American Pit Bull Terrier

Your American Pit Bull Terrier would take a bullet for you but would still be a lousy guard dog. That’s because they tend to become BFFs with everyone they meet when they’re properly trained and socialized. Contrary to what you may have heard, this friendly—even goofy—breed brims over with enthusiasm for humans (even strangers), and one of their strongest desires is to please their families.

With one of these pups at your side, you should be prepared for lots of sloppy kisses and a constant shadow following you everywhere you go. You couldn’t ask for a better family companion, and their well-noted love of children is a definite plus. While untrained Pitties can have a tendency to chase after small animals like cats or squirrels (thanks to their herding history), aggression towards humans is uncharacteristic of the breed, and biting is no more prevalent than among any other type of dog. With the right amount of patience and training, your pet can live peacefully with any four-legged sibling at home, once you make the proper introductions.

The athletic, high-energy American Pit Bull Terrier loves to play and needs a lot of mental and physical stimulation. Don’t even think about leaving them with a dog toy in your living room and calling it a day unless you want a chewed-up sofa. Boredom is lethal for this breed—these pups really want to hang out with you while also working their mind and body. The good news? The time you’ll be putting into their daily exercise and training is nicely balanced out by their relatively low-maintenance grooming needs.

The American Pit Bull Terrier has a life expectancy of 12 to 14 years and can be susceptible to a range of health issues. It is important to be aware of potential health problems, so you can help your pup live the healthiest life possible.

• Hip Dysplasia: This inherited disease is common in bully breeds. It causes their hip joints to form improperly and can lead to arthritis. If your pup has difficulty getting up or develops lameness in their hind legs, take them to the vet to get X-rays of their joints and have their arthritis managed with medication. In severe cases, surgery can be an option.
• Knee Problems: The cranial cruciate ligament (or CCL), which is one of the most important stabilizers inside the knee (in humans called the anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL), can rupture over time. When the CCL becomes damaged or torn in a dog, surgery is typically required to repair it.
• Skin Infections: A lack of zinc or an inability to absorb it could make your American Pit Bull Terrier prone to zinc-responsive dermatosis, a type of skin infection. To treat the symptoms, which can include lesions on the nose and foot pads or red, oozing skin around the face, vets can prescribe a regimen of zinc to add to your dog’s diet. Allergies can also cause skin issues. More on that below.
• Allergies: Bully breeds are very susceptible to a variety of allergic triggers and have chronic skin issues as a result. Allergies can be triggered by diet ingredients or environmental factors including pollens, grasses, flea activity, and dust mites inside the home. Affected dogs may develop symptoms that include itching, skin rashes, redness of the skin and hair loss.
• Blindness: Bully breeds are slightly more likely to develop cataracts as they age. Cataracts are cloudy areas that develop in the lens of the eye, causing affected dogs to have a progressive loss of vision. Symptoms may include a white, hazy appearance to the lenses, poor vision in low light, and clumsiness or disorientation in unfamiliar spaces. This condition can be treated with surgery to remove the cataracts.

The American Pit Bull Terrier is one of several breeds who can trace their origin all the way back to the now-extinct Old English Bulldog and Old English Terriers. Such dogs were crossbred to fight each other in the dog fighting pits of England.

In the late 19th century, European immigrants brought some of these dogs to the U.S. Here they found work on farms and ranches, catching hogs, hunting, driving livestock, and acting as family companions. As they gained in popularity, so did the desire for them to be officially recognized as a breed. In 1898, the U.S.-based United Kennel Club recognized the American Pit Bull Terrier, with the first dog to be registered belonging to the club’s founder. Then in 1909, the breed was recognized by the American Dog Breeders Association.

Meanwhile, back in the UK, dogs crossbred for pit fighting split off into two different breeds: Bull Terrier and Staffordshire Bull Terrier.
Notably, the APBT is not recognized by the American Kennel Club. In an attempt to separate the breed from their negative past as a fighter, the AKC decided instead to acknowledge a subset of the population, eventually settling on the name American Staffordshire Terrier. The first group were entered in the AKC registry in 1936, after the AKC was assured by breeders that they would not allow their dogs to be used for dogfighting.

All of these types of dogs fall under the umbrella term of “pitbull.”

Are you looking to add an American Pit Bull Terrier to your home as a pet? You can find a list of reputable breeders on the United Kennel Club website. The average American Pit Bull Terrier cost is anywhere from $1,300 to $2,500 for a pup who’s been screened for health and temperament issues and may even come with pedigree papers. You can also reach out to American Pit Bull Terrier rescue organization to adopt or keep an eye out for the breed at your local animal shelter. Learn more about adopting a dog.

American Pit Bull Terriers are known equally for their brawn as well as for their brains, but they need some love and help to reach their full potential. But seriously, don’t we all? Exceptionally energetic and friendly, these dogs require daily exercise for their mind and body and don’t like to be left alone for long periods. These loyal companions are teammates for life and will do anything to please their humans, but they do best with experienced pet parents who have the patience and time to keep them focused. Since they do love to engage in rough play, they should be supervised around young children.