How to Identify a Trait of the Pitbull Population

The pit bull breed stereotype carries with it myth and urban legend. Descended from fighting dogs and trained for combat, modern pit bulls appear muscular and tolerant to pain, testament of genetics they inherited from their ancestors. However, admirers of these dogs also consider them loyal, intelligent and energetic. If you have a population of pit bulls, or a population of dogs that includes pit bull breeding, you can identify the physical and oftentimes emotional traits by observing and working with the dogs.

Things You'll Need

  • Pit bull trait list
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Instructions

    • 1

      Look at the dog's size and musculature. Pit bulls are medium-sized dogs, ranging from 30 to 80 pounds in females and 45 to 85 pounds in males. Pit bulls also tend to have an extremely dense musculature, which makes them feel solid to the touch and stocky in appearance.

    • 2

      Watch the dog's social habits. Pit bulls tend to be social animals, and they are generally submissive to humans. Pit bulls also tend to be animal-aggressive, showing dominance over other pets or just other dogs, as a trace of the training and temperament from generations past. Pit bulls are also active, and they need a lot of exercise; otherwise they may become destructive in a way that allows them to burn energy.

    • 3

      Look for identifying physical features. Pit bulls have short coats, and they come in a variety of colorations including brindle, spotted and solid colors. Some even display three different colors. Pit bulls have square heads, and their ears are often cropped. Their noses can be black, pink or "blue," and pit bulls tend to have life spans of 12 or more years, with good health and rarer instances of genetic defects than you might find in other breeds.