Pit Bulls
The American Staffordshire Terrier, known to their fans as AmStaffs, are smart, confident, good-natured companions. Their courage is proverbial. A responsibly bred, well-socialized AmStaff is a loyal, trustworthy friend to the end.
Living with, training and rehabilitating, rescuing and transporting dogs (mostly Pit Bulls) since 1990... We've come by first hand experience with the best and worst of the Pit Bull Terrier. From one extreme, dogs exposed to fighting, to the other (dogs cared for, training provided, socialized, etc.)... we've had the opportunity to work with Pit Bulls and achieve a comprehensive working knowledge of these, the gamiest of the Terriers/ Hybrids.
Pit Bulls (American Pit Bull Terriers, Staffordshire Terriers and the American Staffordshire, and sometimes the Bull Terrier) belonging to the Terrier Family have a very long and rich heritage.
Terriers originated on the British Isles and were a product of man's evolving needs. Compared to hounds, terriers are a relatively new type of dog. The original purpose of almost all of the early terriers was to control pests such as vermin and foxes. Specimens with high prey drives and tenacity were favoured by those that used them for work. The term 'terrier' is derived from the Latin 'terra' which means ground - this is a reference to the work of the terrier, which would 'go to ground' chasing its quarry.
Nature:
With variations of the Pit Bull/ mix, there are no definitive nature of the "Pit Bull." Male vs female, a pure bred or mix, age, and particular disposition all contribute to the individual dog. With higher concentrations of one type of Terrier in a single dog, we can see higher degrees of prey drive, but also a stronger sense of loyalty. That still does not define the dog or the group as individuality remains a contributing factor.
Nurture:
Like every breed of dog, a *cared-for Pit Bull is far more likely to live his/her entire life without social issues, is far more likely to be moderate in temperament, and easily adapt to any family, living condition and job. The experiences a dog has play an equal role in his development and success. The moderation between care and positive experiences also align the dog to adapt and recover from incidents, should they ever occur.
(* - vaccinated, spayed/ neutered, vet care, healthy food / water / shelter provided, structure and training provided as needed, included in group his/her entire life)
What a Pit Bull is, and is not:
Adaptive to any living environment - +++++ (assisted)
Adaptive to any living situation - ++ (with training and time)
Maintenance/ Grooming - +++++ (easy care)
Vet Care - +++ (average)
Social-ability - Dogs ++ (needs introductions and maint. structure) - People - +++++
Kid / family friendly- +++++
Loyalty - +++++
Ability to learn - ++++
Protective - +++++
The average Pit Bull does best with a firm AND fair leader.They become very connected with their humans and other family dogs, are athletic and do best (behaviorally) with regular exercise. Pit Bulls are not big fans of spending time away from their family or other family dogs, yet will adapt to new situations with training and practice.
The American Temperament Test Society, a non-profit/ 501c3 organization (Missouri), established and maintains a standard method of temperament testing of pure bred and mixed breed dogs.
Pit Bulls; APBT and Amstaff alone, not only test in the top 80%... but also test in the top 80% consistently with the highest number of dogs tested pure bred.
See more breed statistics here.
"Laws that ban particular breeds of dogs do not achieve these aims and instead create the illusion, but not the reality, of enhanced public safety."
Read the ASPCA's full official position statement on Pit Bulls and breed specific laws here.
"The AVMA supports dangerous animal legislation by state, county, or municipal governments provided that legislation does not refer to specific breeds or classes of animals. This legislation should be directed at fostering safety and protection of the general public from animals classified as dangerous."
Read the AVMA's full official position statement on Pit Bulls and breed specific laws here.
Breed-specific legislation, or BSL, can be a wide-ranging set of laws that prevent or restrict dog ownership based on systemic bias against people and unfounded stereotypes about a variety of dogs.
Further information at
National Canine Research Council