Pit bull (American pit bull terrier) - description of the breed, character and care, photo

Pit bulls cause a lot of controversy among people. Let's look at who the American Pit Bull Terrier is, description and characteristics of the breed. Some are sure that the representatives are absolutely harmless. Others consider them real killing machines. Why did this opinion arise?

In the wrong hands, pit bulls truly become weapons. But if you provide training to an experienced dog handler, the dog will become an obedient and loyal friend for the owner. She needs the firmness and perseverance of her owner when training. Socialization is required from puppyhood. It is not recommended to buy them for inexperienced people and children.

Brief characteristics of the breed Amenable to training:

Gets along with animals:

Dirt in the apartment:

Puppy price:

Immunity and health:

Attachment to the owner:

Origin story

The breed dates back about 300 years, and was bred precisely as an ideal fighting unit. Presumably, the ancestors of pit bulls were brought to America from England and Ireland. Already there the breed was improved and used in dog fighting due to its amazing combination of strength, endurance and reaction speed. Because of this, terrible myths about terrible killing machines appeared.

For some time, it was even forbidden to breed pit bulls, and their numbers were strictly controlled. But now the situation has returned to normal, and the breed is again very popular in the USA and Russia. By the way, pit bulls are successfully used by the police to search for explosives and drugs. The menacing dogs have become excellent companions and rehabilitation workers.

Photo: placepic.ru

Photo gallery

Over the many years of its existence, dogs of this breed have had a trail of notoriety due to their supposed bloodthirstiness and cruelty. But with proper education, training and socialization, these four-legged animals are no more dangerous than other breeds. We offer you a selection of photos of these courageous dogs.

Pit bull: breed standard

Although pit bulls seem powerful, they are not too large - up to 27 kg and up to 53 cm at the withers. There are two main subspecies of the breed - terriers and bulldogs. Because of this, we can vary in appearance and even in size – from 12 kg.

Pitbulls have short hair of any color except merle. It fits tightly to a strong body with pronounced muscles, without undercoat. The large head looks like a wide wedge, and the tail tapers and hangs down. The almond-shaped eyes are set wide and the jaw and cheeks stand out. Ears can be cropped as desired.

Photo: funart.pro

Scottish Fold cats: description, character and care

Training rules

It is important that training is strict. It should start immediately after the baby arrives in the house. First you need to learn the basic commands, teach him to respond to his name. At the age of about a year, males begin to assert leadership. You cannot give in to your pet at this time. Females are easier to train and are not as aggressive.

Up to a year old, a pit bull needs to undergo a course of OKD. The protective guard course is not suitable for him. After it, the animal’s psyche changes and aggression appears.

It is important to pay attention to sports training. The dog's energy must be directed in the right direction, so strength training is required. Tires from a passenger car can serve as simulators. The dog wears it on a harness. The grip of the jaw is developed by rubber suspended by a rope from a tree.

You need to buy the following things:

standard and strict collar;
exercise equipment made from an old tire;
canvas harness for carrying heavy objects;
short chain or leash.

Pit bull character

In real life, a pit bull is a cheerful and cheerful dog. But they are very active, so you need to exercise them regularly and for a long time, because an ill-mannered and bored dog can be really destructive.

Traits and Temperament

American pit bulls are very smart, although they are stubborn and capricious. They are hardy, courageous and self-confident, and cowardice is considered a breed defect. At home, a socialized dog is affectionate and playful.

Photo: mnogo-krolikov.ru

Attitude towards the owner

A pit bull will be loyal and obedient, but only if its owner is a strong and strong-willed person. Such dogs are suitable for active and self-confident people who have enough free time. Socialized pit bulls are friendly and won't cause trouble.

Photo: doggi-blog.ru

Attitude towards children

Pit bulls, despite their formidable reputation, get along easily with children and will not offend the baby. So you can safely have a dog even in a large family, but there must be only one main owner.

Photo: faunazoo.ru

Relationships with other animals

Pit bull terriers do not get along well with animals and most often see them as competition. This can only be avoided if the puppy grows up with other pets from the first months. For the same reason, we do not recommend keeping two dogs of the same sex.

Photo: youtube.com

Self-defense

It happens that you are walking through the park one summer day, and a pit bull runs towards you. And the expression on his face is as if there is an unkind meeting between two acquaintances. What to do? There are several methods of self-defense in the event of an attack by a fighting dog. Let's go over everything.

Traumatic pistol.

Of course, not everyone, or rather, few people carry it with them. However, this is an effective way to stay alive when fighting with a pet. The main thing is to get there.

Gas canister.

This self-defense element is found more often in women's handbags. It is desirable that it be peppery. Here, as in the first option, the main thing is to get where you need to. The pit bull dog is smart, if you miss, it will understand what they wanted to do to it.

Knife.

Rarely occurs. And this option is not suitable for everyone. In a state of shock, a person’s capabilities are limitless, but it is unlikely that a girl or an unathletic young man will be able to kill an animal the size of a wild boar.

The disadvantage of all these self-defense means is that they need to be taken out of your pocket or bag and put on combat readiness. It’s good if a person has at least 30 seconds for this, and he doesn’t get confused.

Let's assume you don't have any of the above with you. What should I do?

Running dog - an opportunity to look around

. If there is a room nearby with a door, some kind of hill or tree that you can quickly climb, you need to act. Pete hardly walked alone. Most likely, the owner is looking for the dog. Because if he doesn’t do this, the police will be looking for him very soon.

To summarize, a tree, a building, a pillar. You need to find shelter within walking distance. And scream so that the dog's owner can hear.

If there is no time to look around, the dog is going to attack

. In this case, you need to lend a hand. And then act according to the circumstances. A fist in the mouth can work as a choke. It is important to push your hand deeper into the throat.

When the dog has already attacked, everything is effective. You need to hit him on the nose, tear out his eye sockets, kick him, scream loudly. Hand-to-hand combat can help.

Pete walking alone through the streets is a “fantastic” situation. Just save this information in your head and send it to the “Well, you never know” folder.

Pit bull care

Caring for an American Pit Bull is not much different from any other dog. They are not capricious at all, especially if you accustom the puppy to procedures from childhood.

Conditions of detention

A pit bull can be kept in an apartment, but it definitely needs regular physical and mental exercise. The dog should not be left outside, because without undercoat it easily freezes or overheats. If a pit bull lacks activity, it becomes anxious, spoils things, and may even become aggressive.

Photo: pitomecvopros.ru

Hygiene

You need to bathe your pit bull less often, except in cases where the dog is very dirty. Usually it happens once every 1-2 months, but it is important to control the water temperature (38 degrees) and then not go outside for at least 3 hours. But it is advisable to brush it regularly.

A couple of times a week you need to brush your dog’s teeth, starting with the far ones. Clean your ears every week and check your skin frequently for mites. Eyes are washed as needed. It is strictly forbidden to use products containing alcohol or salt to care for your pit bull.

Photo: klkfavorit.ru

Walks

The Pit Bull Terrier must be walked at least twice a day, and at least one walk must be more than an hour. He needs to run, play and solve different problems. Keep in mind that due to physiological characteristics, an adult dog does not empty its bladder at once - it needs time.

Photo: fisher-fish.ru

Education and training

The first and main rule: it is forbidden to train a pit bull to show aggression towards a person. It is best to work with such a difficult breed with an experienced dog handler. Pit bulls are not recommended for beginners because they are difficult to handle without experience. Otherwise, they learn easily when they clearly understand what is wanted from them. What is important here is not training, but education and socialization.

Photo: zen.yandex.ru

Pomeranian Spitz: breed description and care (60 photos)

What to feed a pit bull

Pitbulls grow very quickly and gain muscle mass, so the nutrition is appropriate. Small puppies are fed 6 times, after six months - three times, and from 8 months - 2 times a day. Be sure to change clean filtered water twice a day.

Every day a puppy needs 100 g of meat and the same amount of vegetables, some offal, about 50 g of cottage cheese and milk. Rice, millet, buckwheat or oatmeal with milk are suitable. At 7-8 months, much larger portions are needed: 600 g of meat per day. When the dog stops actively growing, this amount can be reduced to 450 g.

When choosing a ready-made food, pay attention to the percentage of proteins in the composition - it should be less than 25%. It is imperative to control the balance of calcium and phosphorus, because their excess is just as dangerous as their deficiency. Even if you feed your pet special food, sometimes he needs raw vegetables and cartilaginous bones.

We recommend eliminating sugar, flour products and excess animal fats, such as butter or fatty sour cream. Excess weight is dangerous for pit bulls, so do not overfeed. Give lighter food in the morning, and more nutritious food in the evening.

Photo: klkfavorit.ru

How to choose a puppy

To buy a purebred and healthy puppy, contact a trusted breeder or a specialized nursery. So, you will receive a pet that has all the necessary documents and vaccinations.

The optimal age at which you can adopt a puppy is 8 months. At this age, he has already been trained in self-control and basic family living skills.

Please pay attention to the following criteria:

High activity.
Smooth shiny coat.
The head should not be very large.
Flat back and feet.
Clarity and smoothness of movements.

It is easy to determine the health status of your pet by observing him for a few minutes. When buying an animal without documents, you will not be able to determine its pedigree and the possibility of hereditary diseases.

Health and disease of the breed

Pit bulls most often suffer from typical working breed diseases. Under high loads, problems with the heart, blood vessels and joints may occur. But the first signs are easy to distinguish on your own - the animal gets tired quickly and breathes heavily.

Pit bulls also have hormonal disorders, and especially problems with the thyroid gland. This is important to control, because deviations do not always appear externally, but lead to hidden pathologies. Sometimes allergies occur, but otherwise pit bull terriers do not cause problems.

Photo: pesiq.ru

Small dog breeds: names and photos (catalog)