Breed library

American Pit Bull Terrier

Also known as APBT, Pit Bull.

American Pit Bull Terrier photograph.
001 American Pit Bull Terrier.jpg - https://www.flickr.com/people/geoggirl/. CC BY 2.0. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:001_American_Pit_Bull_Terrier.jpg. License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0. License: CC BY 2.0.

Breed overview

The American Pit Bull Terrier (APBT) is a dog breed recognized by the United Kennel Club (UKC) and the American Dog Breeders Association (ADBA), but not the American Kennel Club (AKC). It is a medium-sized, short-haired dog, of a solid build, whose early ancestors came from England. When compared with the English Staffordshire Bull Terrier, the American Pit Bull Terrier is larger by margins of 6 - 8 in in height and 25 - 35 lb in weight. The American Pit Bull Terrier varies in size: males are normally about 18-21 inches (45-53 cm) in height and around 35-60 pounds (15-27 kg) in weight, while females are normally around 17-20 inches (43-50 cm) in height and 30-50 pounds (13-22 kg) in weight.

  • Breed classification: terrierBreed reference breed group.
  • Breed type: dog breedBreed reference breed kind.
  • Country of origin: United StatesBreed reference country of origin.

Breed facts

  • Until the mid-19th century the since-extinct Old English Terriers and Old English Bulldogs were bred together to produce a dog that combined the gameness of the terrier with the strength and athleticism of the bulldog.
  • In the United Kingdom, bull and terriers were used in bloodsports such as bull baiting and bear baiting.
  • Since dog fighting is cheaper to organize and far easier to conceal from the law than bull or bear baits, bloodsport proponents turned to pitting their dogs against each other instead.
  • Dog fighting was used as both a bloodsport (often involving gambling) and a way to continue to test the quality of their stock.
  • For decades afterwards, dog fighting clandestinely took place in small areas of Britain.

Size and appearance

When compared with the English Staffordshire Bull Terrier, the American Pit Bull Terrier is larger by margins of 6 - 8 in in height and 25 - 35 lb in weight. The American Pit Bull Terrier varies in size: males are normally about 18-21 inches (45-53 cm) in height and around 35-60 pounds (15-27 kg) in weight, while females are normally around 17-20 inches (43-50 cm) in height and 30-50 pounds (13-22 kg) in weight.

  • Body mass reference: 13.6 - 22.6 kgAdult breed reference quantity from the article infobox. Original value 13.6 - 22.6 kg. Unit conversion where applicable: 1 inch = 2.54 cm; 1 pound = 0.45359237 kg. Original field and references are retained in the revision-pinned article evidence.
  • Body mass reference: 15.8 - 27.2 kgAdult breed reference quantity from the article infobox. Original value 15.8 - 27.2 kg. Unit conversion where applicable: 1 inch = 2.54 cm; 1 pound = 0.45359237 kg. Original field and references are retained in the revision-pinned article evidence.
  • Height reference: 43 - 50 cmAdult breed reference quantity from the article infobox. Original value 43 - 50 cm. Unit conversion where applicable: 1 inch = 2.54 cm; 1 pound = 0.45359237 kg. Original field and references are retained in the revision-pinned article evidence.
  • Height reference: 45 - 53 cmAdult breed reference quantity from the article infobox. Original value 45 - 53 cm. Unit conversion where applicable: 1 inch = 2.54 cm; 1 pound = 0.45359237 kg. Original field and references are retained in the revision-pinned article evidence.
  • Height reference: 50 cmBreed reference height.
  • Coat length: short
  • Coat texture: smooth
  • Height category: medium
  • Weight category: medium
  • Weight category: large

Personality and behavior

The UKC gives this description of the characteristic of the American Pit Bull dog: "The essential characteristics of the American Pit Bull Terrier are strength and confidence. This breed is eager to please and brimming over with enthusiasm. The breed's natural agility makes it one of the most capable canine climbers so good fencing is a must for this breed. The standard imposed by the ADBA and Old Family Red Nose Registry (OFRNR) considers human aggression a disqualification factor. The American Preservation Dog Registry (APDR) standard points out that "the temperament must be totally reliable with people".

  • Attachment and attention seeking (C-BARQ mean): 2.20 / 4Owner-reported attachment and attention seeking factor mean for US reference population American Pit Bull Terrier.
  • Chasing (C-BARQ mean): 2.23 / 4Owner-reported chasing factor mean for US reference population American Pit Bull Terrier.
  • Dog-directed aggression (C-BARQ mean): 1.25 / 4Owner-reported dog-directed aggression factor mean for US reference population American Pit Bull Terrier.
  • Dog-directed fear (C-BARQ mean): 0.65 / 4Owner-reported dog-directed fear factor mean for US reference population American Pit Bull Terrier.
  • Energy (C-BARQ mean): 2.29 / 4Owner-reported energy factor mean for US reference population American Pit Bull Terrier.
  • Excitability (C-BARQ mean): 2.27 / 4Owner-reported excitability factor mean for US reference population American Pit Bull Terrier.
  • Familiar-dog aggression (C-BARQ mean): 0.58 / 4Owner-reported familiar-dog aggression factor mean for US reference population American Pit Bull Terrier.
  • Non-social fear (C-BARQ mean): 0.77 / 4Owner-reported non-social fear factor mean for US reference population American Pit Bull Terrier.
  • Owner-directed aggression (C-BARQ mean): 0.09 / 4Owner-reported owner-directed aggression factor mean for US reference population American Pit Bull Terrier.
  • Separation-related problems (C-BARQ mean): 0.72 / 4Owner-reported separation-related problems factor mean for US reference population American Pit Bull Terrier.
  • Stranger-directed aggression (C-BARQ mean): 0.58 / 4Owner-reported stranger-directed aggression factor mean for US reference population American Pit Bull Terrier.
  • Stranger-directed fear (C-BARQ mean): 0.53 / 4Owner-reported stranger-directed fear factor mean for US reference population American Pit Bull Terrier.
  • Touch sensitivity (C-BARQ mean): 0.79 / 4Owner-reported touch sensitivity factor mean for US reference population American Pit Bull Terrier.
  • Trainability (C-BARQ mean): 2.58 / 4Owner-reported trainability factor mean for US reference population American Pit Bull Terrier.

Exercise and activities

American Pit Bull Terriers excel in many dog sports, including weight pulling, dog agility, flyball, lure coursing, and advanced obedience competition. Aside from serving as a companion dog, the American Pit Bull Terrier can be a working dog and is suitable for a wide range of working disciplines due to their intelligence, high energy, and endurance. In the United States they have been used as search and rescue dogs, police dogs performing narcotics and explosives detection, Border Patrol dogs, hearing dogs to provide services to the deaf, as well as general service dogs, including therapy dogs.

  • Activity guidance: high energy

Training and enrichment

Care planning: choose one everyday skill to practice and keep a record of each session. Note the cue, the reward your dog enjoys and what went well. Rotate familiar games and new activities, and use your notes to choose the next small step.

Coat and grooming

Care planning: use the coat details above to discuss a grooming routine with your groomer. Record brushing sessions, baths and appointments in the app. Add the tools you use and your preferred schedule so the whole household can follow the same routine.

  • Coat length: short
  • Coat texture: smooth

Health and lifespan

Care planning: keep your dog's veterinary records, health-check dates and agreed care plan together. Add reminders for appointments and record changes you want to discuss at the next visit. Use the linked breed organizations and original references to explore their current health resources.

  • Lifespan reference: Up to 13 yearsBreed reference lifespan years.
  • Lifespan reference: 12 years or moreBreed reference lifespan years.

Living with this breed

Care planning: compare this profile's adult dimensions, coat care and available activity information with your household's routine. Make a shortlist, plan who will handle daily care and save the questions you want to ask a breed club, rescue or breeder.

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Breed history

Until the mid-19th century the since-extinct Old English Terriers and Old English Bulldogs were bred together to produce a dog that combined the gameness of the terrier with the strength and athleticism of the bulldog. This type of dog, which was bred in England, became known as the bull and terrier. These dogs arrived in the United States in the late nineteenth century where they became the direct ancestors of the American Pit Bull Terrier.

Clubs and further reading

Sources

  1. American Pit Bull Terrier - WikipediaWikipedia contributors Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC BY-SA 4.0. Adapted excerpts from Wikipedia contributors, American Pit Bull Terrier, revision 1377398502. CC BY-SA 4.0. Formatting, citations and selection changed. Source history: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=American_Pit_Bull_Terrier&action=history
  2. Wikidata structured breed dataWikimedia contributors Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC0 1.0. Wikidata contributors (CC0).
  3. National C-BARQ breed and all-breed means from USA.PLOS ONE / Figshare Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC BY 4.0. Bohland, Kyle R.; Lilly, Meghan Leanne; Herron, Meghan E.; Arruda, Andréia G.; O’Quin, Jeanette M. (2023). National C-BARQ breed and all-breed means from USA.. PLOS ONE. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0289356.s003 CC BY 4.0. Selected rows and field names adapted; values unchanged.
  4. File:001 American Pit Bull Terrier.jpgWikimedia Commons Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC BY 2.0. 001 American Pit Bull Terrier.jpg - https://www.flickr.com/people/geoggirl/. CC BY 2.0. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:001_American_Pit_Bull_Terrier.jpg. License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0.
  5. Palipaws everyday care planningPalipaws Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: Palipaws original factual summaries. Palipaws. Original care-planning text, separate from breed measurements and licensed article summaries.