The American Pit Bull Terrier (APBT) is a breed of dog.

History

During the nineteenth century, dog fanciers in England, Ireland, and Scotland began to experiment with crosses between Bulldogs and terriers, looking for a dog that combined the gameness of the terrier with the strength and athleticism of the Bulldog. In the late 1800s to early 1900s, two clubs were formed for the specific purpose of registering APBTs: the United Kennel Club and the American Dog Breeders Association. The United Kennel Club was founded with the registration of an American Pit Bull Terrier and was the first registry to recognize the breed. The dog was bred first to bait bulls and bears.  When baiting bulls was deemed inhumane, dogfighting became more popular, and the APBT was used in the sport. With time, the dogs became more commonly used as house pets due to their friendliness towards people.  In America, farmers and ranchers used their APBTs for protection, as catch dogs for semi-wild cattle and hogs, to hunt, and to drive livestock.  The dog was used during World War I and World War II as a way of delivering messages on the battlefield. The name "Staffordshire Terrier" was adopted by some owners as a way of distancing the breed from a name with a stigma, and was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1936. Later, the word "American" was added to reduce confusion with its smaller British cousin, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier. Once an extremely popular family dog in the United States (for example, the dog in The Little Rascals movies and in Buster Brown was an APBT), the American Pit Bull Terrier's popularity began to decline in the United States following World War II in favor of other breeds.

Appearance and Size

The American Pit Bull Terrier is a medium-sized dog. It has a short coat and smooth, well-defined muscle structure. Its eyes are round to almond shaped, and its ears are small to medium in length and can be natural or cropped. The tail is thick and tapers to a point. The coat is glossy, smooth, short, and slightly coarse and can be any color. It is a common mistake to refer to dogs of many other breeds as a "pit bull" - thus "pit bull" has become an umbrella term for dogs that share some common physical characteristics. Breeds such as the Dogo Argentino, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, and American Bulldog are just some of the 30 easily mistaken breeds. 

Personality

The APBT is a breed that is loyal to friends and family, and is generally friendly towards strangers. People have been known to be afraid of them because of their bad reputations. Nonetheless, an APBT can be a very congenial pet. Proper training can make the dog obedient and have a high desire to please. Without proper guidance, though, the breed can become dominant and destructive. According to the UKC, "aggressive behavior toward humans is uncharacteristic of the breed and highly undesirable."  A study done by the CDC showed that "pit bull type" dogs accounted for the majority of dog related fatalities in the United States between 1979 and 1996, though the study admits some limitations in its data. These attacks were proven to be by pit bulls that were highly under socialized. The American Temperament Testing Society shows a pass percentage of 84.3% for American Pit Bull Terriers.  Still, a firm, even hand and early obedience training are best. They generally have a lot of energy and high prey drive ; they need exercise and stimulation in order to channel their energy properly and not become frustrated, bored, and destructive.

Wikipedia and GNU

The content of this entry is from the Wikipedia article "American Pit Bull Terrier" licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.