The Loyal Working Companion Dog: American Pit Bull Terrier

This kind of dog is known for its aggressiveness to other dogs but as a pet they will be your companion. These dogs are well known for their intelligence and loyalty and are also very protective of their owners. Many people mistake them for staffies, which is short for Staffordshire terrier but this is not a staffie. An American pit bull terrier is a mix of two dogs, a terrier and bulldog. They are of their own kind and cannot and should not be referred to as staffies. I have seen the UKC shows and I have never seen a pit bull on it.

These are some things that the owner may want to know about pit bulls. They are classified as terriers by the kennel organizations, hence the full name, American Pit Bull Terrier. They are equally happy indoors or outdoors, although we tend to keep ours indoors the majority of the time because they love being around us. They are very social dogs and will go bonkers if you don't give them a lot of attention.

These are also short haired dogs with coats that are shiny and smooth although they do come in a great variety of colors. We currently have a female that is black with a white chest and nose and another that is the desired red nose variety that is red all over. He also has golden eyes and is one of the most beautiful pits I have ever seen.

American Pit Bull Terriers vary greatly in size as well. The dog that my son has is only around 45 pounds while his father was about 90 pounds. They range from thirty to over one hundred pounds depending on their lineage and are usually from 18 to 24 inches tall although I have seen some larger.

As with any dog they should be bathed on a regular basis to keep them clean and free of irritants. You should also brush them twice a month and rub them down with a towel or rag to shake off loose hair. Also be sure that they get plenty of exercise so that they will sleep well at night. If you are exercising them in public always keep them on a leash to avoid any accidents.

Due to their fierce loyalty and protectiveness it is best that you socialize the animals with as many people and other animals as possible when they are young. If you do this you will avoid the problems that many people have with them when they are older. I have had several and none of them have been aggressive. It is all in how you raise them.