American Pit Bull Terrier vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison

American Pit Bull Terrier vs Abruzzenhund - Breed ComparisonAmerican Pit Bull Terrier is originated from United States but Abruzzenhund is originated from Italy. American Pit Bull Terrier may grow 17 cm / 6 inches shorter than Abruzzenhund. American Pit Bull Terrier may weigh 15 kg / 33 pounds lesser than Abruzzenhund. Both American Pit Bull Terrier and Abruzzenhund has almost same life span. Both American Pit Bull Terrier and Abruzzenhund has almost same litter size. American Pit Bull Terrier requires Low maintenance. But Abruzzenhund requires Moderate maintenance

History

american pit bull terrier - historyThe history of the American Pit Bull Terrier might be a confusing one to some dog lovers and certainly to the general public that tends to lump all the “bully” breeds into a category called “pit bull”. This is because of the negative reputation this group of breeds has acquired over the past 30-50 years due to misuse and mis-breeding by the dog fighting industry. This categorization includes the American Pit Bull Terrier, The American Staffordshire Terrier, the Bull Terrier and the Staffordshire Bull Terrier.

There is major confusion and disagreement on the difference between the American Pit Bull Terrier and the American Staffordshire Terrier. The AKC does not recognize the American Pit Bull Terrier as a separate breed, but its founder and the UKC, ADBA do so. In the 1930’s the American Pit Bull Terrier was a recognized breed and in response to the negativity of pit-fighting, they renamed it as the American Staffordshire Terrier.

The American Pit Bull Terrier was developed to be a little larger in size than the Staffordshire in both height and weight. This breed comes from crossing various Bull and Terrier breed to get a working dog. The Amstaff for the most part is bred to be a show dog and is not usually a “street dog” used in dog fighting rings. The direct ancestors of the APBT are the Old English Bulldogs and the Old English Terriers. These dogs are great family dogs, gentle beyond comparison unless raised to fight. They make great therapy dogs as well as police dogs. They are not by nature cruel, aggressive or attack dogs.

Both professional confirmation breeders and street fight breeds have developed new strains of the American Pit Bull Terrier. A few are worth mentioning here.

Old Family Red Nose

One of the oldest strains of the American Pit Bull Terrier they are red in color and that red is a very unique tone. They have a copper colored coat and nose with red nails, red lips and amber or red eyes. These dogs were originally from Ireland and when they came to America they had the red nose. Originally bred for gameness, it is the red color that is sought after now.

Colby Pit Bulls

These are another old breed, but they have black noses and were initially bred by John P. Colby in the late 1800s. These dogs were known to be indominable fighting dogs and were bred into almost every line of American Pit Bull Terriers that exist today. The line is still maintained by the Colby family.

abruzzenhund - historyAbruzzenhund was established as an individual breed in the middle of the 20th century. They are descendant of the big, white Eastern sheepdogs which came to Europe 2000 years ago. Abruzzenhund is a mix of Turkish sheepdogs Akbash and Karabash, the Kuvac, Slovakian breed Hungarian breed, Komondor, and a French sheepdog Pyrenean Mountain Dog. Those dogs were much bigger than today’s breed. Abruzzenhund is still not very popular breed, but it is very common in Great Britain and Italy. They have been used as guard dogs, hunting dogs, and working dogs because they are very brave and strong.

Basic Information

Group:
Terrier dog
Herding dogs
Origin:
United States
Italy
Height Male:
43 - 56 cm
16 - 23 inches
60 - 73 cm
23 - 29 inches
Height Female:
40 - 53 cm
15 - 21 inches
60 - 68 cm
23 - 27 inches
Weight Male:
16 - 30 kg
35 - 67 pounds
30 - 45 kg
66 - 100 pounds
Weight Female:
14 - 27 kg
30 - 60 pounds
30 - 40 kg
66 - 89 pounds
Life Span:
8 - 15 Years
11 - 13 Years
Litter Size:
5 - 10
6 - 9
Size:
Medium dog
Large dog
Other Names:
Staffordshire Fighting Dog, Pit Terrier, Pitbull, Pit, Half and Half, Bull Baiter Dogs, Old Family Dog - the Irish name, Yankee Terrier - the Northern name, Rebel Terrier - the Southern name
Maremma, Pastore, Abruzzese, Cane da Pastore, Maremmano- Abruzzese, Italian Sheepdog
Colors Available:
Red, Black, Fawn or Bucksjin
Black, Cream, White, Grey and Brown
Coat:
Smooth, Shiny, Short, Single layer
Profuse and Long
Shedding:
Minimal
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Courageous, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Intelligent, Loving, Loyal, Playful, Stubborn
Courageous, Independent
Grooming:
Low maintenance
Moderate maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Moderate
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
No
No

Description

american pit bull terrier puppy - descriptionTrue to their reputation as fighters, the American Pit Bull Terrier looks like one – powerful, strong and well built. This belies their gentle disposition but too often they are judged by their looks. With a broad, brick shaped head, thick neck and deep chest, they are stocky, muscular and agile. They usually have cropped ears, but the tails are not docked. Their legs are strong and hindquarters especially muscular. These dogs are much stronger than they look. Round soulful eyes are one of the traits that people who keep these dogs as companion animals love about them. They have a scissor bite and one of the strongest jaws of all domesticated canines.

abruzzenhund puppy - descriptionA height of Abruzzenhund variates between 60-73 cm, males are slightly bigger than females. While the weight is 30-45kg, again, males are heavier than females.

Lifespan of Abruzzenhund

Abruzzenhund lifespan is between 11-13 years, but since these dogs don’t have any weaknesses and don’t tend to get sick, they can live longer with a proper care and adequate food and training.

Litter size of Abruzzenhund

Litter size of Abruzzenhund depends, but as any large breed, they usually have 6-9 puppies. And that is a very good considering size of the breed.

Abruzzenhund is not the only name of this breed. There are more names that you might hear. You can hear names like Maremma, Pastore, Abruzzese, Cane da Pastore, Maremmano- Abruzzese, Italian Sheepdog, and many similar names. Basically, they sound similar but there are differences.

Abruzzenhund is a friendly dog, but it is very powerful. Very strong jaw with a scissors bite makes them very strong. They have small but intelligent eyes, usually dark colored. The undercoat is dense, while the coat is white with segments of ivory to white yellow. Their long undercoat and coat make them winter resistant.

Characteristics

american pit bull terrier dog - characteristicsFor those who live with the American Pit Bull Terrier there is no better dog. The APBT loves people and loves children. They think they are lap dogs, and they certainly are watch dogs. They love their people but their barks at strangers at home are not because they are protecting their people but rather they are greeting the strangers into their home. Unfortunately, they will not greet another dog in the same way. However, when their people are seriously threatened they will give their lives to defend them.

These are strong, confident dogs who want to please their people. They love children and make great family dogs but require a strong owner and a strong pack leader. The need to be under control around other dogs and because of their strength, need a strong owner. It is their aggression towards other animals that must be controlled.

abruzzenhund dog - characteristicsAbruzzenhund is a very well-balanced breed who loves spending time with other animals and people. They have a very good temper. They love being around families, and they are very gentle with children. It is important to train Abruzzenhund properly because the dog of that size should be a leader. A human with a strong character should train this breed. Training is important because they tend to make their own decisions which can be bad sometimes.

Health Problems

american pit bull terrier puppies - health problemsThough the American Pit Bull Terrier is healthier than most large dogs, they do have an issue with hip dysplasia. Breeders have been working to breed this out of the APBT and their work in this area has helped with the other issues with the patella, heart and thyroid. The APBT can have skin allergies and Demodex Mange. This condition can be either deadly or just a localized skin issue. Immunizations and testing is essential for this breed. When not immunized, American Pit Bull Terrier puppies have a greater incidence of parvovirus than other breeds. They also might have cataracts and congenital heart disease.

abruzzenhund puppies - health problemsA great thing about Abruzzenhund is that they are very healthy dogs. They don’t have any chronical health problems, so if you are feeding your dog properly, with a lot of exercises they will not have any health problems. It is also important to check genetics of the dog.

Caring The Pet

Feeding

american pit bull terrier dogs - caringHow you feed your American Pit Bull Terrier puppy is important to her health as an adult and long life. The adult dog should be fed one and a half to two and a half cups of high quality food twice a day. Puppies should be fed more often as they grow. DO not feed your APBT soft or canned dog food. Their food should be dry. Be careful not to feed too much as you do not want an obese American Pit Bull Terrier.

Health issues

As previously mentioned this is a healthy breed with problems with:

Cataracts

These are usually inherited, and the pup may show signs early, or they could be developed later in life. They can be removed.

Hip dysplasia

Hip dysplasia as in many larger, stronger breeds this can be a major problem. Breeds should test for it and APBT breeders are attempting to breed it out of the APBT.

Congenital Heart Failure

This is a congenital issue that breeders are also breeding against and if they have it your American Bit Bull Terrier was likely born with it.

Allergies

Many APBT are allergic to grasses or out outside allergens. Shots or medication can deal with these.

Exercise and games

This is an athletic, joyful breed that loves to play, love sports and loves any activity that bonds it with its family. Some of the many sports the American Pit Bull Terrier likes to participate in include: agility, obedience competition, weight pulling, lure coursing and fly ball. He also needs backyard exercise and daily walks.

When walking your American Pit Bull Terrier, make sure she is on a leash as the breed has a tendency to be aggressive with other dogs coming into their space. The APBT loves to work. They are good therapy dogs, search and rescue dogs, even service dogs.

abruzzenhund dogs - caringThey learn very quickly, but it requires strong will and constant training to keep them happy. They are great working dogs, and with the positive training, they are amazing. It is very important that they follow rules and to keep them in balance with training.

Feeding Abruzzenhund

They can eat a lot of food, depend on their activity. High-Quality dog food twice a day for a grown dog is a must. While puppies should eat 3-5 times, smaller portions of food. The food is important especially for working dogs, they need up to 2000-3000Kcal per day. Abruzzenhund will enjoy eating meat with a lot of vegetables and oil.

They are not recommended for small house or apartment. They need big yard because they require a lot of space. During the winter they can be outside because of their coat, but during the summer they need to be in the shade with a lot of fresh water available anytime.

Grooming the Abruzzenhund

The coat should be brushed and groomed very often because they have a thick coat. There is a lot of dead and loose hair in it. During shedding, period takes even more time to groom your dog properly. They love and they need exercise. Mental exercise is important as physical. Every day walking, running, playing with other animals is an important part of dog's activity. When they get enough quality exercise, they will sleep in the house.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Old English Sheepdog vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  2. Akbash Dog vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  3. Abruzzenhund vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  4. Briard vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  5. Rough Collie vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  6. Bouvier des Flandres vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  7. East German Shepherd vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  8. Saarlooswolfhond vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  9. Estrela Mountain Dog vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  10. Huntaway vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  11. Czechoslovakian Wolfdog vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  12. Perro de Pastor Mallorquin vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  13. South Russian Ovcharka vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  14. Mioritic Sheepdog vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  15. Akita vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  16. Samoyed vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  17. Labradoodle vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  18. Cane Corso vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  19. Alaskan Malamute vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  20. Mixed vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  21. Bullmastiff vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  22. Dogue De Bordeaux vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  23. German Shorthaired Pointer vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  24. Bloodhound vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  25. Great Pyrenees vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  26. American Pit Bull Terrier vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  27. American Pit Bull Terrier vs Austrian Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  28. American Pit Bull Terrier vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison
  29. Bull Terrier vs American Pit Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  30. Schnauzer vs American Pit Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Fox Terrier vs American Pit Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  32. Bull and Terrier vs American Pit Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  33. Bedlington Terrier vs American Pit Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Irish Terrier vs American Pit Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  35. Fox Terrier (Smooth) vs American Pit Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  36. Kerry Blue Terrier vs American Pit Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  37. Lakeland Terrier vs American Pit Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  38. Jagdterrier vs American Pit Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  39. Blue Paul Terrier vs American Pit Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  40. Indian Bull Terrier vs American Pit Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  41. Irish Bull Terrier vs American Pit Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  42. Japanese Terrier vs American Pit Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  43. Brazilian Terrier vs American Pit Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  44. Old English Terrier vs American Pit Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  45. Scoland Terrier vs American Pit Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Skye Terrier vs American Pit Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  47. Irish Staffordshire Bull Terrier vs American Pit Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  48. Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier vs American Pit Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  49. Staffordshire Bull Terrier vs American Pit Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  50. Welsh Terrier vs American Pit Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds