BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY
At some point during the 19th century, dog breeders in England, Ireland and Scotland began to experiment with crosses between Bulldogs and Terriers, looking for a dog that combined the gameness of the terrier with the strength and athleticism of the Bulldog. The result was a dog that embodied all the virtues attributed to great warriors: strength, indomitable courage and gentleness with loved ones. Immigrants brought these bull and terrier crosses to the United States. The American Pit Bull Terrier's many talents did not go unnoticed by farmers and ranchers, who used their APBTs as catch dogs for semi-wild cattle and hogs, for hunting, for driving livestock and as family companions. Today, the American Pit Bull Terrier continues to show its versatility, competing successfully in Obedience, Rally Obedience, Tracking, Agility, Lure Coursing,
GENERAL APPEARANCE
The American Pit Bull Terrier is a medium-sized, solidly built, short-coated dog with smooth, well-defined musculature. This breed is both powerful and athletic. The body is slightly longer than it is tall, but females may be somewhat longer in body than males. The length of the front leg (measured from the point of the elbow to the ground) is approximately equal to half the dog's height at the withers.
The head is of medium length, with a broad, flat skull and a wide, deep muzzle. The ears are small to medium in size, set high, and may be natural or cropped.
The relatively short tail is set low, thick at the base and tapers to a point.
The American Pit Bull Terrier comes in all colors and color patterns except merle. This breed combines strength and athleticism with grace and agility and should never look bulky or muscle-bound, or fine-boned and rangy.
Above all, the APBT must have the functional ability to be a catch dog that can hold, wrestle (push and pull) and breathe easily while doing its job. Balance and harmony of all parts are critical components of breed type.
Eliminating Faults: Any exaggerated, disproportionate feature (such as short legs, excessive bone, or a massive head or body) that would interfere with physical activity or working ability.
Disqualifications: Cryptorchidism, unilateral or bilateral. Dwarfism.
CHARACTERISTICS
The essential characteristics of the American Pit Bull Terrier are strength, confidence and zest for life. This breed is eager to please and brimming over with enthusiasm. APBTs make excellent family companions and have always been noted for their love of children. Because most APBTs show some level of dog aggression, and because of its powerful physique, the APBT requires an owner who will carefully socialize and obedience train the dog. The breed's natural agility makes it one of the most capable canine climbers, so good fencing is a must for this breed. The APBT is not the best choice for a guard dog, since they are extremely friendly, even with strangers. Aggressive behavior toward people is not characteristic of the breed and is highly undesirable.
Disqualifications: viciousness or extreme shyness.
HEAD: The APBT head is unique and a key element of breed type. It is large and broad, giving the impression of great power, but it is not out of proportion to the size of the body. Viewed from the front, the head is shaped like a broad, blunt wedge. Viewed from the side, the skull and muzzle are parallel to each other and joined by a well-defined, moderately deep stop. The brow ridges over the eyes are well defined but not pronounced. The head is well chiseled, blending strength, elegance and character.
Very Serious Fault: Overly large, heavy heads.
SKULL: The skull is large, flat or slightly rounded, deep and broad between the ears. Viewed from above, the skull tapers slightly toward the stop. There is a deep median furrow that diminishes in depth from the stop to the occiput. The cheek muscles are prominent but free of wrinkles. When the dog is concentrating, wrinkles form on the forehead, which gives the APBT its unique expression.
MUZZLE: The muzzle is broad and deep, with a very slight taper from the stop to the nose and a slight falling away under the eyes. The length of the muzzle is shorter than the length of the skull, in a ratio of about 2:3. The topline of the muzzle is straight. The lower jaw is well developed, wide and deep. The lips are clean and tight.
Faults: snipey muzzle; flews; weak lower jaw.
Eliminating Faults : Muzzle so short and blunt that it interferes with normal breathing.
TEETH: The American Pit Bull Terrier has a full set of evenly spaced, white teeth meeting in a scissor bite.
Fault: level bite.
Serious Faults: Undershot or overshot bite; wry mouth; missing teeth (this does not apply to teeth that have been lost or removed by a veterinarian).
NOSE: The nose is large, with wide, open nostrils. The nose may be any color.
EYES: The eyes are medium-sized, round, and set well apart and low on the skull. All colors are equally acceptable except blue, which is a serious fault. The haw should not be visible.
Serious Faults: Bulging eyes; eyes not matching in color; blue eyes.
EARS: The ears are set high and may be natural or cropped, without preference. Prick ears or flat, wide ears are not desired.
Disqualifications: unilateral or bilateral deafness.
NECK: The neck is of moderate length and muscular. There is a slight arch at the crest. The neck widens gradually from where it joins the skull to where it blends into well laid-back shoulders. The skin on the neck is tight and without dewlap.
Faults: Neck too thin or weak; ewe neck; dewlap.
Very Serious Fault: A short, thick neck that would interfere with functional ability.
FOREQUARTERS: The shoulder blades are long, wide, muscular and well laid back. The upper arm is roughly equal in length to the shoulder blade and joins it at an apparent right angle.
The forelegs are strong and muscular. The elbows are set close to the body. Viewed from the front, the forelegs are set moderately apart and are perpendicular to the ground. The pasterns are short, powerful, straight and flexible. Viewed in profile, the pasterns are nearly erect.
Faults: Upright or loaded shoulders; elbows turned outward or tied in; down at the pasterns; front legs bowed; wrists knuckled over; toeing in or out.
Eliminating Faults: Front legs (measured from the elbow to the ground) shorter than half the total height at the withers. Front legs so bowed that they interfere with normal movement.
BODY: The chest is deep, well filled in and moderately wide, with ample room for the heart and lungs, but the chest should never be wider than it is deep. The forechest does not extend much beyond the point of the shoulder. The ribs extend well back and are well sprung from the spine, then flatten to form a deep body extending to the elbows. The back is strong and firm. The topline slopes slightly downward from the withers to a broad, muscular, level back. The loin is short, muscular and slightly arched to the top of the croup, but narrower than the rib cage and with a moderate tuck-up. The croup slopes slightly downward.
Very Serious Fault: Overly massive body style that hinders working ability.
Eliminating Fault: Chest so wide that it interferes with normal movement.
HINDQUARTERS: The hindquarters are strong, muscular and moderately broad. The rump is well filled in on each side of the tail and deep from the pelvis to the crotch. Bone, angulation and musculature of the hindquarters are in balance with the forequarters. The thighs are well developed, with thick, easily discerned muscles. Viewed from the side, the hock joint is well bent and the rear pasterns are well let down and perpendicular to the ground. Viewed from behind, the rear pasterns are straight and parallel to each other.
Faults: narrow hindquarters; hindquarters shallow from the pelvis to the crotch; lack of muscle; straight or over-angulated stifle joint; cow hocks; sickle hocks; bowed legs.
FEET: The feet are round, in proportion to the size of the dog, well arched and tight. The pads are hard, tough and well cushioned. Dewclaws may be removed.
Fault: Splayed feet.
TAIL: The tail is set on as a natural extension of the topline and tapers to a point. When the dog is relaxed, the tail is carried low and extends approximately to the hock. When the dog is moving, the tail is carried level with the backline. When the dog is excited, the tail may be carried raised and erect (challenge tail), but never curled over the back (gay tail).
Fault: Long tail (the tip of the tail passes beyond the point of the hock).
Serious Faults : Gay tail (not to be confused with challenge tail); kinked tail.
Eliminating Fault: Bobbed tail.
Disqualification: Screw tail.
COAT: The coat is glossy and smooth, close, and moderately stiff to the touch.
Faults: curly, wavy or sparse coat.
Disqualification: Long coat.
COLOR: Any color, color pattern or combination of colors is acceptable, except merle.
Disqualifications: Albinism. Merle
HEIGHT AND WEIGHT: The American Pit Bull Terrier must be both powerful and agile, so overall balance and the correct proportion of weight to height are far more important than the dog's actual weight and/or height.
The desirable weight for a mature male in good condition is between 35 and 60 pounds. The desirable weight for a mature female in good condition is between 30 and 50 pounds.
As a general, approximate guideline only, the desirable height range for mature males is 18 to 21 inches at the withers; for mature females it is 17 to 20 inches at the withers.
It is important to note that dogs above or below these weight and height ranges should not be penalized unless they are disproportionately massive or rangy.
Very Serious Fault: Excessively large or excessively massive dogs, and dogs whose height and/or weight is so far from the desired range that it compromises health, structure, movement and physical ability.
MOVEMENT: The American Pit Bull Terrier moves with a jaunty, confident attitude, conveying the impression that it expects any minute to see something new and exciting. At the trot, the gait is effortless, smooth, powerful and well coordinated, showing good reach in front and drive behind. When moving, the backline stays level, with only a slight flex to indicate suppleness. Viewed from any position, the legs turn neither in nor out, nor do the feet cross or interfere with each other. As speed increases, the feet tend to converge toward the center line of balance.
Faults: Legs not moving in the same plane; legs over-reaching; legs crossing over in front or behind; rear legs moving too close together or touching; rolling; pacing; paddling; sidewinding; hackney action; pounding.
ELIMINATING FAULTS:
( An Eliminating Fault is a fault serious enough to keep the dog from receiving any award at a conformation event.)
Any exaggerated, disproportionate feature (such as short legs, excessive bone, or a massive head or body) that would interfere with physical activity or working ability.
Muzzle so short and blunt that it interferes with normal breathing.
Front legs so bowed that they interfere with normal movement.
Front legs (measured from the elbow to the ground) shorter than half the total height at the withers.
Chest so wide that it interferes with normal movement.
Bobbed tail.
DISQUALIFICATIONS
Unilateral or bilateral cryptorchidism.
Viciousness or extreme shyness.
Albinism.
Merle.
Unilateral or bilateral deafness.
Long coat. Screw tail
Dwarfism
