American Pit Bull Terrier

Description:
This dog is known to be the authentic canine gladiator. Pit bull terriers have medium sized and they weigh anywhere from 17 to 30 kilograms. Females weigh between 15 to 25 kilograms. Their head is slightly long and triangular. They have flat skulls and the biggest part of their head is at their ears. Their cheekbones are prominent; the nose is square, wide and deep. Many people cut their ears and if you are interested in doing this you will need to find out about the laws regarding this matter in the country you live in. Their eyes should be round and their neck slightly arched and muscular. They have very strong shoulders and open and inclined shoulder blades. The back should be short and strong looking, slightly arched in the lumbar area. They have deep chests but it should not be too wide. They have long legs and the bones on these should be rounded. The hocks should be low and straight. They come in different colors and their coats are short and hard to the touch.

Ideal owner:
The pit bull terrier is a good family dog and they tend to be a lot more tolerant around children then most breeds, believe it or not. This is a dog that must be taken out on a leash when in public areas since it has a tendency to get into fights with other dogs; they remain true to the tendencies of their ancestor terriers. This breed needs to have a very responsible and careful owner; if you are not this type of person naturally, then this is not the breed for you. This breed needs to have a very educated and sensible owner. Studies have shown that around 40 percent of these dogs are aggressive with cats and other animals. This is a breed that has very fixed ideas but they really love their owners and they are very athletic. They can be quite soft when it comes to discipline or very stubborn. They enjoy home life as well as doing physical activity outdoors.

Growth:
Pit bull terriers come in many different sizes so the size they are when they are born varies. However, the average size of a six to seven week old is between five to seven and a half kilograms. They reach adulthood at around two years of age, although they grow to their full length at around the age of one year. This is a breed that must be well fed and that needs a lot of socialization and exercise as well as consistent training. It has been observed that the aggression they show towards other animals occurs at around eighteen months of age; from this stage on the owner's job is to always keep a leash on the dog when going out to avoid any mishaps.

General health:
According to breeders, this breed has a tendency to hereditary and congenital problems including hip dysphasia. However, the future owner of this breed will also need to check jaw prognathism, loose articulations, and excessive bone and muscle mass over the shoulders. Probably one of the biggest disadvantages the pit bull has is it's own strength, as well as its tolerance to pain. Broken teeth, and broken ligaments are not an uncommon thing. This breed needs a lot of exercise and very good consistent training. Do not motivate this breed to become aggressive.