Pit bull breeds have been misunderstood and confused as the dog itself. This article clears the air by giving you information on the different types of pit bulls.
Did You Know?
The pit bulls were brought to America by the British immigrants. They are considered to be the descendants of bulldogs.
Think pit bull, and what comes to mind is a dog with a large head, wide jaws, a muscular, stocky body and a short coat. Indeed, the pit bull’s appearance can seem intimidating to some and endearing to others. As descendants of the European dogs trained specifically for vicious modes of ‘entertainment’, pit bulls have had a past ridden with misfortune and tragedy. As their abuse at human hands continue, these dogs or any breed with the slightest of resemblance evoke feelings of dread.
Pit Bull Breeds
The term ‘pit bull’ encompasses a wide variety of dog breeds, which explains all the confusions surrounding them. A few consider Bull Terriers, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, and American Bulldogs as pit bulls, owing to their striking similarity with regard to head shapes and body types.
However, if one considers the origins of these dogs as the determining factor, only the American Pit Bull Terrier (APBT) and the American Staffordshire Terrier (AmStaff) can be called ‘Pit Bulls’.
The general consensus within experts is that it is not possible to correctly identify a pit bull breed only on the basis of visual clues. There are several dogs, including Boston Terriers, Boxers and Bullmastiffs sharing similar physical characteristics as the pit bull. Therefore, the best way to identify one is by knowing about the dog’s lineage.
About Pit Bulls: Remember
The American Staffordshire Terrier and The American Pit Bull Terrier (APBT) belong to the same lineage. Staffordshires were named by the American Kennel Club (AKC), and American Pit Bull Terriers by the United Kennel Club (UKC).
American Pit Bull Terrier (APBT)
The APBT is a medium-sized dog with a muscular body. It has a smooth, short coat with varying colors and is quite glossy. The ears are small to medium in length and can be naturally floppy or cropped. The tail is small, thick and tapers to a point. Its height ranges from 17 to 21 which is 43 to 53 cms at shoulders. Females weigh between 30 and 50 lb and males weigh between 35 and 60 lb.
American Staffordshire Terrier (AmStaff)
The AmStaff’s looks are quite similar to the APBT, especially with regard to their coat’s colors and feel. The two breeds differ mainly on two grounds – height and weight; the AmStaff is slightly heavier and taller. This breed was named, thus, by the AKC, so as to differentiate it from the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, an English breed.
Types of Pit Bull Terriers
Color Variants
Pit bulls constitute only two individual breeds, the APBT and the AmStaff. These dogs come in various colors like black, brown, red, chocolate and there’s even a Moo Moo variant out there.
Other Variants
Remember that as with the case of any other dog, the color of the coat has no bearing on its personality or behavior of the Pit Bull. Furthermore, one keeps hearing or reading about blue-nosed or red-nosed pit bulls, but be aware that these are not independent breeds of dogs, but mere coat colors.
A Loyal Partner
Pit bulls have performed excellently as police dogs in the military as well as animal-assisted therapy. Known to be loyal by default, these dogs will go to any lengths to please their master, which probably did their undoing, as they can be trained to attack and maul, as much as cuddle and love.
A Source of Joy
Pit bulls are an endless source of joy to anyone who treats them with love and affection, and trains them to be loyal and friendly. If you’re planning to get one yourself, know that neither does this athletic and enthusiastic breed’s training period ever really end, nor does the unconditional love that you receive.
