THE AMERICAN PIT BULL TERRIER IS A PHYSICALLY ACTIVE, MUSCULAR, VERY AGILE BREED AND HAS MAINTAINED THIS BREED TYPE SINCE IT'S ORIGINS. ANY DEPARTURE SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A FAULT. 

QUALITY IS NEVER TO BE SACRIFICED FOR COLOR OR SIZE.

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CHARACTERISTICS:

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THE AMERICAN PIT BULL TERRIER IS A MEDIUM SIZED, MUSCULAR, SHORT COATED DOG. THEY ARE POWERFUL, ATHLETIC, AND ELEGANT. THEIR BODY IS SLIGHTLY LONGER THAN THEIR HEIGHT. THEY HAVE A STURDY APPEARANCE, WITH A FRIENDLY, OUTGOING DEMEANOR. STRENGTH, CONFIDENCE, AND A ZEST FOR LIFE ARE BREED ESSENTIALS. ENTHUSIASTIC, INTELLIGENT, EASER TO PLEASE, BUT STRONG WILLED.

GENERAL GOOD WITH CHILDREN AND EXCELLENT FAMILY COMPANIONS. 

THEY REQUIRE AND OWNER WILLING TO HONE THEIR SOCIAL SKILLS AND BEHAVIOR. DUE TO THEIR HISTORY AS A FIGHTING AND BLOOD SPORT BREED THEY CAN EXHIBIT ANIMAL AGGRESSION.

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 DISQUALIFICATIONS: VICIOUSNESS OR EXTREME SHYNESS

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HEAD:

BROAD GIVING THE IMPRESSION OF GREAT POWER, BUT NOT DISPROPORTIONATE TO THE SIZE OF THE BODY. WHEN VIEWED FROM THE FRONT THE HEAD IS SHAPED LIKE A WEDGE, WHEN VIEWED FROM THE SIDE THE SKULL AND MUZZLE ARE PARALLEL TO ONE ANOTHER JOINED BY A MODERATELY DEEP STOP. ARCHES OVER THE EYES ARE WELL DEFINED BUT NOT PRONOUNCED. SKULL IS SLIGHTLY FLAT OR ROUNDED, DEEP AND BROAD BETWEEN THE EARS, WITH A SLIGHT TAPER TO THE STOP.  PROMINENT WRINKLE FREE CHEEK MUSCLES. WRINKLES FORM ON FOREHEAD WHEN DOG IS CONCENTRATING. THE MUZZLE HAS A SLIGHT TAPER FROM STOP TO NOSE. MUZZLE LENGTH IS SHORTER THAN SKULL LENGTH. MUZZLE IS STRAIGHT AND LOWER JAW IS WELL DEVELOPED, WITH TIGHT CLEAN LIPS.

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FAULTS: SNIPEY MUZZLE, WEAK LOWER JAW

DISQULIFCATIONS: SHORT BLUNT MUZZLE THAT INTERFERES WITH BREATHING

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NOSE:

LARGE WITH WIDE OPEN NOSTRILS CAN BE ANY COLOR

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EYES:

MEDIUM SIZE, ROUND OR ALMOND SHAPED AND SET WELL APART AND LOW ON THE SKULL. ALL COLORS ARE ACCEPTABLE. HAW SHOULD NOT BE VISIBLE

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FAULTS: BULGING EYES

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EARS:

HIGH SET. MAY BE NATURAL OR CROPPED. ALL EAR SETS ARE ACCEPTABLE.

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DISQUALIFICATIONS: UNILATERAL OR BILATERAL DEAFNESS

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NECK:

MODERATE LENGTH AND MUSCULAR. SLIGHT ARCH AT THE CREST, WIDENS GRADUALLY TO  WEAR IT MEETS THE SHOULDERS.

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FAULTS: THIN OR WEAK, EWE NECK, DEWLAP, NECK TO SHORT AND THICK TO BE FUNCTIONAL

 

FOREQUARTERS: 

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SHOULDER BLADES ARE LONG, WIDE, AND MUSCULAR. THE ELBOWS ARE SET CLOSE TO THE BODY. FROM THE FRONT FORELEGS ARE SET MODERATELY WIDE APART AND PERPINDICULAR TO THE GROUND. PASTERNS ARE SHORT, POWERFUL, STRAIGHT, AND FLEXIBLE.

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FAULTS: UPRIGHT SHOULDERS, ELBOWS TURNED IN OR OUT, FRONT LEGS BOWED, KNUCKLING OVER, EASTY-WESTY.

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DISQUALIFICATIONS: FRONT LEGS SO BOWED AS TO INFRINGE ON NORMAL MOVEMENT.

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BODY:

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CHEST IS DEEP, WELL FILLED IN, AND MODERATELY WIDE AMPLE ROOM FOR HEART AND LUNGS. CHEST IS NEVER TO BE WIDER THAN IT IS DEEP. FORECHEST DOES NOT EXTEND MUCH BEYOND POINT OF SHOULDER. RIBS ARE WELL SPRUNG FROM THE SPINE, THEN FLATTENING TO FORM A DEEP BODY EXTENDING FROM THE ELBOWS. THE RIBS EXTEND WELL BACK WITH A WELL DEFINED BACK RIB. THE BACK IS STRONG AND FIRM. THE TOPLINE INCLINES VERY SLIGHTY DOWNWARD FROM THE WITHERS TO A BROAD MUSCULAR LEVEL BACK.  THE LOIN IS SHORT AND SLIGHTLY ARCHED TO THE TOP OF THE CROUP BUT NARROWER THAN THE RIP CAGE WITH A TUCKED UP WAISTLINE. 

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FAULTS: OVERLY MASSIVE BODY STYLE THAT IMPEDES WORKING ABILITY. ROACHED BACK

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DISQUALIFICATIONS: CHEST SO WIDE THAT IT INTERFERES WITH NORMAL MOVEMENT

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HINDQUARTERS: 

THE HINDQUARTERS ARE STRONG, MUSCULAR, AND MODERATELY BROAD. THE RUMP IS WELL FILLED IN ON BOTH SIDES OF THE TAIL AND DEEP FROM PELVIS TO CROTCH. THIGHS ARE DEVELOPED, THICK, EASILY DESCERNED MUSCLES. FROM THE SIDE HOCK JOINT IS WELL BENT. REAR PASTERNS ARE WELL LET DOWN AND PERPINDICULAR TO THE GROUND. FROM REAR PASTERNS ARE STRAIGHT AND PARALLEL TO ONE ANOTHER.

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FAULTS: NARROW HINDQUARTERS, SHALLOW FROM PELVIS TO CROTCH, LACK OF MUSCLE, STRAIGHT OR OVER ANGULATED STIFLE. COW HOCKS, SICKLE HOCKS, BOWED LEGS.

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FEET:

ROUND, PROPORTIONATE TO SIZE OF DOG, WELL ARCHED, AND TIGHT. PADS ARE HARD, TOUGH, AND WELL COUSHIONED.

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FAULT: SPLAYED FEET

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TAIL:

SET ON A NATURAL EXTENSION OF THE TOPLINE, TAPERS TO A POINT. WHEN DOGS IS RELAXED TAIL IS CARRIED LOW AND EXTENDS TO APPROXIMATELY THE HOCK. WHEN DOG IS IN MOTION TAIL IS CARRIED LEVEL WITH BACK LINE. WHEN DOG IS EXCITED TAIL MAY BE CARRIED IN A RAISED UPRIGHT POSITION (CHALLENGE TAIL), BUT NEVER CURLED OVER THE BACK.

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FAULT: LONG TAIL, GAY TAIL NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH CHALLENGE TAIL, KINKED TAIL.

DISQUALIFICATION: BOBBED TAIL OR SCREW TAIL

EXCEPTION: TAIL WAS DOCKED FOR MEDICAL REASONS

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COAT:

GLOSSY, SMOOTH, CLOSE, AND MODERATELY STIFF TO THE TOUCH. ANY COLOR, PATTERN, OR COMBINATION OF COLORS IS ACCEPTABLE.

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FAULT: CURLY, WAVY, OR SPARSE COAT

DISQUALIFICATION: LONG COAT, ALBNISM

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HEIGHT AND WEIGHT:

THE APBT IS BOTH POWERFUL AND AGILE. OVERALL BALANCE AND PROPORTION IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE ACTUAL WEIGHT OR HEIGHT. 

DESIRABLE WEIGHT IN GOOD CONDITION: MALES 35-75LBS, FEMALES 30-70LBS

DESIRABLE HEIGHT: MALES 18-21" FEMALES 17-20" AT THE WITHERS

HEIGHT AND WEIGHT LISTED ARE ONLY TO BE USED AS A GENERAL GUIDLINE AND NOT AN ABSOLUTE OVER AND UNDER THESE RANGES ARE NOT TO BE PENALISED.

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FAULT: EXCESSIVELY LARGE OR OVERLY MASSIVE DOGS

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GAIT: JAUNTY, CONFIDENT, EXPECTING NEW AND EXCITING THINGS. GAIT IS EFFORTLESS, SMOOTH, POWERFUL, AND WELL COORDINATED WHEN TROTTING, SHOWING GOOD REACH IN FRONT AND DRIVE BEHIND.  TOPLINE REMAINS LEVEL WITH ONLY SLIGHT FLEXING. FROM ANY POSITION LEGS DON'T TURN IN OR OUT, FEET DO NOT CROSS OR INTERFERE WITH EACH OTHER. AS SPEED INCREASES FEET CONVERGE TOWARD CENTER LINE OF BALANCE.

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FAULT: LEGS NOT MOVING ON SAME PLANE, LEGS OVER REACHING, LEGS CROSSING OVER IN FRONT OR REAR. REAR LEGS MOVING TOO CLOSE OR TOUCHING EACH OTHER. ROLLING, PACING, PADDDLING, SIDEWINDING, OR POUNDING.

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SOME DOG AGGRESSION IS NORMAL WITHIN THE BREED. HANDLERS MUST TAKE GREAT CARE AND HAVE CONTROL OF THEIR DOGS AT ALL TIMES. ANIMAL AGGRESSION IS NOT TO BE PENALISED.