How to Identify a Pit Bull

When you are identifying a dog breed, one of the hardest to define is an American pit bull terrier, also known simply as a pit bull. They are hard to identify since they come in a wide variety of colors. Also, pit bulls have been overbred in an effort to breed a larger version of the dog. Overall though, some main traits of the dog have stayed true.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Look for a blocky head. American pit bulls have broad skulls with muscular cheeks. Their round, dark eyes are set far apart. The American pit bull's jaw is very strong and well-defined, and the pit bull's nose is always black.

2. Examine the dog's chest. The American pit bull's chest is very broad and deep. Its shoulders are muscular and strong, and the ribs are very close together.

3. Check the dog's tail. The American pit bull's tail is shorter than you would expect for their body. They do not curl up over the back. They sit low on the dog's body.

4. Measure the dog. A male American pit bull is 18 to 19 inches at the shoulder. A female pit bull is 17 to 18 inches at the shoulder. Males weigh 35 to 60 lbs. Females weigh 30 to 50 lbs. They are stocky dogs but should still look graceful and have great agility. Their front legs are very straight. Their back legs are very muscular, and do not turn in or out.

Tips & Warnings

• American pit bulls, despite claims to the contrary by some owners, are documented to be aggressive animals that are more prone to attacking than most other dogs. Do not approach an unfamiliar dog that you believe to be an American pit bull.

[vitez]

on 7/1/2009 I agree this is a lot of crap!!!! Who ever wrote this surely doesn’t know anything about pit bulls. They don’t always have dark eyes etc. I have 6 pits and not one of them look the same! Some have yellow eyes and some have dark eyes, smaller races and larger races, all I can say these are awesome dogs and great companions!!!!! They also have different noses, liver noses and dark noses! This just shows that people are uneducated and then they give our breed a bad reputation but identifying scatter bred dogs as pit bulls!!!!!

[dianamlastra]

on 3/18/2009 I'm sorry but this article is crap. My pit bull and many other pit bulls I know are the sweetest, kindest, most affectionate dogs ever. They are a breed that loves to please their owner and loves to be loved.Also, just last week, my pit bull was attacked by a golden retriever while at the dog park. This just goes to show that ANY breed of dog can get nasty.

[klegacy]

on 3/16/2009 The American Staffordshire Terrier's nose is always black, NOT the American Pit Bull Terrier or the Staffordshire Bull Terrier. All three breeds often fall under the umbrella of "Pit Bull" but are not the same breed. The American Pit Bull Terrier can weigh anywhere from 22-110 pounds (although few true pure breeds exceed 85lbs) with a shoulder height of 18-22ins. Honestly, do your research (http://www.akc.org/breeds/).

[taenbolek]

on 10/19/2008 This sucks, it was bad enough without that bullshit "warning".

[bolodog]

on 10/27/2007 over bred and out crossed to mastiffs and the like.

for correct conformation of the apbt

www.workingpitbull.com
diane jessup is a breed steward who trains pit bulls as bomb and drug detection dogs. she has decades of expirience in the breed and with dogs in general. her dogs are top quality and as a true breed steward she will never SELL a dog to anyone.(so don't ask)

www.colbypitbulls.com
the colby family breeds the true apbt. a colby dog was the basis for the breed standard around the turn of the century.