IDEAL BREED CHARACTERISTICS

Size: Males and Females 19 to 23 inches (at the withers).

Appearance: Broad, strong, athletic body with compact motion.

Coat and Color: Short, stiff, firm coat. Any colors, patterns or markings permitted.

Head: Wide, flat skull with a long, square muzzle; dark, round eyes; cropped or natural ears.

Tail: Medium length, tapered, strong and slightly curved.

1. Excellent housedog being of medium size with a short glossy coat, no shedding.
2. Sound temperament, the result of breeding and care while being raised.

3. Intelligence and willingness to please his/her owner. Many dogs have done well in Schutzhund and obedience work.

4. Stockwork. An Ohio farmer and a Texas rancher have both said their Pit Bulls were far more efficient than previously owned other breeds.

5. The first United Kennel Club "Total Dog" was an American Pit Bull Terrier owned in California and of the Colby strain.

6. Courage. This above all separates them from all other breeds.

7. Pals for Children. Because of their courage and trustworthiness, the Pit Bull Terrier makes an ideal companion for children

The Breed's Original Purpose

Humans have created very specialized dogs through emphasizing desired traits and eliminating unwanted ones. It is no different with the Pit Bull breed. The American Pit Bull Terrier has been "selectively" bred for hundreds of years to fight other dogs. This is the sad "work" these dogs were created for. In the same way that Labradors were bred to retrieve birds, APBTs were bred to face other dogs in mortal combats. Even in dogs that are not recently bred from fighting lines, the urge to fight can arise at any time. Not to strongly emphasize this fact would be negligent.

That said, we can't blame specialized breeds for behaving like they were bred to. Certain specific traits were selectively bred into the dogs and are now part of the breed's character. It's like the digging instinct of many Terriers, the herding behavior in Shelties, the compulsion to run in Greyhounds, etc. Your Pointer may have never spent a day on a real hunt, but he may still point and flush birds as his ancestors were bred to do.

We don't have to condone or glorify it, but dog-aggression is not uncommon with Pit Bull dogs. Owners must recognize and accept this fact or they wont be able to provide competent ownership and have fun with their dogs.

It's a mistake to think that the fighting gene can be easily trained or loved out of a dog, or that early socialization will guarantee your Pit Bull will always get along with other animals. There are precautions to take when owning Pit Bulls, especially in a multiple-dog environment. Unfortunately these precautions are often viewed as an acceptance for the sport of pit fighting when nothing could be further from the truth. We believe that knowing how to avoid a fight, as well as how to break it up if despite all efforts one strikes, is proof of smart and responsible Pit Bull ownership.

Never trust a Pit Bull not to fight...
It is not necessarily a hate of other dogs that will cause Pit Bulls to fight, but rather an "urge" to do so that has been bred into the breed for many generations. Pit bulls may fight over hierarchic status, but external stimulus or excitement can also trigger a fight. Remember that any canine can fight, but Pit Bulls were bred specifically for drive, intensity, and determination to win.

Pit Bull owners must also be aware of the remarkable fighting abilities of this breed, and always keep in mind that Pit Bulls have the potential to inflict serious injuries to other animals. A Pit Bull may not even be the one starting a conflict, but he has the genetic to finish it. Remember that Pit Bulls are almost always blamed no matter who started it, and often end up paying the price at the hands of the authorities - So does the owner!

With all that said, some Pit Bulls get along great with other pets and may live happily with other dogs without any incidents. We just can't assume that this is true for all of them, or take it for granted. Pit Bull owners need to have common sense and to make sure they will not set their dogs up for failure by putting them in the wrong situations.

Every negative incident involving a Pit Bull adds to the breed's reputation and jeopardizes our right to own these great dogs - Keep your Pit Bull out of trouble!

In closing, please remember that animal-aggression and people-aggression are two distinctive traits and should never be confused. Unless they have been very poorly bred and/or specifically "trained" to attack humans (often by undesirable individuals through abusive methods), Pit Bulls are by nature very good with people. They are in fact one of the most loving, loyal, friendly, and dedicated companions one can have.

We hope this article will help people understand why so many of us are deeply dedicated to these wonderful dogs. Not only do Pit Bull dogs need more help, compassion and understating than any other breed, but they will pay you back with more love and loyalty than you could ever dream of.