American pit bull terrier

Overall description of the breed

The American Pit Bull Terrier is a singular breed, created in England in the 18th century specifically for dog fighting. Some "breeders" began crossing the American Staffordshire Terrier with the English Bulldog to combine the speed of one with the imposing size of the other, with the aim of creating the perfect fighter.

At the time, the breed was highly prized by American society, and fights to the death were organised throughout the United Kingdom and the United States. A selection of the best champions was put in place, leading to a specific genetic preference with the aim of perfecting the competitors.

In 1899, the United Kennel Club (UKC) was founded by C. Z. Bennett, becoming the first club to recognise the American Pit Bull Terrier as a breed in its own right, with the aim of organising competitions and creating champions.

At the beginning of the 19th century, the United Kingdom passed laws banning cruelty to animals and, in particular, dog fighting, which was causing havoc throughout the country. Faced with these stricter laws, organisers began to organise other games such as Rat-Batting, a cruel practice in which a dog is placed in an arena to determine how long it takes to kill rats.

Today, the UKC is one of the world's largest registers and fights every day against dog fighting and animal abuse in general. Over time, the use of the American Pit Bull Terrier has shifted towards guard dogs and non-violent play.

In morphological terms, the American Pit Bull Terrier has a fine, athletic build, combined with great power. They are brave and bold! However, they are not suitable for all owners, as their behaviour depends largely on the training they receive. Despite their critics, these are well-balanced dogs that are close to people. Very playful and with exceptional stamina, they will certainly tire you out before you show the slightest sign of fatigue.

Affectionate and attentive, American Pit Bull Terriers are loyal and obedient if properly trained. They can become their master's best friend on a daily basis. However, care must be taken from the outset when socialising with other dogs. It all depends on who is at the end of the lead. For those who really know the Pit Bull, they will all tell you that it is the ideal dog.

The American Pit Bull Terrier is not recognised by the FCI, due to its controversy and history of dog fighting.

It is important to note that the recognition of dog breeds varies from country to country, and the American Pit Bull Terrier may be recognised by other national or regional cynological organisations. Nevertheless, it remains banned in many countries because of its breed characteristics and history of dog fighting, notably France, Germany, Denmark and Australia, where legislation has been introduced to ban the breeding, sale or import of this breed.

The breed generally measures between 30 and 40cm (11 and 15 inches) in height and weighs between 15 and 30kg (30 and 60lbs) on average. Despite its complex and controversial history, the American Pit Bull Terrier is a dog that, with the right training and the love of its owner, can become an exceptional and loyal companion.