American Pit Bull Terrier Art












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American Pit Bull Terrier Breed Standard
Pitbulls are found in the UKC Terrier
Group
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 just slightly longer than
tall, but bitches may be somewhat longer in body than dogs. The length of the
front leg (measured from point of elbow to the ground) is approximately equal
to one-half of the dog’s height at the withers. The head is of medium
length, with a broad, flat skull, and a wide, deep muzzle. Ears are small to
medium in size, high set, 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
appear bulky or muscle-bound or fine-boned and rangy. Above all else, the APBT
must have the functional capability 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.
Very Serious Fault: Any
disproportionate overdone characteristic (such as short legs, excessive bone
or massive head or body) that would interfere with working ability.
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 exhibit 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 humans is uncharacteristic of
the breed and highly undesirable. This breed does very well in performance
events because of its high level of intelligence and its willingness to work.
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 disproportionate to the size of the body. Viewed from the front, the head
is shaped like a broad, blunt wedge. When viewed from the side, the skull and
muzzle are parallel to one another and joined by a well defined, moderately
deep stop. Supraorbital arches 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 the top, the skull
tapers just slightly toward the stop. There is a deep median furrow that
diminishes in depth from the stop to the occiput. Cheek muscles are prominent
but free of wrinkles. When the dog is concentrating, wrinkles form on the
forehead, which give the APBT his 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 muzzle is shorter than the length of skull, with a ratio
of approximately 2:3. The topline of the muzzle is straight. The lower jaw is
well developed, wide and deep. Lips are clean and tight.
Faults: Snipey
muzzle; flews; weak lower jaw.
Very Serious Fault: Muzzle
too short, which impairs breathing capability.
TEETH - The American Pit Bull Terrier has a
complete set of evenly spaced, white teeth meeting in a scissors 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 - Eyes are medium size, round and set well
apart and low on the skull. All colors are equally acceptable except blue,
which is a serious fault. Haw should not be visible.
Serious Faults: Bulging
eyes; both eyes not matched in color; blue eyes.
EARS - Ears are high set and may be natural or
cropped without preference. Prick or flat, wide ears are not desired.
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 wide apart and perpendicular to the ground. The pasterns are short,
powerful, straight, and flexible. When 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.
Very Serious Fault: Legs
shorter than half the total height at the withers.
BODY
The chest is deep, well filled in, and moderately
wide with ample room for heart and lungs, but the chest should never be wider
than it is deep. The forechest does not extend much beyond the point of
shoulder. The
ribs extend well back and are well sprung from the spine, then flattening to
form a deep body extending to the elbows. The back is strong and firm. The
topline inclines very 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
is slightly sloping downward.
Very Serious Fault: Overly
massive body style that impedes working ability.
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. The 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 the rear, the rear pasterns are straight and
parallel to one another.
Faults: Narrow
hindquarters; hindquarters shallow from pelvis to crotch; lack of muscle;
straight or over angulated stifle joint; cow hocks; sickle hocks; bowed legs.
FEET
The feet are round, proportionate to the size of
the dog, well arched, and tight. 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 in a raised, upright position (challenge tail), but never curled over
the back (gay tail).
Fault: Long
tail (tail tip passes beyond point of hock).
Serious faults:
Gay tail (not to be confused with challenge tail); kinked tail.
Disqualification: Bobbed
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 for merle.
Disqualification: Merle
HEIGHT AND WEIGHT
The American Pit Bull Terrier must be both
powerful and agile so actual weight and height are less important than the
correct proportion of weight to height. Desirable weight for a mature male in
good condition is between 35 and 60 pounds. Desirable weight for a mature
female in good condition is between 30 and 50 pounds. Dogs over these weights
are not to be penalized unless they are disproportionately massive or rangy.
Very Serious Fault: Excessively
large or overly massive dogs.
GAIT
The American Pit Bull Terrier moves with a jaunty,
confident attitude, conveying the impression that he expects any minute to see
something new and exciting. When trotting, the gait is effortless, smooth,
powerful, and well coordinated, showing good reach in front and drive behind.
When moving, the backline remains level with only a slight flexing to indicate
suppleness. Viewed from any position, legs turn neither in nor out, nor do
feet cross or interfere with each other. As speed increases, feet tend to
converge toward center line of balance.
Faults: Legs
not moving on the same plane; legs over reaching; legs crossing over in front
or rear; rear legs moving too close or touching; rolling; pacing; paddling;
sidewinding; hackney action; pounding.
DISQUALIFICATIONS
Unilateral or bilateral cryptorchid. Viciousness
or extreme shyness. Unilateral or bilateral deafness. Long coat. Bobbed tail.
Albinism. Merle.
Note: Although some level of dog aggression is
characteristic of this breed, handlers will be expected to comply with UKC
policy regarding dog temperament at UKC events.
For More information visit United
Kennel Club