Pitbull dogs are an increasingly popular breed in Australia, but their reputation often precedes them due to misconceptions. This guide aims to inform readers about pitbulls through evidence-based research so you can decide whether they are the right pet for your lifestyle and family.
Pitbull Dog Australia
Pitbulls are not officially recognized by the Australian National Kennel Council but are commonly referred to as a type of dog rather than a single breed. In Australia, the term ‘pitbull’ is loosely used to describe the American Pit Bull Terrier and two unofficial varieties – the American Staffordshire Terrier and the Staffordshire Bull Terrier.
While each breed has its own breed standard and characteristics, they are often lumped together under the banner of ‘pitbulls’ due to a shared genetic lineage as terriers developed for bull-baiting in 19th century England. Thanks to concentrated media coverage of dog bite incidents, pitbulls have developed a fearsome reputation as aggressive animals. However, the science shows breed alone is not a determinant of canine behavior – responsible ownership and socialization from a young age is key.
As pitbulls gain popularity as family pets in Australia, it’s important for prospective owners to understand the responsibilities that come with caring for any breed or type of dog with a misunderstood public image. Let’s dive deeper into the characteristics of pitbull dogs so you can assess if they suit your lifestyle.
Pitbull Dog Lifespan
On average, a healthy and well-cared-for pitbull can live 10-15 years when properly exercised, fed a balanced diet, and given preventative healthcare. Like all dogs, genetics and lifestyle factors play a role in longevity. Some key factors influencing a pitbull’s natural lifespan include:
- Spaying/neutering: Dogs who undergo sterilization surgery tend to live longer on average, avoiding cancers associated with reproductive organs. Early spay/neuter, before sexual maturity, around six months, is recommended.
- Diet: A premium whole food diet suitable for your dog’s needs, avoids fillers or junk ingredients that can promote health issues over time.
- Exercise: Daily walks and play sessions are vital for physical and mental stimulation. Lack of activity can lead to obesity and related conditions.
- Healthcare: Routine veterinary checkups catch issues early. Vaccinations, dental care, and parasite prevention are integral. Owners should socialize puppies early to ensure good temperament as adults.
With responsible care, the average pitbull will live into their mid-teens, enjoying many years as a loyal and affectionate companion. Their hardy nature makes them well-suited to Australian climates when provided adequate shelter, water, exercise, and care.
Pitbull Dog Size, Height, and Weight
The most common size variation seen in pitbull-type dogs recognized by breed clubs in America is:
- Adult height: Usually between 17-21 inches at the shoulder
- Adult weight: Approximately 30-80 pounds
Females tend to be slightly smaller than males. However, there is natural variation between individual purebred dogs based on breeding lines and development. Some key size factors to consider are:
- Height: Most pitbulls are medium-sized but do not reach the height of true “large breeds” dogs like Labs or Great Danes.
- Weight: The desirable weight range is muscular and proportional to height/bone structure without excess.
- Variation: Staffordshire Bull Terriers and smaller American Bull Terriers may max out closer to 30 pounds in some lines.
- Growth: Puppies grow rapidly until 12-18 months old, so final size is hard to predict early on. Quality nutrition supports healthy growth.
Choosing a reputable breeder who health tests their stock and screens for genetic issues helps ensure puppies’ growth stays proportional as they mature into fit, functional adults well-suited to life as a companion. Size is rarely a concern with gentle socialization and early training.
Pitbull Dog Price
The average price range for purchasing a pedigree pitbull puppy from a responsible breeder in Australia is $800-$1500, sometimes higher for rare coat colors or champion bloodlines. A few key factors determine the cost:
- Breeding stock health certification: Breeders who test for genetic issues command a premium.
- Rarity of litter: Litters sired by champion show dogs are pricier than pet-quality pairings.
- Gender: Males often cost less than female puppies, which can be bred.
- Location: Puppies shipped interstate or from rare bloodlines in remote areas cost extra for transport.
- Age: Young puppies command the highest prices before eight weeks as they require hand-rearing and socialization.
It’s important to thoroughly research any breeder via their health testing pedigree records before purchase. Reputable breeders will meet you in person, ensure puppies are well-socialized before sale, and offer lifetime support. Avoid lower-cost options from accidental litters or pet shops where parent health/temperament is unknown.
The long-term costs of owning any dog breed also include food, equipment, preventative healthcare, training, and occasional emergency vet bills – so factor in around $1500 annually for a pitbull’s lifetime care.
Difference between Pitbull and Bulldog
While often confused due to the word “bull” in their names, pitbulls, and bulldogs are quite different breeds with distinct genetic lineages, conformation standards, and temperaments evolved for varying purposes. Here are some key differences:
- Looks: Pitbulls are leaner and more athletic in build, while Bulldogs have a stockier, muscular physique with signature wrinkly faces.
- Size: Bulldogs max out around 50 pounds, while most pitbulls reach 60-80 pounds or more at maturity.
- Origins: Pitbulls were bred for bull-baiting in 19th century England while Bulldogs were developed earlier for bull fighting without injury in Roman times.
- Temperament: Pitbulls are generally energetic, gentle family companions, while Bulldogs are more relaxed but stubborn.
- Health: Bulldogs famously have brachycephalic health issues due to selective breeding.
- Coat: Pitbull coats can be short, smooth, or wiry/bristled. Bulldogs have very fine, short coats.
- Exercise needs: Pitbulls need sustained daily activity or sports, while Bulldogs prefer shorter walks.
In summary, pitbulls and bulldogs share stocky builds for their size but have very distinct genetic histories, traits, and health predispositions as companions today due to the purposes for which they were originally bred centuries ago.
Why Pitbulls Turn on Their Owners
The notion that pitbulls suddenly “snap” and turn on owners stems from misconceptions rather than evidence. Like any dog breed, well-socialized pitbulls are unlikely to display aggression without provocation. However, irresponsible ownership practices can create dangerous situations:
- Inadequate socialization: Puppies need early exposure to new people, animals, sounds, and places to develop balanced confidence as adults. Too little socialization may cause anxiety, fear, or unpredictability.
- Harsh punishment: Using physical force, intimidation, or cruel training methods like choke chains causes psychological damage and distrust. Positive reinforcement is evidence-based.
- Boredom/frustration: Lack of mental and physical stimulation leads to destructive, obsessive, or aggressive behaviors as natural instincts are not met. Daily activities are key.
- Poor containment: Dogs not properly leashed, crated, or fenced where appropriate feel their space is being threatened and may react. Protection motivates guardian breeds.
- Abuse/neglect: No dog deserves cruelty that violates its basic needs and trust. Such treatment understandably causes deep emotional scars and fear-based aggression.
- Poor breeding: Temperament in all dogs, including pitbulls depends heavily on selective breeding. Reputable breeders ensure future pets come from proven stable temperaments on both sides of the pedigree.
Responsible owners meet a pitbull’s needs through positive handling, compassionate care, and training from an early age. With consistency, pitbulls can become devoted companions who thrive in family settings when their welfare is the priority of accountable guardians.
What to Do if a Pitbull Attacks Your Child
Sadly dog bite incidents, regardless of breed, are traumatic for all involved. However, they are extremely rare and usually preventable through responsible ownership practices rather than breed-specific issues. Here are some tips if confronted by an uncontrolled dog:
- Stay calm: Do not scream or panic, which may trigger prey drive, instead, back away slowly without direct eye contact shown as a challenge.
- Cover your neck: Use anything available like a backpack or jacket to shield vital areas if approached, without threatening gestures.
- Instruct children: Teach them not to approach unknown dogs unsupervised, to stand still, and call for help if confronted until an adult can assist.
- Seek shelter: Try entering a safely enclosed area like a vehicle or building to separate from the dog if possible. Slam on horns to scare them off.
- Call for help: Attract as much attention as possible by yelling loudly until others come to assist and restrain the dog if needed. Alert authorities and provide as clear a description as possible to help identify and contain any wandering animals post-incident.
- Seek medical aid: If bitten, clean cuts immediately and generously with clean water, but do not scrub. Apply pressure with bandages and get emergency help from professionals. Medical staff can assess wound care and risks like infection or required shots.
- Report the incident: Make a full report to council rangers about date,time, location details, dog description and owner if possible. This helps contain roaming dogs and trace owners to address training/containment issues for community safety.
With awareness, normalized handling practices from a young age, and preventative supervision of children and loose dogs in public, the likelihood of such traumatic encounters can be minimized for all involved. Responsible owner accountability is key to ensuring the welfare of both pets and citizens in any situation.
FAQs
Is a Pitbull a Good Dog to Pet?
Pitbulls can make wonderful family pets given sufficient attention and training from a responsible owner. Here are some positives of owning a pitbull:
- Loyalty: Pitbulls bond strongly to their owners and guardians, becoming devoted companions when cared for properly.
- Temperament: Contrary to stereotypes, pitbull temperament testing shows they are normally friendly towards known people and do not suddenly turn aggressive without clear provocation or maltreatment.
- Playfulness: They enjoy interactive play, fetch games, and engaging their minds, which helps maintain a balanced and obedient nature.
- Trainer friendly: When positively reinforced, they are intelligent, eager to please, and responsive to training commands for good behavior, especially if socialized from a young age.
- Affection: Pitbulls thrive on human affection, are gentle with children when supervised, and make good family dogs with predictable temperaments in the right home.
However, as with any breed, prospective owners must consider pitbull needs like stimulation, socialization, containment, and liability responsibly. Commitment to lifelong care and training is required to ensure a pitbull thrives as a well-adjusted pet. Their guarding instincts also require cautious socialization to remain calm, friendly ambassadors of the breed.
What 2 Breeds Make A Pitbull?
There is some confusion around the genetic origins of the modern pitbull due to crosses between bulldog breeds in their development. However, the consensus among leading breed clubs is:
- American Pit Bull Terrier: Descended primarily from the now-extinct “Old Family Dog” bred for bull-baiting and other terrier sports in 19th century England.
- American Staffordshire Terrier: Developed in the early 20th century as a companion pitbull free from accusations of violence through controlled, kinder breeding programs.
- Staffordshire Bull Terrier: A smaller, refined variety originally developed in England for fighting and aggression, which is now a gentler companion breed through ethical breeding for stable temperament.
While all three breeds descend from the same British ancestry of bulldogs crossed with now-extinct Old English Terriers and similar landraces, the modern pitbull most closely represents the form and function of the American Pit Bull Terrier with bulldog influences on musculature and stocky build. Crossbreeding different varieties should be avoided unless an ethical breeder improves health or traits under pedigree governance.
Why Do Pitbulls Turn on Their Owners?
As discussed earlier, responsible ownership practices are key to ensuring predictable temperament in any breed, including pitbulls. While naturally confident and tolerant of handling, certain circumstances may create underlying stress that, in rare cases, leads to redirected behavior issues:
- Inconsistent or cruel training methods like physical punishment damage the human-canine bond of trust, so dogs do not see owners as pack leaders worth obeying.
- Lack of proper socialization exposes dogs to unexpected events and people without teaching coping skills to remain calm under stress. Fearful dogs may act out.
- Health issues like untreated pain conditions cause some usually good-natured breeds discomfort and irritability on occasion.
- Inhumane treatment through neglect, abuse, or use as weapons/bait animals violates a dog’s welfare and capacity to form secure attachments.
However, the majority of well-bred, properly reared, and treated pitbulls do not suddenly become aggressive towards their guardians and families without clear maltreatment or provocation due to anxiety. Responsible owners meet their dogs’ needs for exercise, mental stimulation, and positive reinforcement to maintain loyalty through the human bond.
Is a Pitbull a Strong Dog?
Pitbulls are powerful dogs due to their stocky builds and muscle structure, so responsible ownership requires an understanding of their physical capabilities:
- Muscular physique: Dense bones and layers of muscle give pitbulls an athletic, durable frame that requires challenging exercise daily.
- Jaw strength: Their terrier origins bred strong jaw muscles for prey handling. Young puppies learn bite inhibition, but dedicated chewers require supervision and toys.
- Fit for work: Historical lines originated as multi-purpose farm dogs that hauled, herded and exhibited strength and endurance before breeding solely as family companions today.
- Agility: Despite stocky builds, pitbulls can be quite agile and possess bursts of energy during play or daily exercise routines.
- Assertive personality: Confident, energetic natures require compassionate, firm leadership through positive training to channel instincts appropriately. Early socialization is also important.
However, as guardian dogs, their loyalty depends on forming secure human bonds through respect, care, and responsible handling appropriate for the breed from a young age. Fit pitbulls showcase controlled strength through manners and obedience rather than unruly behavior if cared for properly.
Is a Pitbull a Good Dog to Pet?
As discussed earlier, when given the right care pitbulls can thrive as affectionate family pets due to their:
- Trainability: With gentle, rewarding, positive reinforcement training methods, they are eager to please their owners. Consistency is key.
- Adaptability: Early puppyhood socialization helps pitbulls acclimate to home environments comfortably among people, other pets, and everyday activities.
- Companionship: Their affectionate nature and tendency to bond strongly with their human families make them devoted companions devoted to pleasing owners.
- Playfulness: Play sessions satisfy their exercise needs while strengthening the human-canine relationship through mental stimulation and bonding activities.
- Gentleness: Well-bred, stable pitbulls are often exceptionally tolerant and gentle pets around household members, including children, if supervised properly.
However, responsible ownership is imperative as with all dog breeds. Prospective owners must commit to lifetime care including socializing, training, containing and satisfying a pitbull’s needs for exercise, engagement and affection daily. With structure and compassionate handling, pitbulls flourish as calm, friendly family members.
