Dedicated to the American Pit Bull Terrier, one of the world’s most loyal, intelligent, and versatile breeds, this Smart Owner’s Guide, created by the editors at Dog Fancy magazine, offers the most up-to-date and accurate information every dog owner needs to become a well-informed caregiver for his dog. Illustrated with color photographs of adorable puppies and handsome adults, this easy-to-read primer is designed in a modern, lively manner that readers will find user-friendly and entertaining. Each Smart Owner’s Guide offers a description of the breed’s character and physical conformation, historical overview, and its attributes as a companion dog. The reader will find informative chapters on everything he or she needs to know about acquiring, raising, and training this remarkable purebred dog, including: finding a breeder and selecting a healthy, sound puppy; preparing for the puppy’s homecoming, shopping for supplies, and puppy-proofing the home; house-training; veterinary and home health maintenance; feeding and nutrition; and grooming. Obedience training for basic cues (sit, stay, heel, come, etc.) and solving potential problem behaviors (barking, chewing, aggression, jumping up, etc.) are addressed in separate chapters, as are activities to enjoy with the dog, including showing, agility, therapy work, and more. Entertaining tidbits and smart advice fill up colorful sidebars in every chapter, real-life heroes and rescue stories are retold in full-page features, and recipes, training, and care tips are also highlighted on special pages. The Smart Owner’s Guide series is the only series that offers readers an online component in which dog owners can join a breed-specific online club hosted by dogchannel.com. At Club APBT, owners of the breed can find forums, blogs, and profiles to connect with other breed owners, as well as charts and checklists that can be downloaded. More than just 20,000 pages of solid information, there’s a host of fun to be had at the club in the form of downloadable breed-specific e-cards, screensavers, games, and quizzes. The Resources section of the book includes contact information for breed-related organizations and rescues, as well as practical guidance on traveling with dogs, identification, and locating qualified professionals to assist the dog owner, such as pet sitters, trainers, and boarding facilities. This information-packed Smart Owner’s Guide is fully indexed.

"Acquiring, training, grooming and feeding, health, behavior and activities"--Cover.

Discusses the history, physical characteristics, care, and breeding of the American pit bull terrier, an extremely strong dog known for its willingness to fight.

This Comprehensive Owner's Guide to the American Pit Bull Terrier serves as a complete introduction to the dog who can do virtually anything, regarded by his owners as the smartest, most devoted, and most versatile dog in existence. Despite the breed's controversial beginnings as a fighting dog and reams of bad press it has garnered in contemporary times, lovers of the APBT defend the breed as one of the true red, white, and blue originals, worthy of high praise for its flawless devotion. Author F. Favorito sits firmly in this camp and details the breed's origins without apology, offering fascinating insight and detail that all breed lovers will relish. The author continues with chapters on characteristics and the breed standard encapsulating all of the virtues of this one-of-a-kind working terrier breed, offering sound advice about which owners are best suited (and worthy) to own this potentially challenging breed.New owners will welcome the well-prepared chapter on finding a breeder and selecting a healthy, sound puppy. Chapters on puppy-proofing the home and yard, purchasing the right supplies for the puppy as well as house-training, feeding, and grooming are illustrated with handsome adults and puppies bursting with energy and personality! In all, there are over 135 photographs in this compact, useful, and reliable volume. The author's advice on obedience training the ever-ready Pit Bull will help readers better mold and train their dogs into the most socialized, well-mannered bully in the neighborhood. The extensive chapter on healthcare provides detailed information on selecting a qualified veterinarian, vaccinations, parasites, infectious diseases, and more. Sidebars throughout the text offer helpful hints, covering topics as diverse as toxic plants, bloat, first aid, crate training, carsickness, fussy eaters, and parasite control. Fully indexed.

Pit Bulls are an often misunderstood breed because of their strong physique and history of poor treatment. These dogs are commonly believed to be aggressive watchdogs when their true temperament is the complete opposite. Pitbulls are sweet, gentle dogs that make excellent family pets. They love to play and have fun, and with proper care, would never have a reason to hurt the humans in their life. In fact, Pitbulls are frequently referred to as “nanny dogs” because of how great they are with kids. Once you get to know a Pitbull, you’ll find that they are a perfect addition to your family. The Complete Guide to Pit Bulls is written for the busy new owner who needs to quickly and easily learn everything they NEED to know as they embark on their ownership journey. This comprehensive guide answers every question you may have including: Is a Pit Bull the right dog for me? I brought my Pit Bull home. What now? How can I best train my Pit Bull? What are some common mistakes should I avoid? No matter how fun and easy-going this breed is, there’s a lot you’ll need to know about Pitbulls before you bring your new best friend home. The first few chapters will introduce you to the breed and help you find the perfect pup. You’ll continue on reading to find out everything you'll need to know as a new owner, including: Choosing a Pit Bull Preparing your Household for your Pit Bull Bringing Your Pit Bull Home Puppy Parenting Housetraining Socializing with People and Animals Pit Bulls and Your Other Pets Exercise Training your Pit Bull Dealing With Unwanted Behaviors Basic Commands Advanced Commands Traveling with Pit Bulls Grooming your Pit Bull Nutrition and Healthcare If you’ve never owned a Pit Bull before, this book will guide you through every life stage. Bringing a new dog into your home can be a lot of work, but this book is full of tips and tricks for creating a great relationship between owner and dog. Before long, you’ll become confident in your ability to be the best owner to your new Pit Bull, and this sweet dog will show you so much affection in return!

The hugely illuminating story of how a popular breed of dog became the most demonized and supposedly the most dangerous of dogs—and what role humans have played in the transformation. When Bronwen Dickey brought her new dog home, she saw no traces of the infamous viciousness in her affectionate, timid pit bull. Which made her wonder: How had the breed—beloved by Teddy Roosevelt, Helen Keller, and Hollywood’s “Little Rascals”—come to be known as a brutal fighter? Her search for answers takes her from nineteenth-century New York City dogfighting pits—the cruelty of which drew the attention of the recently formed ASPCA—to early twentieth‑century movie sets, where pit bulls cavorted with Fatty Arbuckle and Buster Keaton; from the battlefields of Gettysburg and the Marne, where pit bulls earned presidential recognition, to desolate urban neighborhoods where the dogs were loved, prized—and sometimes brutalized. Whether through love or fear, hatred or devotion, humans are bound to the history of the pit bull. With unfailing thoughtfulness, compassion, and a firm grasp of scientific fact, Dickey offers us a clear-eyed portrait of this extraordinary breed, and an insightful view of Americans’ relationship with their dogs.

Reveals the positive realities about the Pit Bull Terrier and its usefulness in society.

Originally published in 1936, this book is extremely rare in its early editions. Hugely informative and in-depth, it is a complete treatise on the breed covering the entire field, with particular emphasis on dog-fighting. Colby discusses selection, breeding, conditioning, gameness and care of the pit dog. Interviews all the trainers of the day, pictures and discusses all the greatest dogs, including Donovan's Boxer, Tige and Pilot, Brown's Tacoma Jack, Leeming's Butte and all of Colby's kennel. Details of many famous battles and lists of champions. Also includes conditioning, breeding and whelping chart. Contents Include: Origin of the Pit Bull Terrier History of the American Pit Bull Terrier American Pit Bull Terrier Standard The American Pit Bull Terrier An All Purpose Dog Selecting a Puppy Selecting the Brood Matron Selecting the Stud Dog Selecting the Pit Dog The Greatest Pit Dog I Have Ever Owned Mitchell's Prof-Spike Barber's Hobo Joe Colby's Pincher Pr. Exeter Ace Colby's Bunch Colby's Gully Mexico's Champion Sordito vs Exchave's Jeff Miller's Buddy vs Breeding's Tom W.H.D. Vose and John P. Colby The Treadmill or Conditioning Machine Gameness and the Pit Dog Preparing the Pit Dog for Battle Conditioning the Pit Dog General Care of the Dog After a Battle Helpful Suggestions in Fighting Dogs Rules Governing Recognized Pit Contests Champions of Record States Requiring Veterinarians Certificate Suggestions on Shipping a Dog Cropping the Ears Technical Terms as Applied to Dogs Condition Chart Stud Service Chart Breeding Chart Whelping ChartKeywords: Pit Bull Terrier American Pit Bull Terrier Selecting A Puppy American Pit Bull Colby Gameness Breeding And Whelping Whelping Chart Hobo Joe Terrier History Famous Battles Matron Brood Treatise

This book documents one hundred years of the Colby family's breeding program, capturing in painstaking detail the dogs that became the pillars of the the Pit Bull Terrier in pedigree and story, as well as in many rare photographs that never have been published before. Because of the quality of the dogs they bred and the clear documentation of their breeding program, the Colbys are among the most respected dog families in America.

This new book is designed for lovers of the superdog: the American Pit Bull Terrier. Whether you are a brand new owner of a Pit Bull puppy or an APBT admirer still considering the acquisition of a puppy, this Breeders' Best pet guide offers the best possible start for all owners of the versatile Pit Bull Terrier. This colorful, fact-filled book presents accurate, helpful information that addresses all of the questions that new owners most frequently ask. This responsible and reliable handbook contains precisely what you need to know, guiding you along the way as you find a reliable, qualified breeder, select a sound and healthy puppy and acclimate your new puppy to his new home. -- back cover.