for possession of potentially dangerous dogs must be obtained and registered in the corresponding Municipal Registry of potentially dangerous animals. One of the things required to obtain this license is to have third party liability insurance.

FIAPBT Standard

Head: an exaggerated head will simply make you carry an excessive weight that will reduce its functionality when carrying out any type of work. An APBT, to all intents and purposes provided on the head, should appear two-thirds the width of the shoulders and be 25% wider on the cheeks than on the neck at the base of the skull. From the back of the skull to the stop, it should be the same distance as from the stop to the tip of the nose. The snout will be straight and square. The depth from the highest part of the head to the lowest part of the jaw is important. The jaw is closed by the temporal fossa muscle, exerting the pressure that the animal needs on the mandibular coronoid process. The head will have a wedge shape seen from above or from the side, and when viewed from the front it is round. Dogs with long lips are not accepted.

Eyes: The eyes are round, separated from each other and located in a low position.

Denture: Scissor closure (preferred), pincer and slight prognathism are allowed. The most important thing in the teeth of an APBT, which also, the official judges of this breed of dog is what they take into account in an examination of the standard, are the fangs, which the upper ones must slide behind the lower ones.

Nose: Black or red.

Neck: The neck should be strongly muscled to the base of the skull.

Rear Train: This is the powertrain of any four-legged animal. 80% of an APBT's work is done on their hips and hind legs. A long and inclined hip is extremely important, as it will give more support to the femur, and this should be shorter than the tibia. The hip should be wide. As it is in this way it will carry with it a wide lumbar area, thus allowing a large surface area for the insertion of the gluteal and biceps femoris muscles, which are the largest motors of the powertrain.

Front: The dog must have deep ribs. They are wide top, narrowing towards the bottom. The ribs house the lungs, which are not deposits, but pumps. The ribs act like a bellows. Its effectiveness is related to the difference between the volume of contraction and expansion. The depth of the ribs gives more room for larger lungs. The shoulders should be slightly wider than the ribs at the eighth rib.

Too narrow shoulders will not support adequate muscle structure, but also too broad a shoulder structure slows the animal down and adds too much unnecessary weight. The scapula should be 45 degrees or slightly less angle to the ground, and it will be wide and flat. The elbows should sit flat, with the humerus almost parallel to the spine.

The elbow has to go below the ribs. The forearm should be only slightly longer than the humerus and it should be thick and solid, almost twice the thickness of the metatarsals at hock height. The front legs and shoulders must be able to withstand a lot of work and their thickness here can be a virtue. The feet should be small and inserted high in the frogs or loops.

Tail: The tail will be inserted low; It should be long until a little before reaching the hocks.

Although we are used to visualizing a Pit Bull as an American Pit Bull Terrier, the truth is that there are many breeding lines with the same genetics, but with different physical and behavioral characteristics.

The American Pit-bull terrier is the base specimen, obtained from multiple selections during breeding work to obtain the strongest, most homogeneous and resistant specimens. Let's see how many breeds share the Pit-bull genes and which one may be the most suitable for you.

TYPES OF PITBULL

These are the breeds that currently share Pit-bull genetics, their physical characteristics and personality are highly variable, and so it is highly recommended to study them thoroughly before deciding to adopt one.

Remember that no dog is bad in origin; just some breeds are stronger and energetic, so they need more intense training and exercise on a daily basis. Many of these Pit-bull types are not recommended for inexperienced people.

American pit bull terrier

Possibly the best known and widespread breed for being considered the original, among all types of Pit-bull dogs today. Its physical appearance is that of a medium-sized dog of about thirty kilos in weight.

Forty centimeters tall and a fairly athletic body, his hair is short and brown, mottled, white or black. Being an important characteristic of the breed the famous white spot that they present on the chest.

This breed is very active and energetic, making it mandatory to exercise daily to eliminate excess energy, which can cause stress. His temperament is affectionate at the family level, although very territorial and dominant with other dogs and unknown people.

It is not a breed for people with little experience in the canine field, or for people with a lazy personality. Since it requires strong discipline and training.

Pit-bull puppies are commonly known as little gladiators, for their way of playing against each other, always in the form of a fight (although without damage).

On the other hand we can also find an important variant that is officially recognized by the ADBA, the Pit-bull terrier Red Nose, which is characterized by having the brown truffle (nose), as well as its hair.

Although its origins are not very clear, there is a theory that an Irish Pit Bull mix with an American one.

The Blue nose Pit-bull is also a different line and well known for having the color of the gray truffle, as well as the color of its hair. It is not accepted as a breed since it is a variation of the Pit-bull, but with different characteristics.

American Staffordshire terrier

Colloquially known as American Stanford due to a pronunciation error, and on many occasions also mistaken for the Staffordshire bull terrier.

Among the different types of Pit-bull this is an improved version of the well-known Pit-bull terrier, it descends directly from it, but larger and stronger specimens were selected during the breeding work.

So at all levels, the Am staff (American Staffordshire terrier) is a superior dog than the standard Pit-bull. It can reach forty kilos in weight and can even measure fifty centimeters at the withers, data that confirms its superior size.

Character is active, dominant and self-confident. He is not as impulsive as the American Pit-bull terrier but we must not provoke him ... he is quite a watchdog.

It requires daily exercise, discipline and a healthy diet to keep you happy. By doing work you will feel fulfilled so it is not convenient to have it alien to the family.

It is not advisable to adopt the BLUE variable, which is characterized by being gray (hair) and having blue eyes. These factors are due to a genetic defect, so it is not right to promote the breeding of the blue.

Staffordshire bull terrier

Lovingly known as Staff, the Staffordshire bull terrier has little to do with the Amestaff mentioned above.

The Staffy's character is very cheerful and smiling, even playful. Among all types of Pit-bull this is a very active specimen so he loves to exercise, ideal for lovers of exercise, hiking or mountaineering.

Unlike other types of Pit-bull dogs, it is not as dominant and therefore not as prone to being aggressive. However, it is a strong and intelligent dog, if it sees itself in danger it will not hesitate to show its full strength.

Its physical size is somewhat smaller, reaching twenty kilos in weight and forty centimeters in height at the withers. Although its muscular complexion will immediately make us see that it is a great little dog.

Bull terrier

The Bull terrier is also classified as one of the descendant breeds of Pitbull genetics, although its size and physical appearance is somewhat different because other breeds were also used in breeding work.

Colloquially known as the face-cone dog or shark dog, due to its elongated snout, it is a medium-sized dog that hardly weighs more than thirty kilos.

As a companion dog he is extraordinary, very attached to his family and somewhat stubborn. But with other dogs and / or animals it is a danger, since its territorial instincts make it a very impulsive dog.

Although it is not listed as a potentially dangerous dog in Spain, its strong physical complexion makes it not a recommended breed for people with no experience in dog education.

Chamucos

Raised in Mexico, it is known as the Mexican Pit Bull, although in reality, it is much smaller in size, although stronger and more muscular than the American Pit Bull Terrier.

During the breeding work the strongest specimens were always selected, giving rise to the Chamuco that we know today. Within the wide range of types of pit bulls this is small but very powerful.

It is an extremely strong breed, not even a large person could hold it if they decide to pull on the leash to try to attack another dog or animal.

So obviously, it is not a really recommended breed, since it is difficult to control. Today it is used as a guard or companion dog, although always in the hands of expert trainers.

American Bully

Obtained from the crossing of the American Pitbull Terrier and the Staffordshire terrier, it is a strong and muscular dog, with a physical appearance similar to Monster Blue.

Colloquially known as Bullypit, it can reach fifty kilos in weight and have a height of up to forty-five centimeters at the withers.

The character of the American bully is dominant and territorial, so as a puppy he must receive an intense and disciplined education. Being a physically very strong dog, we should not make the mistake of training it for aggressive purposes.

At home he has a fairly calm demeanor, although on the street it is quite an earthquake that loves to walk, run and enjoy outdoor stays enjoying the mountains, like almost all types of pit bulls.

Pitbull Dog Photo :