| "Pit Bull" is most often used incorrectly as a general | | | | standard of their own. Many other breeds are related |
| term for dogs that have certain characteristics or | | | | to Pit Bulls somewhere in their history, such as |
| type. More accurately, it's the shortened name for | | | | Boston Terriers, Boxers, and Bulldogs. Additionally, |
| American Pit Bull Terrier. The American Pit Bull Terrier | | | | there are also mixes called the American Bully, some |
| (APBT) is considered a purebred. "Pit Bulls" are | | | | of whom look like oversized, stocky Pits with huge |
| registered by their formal names with kennel clubs as | | | | heads. |
| either "American Pit Bull Terriers" (UKC, ADBA) or as | | | | If you have adopted a Pit Bull or you are unsure of |
| another breed, "American Staffordshire Terrier" | | | | your dogs origins, he may be purebred or may be a |
| (AKC), although there have been dogs registered as | | | | mix. The way to identify what breed you have is to |
| both. That alone shows that they are an existing | | | | look at physical characteristics and compare them |
| pure breed, but so does their long history. Pedigrees, | | | | with the breed standard. For example, purebred Am |
| which are written family trees, go back 200 years or | | | | Staffs have a black nose. But does it really matter? |
| more for some of these dogs. They are an older | | | | A dog is a dog, whether pedigreed or not. |
| breed than many. | | | | Please spay or neuter- there is a crisis overpopulation |
| The media commonly lumps three breeds together. | | | | of Pits due to over-breeding and they are being |
| While they may have all originated from similar dogs | | | | euthanized in shelters. Bad breeders and irresponsible |
| in Britain, they are separate breeds in their own right, | | | | owners have given this breed a bad rap. Don't be |
| such as Staffordshire Bull Terriers, which are smaller | | | | part of the problem, be part of the solution- neuter |
| and look different, American Staffordshire Terriers, | | | | and train your dog. |
| which have different bloodlines than APBTs, or Cane | | | | Glossary: |
| Corsos, a Mastiff-type dog that weighs around 100 | | | | Pit Bull: Term used to describe several breeds of dog |
| pounds. Another similar breed is the American Bulldog. | | | | in the molosser family, often mis-used by the media |
| They look similar but they have a lineage and breed | | | | to describe a dog based on looks. |