American Pit Bull Terrier Complete Profile

Key Facts:

Size: Medium
Height: 46 - 56 cm (18 - 22 inches)
Weight: 14 - 36 kg (30 - 80 lb)
Life Span: 12 years
Grooming: Easy
Exercise: Demanding
Feeding: Medium
Temperament: Confident & exuberant
Country of Origin: United States
AKC Group: Not registered
Other Names: Pit Bull Terrier, American Pit Bull

Temperament:
The American Pit Bull Terrier is confident, eager, enthusiastic, loyal, courageous, gentle and loving. American Pit Bull Terriers usually display some level of aggression toward other dogs and have tremendous strength. Therefore these dogs need a firm owner who can provide proper training and socialization. American Pit Bull Terriers are known for their love of children and it is uncharacteristic for them to show any aggression towards humans. They are not good guard dogs as they are generally friendly with strangers. If American Pit Bull Terriers have early contact with household pets they should get along without any problems. American Pit Bull Terriers can make excellent, loving and protective companions with early obedience training and socialization.

Grooming:
Periodic grooming with a firm bristle brush (particularly when the coat is shedding) is sufficient for the American Pit Bull Terrier. Rubbing the coat with a piece of toweling or chamois will bring out the natural shine.

Exercise:
American Pit Bull Terriers need a considerable amount of daily exercise. These dogs should be kept on a leash unless within a controlled environment to prevent any aggessive interactions with other dogs. American Pit Bull Terriers enjoy running alongside a bike, which is a good activity for them to burn energy.

History:
The American Pit Bull Terrier evolved from the Staffordshire Bull Terrier and other fighting dogs including the extinct fighting Bulldog. Their ancestors were brought to the Unites States in the mid - 1800's by Boston-Irish immigrants. They were originally bred to be fighting dogs until bull baiting was banned in England in 1835. There are differences in the classification of this breed between different countries. The American Kennel Club considers the American Staffordshire Terrier as a separate and distinct breed from the American Pit Bull Terrier, yet the United Kennel Club registers both breeds as American Pit Bull Terriers (APBTs).

Physical Characteristics:

General Appearance: Solid, powerful and athletic.
Colour: Any colour, colour pattern, or combination of colours is accepted, except for merle.
Coat: Smooth, glossy, close, and moderately stiff to touch.
Tail: Tapering and naturally extending from the topline. Carried low when at rest and carried level with the back when active.
Ears: Set high and may be natural or cropped. If the ears are natural, semi-prick or rose are preferred.
Body: The body is slightly longer than tall, but bitches may be somewhat longer in the body than dogs. The chest is deep and moderately wide with well sprung ribs extending well back. The back is firm and strong and the topline inclines slightly downwards. The loin is muscular and short and the croup slopes downwards.

Additional Comments:

American Pit Bull Terriers do not have a good reputation with their name, after being banned in some countries and having strict regulations in Great Britain and America. The American Pit Bull Terrier is as much a victim of the press as it is of it's historic breeding to fight other dogs. Some unscrupulous owners continue to abuse the natural strength and loyalty of these dogs by using abusive training techniques to produce fighting Pit Bulls. If this breed is trained properly from an early age they generally make highly companionable dogs.

Related Information of Interest:

Boxer's and Heartworms
It is surprising how many people are still confused about heartworms and the effects that a heartworm can have on
your Boxer.

First lets look at what heartworms are and how your dog can become infected.

Heartworms are transmitted by mosquitoes into the dog’s blood stream. The immature heartworms called microfilaria
travel through the blood stream.

The microfilaria settle into the heart chambers and major pulmonary blood vessels. This causes a blockage of the
blood flow and pathological changes to the surrounding tissues.

This blockage happens when the larvae grow into adult worms. An adult female heartworm can grow up to fourteen
inches and can live as long as five years.

A female heartworm can produce thousands of microfilariae, which is transmitted into a mosquito when it bites an
infected dog, and subsequently injected into the next dog that that mosquito dines on.

What Are The Signs That A Dog May Have Heartworms?

Usually the first system is weight loss. The dogs’ hair may become dull and brittle.

The infected dog also may tier easily.

A persistent coughs and or labored breathing.

In more progressed cases victims may vomit blood from ruptured lungs.

If the disease is not prevented or caught in time the result will be a slow painful death from congestive heart
failure.

What Do I Do If My Boxer Is Infected?

Treatment is available but it can cost hundreds of dollars, and may be ineffective depending on the degree of
infestation.

The best defense against heartworms is routine checkups with your vet. Giving your dog heartworm medication once
a month easily prevents heartworms.

Warning: You Must Have Your Dog Tested For Heartworms Before Starting Heartworm Medication!

About the Author

je Dunn has published several books on dogs and has free information all about dog training, health, and care at: www.boxerdogs-1.com/Boxer_Dogs.html Boxer Health Tips

7 Simple ways to safe Guard your dog this summer!
If you have a hard time in summer imagine how it must feel under a fur coat! here are some simple tips to help your dog beat the heat.

1) Bob The Hair:
If you have a shaggy dog like a pomeranian, Pekinese or any such variation then listen up. Your dog needs a hair cut. The hair should be cut with scissors and not shaved. Do not cut around the whiskers but you can carefully trim around the eyes.The less hair on your dog the cooler he will keep. If you have a short haired dog no need for a trim.

2) Play it cool: Food can be lighter and given before it gets hot in the morning and after it cools down in the evening.Depending on the dogs normal diet, reduce or entirely eliminate meat. Replace with soya, mashed or cooked with meat flavour. When a dog is panting give ice to lick.

3) walk on the mild side:
Walks should be taken early and then again after sundown. Don't encourage chasing, fetching games too much.

4) Cool it: If you enjoy airconditioning so does your dog.If you have a cooled space share it with your pooch.

5) No closed encounters: Never leave dogs in a completely closed space. If your dog is home, Leave on the fan. In a car, leave the window partially open.

6) Let it all hang out: Dogs sweat from their tongues so never tie or muzzle the mouth in the summer. Whilst giving medical treatment see if you can hold the head rather than tying the mouth. If you have to tie the mouth be sure to release as quickly as possible.

7) Do not bathe your dog more than once a month. Soap/ Cleansers strip their skin of natural oils and lead to skin irritation. when dirty you can simply towel dry with a damp towel.

About the Author

Venkata Ramana is a Dog Lover since childhood. Visit his www.dogs-now.com/go/Boxer Dog website and discover how you can make boxer dog the happiest, loving dog alive, Running healthily with you.

Puppy Training
Puppies need to go to the bathroom after they play, chew, drink, eat or sleep. Start by putting them on a leash and tethering them to you. That way you can be aware of them when they start sniffing the ground (usually a cue the puppy needs to go potty). Pick them up and carry them outside. When they go potty, tell them "good potty" and give a cookie as a reward. Do not let your puppy off leash until they have finished going so they get into the habit of going potty, then playing. Many puppies will want to go outside just to play if you let them off leash first.

What if my puppy has an accident?
He will. Do not punish your puppy though. If you catch your puppy in the act then clap your hands or pick them up - this will make your puppy stop going. Get him outside FAST and let him finish up out there. Reward him for going outside. Clean up the mess with petzorb which will remove the odor completely.
Do NOT rub their nose in it, swat them with a newspaper, or isolate your puppy. It will only teach them to not go in front of you.

If your puppy is going frequently in the house you are probably not supervising them enough. Watch and learn their cues. If you feel you are watching and your puppy isn't getting it you can always have them checked for a Urinary tract infection.

If your puppy piddles when you greet them, this could be submissive urination. This would be a problem that is usually cured by ignoring the behavior and letting your puppy calm down before touching them when you first see them.

This article not only applies to puppies, but it is how you should train a dog of any age. If you can't supervise your dog, please put them in a crate to help curb accidents. Remember, dogs go where they go most!

This can be a trying time, so have patience and you will get through it.

About the Author

Amy Dunphy, CPDT is the owner and operator of the www.dogtrainersearch.comDog Trainer Search

A Funny True Life Dog Story
This is the story of my dog called Shandy. He was my favourite pet and he was very lively, lots of fun and very obedient. His main passion in life was to be taken for a long walk, culminating with a big run out in his favourite park.

I would try to take him on this walk everyday, weather permitting. The park itself was about three miles away from our house. To reach the park we had to cross a number of busy roads, however he would never pull or misbehave. He knew where we were heading and seemingly did not want to rock the boat and risk been taken home before he reached his dream destination.

At the park itself I would throw a ball and he would chase it and fetch it back to me.

At this stage I was living at home with my parents, however aged twenty two, I decided to rent my own bungalow near the coast in Devon. This was nearly two hundred miles away from my parents in home in Birmingham. This obviously meant I was no longer in the position to take Shandy on his walk.

I spoke to my parent, who reassured me that they would continue to take him on the walks.

Two weeks after I had left, I had a phone call from my mother. She was panicking, stating that Shandy had managed to escape from the back garden and that she could not find him. She insisted that she had been looking for hours but that there had been no sign of him.

I was quite worried and thought about where he may have gone to. "Have you been taking him on his walks to the park everyday?" I asked. She replied: "Most days" I asked her to try at the park, telling her that he loves that park etc. "He would not be there, its miles away." She said. I again asked her to try there. Luckily he was there quite happily sniffing around, unaware of the panic he had caused.

About the Author

Stephen Hill has a couple of websites at www.lasik-laser-surgery.co.uk and at www.stutter-stuttering.com.