American Pit Bull Terriers as Pets

One of the most misunderstood dog breeds is the American Pit Bull Terrier. People tend to love the animal or hate it; in some cases this is based on experience in others only rumor.

During the nineteenth century Bulldogs were crossed with Terriers in hopes of creating a dog with the gameness of the Terrier and the toughness of the Bulldog. This combination created a versatile dog which became a favorite of farmers and ranchers in Europe and the United States. Uses for the animal included hunting, moving livestock, protection, and family companionship.

The Pit Bull us a medium sized dog with full grown adults weighing in from twenty-two pounds to potentially one hundred pounds, and stand eighteen to twenty-two inches high. The dog is very solidly built and has very well-defined musculature.

The coat if the Pit Bull Terrier has a glossy sheen, is short but very thick and is smooth but stiff to the touch. To rid the coat of loose hair occasionally brush with a firm bristle brush. Also regularly rub down the coat with a chamois cloth to clean the coat as well as buff the glossy shine. The coat colors for the breed can be as simple as black or white or a variety of color combinations.

Despite the reputation the Pit Bull breed is one of the most loyal, devoted, good-natured, affectionate dogs available. The animal is extremely fun and intelligent with the energy and enthusiasm for frisbee and ball games. They are also big lovers of people and early socialization is needed to teach good manners. With older children the dog does very well, but smaller children do not mix well with them. With other animals in the home they do very well with ones they were raised with, but they will show aggression to other dogs and smaller animals. Though they are very protective of their family, the breed does not make a good guard dog due to their social tendency with people.

Pit Bulls are very active dogs which need to be exercised vigorously every day. Play time of chasing a ball, hiking, catching a frisbee, or running with a mountain bike are some of the activities that dog thrives with. If exercised sufficiently the dog can live in an apartment with no problems. Otherwise a yard will be needed for more exercise time.

Pit Bull ownership is not for everyone though. The breed has a reputation for being overly aggressive and in some cities ownership is regulated and even not allowed. This reputation is not necessarily deserved, as the dog is not at fault as much as the owner. The dogs tend to be aggressive with strange dogs and they possess a high prey drive. A responsible owner who can properly care for, train, and exercise them is needed to have a great dog/owner relationship. Vigilance is needed to ensure the dog does not roam unsupervised and remains on-leash when in public places. If aggression is ever shown toward a human being, which is actually uncharacteristic, the dog should be evaluated by a professional to determine the problem that needs corrected.