American Pit Bull Terrier - FAQ
Please e-mail me any questions you may have about rescue groups, or Pit Bulls. I will post them here.
1. What kind of temperament does the Pit Bull have?

Pit Bulls are one of the most stable people-friendly dogs in existence.  The National Canine Temperament Testing Association tested 122 breeds, and Pit Bulls placed the 4th highest with a 95% passing rate!

2. Have any famous people owned a "Pit Bull"?

Yes.  Helen Keller had a Pit Bull as her animal companion.  Reportedly, other famous people such as Fred Astaire, President Theodore Roosevelt, Charlie Chaplin, Michael J. Fox, Brigitte Bardot, Malcom Jamal Warner, Stephany Kramer, Jan Michael Vincent, Jeremy Miller and Usher own or have owned an APBT.  An old picture of Helen Keller and her APBT

The APBT was once considered to be a wonderful family pet by the general public. During World War I, an APBT was used to represent the United States on a propaganda poster. America's first war dog was a Pit Bull named Stubby.  During the 1930's and 40's, every kid who watched the Lil' Rascals wanted a dog just like "Pete the pup" who was one of the best examples of a true APBT.

3. What is "gameness"?

Gameness in APBT's is a canine virtue that is most akin to the human virtue of unflagging courage. It is a determination to master any situation and never back down out of fear. It was developed in the American Pit Bull Terrier by generations of selective breeding. It is manifested in the can-do attitude of pit bulls toward any type of challenge, whether agility competitions, climbing up trees, or protecting their family against an armed attacker, etc.

4.  What kind of weather can APBTs withstand?

APBTs are sturdy dogs, but in hot weather they need lots of water and shelter from the sun. In the winter, they need an insulated dog house or other appropriate shelter and a nice blanket. Do not to keep them outside in extreme temperatures, but, if you have to for short periods of time, make sure they have adequate insulation. In very hot weather outside, consider buying a cool pack made for dogs. In very cold weather, buy a microwavable heating pad (retains heat for 12 hours), and place these under the dogs blanket in the insulated dog house. These dogs are best kept as indoor dogs and close members of the family.

5. How high of a fence do I need?

You need at least a six foot fence. Be warned, however, that many APBTs can jump even a six-foot fence if motivated. Six-foot privacy fences are a good idea because the dog can't see all the temptations that pass by. However, observe your own dog. Some dogs are jumpers, others are not. If you do have a dog that is a jumper, consider combining an electric gate with a physical gate. Or put a hot wire at the top of the gate.

6. Is it true that Pit Bulls can lock their jaw?

The infamous locking jaw is a myth. The American Pit Bull Terrier and related breeds are physiologically no different from any other breed of dog. All dogs are from the same species and none have locking jaws.
Dr. I Lehr Brisbin of the University of Georgia states, "To the best of our knowledge, there are no published scientific studies that would allow any meaningful comparision to be made of the biting power of various breeds of dogs. There are, moreover,compelling technical reasons why such data describing biting power in terms of 'pounds per square inch' can never be collected in a meaningful way. All figures describing biting power in such terms can be traced to either unfounded rumor or, in some cases, to newspaper articles with no foundation in factual data." Futhermore, Dr. Brisbin states, "The few studies which have been conducted of the structure of the skulls, mandibles and teeth of pit bulls show that, in proportion to their size, their jaw structure and thus its inferred functional morphology, is no different than that of any breed of dog. There is absolutely no evidence for the existence of any kind of 'locking mechanism' unique to the structure of the jaw and/or teeth of the American Pit Bull Terrier."

7. Can Pit Bulls "turn" on people?

In fact, no breed of dog does. Dog aggression is nearly always preceded by some kind of warning, and there is always a reason behind the attack. However, many inexperienced owners do not recognize the dog's behavior as aggression, or refuse to acknowledge it as a warning sign. The only exception I can think of is Springer Rage, a rare and controversial neurological condition that manifests itself as a spontaneous attack, followed by confusion, and then a return to normal behavior. Pit Bulls are NOT prone to this condition. There are individual dogs of any breed that may be more aggresive to others.

8. Are Pit Bulls naturally aggressive towards humans?

While many Pit Bulls do tend to be dog aggressive (as are most terriers), the normal, well raised Pit Bull has NO human aggressive tendencies! In fact, human aggression was actually bred out of the breed.  The majority are affectionate, intelligent, trainable dogs. In fact, the highest obedience trial record of all time is held by an American Pit Bull Terrier named Maddy!

9. Are most Pit Bulls used for fighting or attack dogs?

While there are still a few unethical people who engage in dogfighting, these people are NOT the average Pit Bull owners! Pit Bulls are also rarely used as guard dogs by knowledgeable trainers because the breed, on average, is not human aggressive enough to do the job well. Most are owned by normal, respectable, usefully employed people.

10. Is it ok to feed Pit Bulls raw meat?

Yes!  Raw meat will not encourage aggressive behavior.  It is important to give your dog a well balanced diet with raw meat, rice and vegetables.  Raw foods contain more vitamins and minerals than cooked food, because cooking destroys and depletes many nutrients.  Yet commercial pet food is very thouroughly cooked.  A diet of fresh, whole foods is ideal.  This may not be very convienient and practical for most people, so make sure you get a high quality dog food, free of artificial preservatives.  But please also give your dog fresh foods frequently, so they will be healthier and live longer.  Just think, would you want to eat a Power Bar for every meal for the rest of your life?

These are the best liked veggies that can be fed raw:
Chopped parsley, alfalfa sprouts, finely grated carrots, finely grated zucchini

These vegetables should be cooked before given to animal companions:
Corn, peas, green beans, broccoli

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Sources:
The Chako Rescue Association's website: http://www.pitbull.ourfamily.com
Denna's "The Real Pit Bull" website: http://picantes.com/pitbull/home
Dr. Pitcairn's book - Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats

'Celeste' owned by a Chako volunteer.