by Crystal Rawlins

Created on: July 05, 2009   Last Updated: July 06, 2009

The American Pit Bull Terrier is a wonderful Dog. My APBT is my baby. Before I even went and picked her up from her momma I did a lot of reading about the breed. First off they are not the monsters that the media makes them out to be. There has been more positive news concerning the breed the last few years.

They need to be exercised everyday. In my opinion, if you can't set aside at least 1 to 2 hours of outside playing, than you shouldn't choose this breed. And I mean running, jumping and throwing ball. They shouldn't just be hooked to a chain to sit all day.

They are great family dog. Like I said before, they are protective of there family and love kids. Mine has been raised around my daughter and there is not one child she doesn't like. You just have to raise them the right way.

They can be destructive to furniture or other things laying around if left alone. With my APBT, toilet paper and stuffed animals are the worst things to leave laying around.

The APBT natural agility makes it one of the most capable dog climbers so good fencing is a must have for this type breed. If you have no fence have heavy duty chain can be used. They are very strong dogs and can break the store bought runners very easy. They are also very easy to train. Start at a early age.

One thing is they may not get along with other dogs especially of the same sex. When they are puppies, take them around as many people and other dogs to get them socialized. This is key to help curb any future problems they might have. You may not be able to take to off-leash dog parks. Like I said before, they may not get along with other dogs especially same sex.

They are also very healthy dogs that is not especially prone to many diseases. They can live up to 12 plus years. When traveling, you may not be able to bring them with you due to certain breed specific restrictions. You might get some criticism from friends and family members that don't understand about the breed. Make sure you educate your family and friends.

You should feed them a high quality food to maintain health. They are also a dog that is safe with people. Human aggression, severe shyness, and instability are not normally found in American Pit Bulls.

They can weigh any where from 35 to 60 pounds for full grown males and 30 to 50 pound for females. Just remember when choosing this breed as your pet make sure you have a enough time to spend with them. One key thing is training them. And treat them right.

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