THE 411
PIT BULL INFO AND EDUCATION
PBPP knows that education is the most important objective that we can offer our community . PBPP firmly believes that you need to know the history to understand the present and that sometimes the history will never be an issue but its always good to be educated on the subject. Understanding the breed is your first step towards being a responsible owner. With knowledge comes understanding and compassion.
HISTORY - There are many many different opinions as to exactly how this breed came to be. There are many books and websites dedicated to the orgins and history of the breed. Please take the time to read through some of them as they can be very informative,educational and beneficial.
Please see A LITTLE PIECE OF HISTORY at the bottom of the page .
A very sad fact that can not be ignored or denied is that this the orignal purpose for this breed was for baiting/dogfighting. Pit bulls are not unique as there were and are many other breeds that were bred for this sole purpose also.
per
PBRC
Most of todays pit bulls are not breed for fighting and are a far cry from true fighting or game lines of yesteryear . Most of the time a dogs propensity to fight has nothing to do with their bloodlines and heritage but due to a lack of training ,owner leadership ,or being unbalanced due to poor breeding practices.
Temperament - a true temperament of the breed is that they are people lovers..true lickey loo's with a wiggly butt and a dangerous slap happy tail. They are very trusting and loyal. With proper care and training they will become a devoted family member and will thrive under positive leadership. A pit bull that is overly shy and timid or people aggressive is not a proper pit bull temperment and the owner should seek immediate professional behavioral assessment. One of the largest problems the breed faces today and fuels the fire of breed specific legislation is dogs that were bred with bad temperments.
Pit bulls are energetic, strong , agile, very driven and resourceful. They need to have a lot of exercise and positive activities to curtail all that engery. Remember a tired dog is a good dog.
Physical traits -Pit bulls are a diverse group unlike any other breed. They come in all shapes, color and sizes. This is why so many dogs are mislabeled as pit bulls.
The UKC, AKC,ADBA and other registries all have their own ideas and rules as to what a pit bull should look like.
But most will agree that a healthy Pit Bull should be between 45-65 lbs, very muscular and have a deep chest. That the coat is short and shiny and the frame should be porportionate with powerful hind end and solid legs. The over all look should be of a healthy and muscular athletic dog not short , stout , wide or a curved back.
Please note that "pit bull" that tauts its size of being 80lbs or more or is low and wide in stature is NOT a True APBT . It has had some other breed bred into them such as American Bull Dog, English Bull dog, mastiff, ect. While we appreciate thier beauty for what they are it is still a misrepresentation of the TRUE APBT and the public is being misled to believe that they are something they are not.
A PIECE OF HISTORY
 | American Pit Bull TerriersThe Colby Strain Since 1889Written By Louis B. Colby |
| John Pritchard Colby (age 20) | |
John P. Colby (1875-1941) started his strain of American Pit Bull Terriers in 1889, from the best dogs from England and Ireland brought here by immigrants to such ports as Boston, Ma, Portsmouth, NH and New York. The Colby dogs have been bred continuously since then. Now, some 116 years later, the strain is still known worldwide for tops in conformation, temperament, and gameness. A "Colby dog" would be readily recognized by breeders anywhere in this country, as well as many foreign countries. The American Pit Bull Terrier has been referred to in recent years in many ways; some complimentary, some with negative inferences. Yet this breed is probably the most versatile of all breeds. UKC 233-460 AKC 641-443 ADBA 500-01 |  | Whelped May 29, 1935 Sire: Colby's Brandy Dam: Colby's Mable |
During the "Great Depression of the 1930's" the American Kennel Club added American Pit Bull Terriers to their registry under the name of Staffordshire Terriers. With this new name for the breed, they needed a standard. After visiting a few kennels, a committee headed by Wilfred T. Brandon chose Colby's Primo as a standard for the breed. Our family of dogs, the "Colby Dogs", are probably the oldest, purest strain of dogs in the world as attested by the following exhibit. (Click to see 20 Generations dating back the 1890's. We still breed our dogs for quality. Owning a "Colby dog" is like owning a piece of history. |