American Pitbull

American pitbull terrier is a very devout and loyal dog breed.

It is a common breed that is seen working as companion dogs or Therapy dogs due to its friendly nature towards humans.

It is so much loving in nature towards humans that it does terribly when made to work as a guard dog.

American pitbull is a medium-sized dog with a muscular structure and lean body fat.

The canine looks like its flexing its muscles all the time.

It is very energetic, playful and has a soft corner for kids, making it a really good house pet.

Quick Facts

Avg. Weight: 35 – 65pounds (male); 30 – 60 pounds (females)

Avg. Height: 18 – 21inches (male); 17 – 20 inches (female)

Life Expectancy:  8 -15 years

Dog Group: Terrier Dogs

Colors: Black, White, Brindle, Fawn, Tan, Blue, Grey, Brown, Red

At A Glance

Size (3/5)

A pit bull terrier is a medium-sized pooch.

It can grow up to 21 inches in height and 65 lbs in weight.

Its size, just like any other dog breed, depends on gender, exercise, genes, and food that is being fed to it.

Affection Level (5/5)

American pit bull is overwhelmingly affectionate when it comes to loving humans, may it be kids, neighbors or an unfamiliar person.

It is quick in bonding with humans and especially cares wholeheartedly for its family.

Apartment Friendly (3/5)

An apartment will do well in case of a pit bull puppy but in case of a full-grown adult, it may not suffice.

Pit bulls are energetic dogs that need space to expend their energy or else they can grow grumpy which in turn makes it much worse for an apartment styled living.

They are also one of the best climber dogs, so make sure you have big fences around your yard.

Cold Weather Tolerability (2/5)

Pit bulls don’t do well in cold weather as they have a short coat and low-fat content in their bodies making them vulnerable to cold.

Make sure to make them wear a warm coat when going out for a walk or play.

And always keep them inside the warmth of the house, leaving them out in cold can make them ill and can prove to be fatal.

Hot Weather Tolerability (3/5)

Like most of the short coat dogs, these dogs are fairly better at tolerating heat than cold weather.

But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take preventive steps to keep your dog healthy.

Never keep your dog out in the sun for too long, keep it perfectly hydrated throughout the day.

Take it out for walks or to play at relatively less hot times of the day like morning or evening.

Barking Tendencies (3/5)

These dogs are not exceptionally noisy in nature and can bark when alarmed or to alarm their owner.

Cat-Friendly (1/5)

These dogs don’t get along with cats.

They can be trained to behave themselves or socialized with cats since puppyhood.

Even if they seem to be getting along well, never leave the two alone or unattended for long.

Dog-Friendly (1/5)

American pitbulls were originally bred to take down larger animals and so they do comparatively less good in blending with other dogs.

They are fairly more aggressive and less tolerant of other dogs.

However, well socialization since the puppyhood can help in making them well behaved.

But still, never leave a pit bull with other animals unattended.

Exercise Needs (5/5)

These are really energetic dogs and from the look of these dogs, you can get that they need some good amount of exercising.

But this doesn’t make them very much inclined towards exercise as much as some other dogs.

Even moderately fulfilling their needs of exercise can make them satisfied.

An hourly play and an hourly walk every day can keep them at their best.

Grooming Needs (3/5)

Due to the fact that pit bulls have a short coat, they are fairly easier to groom.

Their short coat makes them a wash and wears a dog that needs bathing once in 2 to 3 weeks.

The only challenge is that these dogs shed and shed throughout the year.

Amount of shedding depends on each individual.

Brushing it every 2 to 3 days can help you keep the dog clean as well as the house.

Playfulness (5/5)

A pit bull has a lot of energy and its desire to keep people pleased makes it really playful.

It can keep kids busy and make their day when in a park or yard.

Trainability (4/5)

Yes, these dogs are fairly trainable due to their nature to please their owner, which makes them fulfill their wishes and listen to what they say.

Also, these dogs are also intelligent which eases the task of training them.

They need an experienced owner to look after them.

Intelligence (4/5)

American pitbull terrier is an intelligent dog.

They have a mind to understand the intent of their owner and family.

Mouthiness (5/5)

Painless biting, nipping or teething on fingers, hands, and homely objects like furniture and curtains, is a trait that is shown by various dog breeds.

It just varies in degrees in different breeds.

This breed, in particular, is very mouthy in nature and so as an owner you should never run out of chew toys and meaty bones to take care of its mouthiness.

Price Group (1/5)

Pitbull price can be heavy on the pocket as it ranges from $2000 – $20000 depending on the bloodline and breeder’s reputation.

Decent bloodline might cost $800 – $1000.

Grey pitbull with blue eyes is one of the most expensive pit bulls that can cost well over $8000.

About American Pit-bulls

An American pitbull is a very suitable family pet as it has a nature to please humans and adhere to their commands and wishes.

It is also well behaved with kids and neighbors.

In fact, it loves people so much that it does miserably when made to do tasks like guarding.

It has a strong structure with muscles bulging out near the shoulders and legs.

It has a strict stature but isn’t as ferocious as it may look.

The owner should be experienced in keeping dogs as this dog can be hard for the first-timers.

The owner should be controlling and alpha-like to have command over it.

This dog doesn’t do well with other dogs or animals as it was a breed bred to hunt big animals and the traits still remain.

All types of American pitbulls showcase this trait in different degrees.

Yes, socializing them since puppyhood can make them better behaved but still, you should not leave a American pitbull with other pet or animal alone for too long.

Pit bulls make good companion or therapy dogs.

They are a people’s dogs and so they do well in a family with kids and dog-friendly neighborhood.

Where Does American Pit Bull Come From?

American pitbull origins can be traced back to the British Isles from the mid of 19^th century.

It is a mix of old English terrier and old English bulldog which are now extinct.

Their mix produced a breed that was strong and agile.

It was initially bred for games like bull bait or bear bait in which the dog had to be strong enough to take down big animals.

Then it was used for inter dog fights as with time many dog welfare laws had come up banning bull bait and other such games.

Inter dog fights were illegal as well but these were easy to conceal from the law.

It was introduced to America in the late 19^th century and was used as a catch dog to herd cattle.

It also continued to enter the dog fights there.

Their image was that of a ferocious beast and many homes that adopted it complained about it killing the house cat and so its reputation went deeper underground.

But, with time its friendly and loving nature towards humans came to be known giving it space in households.

The American army used the pit bull as a mascot in the propaganda posters of WWI to symbolize their country.

Size

American Pitbull can grow up to 21 inches and 65 lbs in weight.

To make these dogs grow right and grow well, you should give them an adequate amount of exercise every day and a good proportionate diet.

Feeding it too much can make it grow overweight.

It is a medium-sized dog but, its muscular stature makes it look buffed and big.

Trainability

Yes, these dogs are fairly trainable and their intelligent nature makes them easier to train.

These dogs need to be socialized since the beginning so as to see them well behaved when around other pets.

American Pit bull need positive reinforcement while training instead of negative as it can make the dog anxious and reserved with time.

It might also develop fear from the trainer.

You have to have patience in training this dog, as it is quick in picking up on the training but still may take time in learning some parts.

Making repetitions and staying adamant on making it learn will make it learn what you wanted it to.

American Pitbull will do well in training as they are people, pleasers, and love, to comply with their human companion.

Grooming

American Pit bulls are a wash and wear dogs that have a short coat.

It is due to their short coat that they need very less amount of grooming.

Bathing them once in 2 or 3 weeks is sufficient to keep them clean and tidy.

Bathing them too often can strip off the essential oils from their coat and make their fur dry.

Combing their coat every 3 days keeps the loose hair off the coat and help in spreading the natural oil throughout making the coat healthy.

These dogs shed throughout the year but their coats are so short, that the hair goes unnoticed, especially that of the black American pitbull.

But keeping the pit bull groomed can help in keeping them as well as the house clean and tidy.

Feeding

A pit bull needs to eat at least 3 times a day that is breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

It should be fed with full cups of dry kibble and the food should contain more proportions of protein than carbs.

An American pitbull puppy should be fed only 2/3^rd of the cup and 2 times to 3 times a day.

It should also be given treats as treats give your pooch a break from the taste of the routine meals and are also nutritional.

It should be given 2 to 3 meaty bones per week and make sure the bone given is big enough to not fit in its mouth.

Take care and do not overfeed your dog, overweight is a common issue being tackled by a lot of dogs and their owners and it can be problematic for the dog’s health.

Giving it some veggies will help in keeping it bowel healthy and fit.

Suggested: Senior Dog Food

To know about what to feed and what not to feed your canine, check out what do dogs eat.

Common Diseases

Targeting The Bones

• Hip Dysplasia

It is an inherited disease which causes improper development of the hip joint which in turn causes arthritis.

This condition should be analyzed early and be looked after to minimize the damage or pain.

In severe conditions, it is better to go for surgery to cure arthritis.

The condition can be determined by taking the x-ray of the bones and joints of the hip and shoulders.

This condition also develops in dogs that are overweight or obese and so always try to maintain your dog’s weight.

• Patellar Luxation

It occurs with the shift in the knee cap from its place and sizing up.

It can only be corrected by surgery which is painful for the dog and fairly expensive for the owner.

It is caused due to over-exercising.

Targeting The Skin

• Demodicosis

The Demodex mite lives inside all dogs and stays dormant in a healthy dog that has a strong immunity.

90% of the chance the mite’s attacks can be deflected but in 10% cases, the mite is successful in setting the mange.

It can cause weakness in a dog and also weakens the immune system.

Spaying and neutering are the best steps an American pitbull owner can use to prevent the mange.

• Atopy

It is a skin allergy that makes the dog itchy and to an extent that the dog might damage its skin by constant itching.

It is caused by pollen dust, human dandruff, feathers, and such elements.

Targeting The Eyes

• Cherry Eyes

Cherry eye or prolapsed gland of the third eyelid is occasional swelling of the eye gland due to disposition.

This causes the eye to get red.

This has no known cause yet and can be cured by injecting anti-inflammatories or by surgically removing the tissue.

• Entropion

In this condition, the eyelids roll inward and cause the eyelashes to come in contact with the cornea.

As the dog blinks, with time this contact between the cornea and the eyelashes causes depletion of the first layer of the cornea causing irritation and pain.

It can be operated and corrected if looked after early.

Targeting The Body

• Ichthyosis

It is a degenerative disease which means it is genetic which is caused by a continuous process based on degenerative cell changes.

This particular disease causes thickening of skin and pads of the dog’s paws.

This can be really painful for the dog and the only solution is to put down the dog to spare it from the suffering.

It is hereditary in nature.

Vaccination And Care

American pitbull terrier is generally a healthy breed, but like all other dogs, it needs to be taken care of in the right manner.

Give your pit bull a clean and tidy environment to live in and feed it with a good quality dog food or food-specific for pitbull that are there in the market.

Also, feed it with natural food like chicken, milk, rice, fish, and fruits.

Along with feeding right, you have to also take care that your dog gets enough exercise per its daily requirements.

This prevents obesity or undue weight gain which can be harmful in the long run.

Keep the pooch groomed as it can prevent a lot of infections and keeps the bacteria caught from outdoors from harming the dog.

Vaccines against distemper, parvovirus, hepatitis, parainfluenza, leptospirosis, and rabies are a compulsion in America and should not be skipped. Read our Guide To Dog Vaccination to have a better idea of vaccines.

A puppy should not be put back into its regular exercise routine immediately after the last shot.

The owner should wait for at least a week or 10 days before making the dog crawl back to the park.

FACT-ILICIOUS: “It is the most favorite dog breed of the famous rapper Snoop Dogg. He once had a kennel of 20 pit bulls while living in California.”

Monthly Expense Estimation

American pitbull is heavily expensive breed as a pup from genuine bloodline costs around $4000 and the good ones can cost around $15000 to $ 20000.

The 1st year of bringing a pet home can be expensive which is estimated up to $1300 but after that, each year’s cost is estimated to $500 including health checks, food, and grooming that is $40 to $50 per month.

Behavior With

• Kids

Bringing in a dog at home can be of great concern when you have kids.

But if you have a pet pit bull then stay worry-free as it does great with kids.

Even unfamiliar kids are welcomed by a pit bull and it gets along well with them.

Pit bulls are great companions of humans and they love to please people, and kids are just adorable to them.

• Dogs

Pit bulls were bred to hunt down big animals and so they don’t do well with other dogs.

Making them socialize since puppyhood can help them behave well with other dogs but it is still advised to not leave a pit bull alone with other dogs.

• Cats

Pit bulls do not get along with cats and can be dangerous for it.

They see cats as prey and try to hunt them down.

It isn’t that cats are an exception, these dogs were bred to be animal hunters and they have aggressive hunting genes.

Getting them to socialize with cats since the start can make them behave better but leaving them unattended with any animal, let alone cats, can be bad.

Overview

American pitbull is a mix of 2 extinct breeds of dogs, namely old English terrier and old English bulldog.

They originated from the British Isles and were used for bull-baiting or bear-baiting.

These were brought to America and continued to be seen in such sports.

With time Pit bulls got into the households after their human loving nature was seen.

These dogs love humans and like to keep them pleased.

This is the reason why these dogs are making a good companion dog or therapy dog.

These dogs are also easy to groom due to their short coat, but they shed throughout the year and so regular brushing can help keep them tidy.

Something to keep in mind about pit bulls is that never leave an American pit bull alone with another pet or animal.

They don’t do well with other pets.

If you have a pit bull at home, build tall fences over the yard as these dogs are really good climbers and can jump off the small fences and venture out alone.

Pit bulls are fairly expensive but their playful attitude and positively energetic nature towards makes them worth the expense.

What is your experience with a pit bull?

Do they really don’t get along with other pets or is it just a formed stereotype?

Let us know in the comment section below!