Physical Characteristics of the Pit Bull Terrier

Far from what most people believe, Pit Bulls aren't large dogs — most are muscular, heavily built dogs, but medium-sized or even small.

To know what requirements a Pit Bull must meet to be considered a physical match for the purebred description, we need to dig deep into the world of international kennel clubs.

The most widespread and popular federation in the world, the FCI (Fédération Cynologique Internationale), doesn't include the American Pit Bull Terrier as an official breed — it's still considered a sub-breed derived from Terriers.

It does, however, recognize Pit Bull-type breeds like the American Staffordshire Terrier or the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, which creates a lot of confusion among people who own or breed Pit Bulls.

Unlike the American Staffordshire Terrier or the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, the American Pit Bull Terrier has its own distinctive traits, similar to but different from its Bull Terrier relatives.

Head of an American Pit Bull Terrier

It's known for having very precise definition — triangular when viewed from above, and somewhat rounded when viewed from the front. Unlike Staffordshires, its head isn't excessively wide, but rather medium-sized.

The Pit Bull Terrier's nose can be light or dark — color isn't a defining factor, though size is. It should have wide nasal cavities.

The eyes should be round, excluding almond-shaped ones. The color is usually caramel, though black, yellow, or even blue are accepted, the latter seen in Blue Pit Bulls.

The American Pit Bull's ears should be strong and set high on the head, with a natural fold if they haven't been cropped. Medium-sized and sparsely furred. Keep in mind that cropping the ears or docking the tail of a Pit Bull is considered a criminal offense.

The Pit Bull's mouth and jaw should be complete and close perfectly in a scissor bite, excluding any other type of bite. The lips, while wide, are narrow and tight.

Body of the American Pit Bull Terrier

Among the Pit Bull's physical traits, the overall musculature of the torso and legs stands out. Its body should be muscular and lean from just behind the head all the way to the end of the back.

The Pit Bull's chest, or thorax, should be pronounced and wide, well-defined, and proportionate in size to the rest of the body. Some Pit Bulls overdevelop the chest, causing them not to quite fit the standard. These are considered uncategorized Pit Bull crosses.

The neck should be very muscular from the skull to the start of the back, longer and more flexible than that of its Staffordshire relatives. The tail is described as thin and strong, long and somewhat pointed, though unfortunately, many insensitive owners still dock it out of sheer ignorance.

The Pit Bull's skin is thick and taut, with a coarse, short coat where every color is valid, even mixes of colors. The most common look is any color paired with a white chest.

Qualities of the Pit Bull

Given its physical traits, the American Pit Bull Terrier is a medium-sized dog, standing about forty-five centimeters at the withers. Its average adult weight is around twenty-five kilos, or about twenty kilos in females. It needs special Pit Bull food that's high in protein, to support its muscle development.

It's a very agile, tough dog, capable of withstanding harsh weather conditions. Thanks to its size, it adapts perfectly to apartment living, though we should remember it's a very active dog, which means it'll need long daily walks and plenty of exercise.

American Pit Bull puppies tend to have thicker, more wrinkled skin, which smooths out as they develop physically. Some puppies can even be mistaken for other species because of their shape.

Whether or not your Pit Bull matches the standard physical traits, remember that a Pit Bull is always a beautiful, intelligent, loyal dog. Enjoy your Pit Bull.