The Pit Bull Terrier is an active and courageous dog, an “athlete of the canine world”, endowed with excitement and the will to win. The breed is not suitable for lazy dog breeders who are not ready for constant activities with the pet and persistent training.
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Description and characteristics of the breed
Terrible rumors about the inappropriate behavior of pit bulls are often circulated in the press. They are accused of assaulting animals and people. Only dog owners, breeders who breed the breed, and dog handlers can judge the bias of such an attitude.
There is no other dog that would cause so much controversy and ambiguous judgments. The pit bull has a terrifying look, bright temperament, strong jaws and a not-so-good breeding history.
The pet will cope with any task assigned to him by the owner. With a sharp mind, he lends himself well to training.
It can be a companion, hunter, athlete, security guard or just a pet. He is distinguished by perseverance, and the desire for victory, unlimited devotion and the desire to please the owner in everything.
Pit bulls are surprisingly friendly, they are ready to lick the owner’s friends, but his enemies are better off. It is almost impossible to unclench the jaws of a dog that closed on the limbs of the enemy; she will give her life without hesitation for her master.
Pit Bull Terrier Origin History
The ancestors of the pit bull terrier - the bulldog and terrier gave him their best qualities. Bulldog - strength and endurance, terrier - quick reaction. The breed appeared in America when dog battles were popular. Dogs participated in bloody battles with their own kind, they are genetically embedded in zoo aggression.
When the fighting was banned, the pit prefix in the title remained from the bloody past of the pit bull terriers. Translated, it means "pit for fighting."
The reputation of tailed gladiators turned out to be spoiled; they were forbidden to breed in most countries of the world. Pit bulls are dogs not recognized by FCI.
To preserve the unique genotype, the breed of pit bull terriers was divided into two parts, a new standard was established for color, weight, height, amstaffs appeared. But adherents of pit bulls remained in many countries. The breeding was not limited by the strict scope of the standard in appearance, the main thing for the breeders was the unique temperament and working qualities of the dog.
The purpose and nature of the dog
Many breeds have lost their true character because breeders focused on the exterior rather than the psyche and character of the animal. Pit bulls are lucky, owners of nurseries are more interested in their temperament than color, size of the head and other parts of the body.
Due to the excellent sense of smell, representatives of the breed are used in the service of the American and Russian police. At customs, they help find drugs and explosives.
With a good upbringing, the pit bulls get along well with other dogs. Strangers are most often wary, do not allow themselves to be ironed, refuse to take food from the wrong hands. But causeless aggression is never shown.
They also should not respond aggressively to external stimuli emanating from strangers, unless the owner gave the command to attack.
Pit bulls achieve excellent results in canine sports. It gives them great pleasure not only the training process, but also the excitement of competition, where you need to exert all your strength to win.
Breed standard and puppy selection
According to the cynological organization registering pit bulls, there is a certain breed standard. Since it does not have clear boundaries that determine height and weight, it is more like a description. Kennel owners themselves choose the characteristic type for their dogs, which does not contradict the requirements of the standard. Each breeding line is unique.
General description of the breed:
- body weight up to 30 kg;
- growth up to 50 cm;
- any coat color other than merle;
- wide muzzle and powerful jaws;
- rectangular head with convex cheeks;
- ears are erect, cropped and uncropped;
- eyes are oval, any color;
- the nose of any color;
- a muscular back and a tucked up stomach;
- the chest is not very wide, but deep;
- the tail is small, low set;
- limbs of medium size, muscular;
- the coat is short, smooth, has no undercoat;
- character, confident, friendly and brave, devoted to the owner.
When breeding, the weight, height and color of the pit bull terrier are not of particular importance. Therefore, when choosing a puppy, experienced dog breeders are advised to get around several nurseries. Dogs of different breeding lines can differ not only in appearance, but also in temperament. It is worth paying attention to the fatness of the kids, their general condition and behavior.
You can see the nature of the puppies during the game and feeding. The breeder must submit documents proving that the litter is registered in the club, puppies are healthy and vaccinated. At a certain age, the puppy card changes to another document.
Maintenance, care and feeding
It is impossible to keep a pit bull on a leash or in an aviary in the yard, it is a pet dog. Since she does not have an undercoat, in the winter she will die from the cold.Short hair does not require special attention, it is cleaned with a stiff brush, washed as needed, using a special shampoo.
A pit bull terrier dog needs special attention from the owner. She is walked 2-3 times a day, taken to training. Pit bulls live for about 15 years, rarely get sick. Some animals suffer from dysplasia of the hip joints, hereditary eye diseases, food allergies.
Since Pit Bull puppies grow quickly, they need high-quality food for proper skeleton formation.
All the necessary nutrients, vitamins and minerals are found in dry feed. From about 8 months old, dogs begin to build muscle, they need a lot of protein. The type of food should be selected according to the age of the dog.
Basic rules of feeding:
- do not give food from your table;
- observe the diet (for an adult dog, this is morning and evening);
- feed only after a walk and exercise;
- choose high-quality food of super premium class.
If you go out with a pit bull for a walk after a hearty breakfast, it can easily happen inverted intestines due to the structural features of the gastrointestinal tract.
In addition to dry food, it is useful for your pet to give kefir, yogurt, cheese, some vegetables and fruits.
The prohibited products are:
- grapes;
- broccoli;
- mushrooms;
- onion;
- sweet pastries;
- chocolate and sweets.
In the daily menu of the dog should not be fried, fatty foods, white bread, boiled and raw bones, corncobs.
How to train and educate a dog
Pit bull terrier puppies are surprised at everything new, and do not trust strangers. This is a normal reaction, but an adult dog should not be afraid and avoid a person.
During the upbringing of the puppy, they go through a training course with him for the main teams. For a restless pit bull, this is very important.
The dog consistently develops complete obedience to the owner, so that she can come up on command, sit down, stop. Ideally, you need to complete a full training course with a dog handler.
When the puppy appears in the house, he is given as many toys as possible from different materials, of various shapes, so that he has the opportunity to play and develop a lot.
Pit bull shows are popular all over the world. They collect a large number of enthusiastic spectators and dog owners with pets. In front of the public, tailed athletes compete in hanging on a rope, dragging cargo at speed, jumping in height and length. Fashion for such competitions came to Russia from America and Europe. For successful athletes and victories, tailed athletes need regular training.
Pros and cons of the breed
The American Pit Bull Terrier is well suited as a guard and bodyguard, but it can behave too emotionally. How a puppy grows up depends entirely on the owner.
All the pros and cons of the breed are hidden in its upbringing.
It is necessary to stop the dog’s attempts to dominate any member of the family. The benefits include a sharp mind, perseverance, the will to win, fearlessness and the power of pit bulls.
Contrary to numerous publications in the press, pit bull terriers are not aggressors towards people. An uneducated dog can attack the attack from fear, which the owner has not trained to obey and adequately respond to external stimuli. The need for constant training and control can be attributed to the downsides of the breed.
By nature, choleric pit bulls, they need to move, run, do something. They are involved in various sports - frisbee, freestyle, coursing.
How much is an American pit bull
There are pit bull nurseries in Moscow, St. Petersburg and other cities. When buying a puppy with an official pedigree registered in an international organization, the price can reach up to 25 thousand rubles. For pets without documents, this price is overpriced.
The average cost of ordinary pit bull puppies is about 7 thousand rubles.
It is impossible to meet a dog with a Russian pedigree, since the RFK did not recognize this breed.
Before you start a pit bull, you need to weigh all the advantages and disadvantages of the breed, soberly assess your capabilities. If you show weakness in the relationship, and allow the dog to dominate, it can cause a lot of trouble. The nature of the adult pet is completely dependent on education and training.
