Breed
Overview and Information
"The American Pit Bull Terrier
will surprise you. It does not matter if you have years of experience
with dogs or have never owned a dog before; the APBT will surprise you.
Because of the many derogatory things that have been said and printed
about this breed, the real APBT will surprise you."
Joe Stahlkuppe, The American Pit Bull Terrier
Handbook, 2000, p vii
BREED INFORMATION
Introduction
Following is basic breed information for anyone who is interested in
acquiring an APBT, for those who already have one or more and would like
to learn more about the breed, or simply for anyone who would like to
understand these great dogs a little better. Note that there are many
great web sites for fanciers of this breed with information similar to
that shown in this text. Awareness about the qualities of
this great breed grows every day.
This short text discusses the most notable traits of Pit Bull type dogs,
those traits that makes our breed what it is, and yes, this includes the
potential for dog-aggression. You will learn here that while Pit Bulls
make great family companions in the right hands and living situation,
they require intelligent, responsible and dedicated ownership.
Unfortunately too many people obtain these dogs for the wrong reasons or
have little understanding of the inherent traits this breed possesses.
It is unfortunate that one of the original purposes of the APBT was
dog-to-dog combat, but it is a fact that cannot be denied or ignored. It
is very important that every potential APBT owner understands the
selective breeding that took place to make the dogs of today and the
inherited characteristics that are potentially within this wonderful
breed.
APBT Club of Australia Inc is committed to
informing current and future APBT owners so they will have a better
understanding of their dog and will provide responsible and caring
ownership.
Basic Breed Overview
American Pit Bull Terriers are wonderful animals who
deserve a chance to have a good life like any other dog. It is
important, however, to remember that American Pit Bull Terriers are not just any
other dog - they are a little more of everything a dog can be.
American Pit Bull Terriers have great physical and mental
characteristics that make them excellent partners for responsible,
active, and caring owners. On the other hand, these same outstanding
qualities can make them a little difficult to handle for people who
don't have a lot of experience with dog ownership or for those who don't
understand the breed very well. Luckily, APBTs are very responsive to
training and eager to please. It is therefore strongly recommended to train
them as soon as they have their most recent vaccinations. A well
behaved and obedient APBT will be a great ambassador for the breed and
help fight prejudice and misconceptions.
APBTs are very adaptable and will even do well in urban living provided
they have enough exercise or other positive outlets for their energy.
Many APBTs are easy going couch potatoes, but can also be quite
rambunctious until they mature. Maturity can come pretty late with this
breed (2 to 3 years old in some cases). APBTs remain playful all their
life and have a great sense of humor. These dogs will make you laugh
like no other.
American Pit Bull Terriers are strong, energetic, agile and powerful
dogs. They are also very resourceful and driven. "Determination" is one
of their most notable traits. Whatever they set out to do, they put
their heart and soul into it... Whether it is digging a hole in your
backyard or destroying your new couch when left home alone, or climbing
into your lap to shower you with kisses! They just don't give up easily.
Stahlkuppe (1995) writes "The American Pit Bull Terrier (APBT), or the
AmStaff, is certainly not the right pet for everyone. Being a powerful
dog, it will require sufficient and adequate control. Some prospective
elderly owners or children, will not be able to supply that control... A
first-time dog owner, in the minds of many experienced dog breeders,
should not buy an APBT!"
An insecure person who wants
only an aggressive dog to bolster some personal human inadequacy should
never become an owner of one of these dogs and these very owners have
unfortunately made life very hard for all of us. An uncaring or
negligent person should not buy an AmStaff or an APBT (or any other dog
for that matter).
Another very important characteristic of all Bull and Terrier breeds,
is their amazing love of people. These dogs are indeed remarkably
affectionate, and crave human attention. They are wonderful cuddlers and
nothing beats a belly rub. In fact, most American Pit Bull Terriers
think they are lap dogs!
Dunbar (1999) writes: "Today, a properly bred Pit Bull is so exuberantly
happy upon meeting her owner's friends (or even friendly strangers) that
new owners sometimes worry that their dog is too sweet and fun-loving to
protect their home and family... A multitalented companion, the
well-trained APBT is suited for a variety of exciting activities. He
excels at obedience, agility and weight-pulling competitions, events
which showcase intelligence, trainability and strength. In addition, the
American Pit Bull's pleasant nature makes him an ideal candidate for
therapy work with people."
Aggression towards humans, severe shyness, and psychological instability are not traits
typically found and accepted in the Pit Bull breed. Dogs with these
traits are not good representatives of the breed and should not be
placed into adoptive homes. In fact, for many generations APBT breeders
were destroying dogs with these characteristics.
Like any other breed, APBT could develop behavior problems if
mishandled, abused, poorly bred, unsocialized, etc., that could result
in inappropriate aggression. Any large, strong and powerful dog that can
attack can do a lot of damage. This is why serious temperament
evaluation is so important when dealing with dogs of certain size and
potential.
NOTE:
Unlike the myth propagated by the media though,
aggression towards humans is not a problem specific to the Pit Bull
breed. In fact, Pit Bulls tend to do better than average in temperament
tests.
The American Temperament Test Society provides temperament testing
around the country for dog breeds and provides a passing score for the
entire breed based on the percentage of passed over failed within total
number of that particular breed tested.
As of March, 2001, the American Pit Bull Terrier has a
current passing rate of 82.3%; American Staffordshire Terrier passes at
81.6%; and the Staffordshire Bull Terrier passes at 71.7%.
APBT type dogs make wonderful, loving, and very loyal
companions. It is important, however, to understand the breed's nature,
to provide a structured environment, and to establish a positive
leadership role. In order to do so, every APBT owner must understand the
original purpose of the breed and respect its limit and potential.
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 Bull
and Terrier 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 combat.
Even in dogs that are not recently bred from fighting lines, the urge to
rumble can arise at any time. Not to strongly emphasize this fact would
be negligent. We would be equally negligent if we were placing Beagles
into an adoptive home
and failed to educate the adopter about why the specific traits that
scent-oriented, hunting dogs, bred to work in packs, present certain
challenges to those who wish to obedience-train their hound.
We cannot blame specialized breeds for behaving in the manner in which they were bred.
Certain specific traits were selectively bred into the dogs and are now
part of the breed's character. Some examples include: 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 Bull and Terrier type dogs. Owners
must recognize and accept this fact or they will not be able to provide competent ownership and
have fun with their dogs.
It is a mistake to think the fighting gene can be easily trained or loved
out of a dog, or that early socialization will guarantee your APBT will
always get along with other animals.
APBT Club
of Australia Inc places special attention to educating members and
public about the special traits of the breed. We advocate education
about proper and responsible APBT ownership.
You can have all the dog
experience in the world, but it is also essential to understand the
distinctive features of the type of dog you own or work with -- in this
case, a dog with an important fighting background who requires extra
vigilance around other pets.
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 APBT ownership.
Take note that a fight can strike suddenly and for no apparent reason.
Warning signs can be very subtle with APBTs and even completely absent
in certain cases. Two dogs may be best friends for years, share a kennel, cuddle, play, even eat from the same bowl, and one day
something triggers one of the them and boom! Often, the dogs act like
best friends as soon as the fight is over. They might even lick each
other's wounds. You have been warned though - They will do it again and
get better at it every time.
Never trust a Pit Bull not to fight...
It is not necessarily a hate of other dogs that
will cause APBTs to fight, but rather an "urge" to do so that has been
bred into the breed for many generations. APBTs may fight over
hierarchic status, but external stimulus or excitement can also trigger
a fight. Remember that any canines can fight, but Pit Bulls were bred
specifically for it and will therefore do it with more drive and
intensity than most other breeds.
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 the hostilities but chances are he will fight like a
pro if he has to. Keep in mind 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.
With all that said, some APBTs get along very well with other pets and may
live happily with other dogs without any incidents. We personally have a
cat and our cat and APBT go for a walk with us almost every night. But
one cannot assume that this is true for all dogs or take it for granted.
Pit Bull owners need to have common sense and should not set their dogs up
for failure.
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! Don't let your champ bite some cur dog out
there! It's just not worth the trouble!
In closing, please remember that animal-aggression and people-aggression
should never be confused as they are two different traits. Unless they
have been very poorly bred and/or specifically "trained" to attack
humans (often through abusive methods by undesirable individuals), our
breed is by nature very good with people. They are in fact one of the
most loving, loyal, friendly, and dedicated companions one can
have. Many APBTs are indeed too people-oriented to make good guard dogs.
Did you know...?
