How to Tell if Your Dog Is a Full-Blooded Pit Bull

Even though some controversy surrounds the breed, most pit bull terriers are endearing, happy dogs with devoted owners. Many of these owners are not concerned with their dog's full lineage, but there are some who are curious or need to know for breeding or registration purposes. If you aren't sure if your dog is a full-blooded pit bull, there are several methods to help determine this. Only your dog's breeder can give you a truly accurate idea of your dog's breed makeup, but if you don't know where your pet came from, there are other ways to tell.

Things You'll Need

Dog DNA testing kit

Instructions

- 1
  Contact your dog's breeder and ask for your dog's pedigree and registration with the United Kennel Club. These are forms of identification for your dog, its litter mates, parents and grandparents. A true pit bull will have at least three generations of purebred pit bull ancestors.
- 2
  Compare your dog to the United Kennel Club breed standard for the American pit bull terrier. The breed standard outlines the required size, appearance and temperament. If your dog meets these requirements, it is probably a purebred pit bull.
- 3
  Test your dog's DNA using a testing kit. The kit uses a swab from your dog's mouth that is mailed to the testing company and analyzed for the genetic markers of different dog breeds. The test results can indicate if your dog is purebred or not.
- 4
  Ask your veterinarian or local pit bull terrier breed club for their opinions. Veterinarians see many dogs and can compare your pit bull to others they have seen, and pit bull enthusiasts will have a great deal of insight on your dog's breed status based on appearance and personality.