The American Pit Bull is a "fighting bred" and this is what wikipedia has to say about them. Temperament
APBT (fawn)APBTs can be very sweet, curious, intelligent, and clownish. They are noted for their outgoing, affectionate, eager-to-please disposition and their fondness for people, and when raised with a firm but fair hand can make a wonderful family pet. APBTs can also be stubborn, pushy, and prone to display aggression towards other dogs. They are not a good choice of dog for a novice dog owner.
The American Temperament Test Society, Inc. breed statistics as of December 2005 show an 83.5% passing rate for the APBT as compared to an 81.2% overall pass rate for all the different breeds they test, showing that many of these dogs have stable and dependable temperaments. However, a firm, even hand and early obedience training are musts for this breed. Inexperienced owners tend to find them to be too much to handle - APBTs can be quite "bouncy"! They generally have a lot of energy and high prey drive; they need exercise and stimulation in order to channel that energy properly and not become frustrated, bored, and destructive.
Despite the stereotype, the average, sound-minded pit bull is not a threat where children are concerned. Though the AKC and UKC recommend that no child be left alone with a dog, the APBT, like many of its relatives, is a breed more likely not to know its own strength and knock a toddler down by accident rather than by force. (This is another reason why training is important.) With slightly older children they can be a patient and exuberant friend: pit bulls were bred to have a high tolerance for pain and thus will put up with a child's tail yanking, horseplay, and tumbling with little complaint. It is also a breed that is strong for its size and weight, so older children are better recommended to take the dog on its leash for walks.
APBTs often display some level of dog aggression, especially towards strange dogs of the same sex or level of assertiveness. Early socialization and good training can mean that many individuals of the breed never display this trait. However, it must be remembered that this breed was traditionally developed for dog fighting purposes, and even APBTs that were previously sociable may develop dog aggression as they mature; as a breed they mature later than usual, between the ages of two and three years. A responsible APBT owner does not let their dog interact with strange dogs unsupervised, and knows how to avoid a dog fight.
APBTs were never bred for human aggression or guarding behavior, and stable examples of the breed are generally not suitable as guard dogs. It is important that APBTs who display any sign of human aggression are not bred, in order to preserve the stable and friendly nature of the breed.
When selecting an APBT puppy, it is paramount to find a breeder who selects puppies for their good temperament and not for aggressive tendencies towards other dogs or towards humans. A good breeder should know the UKC standard, and should both health test and temperament test their breeding stock. A breeder who boasts about their dogs' "guard dog" skills or "protective" behavior is a giveaway that their dogs are bred for improper human aggression. It is also a good idea for prospective APBT owners to research the breeder, ask for references and ask to see their facilities and other dogs they have raised. It is also a good policy for owners to have their dog microchipped where possible as this breed is often stolen in and near urban areas for ill uses; in the U.S. a dog license is recommended as well as most areas require them.
Adult pit bulls are frequently also available from animal shelters. Reputable shelters will temperament test their dogs before adoption, so that only dogs with stable temperaments are available for rehoming. The advantage of obtaining an adult dog from a shelter is that its temperament is already known, and a dog with low dog aggression or low prey drive can be selected if desired.
As bright, athletic dogs, American Pit Bull Terriers excel in many activities, including weight pulling, search and rescue, dog agility trials, flyball, and can even do well in some advanced obedience training. In the United States they have been used as narcotics detection police dogs, Border Patrol dogs, and Search and Rescue dogs because of their tenacity, high energy drive, and versatility. In a home they can make wonderful dogs to go on a morning run with, take out on errands, and play fetch; they do best in a home with a backyard but will also do fine in an urban setting so long as they are walked and exercized often. (ones that are raised with a firm hand and loved are not at all agressive to people I've had many people see my dog and pet her and go away saying people have the wrong idea about those dogs, not to say others don't abuse any dog they own)
