Pit Bull

“Pit Bull” is an umbrella term that encompasses several dogs developed from bulldogs and terriers, rather than a single breed of dog. The facts about such dogs reveal that they are all “bully” types with a common origin in ancient Molossers, sharing traits of loyalty, protectiveness, and affection. They were originally used to pull down large game such as wild boars, bull baiting, bear baiting, cattle herding, and pit dog fighting. They are also “terrier” types, that is, medium and large-sized terrier breeds used as working farm dogs to kill vermin, hunt, and guard property and people.

The 5 Different Types Of Pit Bulls And Pit Bull Mixes

The facts about pit bull ancestry show that they originated from bulldogs and terriers. Here are the types of pit bull dog breeds:

• English Bull Terrier: A “bull-and-terrier” or “bull-type terrier” breed developed from Old English Bulldogs and Old English Terriers.
• American Staffordshire Terrier: Also called the Amstaff and originally the Staffordshire Terrier, its ancestors are mastiffs, Old English bulldogs, and Old English terriers.
• Staffordshire Bull Terrier: A descendant of the Old English Bulldog and the Old English Terrier.
• American Pit Bull Terrier: The original “pit bull” developed from crossing bulldogs with terriers. It is similar to the American Staffordshire Terrier but is smaller and more athletic.
• American Bully: Also called the Bully Pit, it is descended from a stocky strain of American Pit Bull Terrier crossed with Old English Bulldog, English Bulldog, and American Bulldog.

Here are a few common pit bull mixes that exist:

• Pitbull Lab
• Pitbull Mastiff
• Old Pit Bulldog

3 Pros And Cons Of Owning Pit Bulls

Size And Weight

These dogs are medium-sized with short hair and an average height of 15 to 19″ for males and 14 to 18″ for females. Males weigh 29 to 80lbs fully grown, while females weigh 24 to 75lbs fully grown. The puppies weigh 4 to 8 lbs on average at 8 weeks and are typically fully grown between 12 to 18 months.

Common Health Issues

Pit bulls are usually healthy dogs, but each breed may encounter specific health issues. The American Pit Bull Terrier, in particular, tends to have more health issues than other breeds and encounters them more often, such as demodectic mange, skin allergies, and hip dysplasia.

The English Bull Terrier’s health issues are deafness, heart disease, skin problems, lens luxation, hereditary nephritis (kidney disease), and OCD-related spinning behavior.

The Staffordshire Bull Terrier’s health issues are cataracts, distichiasis (eyelash deformity), mastocytoma (a type of tumor), and persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous (an eye issue).

Its American counterpart, the American Staffordshire Terrier, has health issues dealing with skin problems, allergies, tumors, and cerebellar ataxia.

The American Bully’s health issues are hip and elbow dysplasia, heart disease, and allergies. In sum, the common health issues among these breeds are:

• Heart disease
• Skin problems
• Eye problems
• Hip and elbow dysplasia
• Allergies
• Cancer

These dogs have average to long lifespans. The American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, and American Bully all have a lifespan of 12-14 years. The lifespan of the American Pit Bull Terrier is 10-14 years, and the English Bull Terrier is 10-15 years.

Temperament

Pit bulls are active, loyal, friendly, affectionate, easygoing, intelligent, strong-willed, and courageous pets. The “pibble” personality has playful, social, and protective traits. These dog types are a popular choice for families given their temperament, especially those with older children. Their behavior is silly, obedient, and stubborn, so they act like puppies into adulthood. The origin of their friendliness is in their development since they weren’t initially bred to be guard dogs.

This does not mean that because of their personality, they cannot be watchdogs or guard dogs, though. These dog types were used to herd cattle, watch livestock, and pull down bulls and bears. Their behavior can be dangerous if they want to be and attack people with indifference or insensitivity to pain, making them fearless and tenacious toward anyone who threatens their family. These traits, along with their physical strength, make them all-around great working dogs and companion animals.

How To Take Care Of A Pit Bull

Although pit bulls are a dog-type group, they all share some similarities in their physical makeup and constitution. Owners should be aware of them and read up on the details of the specific breed they wish to have. Whether it’s joint dysplasia, or heart, eye, and skin problems, they have special needs for their diet and care.

Food And Diet

Pit bulls are medium-sized, stocky dogs that enjoy being athletic and playful. They, especially puppies, have unique health considerations as a dog-type group. New owners should consider the following facts when choosing food for their pets:

Puppy dog food: Pits have big appetites, and puppies are no exception. You’ll want a diet that provides clean animal protein as the first and main ingredient, along with some amount of vegetables or whole grains and fruit for additional nutrients. Additional calcium and phosphorus support growing bones. Feed your puppy 2 to 5 times a day.

Adult dog food: Animal protein and fat are incredibly important to keep your adult dog healthy. The inclusion of probiotics, eggs, brown rice, or a combination of meat and fish meal is ideal. Look also for fatty acids and DHA. The fat-to-protein ratio should be a minimum of 50%, while a lack of high-risk preservatives minimizes the risk of cancer.

Maintenance And Grooming

All pit bulls have a short coat and need little grooming. Although they have minimal shedding, they are not hypoallergenic.

Training

These dogs indeed tend to act aggressively around other dogs, but they can learn tolerance after training and on-leash meet-and-greets with other dogs. The earlier you have your pup trained and socialized for a variety of dogs, people, and situations, the better. They excel with training, even as adults.

Exercise

This breed needs a minimum of 1 to 2 hours of exercise a day, although they wouldn’t say no to more. They love stimulating activities, so you’ll want to include something other than walking and running. Examples are a treadmill, playing fetch, a spring pole, a joy ball, hiking, high jumping, and obstacle courses. However, they do get tired, and sometimes they just want to lie on the couch. Let your dog tell you if it wants to exercise or not, rather than forcing it.

Puppies

Even as a puppy, the pit bull is strong and fast. You’ll want to start exercising early on, with 5 minutes per month of age. Include toys and add stimulating activities as your puppy grows.

Pit Bulls And Children

These dogs are very good with children. Never leave small children around them unsupervised, since pit bulls are big and can accidentally hurt them. You’ll want to make sure the environment is safe for the children and never mix their toys together.

Dogs Similar To Pit Bulls

Dogs that are similar to pit bulls include bulldogs, bully kuttas, and bull mastiffs.

• Mastiff: Descending from the Molossus, mastiffs are more laid-back than pit bulls and have jowls.
• Boxer: The result of crossing the now-extinct mastiff-type Bullenbeisser with an English bulldog has similarities to pits, such as body shape and being used for hunting, but boxers are larger.
• Rottweiler: Another breed that is often discriminated against, rottweilers are descended from mountain dogs and have a stronger bite than pit bulls, but pits are faster and more athletic.

Famous Pit Bulls

This breed is widely known through military advertising and children’s comedies. Some examples of pits that made the spotlight are:

• Bud, the dog that came with Dr. Horatio Nelson Jackson when he made the first road trip across the United States.
• Sergeant Stubby, a dog that captured a German spy and was the most-decorated dog of WWI.
• Petey, the mascot of the Little Rascals shorts from the 1920s.
• Grunt, the dog that played the role of Alex’s companion in the 1983 movie Flashdance.
• Champion, the three-legged dog April and Andy adopt from the pound on the NBC show Parks and Recreation.