Originated from England and bred for the purpose of dog-fighting, Pitbulls are a wildly popular dog-breed that everyone knows has a strong and aggressive nature. They’re deemed to be one of the strongest breeds and continue to be ruthlessly portrayed in the media for such vicious tendencies.
The American Pit Bull Terrier has a bite force of 235 Psi (pound-force per square inch). Victims of a Pitbulls bite force will experience excruciating pain and can often require serious medical attention. Animals who fall prey to a Pitbulls bite force will also suffer trauma and might possess aggressive tendencies.
One thing to keep in mind, however, is that not every Pitbull has hostile reactions. In fact, similar to the German Shepherd, a Pitbull can be an extremely intelligent and loving pooch- depending on its upbringing and past experiences.
Yes, a Pitbull has a strong bite force- but this doesn’t mean you should be afraid of them for no reason. They won’t attack you out of boredom, as there are usually numerous reasons for an unprovoked attack, even if it means understanding them further.
Find below a few reasons why a Pitbull might become suddenly aggressive:
- They’re reacting out of anger, fear, or anxiety
- They’ve experienced extreme trauma and biting is a natural reaction for them
- They haven’t been trained to deter such behavior
- They’re confused and have no other coping mechanisms
- They’ve been abused or are being abused in their family
- He’s scared or senses danger
- He suffers from poor health and/or pain
- He’s sensitive and is acting from a subconscious reaction
As an owner of a Pitbull, there are a few things you can do when controlling this behavior. Understanding your dog’s upbringing is the first thing, followed by assessing your environment (for any triggers) and slowly working with him to provide security and safety. Behavioral training is another popular option many owners choose when they’re trying to train their Pit Bull, and starting from an early age is the best solution.
Remember, Pitbulls or any dog for that matter- appreciate the patience and loving gestures from his family. He’s a loyal breed who will protect you if you can offer the same assurance towards him. If you’d like to learn more about Pitbulls, their bite force, as well as other facts which can assist you in understanding their breed- continue reading!
Can a Pitbull Bite Break Bones?
The intensity of a Pitbulls bite can be strong enough to fracture and sometimes break fragile bones. This force from their jaw, in conjunction with their sharp teeth, is so powerful that if a dog-bite were to occur on a young child or elderly person- it’s likely for their bones to break within that area.
In addition to the bite breaking bones, fractures (as mentioned above) are common to occur as well as gnarly puncture wounds from the result of the impact of their bite. Extreme pain will be felt for victims of such nature, and will often need medical attention.
Are Bones Good for Pitbulls?
Any type of bone is good for your Pitbull, so long as they aren’t cooked bones– as they might crack and chip their teeth. Purina sells a range of dog chews, similar to bones, but a healthier and safer alternative. Otherwise, dog bones made from natural rubber are Ok- such as the Fotiluck dog chew toy or the Kingback durable dog bone.
Are Pitbulls Naturally Aggressive?
No, Pitbulls are not naturally aggressive. Although they’ve been known as a ruthless dog-breed with temperament issues, it’s important to remember that aggression in dogs can stem, even from the ones in which you least expect it.
What Age Do Pitbulls Become Aggressive?
There is no “set-age” where a Pitbull becomes aggressive, as aggression is a reaction learned through their experience as a pup. Many people believe that all Pitbulls become aggressive at a certain age, however, they forget that dogs who have suffered some type of trauma can become affected by such reactions.
How Do You Stop a Pitbull from Attacking?
Firstly, an attacking nature within a Pitbull is extremely worrying and should be urgently addressed. If your Pit is physically attacking (animals or humans,) you should immediately separate them from others until you can address such behavior.
If your pooch has been brought home from a shelter, they’ve most likely experienced trauma which has caused such behavior. This can only be deterred through patience and thorough behavioral training.
In other circumstances, if you’ve been attacking your pooch (physically or verbally) then he’s likely caught a drift of traits that he believes are normal. If this is the case, we advise you to refrain from further interaction with your pooch and begin intensive dog-training to deter this behavior.
No Pit will begin attacking at birth, this behavior has been taught over-time and will take just as long to address. Remember to continue working on it, give yourself patience, and if you feel overwhelmed- consider alternative solutions.
Are Pitbulls Sensitive?
If you didn’t already know, Pitbulls are an extremely sensitive breed of dog and can feel the emotions of hurt quite easily. Often showing submissive characteristics, your Pitbull might become affected by arguments at home or show heightened signs of stress.
Will a Pitbull Protect Its Owner?
Pitbulls are extremely protective of its owners and will attempt to harbor them from danger if possible. If you train your dog, you can teach him how to react if you find yourself in a life-threatening situation.
Pitbulls are loyal, and can even feel that they’re doing you service by protecting you from the “mail-man” or “strangers” aka family members. Either way, you can trust that your pooch will sense serious danger if with you- and will attempt to protect you.
Are Pitbulls Good Family Dogs?
Despite the controversy, Pitbulls have the potential to be extremely wonderful with kids, making them great family dogs to own. So long as the family who cares for him understands the importance of adequate care for such a sensitive breed.
We’ve listed below 10 reasons why Pitbulls can make good family dogs:
- They’re lovers of people and can grow strong bonds with its family
- He’s loyal and will try his best to protect the house (if trained)
- Extremely smart, witty, and have the ability to become trained
- They make wonderful companions for children
- Only a few health problems (A fairly healthy breed)
- Very energetic and would easily accompany an active family
- They LOVE other pets, arguably slightly more than humans… (training required)
- Don’t have intense temperament issues
- Easy to maintain/grooming requirements
- They’ll be sure to make you laugh!
Do Pitbulls Lose Teeth?
Yes, Pitbulls can lose their teeth either prematurely or naturally- as like us humans, they experience a teething cycle too. From 6 – 8 weeks, your Pitbull will begin slowly losing their baby teeth – and by 8 months old he should have all adult teeth in his jaw.
Reasons why you Pitbull may lose his teeth irregularly or before/after this timeframe depends on the circumstances. Rough play, health issues, or unforeseen accidents can be the culprit of such issues- so it’s important to remain cautious.
How Many Teeth Do Pit Bulls Have?
By the time your Pit Bull reaches 8 months old, he should have, on average 42 adult teeth. The reason being is Pit Bulls goes through a teething cycle, just like humans. However, their cycle takes place much faster than us.
Before your dog reaches the 8-month stage, they’ll have up to 24 baby teeth. And these teeth are typically pushed out before 16 weeks- when the process of losing them to grow adult teeth begin.
The 42 adult teeth your Pitbull will have include:
- 12 incisors (both upper and lower jaw)
- 4 canines (both upper and lower jaw)
- 16 premolars (both upper and lower jaw)
- 4 molars (on the upper jaw)
- 6 molars (on the lower jaw)
Why Do Pit Bulls Chomp Their Teeth?
Teeth chomping (also referred to as teeth chattering) is an expression used by Pit Bulls to indicate their reaction. If your Pit Bull begins chomping their teeth, they could be trying to let you know that:
- They’re feeling overly excited;
- They do not feel nervous, anxious, or scared, or;
- They’ve noticed something strange and are remaining wary of it.
Depending on the environment you’re in, it’ll be easy for you to assess the reasoning behind their sudden teeth chomping. For example, if you’re playing with your dog – it’s most likely that they’re having fun. However, if you’re outside on a walk – they’ve likely seen or smelt another dog/animal.
How Big Do Pit Bulls Get?
The average American Pitbull can reach a size of 22 inches as an adult, however, measurements vary a great deal depending on its sex, age, and height.
An adult, female Pitbull might grow as big as 17 – 20 inches (reaching no less than 15 inches) and can weigh between 44 lbs/20 kgs. As for an adult, male Pitbull, they can grow as big as 19 – 22 inches and can weigh between 55 lbs/25 kgs.
Do Pitbulls Bark a lot?
If you’re wondering whether your Pitbull will become a barker as they grow? Beware, Pitbulls do bark a lot – but thankfully, at least for good reason! As a pup, you might not hear much from your Pit. But once they reach adolescence and adulthood- you’ll be sure to hear them much more frequently.
Unlike other dog-breeds, Pitbulls won’t just bark for no reason. You won’t hear them barking out of boredom or during the late hours of the night. They will bark, however, when they’re trying to grab your attention – or attempting to grab someone else’s.
For example, if your dog feels protective over you and sees the mail-man knocking at your dog – expect him to bark! Or if he smells another animal on his property, notices strangers outside, or anything else similar to such nature- you now will know why.
Why are Pitbulls Banned?
Unlike The United States, a law passed in the United Kingdom named the “Dangerous Dogs Act of 1991” foresaw the banning of all Pitbull Terriers due to injurious attacks provoked by such breeds.
This law includes the banning of three other breeds- the Japanese Tosa, Fila Brasileiro, and Dogo Argentino. Crossbreeds of any of the four breeds mentioned above are also subject to the law. However, it depends on the size, temperament, and additional factors.
What’s odd is that Pitbull Terriers originated in England and were often bred for the purpose of dogfighting, which was extremely common dating back centuries ago. Thus, it’s no surprise that over time – these dogs became extremely viscous, therefore causing a need for the law. To prevent future attacks, but also to stop dogfighting all together.