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Characteristics of the American Pit Bull Terrier

Given all that has been said, and all that one may have heard about the breed, there is no doubt that a question should have arisen in the mind of the average reader of this book. Why the Pit Bull? Why would any normal clear-thinking person want to own a Pit Bull? After all, we’ve admitted that this breed is essentially a fighting dog, haven’t we? We’ve admitted that the breed is often dog-aggressive and that many Pit Bulls can be “people-aggressive.” We’ve seen that many countries of the world do not allow ownership of Pit Bulls by their citizens. In some areas of the world where the Pit Bull may be legally owned, an insurance policy must be carried by the dog’s owner to protect him in the event that his neighbor is mauled!

The original purpose of the American Pit Bull Terrier, as a fighting dog, has given many the wrong impression that it is unsuitable as a pet.

HYPED UP

There are actually many sound reasons to own a little Pit Bull dog. In fact, when we remember that this breed lived among Americans for more than 100 years without anyone fearing it, we should begin to realize that the breed’s currently bad reputation is more a matter of “media hype” than it is a matter of bad dogs.

Any breed can become the subject of the kind of breed discrimination that the Pit Bull faces today. At one time it was the Doberman Pinscher that had this reputation in the US. For a while it was the poor Saint Bernard! After all, even the Bulldog of England is a dog of pure fighting origin, but nowhere in the world is it being proposed that we outlaw Bulldogs. In time, the hysteria surrounding the Pit Bull will pass and another breed will become the focus of the media’s attention. Irresponsible owners in search of an impressionable breed will turn their attention to whatever breed that will be and we will all wonder why we once thought that the little Pit Bull was an inherently dangerous dog. Until that time, however, we should discuss a few of the very positive qualities of this breed.

EASY-CARE DOG

One of the first characteristics of the Pit Bull breed that many of us will find desirable is its low-maintenance body style. The Pit Bull is a short-coated dog that does not shed excessively. An occasional brushing will keep the falling hair under control and keep the carpet clean. The Pit Bull is an energetic dog when out of the home, and the breed’s desire to take walks with its owner will keep its nails short and its owner, who will hopefully be on the other end of the leash, fit. Unlike the Bulldog, the Pit Bull is not a wrinkled dog and so there will be no need for regular cleaning of facial crevices.