Often mistakenly grouped with similar breeds, the American pit bull terrier is characterized by specific physical attributes.
In the past several decades, pit bulls have become one of the most misunderstood dog breeds in America. In addition to a reputation which has become disproportionately negative in terms of behavioral characteristics, the name pit bull is often incorrectly used in identifying non-pit bull breeds. The only recognized pure pit bill is the American pit bull terrier (APBT), which, while sharing common ancestry with other breeds, has its own distinct characteristics and history.
Breed History
The official history of the American pit bull terrier dates back to the 1800s, when dog enthusiasts in Scotland, England, and Ireland first crossbred terriers and bulldogs. According to the United Kennel Club (UKC) these breeders sought to combine "the gameness of the terrier with the strength and athleticism of the bulldog." The experiment was a success and the result was officially recognized by the UKC in 1898, when UKC founder C.Z. Bennett registered his own specimen of the breed as an APBT. Brought to the United States by immigrants in the latter part of the 19th century, APBTs were used to oversee livestock, for hunting, and as companions. For more than 160 years APBTs were trusted and resourceful members of American families, at times entrusted with the task of babysitter. In the first half of the 20th century they also appeared frequently in advertisements and entertainment, which utilized the positive nuances of the breed. This all changed in the latter half of the 20th century as a new image of the APBT as aggressive and unreliable began to emerge. Despite studies which have demonstrated the equable temperament of the breed, as well as growing advocacy to dispel stereotypes, breed-specific laws banning or regulating the breed have been enacted in certain states and municipalities.
Breed Specifications
Recognized by the United Kennel Club (UKC) and the American Dog Breeders Association (ADBA), the APBT is distinguished from other related breeds by its distinct appearance. Ranging in weight from 30 to 60 pounds and having a solid medium-sized build and short hair, the APBT is identified by the comparative proportions between body length in contrast to body height and leg length in contrast to body height. The tail of an APBT should be short, with a thick base which "tapers to a point." In addition, the shape and size of the head, which according to the UKC should be "of medium length with a broad, flat skull, and a wide, deep muzzle," also helps in identifying the breed (see Reference 2). With the exception of the merle pattern, APBT coloring is not limited to a set standard.
Blue Nose and Red Nose Pit Bulls
With the varied coloring and color patterns exhibited in the APBT breed, misinformation on the bearing these characteristics have on the breed are common. This has resulted in the incorrect identification of certain types of APBTs as distinct breeds, including the red nose and blue nose pit bull. However, breed type is not characterized by coloring but rather by size, musculature, skeletal and tail development. Coloring, on the other hand, is determined by line type, which is created by breeding programs meant to achieve a specific appearance. Therefore, a pit bull exhibiting a blue or red nose is not its own breed but in fact an APBT with a distinguishable coloring.
Related Breeds
While the APBT is the only breed which can be accurately called a pit bull, the American Staffordshire terrier and the Staffordshire bull terrier are often called pit bulls. One of the reasons for this grouping is the shared ancestry of the breeds. All three come from the same genetic combination of terrier and bulldog, but due to different breeding standards have branched into distinct breeds. The American Staffordshire terrier (AST), also known as the Amstaff, did not become a different breed until the middle of the 1930s when some APBTs began to be bred to be less aggressive. However, the AST and APBT are more alike than different, with some dogs having dual-registry under both breeds. The Staffordshire bull terrier (SBT) have characteristics much like the APBT and AST but are smaller than the AST. Noted for their calm temperaments and ease with children, they have earned the nickname "nanny dogs." One notable different between the APBT and the others is breed recognition. While the AST and the SBT are recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC), the APBT has been repeatedly been termed a "non-breed" by the AKC despite the origins of other recognized AKC breeds from the APBT breed.
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