Orlovia
Dogs are naturally loyal and friendly. Rather, their social behavior is designed in such a way that the animal-human relationship entered into is mainly based on trust. The upbringing of the dog, therefore, plays a major role and is comparable to the upbringing of a small child. Its later character is strongly influenced by infancy. William Falkner is right when he claims: You can tell whether a person is good first and foremost by their dog and their cat!
The prejudices that the American Pitbull Terrier family dog suffers from are therefore the result of shady people. Just looking at the cute face should prove every dog lover wrong. Alert and intelligent traits are shown here that appear very good-natured and friendly. In the past, this led to the animal protection organization ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) classifying the Pit Bull Terrier under the breed standard family dog, which is hardly suitable as a guard dog.
History of the American Pitbull Terrier
The American Pitbull Terrier is a crossbreed that was bred in the late 19th century for so-called Pied Piper competitions. The mix of bulldog and terrier should combine strength and speed. The dog succeeded so well that a little later it was used in the notorious dog fights. This also explains the naming Pitbull, since the English word pit can be translated as a box.
The abuse of the pit bull terrier for dogfighting led to the American Kennel Club, the US governing body for dog breeding and dog sport, not wanting to recognize the dog breed. In Europe, the dog was then given the name American Staffordshire Terrier to distinguish it. The family suitability of the dog and its misinterpretation through the illegal intensification of its very good character traits was ultimately the main reason why dog breeders and clubs stuck to the Pitbull breeds.
The image, which spread among the population, is still evident today, through the evaluation of the dog as a list dog. In this context, the keeping of Pitbull dogs is subject to strict regulations in all German federal states.
Essence and Character
Studies from various universities, such as B. the University of Kiel, come to a completely different conclusion. Here the American Pitbull or other Pitbull breeds are not certified as breed-specific aggressiveness. Rather, the good steerability of Pitbull dogs is emphasized, which ultimately makes them very sensitive to misdirection and therefore particularly interesting for dog fights. As a result, the Pitbull Terrier is only aggressively trained to be dangerous by humans.
Today, with a much stronger character, the American Pitbull Terrier is one of the best family dogs that are not suitable as a guard dog. His medium-sized and physically strong to stocky figure weighs up to 27 kilograms and is extremely athletic. Confident and friendly, as well as being very intelligent and playful by nature, are the true characteristics of the Pitbull dog. The American Pitbull is also very fond of children. The Pitbull character, full of panache and energy, makes the dog an ideal partner in search and rescue.
Purchase of an American Pitbull Terrier
When purchasing an American Pitbull Terrier, every dog lover should be aware that there are requirements for having a list dog in all federal states. Mandatory leashes and muzzles are becoming mandatory in many places, not just in the city. In some European countries, keeping dogs is even completely forbidden.
This is the case in Denmark, for example. Anyone who has chosen the country as a holiday home for themselves and their dog should first inquire in advance whether importing it is allowed at all. The legal regulations and hurdles required of a Pitbull dog owner are correspondingly high. There is also the possibility that a municipality explicitly requires a character test of the dog.
What do I need to pay attention to when purchasing?
While the American Pitbull Terrier is often bred in this country or in Europe under dubious conditions and their character and nature can hardly be understood, it is advisable to buy an American Staffordshire Terrier or Staffordshire Bull Terrier instead. These are bred by reputable breeders in this country as family dogs and often have certificates of expertise.