United
Kennel Club, Inc.
El United Kennel Club de USA
fue el primer registro en reconocer el American Pit Bull Terrier. El
fundador del U.K.C., C. Z. Bennett asignó el número de registro 1 a su
propio APBT, Bennett's Ring en 1898.
AMERICAN
PIT BULL TERRIER
Official
U.K.C. Breed Standard
Revised October
1, 2000
History
Sometime
during the nineteenth century, dog fanciers 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 of 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 for protection, as catch dogs for semi-wild cattle and
hogs, to hunt, to drive livestock, and as family companions. Today, the
American Pit Bull Terrier continues to demonstrate its versatility,
competing successfully in Obedience, Tracking, Agility, Protection, and
Weight Pulls, as well as Conformation.
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. This breed combines
strength and athleticism with grace and agility and should never appear
bulky or muscle-bound or fine-boned and rangy.
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.
The
American Pit Bull Terrier has always been capable of doing a wide variety
of jobs so exaggerations or faults should be penalized in proportion to
how much they interfere with the dog's versatility.
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.
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.
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 to almond-shaped, 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. If
natural, semi-prick or rose are preferred. 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 short and thick; thin or weak neck; ewe neck; dewlap.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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. Bobbed tail. Albinism.
UKC
APBT Grand Champs
