Resourses
The series of links below contain information on the breed standards, health testing, structure, genetics, breeding, etc. This page will be frequently added to and updated, as our own research progresses.
It is my opinion that there is no better breed steward than a well-informed owner.
American Pit Bull Terrier Conformation Standards
These are the structural conformation standards of some of the kennel registries with which we personally show our dogs. Conformation standards should be developed with consideration to a breed's original purpose and exist to provide enthusiasts with the guidelines of a preferred "look" for the purpose of showing.
Established in 1909, the American Dog Breeders Association is widely considered to maintain the traditional breed standard with strong focus on the breed's heritage. This is the standard and venue that we personally prefer for the heritage-bred members of the breed.
Established in 1898, the United Kennel Club is the original registry for the American Pit Bull Terrier. Though the standard has remained relatively accurate to the correct breed structure, the personal interpretation and bias of some judges within the registry has led to some overdone examples within the show ring.
Genetics and Health Testing
These are a few sites containing information about diseases and disorders that exist in the breed, color genetics, canine orthopedic issues, and more. This is information integral to producing healthy animals as well as maintaining these athletes in proper condition.
PennHIP is one of the many tools among the arsenal of options at breeders'/owners' disposal to evaluate the hip joint in their potential sires/dams or sporting prospects. It is my personal preference of hip evaluation, as it provides a quantitative measurement of the hip laxity.
The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals is the only public database that encompasses test results for hips, elbows, cardiac, patellas, and more. The link will take you to their home page, from which you will find further links to the various tests available.
The most comprehensive site I have ever found that explains coat colors, types, and genetics in easy-to-understand language. This is an excellent resource that explains the basics of dominant and recessive traits and how they are passed to offspring.
This link will take you to the Cornell University's brief writeup about HUU, which is a genetic disease that I have personally dealt with first hand. This is a testable inherited issue in with the purines in a dog's food are converted to uric acid that builds up in the blood and urine to form painful an damaging crystals.
This is a autosomal recessive, fast-progressing disease that causes the progressive degeneration of the retina, eventually resulting in blindness. A dog carrying two copies of this disease has a high likelihood of eventual blindness; a dog carrying only a single couple is at low risk of developing the disease.
Similar to Lou Gehrig’s disease in humans, this is a recessive disorder that effects the spinal cord of dogs that causes progressive loss of coordination leading to eventual paralysis of the rear within a year (sometimes spreading to the forelimbs in advanced stages).
The linked article describes the effects of inherited BEST1 gene mutations that result in multifocal retinopathy, a slow progressing eye disease that results in retinal detachment with underlying fluid buildup eventually leading to cases of blindness.
Book References
Physical publications are my preferred method of research and learning. The following books are ones ive found to be extremely beneficial to my knowledge of the breed, canine structure, and more. The links will take you to an Amazon listing.
A must for any breeder or sport owner/handler - an easy-to-read and comprehensive short read that outlines how the structure of a dog can impact their performance in any activity.
A short read that outlines the importance of angles in canine structure while teaching the reader how to see these angles for themself. This book explains how angles alter the way a dog walks, runs, and jumps. An excellent resource for performance dog owners.
As a breed historian, author Richard Stratton has written several great publications about the American Pit Bull Terrier, its temperament, history, and care. This particular work is one I prefer for its well-rounded topic coverage.
Written by individuals with a lifetime of hands-on experience, this book covers some of the historic knowledge of these dog, touching topics such as nutrition, parasites, first aid, and stories of historic dogs.