What is a pit-bull?
 

Hi all. So Zoe is my first "pitbull". Her actual breed is APBT. I hear and read a lot about how pit-bull isn't really a breed at all but a nickname of sorts given to dogs with similar characteristics big head, short snout, stocky etc... Then I will find another page or site that from the wording seems like pitbul is a breed all in itself, one particular kinda dog. I was thinking if so then pitbull it would be the APBT but then at the vet's office I was talking to a woman. She was scared of Zoe, said she was a dangerous dog and that my kids were in danger. She went on to tell me that if I paid for her I got ripped off because the APBT is just a mix of other bull dogs? She said that the APBT is a "knock-off" breed from the staffordshire bull terrier and a pit bull is an entirely different breed. So if that is true then what is a pit bull? Is it just a nickname that kinda lumps all these different dogs together? Is a pit one particular kind of dog? I need a crash course on the specifics of this breed. I try to advocate for the breed when I get a chance, tell how they are loving and quite good with children. I try and explain that every dog can attack and no dog should be thought of as harmless, they all have instincts and drives we cant understand. I read an article a few months ago about how the APBT was initially bred to take down large animals like bulls and even bears, then I read one that states that the breeds whole purpose was just to fight. I have encontered people who say my APBT is a mutt and not a true pitbull at all, that only staffys are pitbulls?? So whats the deal guys?

Ok where to start lol.. the general public uses "pit bull" when reffering to APBT, staf BTs, bull terriers, american bullies and a lot more but really there is only one true "pit bull" and it is the American Pit Bull Terrier.

The ancestors to the APBT were bred as bull fighters but the actual APBT was bred soley for dog fighting. Ancestors to the APBT were created using a bull dog / terrier cross.

The Pit Bull, or the APBT is a breed all its own, and recognized by kennel clubs as such. They are not rip offs of any breed. And that lady you were talking to sounds like the definition of ignorant.

There are tons of great stickies all over the forum about history and more!

The lady you talked to was sadly misinformed.

"Pitbull" is more of a slang term than a breed. It can be applied to an American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, sometimes American Bulldog and any mix of the above. You are correct in thinking that "pitbull" can be used for most any stocky, well muscled, block headed looking dog.

You seem to have a pretty good handle on the "dangerous to kids" part.

An APBT comes from old time bull baiting dogs mixed with terriers starting a couple centuries ago. Ish. They've been around long enough to be their own breed as far as I'm concerned.

The Amstaffs were actually an offshoot of the APBT, not the other way around.

Pits were used for farm dogs and cattle and hog work. I've never heard of them being used on bears but that doesn't mean it didn't happen. Yes a lot of pits were bred to fight and that is the history that is most often repeated.

Thank you both!

Have any pictures of your dog?

Love your dogs name! http://www.pitbull-chat.com/images/smilies/smile.png Stick around. You sound intelligent and this BREED can use all the people with some basic common sense it can get! http://www.pitbull-chat.com/images/smilies/smile.png

Go buy any book by Richard Stratton, preferably start with This is the American Pit Bull Terrier.

kamdon, yes I do have quite a few, for some reason I can only get one up and its several months old....I upload them but they never show up, strange indeed but please see the one I do have, it was after bath time and she was chillaxin on the couch! Thank you Zoe, I have two sons with no plans atm to try for another baby and I love the name so I gave it to my doggy daughter http://www.pitbull-chat.com/images/smilies/tongue.png