American Pit Bull Terriers or in everyday life just "pit bulls" only seem scary and dangerous. In fact, they are very smart, loyal and adorable in their own way. You just need to take into account some of the features of the breed, which we will talk about today!
General description of the breed
The Pit Bull is a powerful fighting breed. They are descended from American Staffordshire Terriers, and the dogs are really very similar, only the Amstaffs are slightly larger. Life expectancy is from 8 to 15 years, and strongly depends on conditions.
Origin story
The breed is about 300 years old, and it was bred as an ideal fighting unit. Presumably, the ancestors of pit bulls were brought to America from England and Ireland. Already there, the breed was improved and used in dog fights due to an amazing combination of strength, endurance and reaction speed. Because of this, scary myths about terrible killing machines have emerged.
For some time, it was even forbidden to breed pit bulls, and their numbers were strictly controlled. But now the situation is back to normal, and the breed is again very popular in the USA and Russia. By the way, pit bulls are successfully used by the police to search for explosives and drugs. Terrible dogs have become excellent companions and workers of rehabilitation services.
Pit bull: breed standard
Although pit bulls seem powerful, they are not too large - up to 27 kg and up to 53 cm at the withers. There are two main subspecies of the breed - terriers and bulldogs. Because of this, a spread in appearance and even in size is permissible - from 12 kg.
The pit bull has short hair of any color, except for marble. It adheres tightly to a strong body with pronounced musculature, without undercoat. The large head looks like a wide wedge, and the tail tapers and hangs down. The almond-shaped eyes are set wide apart, the jaw and cheeks stand out. The ears are cropped at will.
Scottish Fold cats: description, character and care
Pit bull character
In real life, a pit bull is a cheerful and cheerful dog. But they are very active, so you need to work with them regularly and for a long time, because an ill-mannered and bored dog can be really destructive.
Features and temperament
American pit bulls are very smart, albeit stubborn and willful. They are hardy, courageous and self-confident, and cowardice is considered a vice of the breed. In everyday life, a socialized dog is affectionate and playful.
Attitude towards the owner
A pit bull will be loyal and obedient, but only if its owner is a strong and strong-willed person. Such dogs are suitable for active and self-confident people who have enough free time. Socialized pit bulls are friendly and not a hassle.
Attitude towards children
Pit bulls, despite their formidable reputation, easily get along with children and will not offend the baby. So you can safely start a dog even in a large family, but the main owner should be one.
Relationships with other animals
Pit bull terriers do not get along well with animals and most often see them as competitors. This can only be avoided if the puppy grows up with other pets from the first months. For the same reason, we do not recommend keeping two same-sex dogs.
Pit Bull Care
Caring for an American Pit Bull is little different from any other dog. They are not capricious at all, especially if you teach the puppy to the procedures from childhood.
Conditions of detention
A pit bull can be kept in an apartment, but he definitely needs regular physical and mental stress. The dog should not be left outside, because without an undercoat, it easily freezes or overheats. If a pit bull lacks activity, it becomes anxious, ruins things, and may even show aggression.
Hygiene
You need to bathe the pit bull less often, unless the dog is very dirty.Usually it is obtained once every 1-2 months, but it is important to control the water temperature (38 degrees) and then not go outside for at least 3 hours. But it is desirable to comb it out with a brush regularly.
A couple of times a week you need to brush your dog's teeth, starting with the farthest. Clean your ears every week and check your skin frequently for mites. The eyes are rinsed as needed. It is strictly forbidden to use products with alcohol or salt to care for the pit bull.
Walking
It is imperative to walk a Pit Bull Terrier at least twice a day, and at least one walk should be more than an hour. He needs to run, play and solve various problems. Please note that due to physiological features, an adult dog does not empty the bladder at once - it needs time.
Education and training
The first and foremost rule: it is forbidden to train a pit bull to be aggressive towards a person. It is best to deal with such a difficult breed with an experienced dog handler. Pit bulls are not recommended for beginners because they are difficult to master without experience. Otherwise, they learn easily when they clearly understand what they want from them. It is not training that is important here, but education and socialization.
Pomeranian: breed description and care (60 photos)
How to feed a pit bull
Pit bulls grow very quickly and gain muscle mass, so the nutrition is appropriate. Small puppies are fed 6 times, after six months - three times, and from 8 months - 2 times a day. Be sure to change clean filtered water twice a day.
The puppy needs 100 g of meat and the same amount of vegetables every day, some offal, about 50 g of cottage cheese and milk. Rice, millet, buckwheat or oatmeal in milk will do. At 7-8 months, much more portions are needed: 600 g of meat per day. When the dog stops actively growing, this amount can be reduced to 450 g.
When choosing a ready-made feed, pay attention to the percentage of proteins in the composition - it should be less than 25%. It is imperative to control the balance of calcium and phosphorus, because an excess of them is just as dangerous as a shortage. Even if you feed your pet special foods, sometimes it needs raw vegetables and cartilaginous bones.
We recommend eliminating sugar, flour products and excess animal fats, such as butter or fatty sour cream. Being overweight is dangerous for pit bulls, so don't overfeed. Give me lighter food in the morning and more nutritious food in the evening.
Breed health and disease
Pit bulls most often suffer from typical diseases of working breeds. At high loads, problems with the heart, blood vessels and joints may appear. But the first signs are easy to distinguish on your own - the animal gets tired quickly and breathes heavily.
Also, pit bulls have hormonal disorders, and especially - problems with the thyroid gland. It is important to control this, because deviations do not always appear externally, but lead to hidden pathologies. Sometimes there is an allergy, but otherwise Pit Bull Terriers do not cause problems.
Small dog breeds: names and photos (catalog)
How much does a pitbull cost
The price of a pit bull puppy depends on its pedigree and starts at 7 thousand rubles. A dog with documents will cost from 15 thousand rubles, and from a good kennel - about 35-45 thousand.
Pitbull (American Pit Bull Terrier) - photo
Pit bulls have their own unique charm and unique beauty. Just look at the photo!
