Last Updated: Nov 22, 2022
Quick Links: Table of Contents
- Are American Pit Bull Terriers Aggressive Towards Strangers?
- Are American Pit Bull Terriers Aggressive Towards their Owners?
- Are American Pit Bull Terriers Aggressive Towards other Dogs?
- Are American Pit Bull Terriers Afraid of Strangers?
- Are American Pit Bull Terriers Afraid of Other Dogs?
- Do American Pit Bull Terriers Have Non-Social Fears?
- Do American Pit Bull Terriers Get Along Well With Other Dogs?
- Are American Pit Bull Terriers Easy to Train?
- Do American Pit Bull Terriers Get Along Well with Cats? Do They Get Along Well with Other Pets?
- Do American Pit Bull Terriers Like Attention? Are they Clingy or Aloof?
- Do American Pit Bull Terriers have Separation Anxiety? Do They Like to be Left Alone?
- Are American Pit Bull Terriers Touch Sensitive? Do They Like to be Groomed?
- Are American Pit Bull Terriers Hyper? Are they Highly Excitable?
- Are American Pit Bull Terriers Playful? What is the Energy Level of American Pit Bull Terriers
- Conclusion on American Pit Bull Terrier Temperament
Introduction to the Temperament of the American Pit Bull Terrier
The are many descriptions of the temperament of the American Pit Bull Terrier out there. However, most of these descriptions are difficult to verify or prove. They are based on mere speculations.
In this article, we will provide a factual description of the temperament of the American Pit Bull Terrier based on solid scientific research. This will give you a better understanding of what you can expect from the American Pit Bull Terrier breed.
We obtained our description of the temperament of American Pit Bull Terrier by analyzing raw scientific data from The Canine Behavioral Assessment & Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ) database.
The C-BARQ dog temperament standard was developed by researchers from the University of Pennsylvania. It is considered the gold standard for measuring the behavior of dogs.
Over the years, the C-BARQ study has collected data on the temperament of thousands of dogs of different breeds including the American Pit Bull Terrier.
The C-BARQ study obtains its data by asking dog owners to score the behavior of their dogs on different behavior patterns.
The idea behind the C-BARQ study is that if it collects thousands of scores from thousands of dog owners on different aspects of dog behavior, a clear pattern will emerge on the temperament of different dog breeds.
The C-BARQ questionnaire measures 14 behavior aspects of dogs:
- Aggression towards stranger
- Aggression towards its owner
- Aggression towards other dogs
- How well they get along with other dogs
- Fear of strangers
- Fear of new things (new objects, unfamiliar loud sounds, etc)
- Fear of other dogs
- Separation anxiety
- Clinginess
- Trainability/ Stubbornness
- Prey drive
- Excitability
- Touch sensitivity
- Energy level
In this article, we will discuss the score of the American Pit Bull Terrier for each of these 14 characteristics. This will let you know the real temperament of the American Pit Bull Terrier.
The summary table below shows the score of the American Pit Bull Terrier for the different behavioral characteristics.
High percentage scores close to 100 are bad. Low percentage scores close to 0 are good.
| Behavior | Score |
|---|---|
| Energy Level | 68.2 percent |
| Dog Directed Aggression | 66.5 percent |
| Prey Drive | 54.7 percent |
| Attachment Attention Seeking | 51.6 percent |
| Separation Related Behavior | 51.4 percent |
| Excitability | 51.0 percent |
| Owner Directed Aggression | 5.7 percent |
| Dog Directed Fear | 40.2 percent |
| Dog Rivalry | 38.3 percent |
| Nonsocial Fear | 31.8 percent |
| Stranger Directed Aggression | 30.2 percent |
| Stubbornness | 26.7 percent |
| Touch Sensitivity | 26.6 percent |
| Stranger Directed Fear | 22.9 percent |
Note that with proper training, you can better your American Pit Bull Terrier`s temperament. To learn how to properly train your American Pit Bull Terrier, I highly recommend that you go through Dr. Ian Dunbar`s online dog training classes, which you can find here.
I learned most of the things that I know about training dogs by reading Dr. Dunbar`s books and watching his training videos. Dr. Dunbar`s dog training methods are for people expecting to own a puppy soon, new dog owners, and experienced dog owners.
Another helpful online dog training class that I recommend is this one. The class will teach you how to properly train your American Pit Bull Terrier.
See also our complete ranking of dog breeds from the `best` to the `worst` based on temperament.
Are American Pit Bull Terriers Aggressive Towards Strangers?
Dog breeds that are aggressive to strangers show hostile responses to strangers approaching or invading the dog`s or the dog owner`s personal space, territory, or home range.
Stranger-aggressive dog breeds are quick to show aggression to unfamiliar people.
Typical signs of moderate aggression in dogs include barking, growling, and baring of teeth. More serious display of aggression generally includes snapping, lunging, biting, or attempting to bite.
American Pit Bull Terriers are somewhat aggressive towards strangers.
This is because the American Pit Bull Terrier ranks average for aggression towards strangers.
The American Pit Bull Terrier ranks number 65 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards strangers.
This information is based on what 156 American Pit Bull Terrier owners reported on the temperament of their American Pit Bull Terrier in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the American Pit Bull Terrier has a stranger-directed-aggression score of 30.2 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat aggressive towards strangers just like the American Pit Bull Terrier are listed in the table below
| Stranger-Directed-Aggression Rank | Breed | Stranger-Directed-Aggression Score |
|---|---|---|
| 62 | Havanese | 31.5 % |
| 63 | Alaskan Husky | 31.3 % |
| 64 | Bullmastiff | 30.7 % |
| 65 | American Pit Bull Terrier | 30.2 % |
| 66 | Basenji | 29.9 % |
| 67 | Poodle (Standard) | 29.9 % |
| 68 | Vizsla | 29.7 % |
The dog breeds that are most aggressive towards strangers are the:
The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards strangers are the:
Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.
Are American Pit Bull Terriers Aggressive Towards their Owners?
Due to human effort over the course of many centuries, the dog has become a very domestic animal. Dogs have learned to live well with humans. As a result, dogs respect and love their owners. Nevertheless, some dog breeds are less respectful to their owners than some other dog breeds.
Owner-aggressive dog breeds show threatening or hostile responses to their owner or other members of the household when challenged, manhandled, stared at, stepped over, or when approached while in possession of food, objects, or toys.
A dog that is owner-aggressive shows its aggression by barking, growling, and baring of teeth. In extreme cases, these dogs can snap, lunge, bite, or attempt to bite their owners.
American Pit Bull Terriers are not aggressive towards their owners.
This is because the American Pit Bull Terrier ranks very low for aggression towards its owner.
The American Pit Bull Terrier ranks number 113 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards their owners.
This information is based on what 156 American Pit Bull Terrier owners reported on the temperament of their American Pit Bull Terrier in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the American Pit Bull Terrier has an owner-directed-aggression score of 5.7 %.
Other dog breeds that are not owner-aggressive just like the American Pit Bull Terrier are listed in the table below
| Owner-Directed-Aggression Rank | Breed | Owner-Directed-Aggression Score |
|---|---|---|
| 110 | Poodle (Standard) | 6.4 % |
| 111 | Great Dane | 6.1 % |
| 112 | Border Terrier | 6.0 % |
| 113 | American Pit Bull Terrier | 5.7 % |
| 114 | Mastiff (English) | 5.6 % |
| 115 | German Wirehaired Pointer | 5.4 % |
| 116 | Portuguese Water Dog | 5.0 % |
The dog breeds that show the most aggression towards their owners are the:
The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards their owners are the:
Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.
Are American Pit Bull Terriers Aggressive Towards other Dogs?
Dogs that are aggressive towards other dogs will direct aggressive threats or actions toward unknown or unfamiliar dogs.
A dog-aggressive dog will threaten or show hostile responses when approached by unfamiliar dogs
A dog that is dog-aggressive shows its aggression by barking, growling, and baring of teeth. In extreme cases, these dogs can snap, lunge, bite, or attempt to bite other dogs.
American Pit Bull Terriers are quite a bit aggressive towards other dogs.
This is because the American Pit Bull Terrier ranks high for aggression towards other dogs.
The American Pit Bull Terrier ranks number 28 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards other dogs.
This information is based on what 156 American Pit Bull Terrier owners reported on the temperament of their American Pit Bull Terrier in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the American Pit Bull Terrier has a dog-directed aggression score of 66.5 %.
Other dog breeds that are quite a bit dog-aggressive just like the American Pit Bull Terrier are listed in the table below
| Dog-Directed-Aggression Rank | Breed | Dog-Directed-Aggression Score |
|---|---|---|
| 25 | Shiba Inu | 66.9 % |
| 26 | Belgian Malinois | 66.8 % |
| 27 | Basenji | 66.6 % |
| 28 | American Pit Bull Terrier | 66.5 % |
| 29 | German Shepherd | 66.2 % |
| 30 | Jack Russell Terrier | 65.8 % |
| 31 | Saint Bernard | 63.0 % |
The dog breeds that show the most aggression towards other dogs are the:
The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards other dogs are the:
Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.
Are American Pit Bull Terriers Afraid of Strangers?
Some dogs breeds tend to be fearful of strangers.
Dogs that are fearful of strangers will avoid strangers. These dogs will crouch, cringe, or tremble when approached by strangers.
Extreme fear in dogs is characterized by serious attempts to escape or hide from the feared stranger.
American Pit Bull Terriers are a little bit fearful of strangers.
This is because the American Pit Bull Terrier ranks low for fear of strangers.
The American Pit Bull Terrier ranks number 73 out of 124 dog breeds for fear of strangers.
This information is based on what 156 American Pit Bull Terrier owners reported on the temperament of their American Pit Bull Terrier in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the American Pit Bull Terrier has a stranger-directed-fear score of 22.9 %.
Other dog breeds that are a little bit stranger-fearful just like the American Pit Bull Terrier are listed in the table below
| Stranger-Directed-Fear Rank | Breed | Stranger-Directed-Fear Score |
|---|---|---|
| 70 | Bullmastiff | 24.8 % |
| 71 | Eurasier | 24.2 % |
| 72 | Schipperke | 23.0 % |
| 73 | American Pit Bull Terrier | 22.9 % |
| 74 | West Highland White Terrier | 22.7 % |
| 75 | Poodle (Standard) | 22.2 % |
| 76 | Chesapeake Bay Retriever | 21.8 % |
The dog breeds that show the most fear of strangers are the:
The dog breeds that are least fearful of strangers are the:
Are American Pit Bull Terriers Afraid of Other Dogs?
Some dogs breeds tend to show fear when an unfamiliar dog approaches them.
A dog that is fearful of other dogs will try to avoid meeting other dogs.
American Pit Bull Terriers are somewhat fearful of other dogs.
This is because the American Pit Bull Terrier ranks average for fear of other dogs.
The American Pit Bull Terrier ranks number 53 out of 124 dog breeds for fear of other dogs.
This information is based on what 156 American Pit Bull Terrier owners reported on the temperament of their American Pit Bull Terrier in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the American Pit Bull Terrier has a dog-directed-fear score of 40.2 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat other-dog-fearful just like the American Pit Bull Terrier are listed in the table below
| Dog-Directed-Fear Rank | Breed | Dog-Directed-Fear Score |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | American Bulldog | 41.9 % |
| 51 | Samoyed | 41.6 % |
| 52 | Shetland Sheepdog | 40.8 % |
| 53 | American Pit Bull Terrier | 40.2 % |
| 54 | Belgian Tervuren | 40.1 % |
| 55 | Papillon | 40.0 % |
| 56 | Jack Russell Terrier | 39.9 % |
The dog breeds that are most fearful of other dogs are the:
The dog breeds that are least fearful of other dogs are the:
Do American Pit Bull Terriers Have Non-Social Fears?
Dogs that are fearful of sudden or loud noises, traffic, and unfamiliar objects and situations are said to exhibit nonsocial fear.
American Pit Bull Terriers are somewhat fearful of unfamiliar sounds, situations, and objects.
This is because the American Pit Bull Terrier ranks average for non-social fear.
The American Pit Bull Terrier ranks number 61 out of 124 dog breeds for being fearful of unfamiliar things and situations.
This information is based on what 156 American Pit Bull Terrier owners reported on the temperament of their American Pit Bull Terrier in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the American Pit Bull Terrier has a nonsocial-fear score of 31.8 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat nonsocial-fearful just like the American Pit Bull Terrier are listed in the table below
| Nonsocial-Fear Rank | Breed | Nonsocial-Fear Score |
|---|---|---|
| 58 | Alaskan Malamute | 32.8 % |
| 59 | Australian Shepherd | 32.6 % |
| 60 | Pomeranian | 31.9 % |
| 61 | American Pit Bull Terrier | 31.8 % |
| 62 | American Staffordshire Terrier | 31.7 % |
| 63 | Chow Chow | 31.4 % |
| 64 | Dalmatian | 31.3 % |
The dog breeds that are most fearful of unfamiliar situations and objects are the:
The dog breeds that are least fearful of unfamiliar situations and objects are the:
Do American Pit Bull Terriers Get Along Well With Other Dogs?
Some dog breeds display high dog rivalry. These dog breeds will threaten or act hostile to other familiar dogs in the same household.
These dog breeds will compete with other dogs. Also, these dog breeds do not get along well with other dogs.
American Pit Bull Terriers are somewhat competitive when dealing with other dogs.
This is because the American Pit Bull Terrier ranks average on dog rivalry.
The American Pit Bull Terrier ranks number 62 out of 124 dog breeds for displaying dog rivalry when dealing with familiar dogs.
This information is based on what 156 American Pit Bull Terrier owners reported on the temperament of their American Pit Bull Terrier in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the American Pit Bull Terrier has a dog-rivalry score of 38.3 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat competition-driven just like the American Pit Bull Terrier are listed in the table below
| Dog-Rivalry Rank | Breed | Dog-Rivalry Score |
|---|---|---|
| 59 | American Staffordshire Terrier | 39.1 % |
| 60 | Bull Terrier | 38.8 % |
| 61 | German Shepherd | 38.6 % |
| 62 | American Pit Bull Terrier | 38.3 % |
| 63 | Pit Bull | 38.3 % |
| 64 | Rottweiler | 38.2 % |
| 65 | Shetland Sheepdog | 38.0 % |
The dog breeds that do not get along well with other dogs are the:
The dog breeds that get along well with other dogs are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on how well they get along with other dog breeds.
Are American Pit Bull Terriers Easy to Train?
Dogs have high trainability have the willingness to listen to their owner. These dogs are not stubborn. These dogs obey simple commands, and they learn very quickly.
Highly trainable dogs excel at fetching objects. They also respond positively to correction and ignore distraction.
American Pit Bull Terriers are quite a bit easy to train.
This is because the American Pit Bull Terrier ranks high for trainability.
The American Pit Bull Terrier ranks number 45 out of 124 dog breeds for easiness to train.
This information is based on what 156 American Pit Bull Terrier owners reported on the trainability of their American Pit Bull Terrier in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the American Pit Bull Terrier has a trainability score of 73.3 %.
Other dog breeds that are quite a bit easy to train just like the American Pit Bull Terrier are listed in the table below
| Trainability Rank | Breed | Trainability Score |
|---|---|---|
| 42 | Havanese | 74.7 % |
| 43 | Anatolian Shepherd | 73.6 % |
| 44 | Airedale Terrier | 73.5 % |
| 45 | American Pit Bull Terrier | 73.3 % |
| 46 | Rat Terrier | 72.6 % |
| 47 | Boxer | 72.3 % |
| 48 | Poodle (Toy) | 72.2 % |
The dog breeds that are most easy to train are the:
The dog breeds that are difficult to train are the:
Do American Pit Bull Terriers Get Along Well with Cats? Do They Get Along Well with Other Pets?
Dog breeds that have high chase-drive will run after (chase) cats, birds, and/or other small animals, given the opportunity.
American Pit Bull Terriers are somewhat into chasing after other smaller pets like cats, squirrels, chickens, and birds.
This is because the American Pit Bull Terrier ranks average for small-pet-chasing.
The American Pit Bull Terrier ranks number 51 out of 124 dog breeds for chasing after smaller pets.
This information is based on what 156 American Pit Bull Terrier owners reported on the temperament of their American Pit Bull Terrier in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the American Pit Bull Terrier has a chasing score of 54.7 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat into chasing after smaller pets just like the American Pit Bull Terrier are listed in the table below
| Chasing Rank | Breed | Chasing Score |
|---|---|---|
| 48 | Vizsla | 56.0 % |
| 49 | German Shepherd | 54.8 % |
| 50 | Redbone Coonhound | 54.8 % |
| 51 | American Pit Bull Terrier | 54.7 % |
| 52 | Pit Bull | 54.4 % |
| 53 | Cocker Spaniel (English) | 54.3 % |
| 54 | Irish Wolfhound | 53.5 % |
The dog breeds that like chasing after cats and other smaller pets are the:
The dog breeds that will not chase after cats and other smaller pets are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their prey drive.
Do American Pit Bull Terriers Like Attention? Are they Clingy or Aloof?
Some dog breeds like to stay close to their owners all the time. These dogs like attention, and they like to receive the affection of their owners.
These dogs get jealous when their owners give attention to other dogs or other people instead of them.
Dogs with these traits are described as attachment/attention-seeking.
American Pit Bull Terriers are somewhat attachment/attention-seeking.
This is because the American Pit Bull Terrier ranks average for attachment/attention-seeking behavior.
The American Pit Bull Terrier ranks number 65 out of 124 dog breeds for attachment/attention-seeking behavior.
This information is based on what 156 American Pit Bull Terrier owners reported on the temperament of their American Pit Bull Terrier in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the American Pit Bull Terrier has an attachment/attention-seeking score of 51.6 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat attachment/attention-seeking just like the American Pit Bull Terrier are listed in the table below
| Attachment-Attention-Seeking Rank | Breed | Attachment-Attention-Seeking Score |
|---|---|---|
| 62 | Bullmastiff | 52.2 % |
| 63 | Poodle (Standard) | 52.2 % |
| 64 | Golden Retriever | 51.7 % |
| 65 | American Pit Bull Terrier | 51.6 % |
| 66 | Bearded Collie | 51.5 % |
| 67 | Border Terrier | 50.7 % |
| 68 | American Bulldog | 50.4 % |
The dog breeds that are always seeking the attention of their owners are the:
The dog breeds that are aloof are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their clinginess.
Do American Pit Bull Terriers have Separation Anxiety? Do They Like to be Left Alone?
Dog breeds that have separation anxiety do not like to be left alone.
These dog breeds tend to bark and destroy things when separated from their owners.
They become restless or lose their appetite when left alone.
American Pit Bull Terriers are quite a bit prone to developing separation anxiety.
This is because the American Pit Bull Terrier ranks high for separation anxiety relative to other dog breeds.
The American Pit Bull Terrier ranks number 32 out of 124 dog breeds for separation anxiety.
This information is based on what 156 American Pit Bull Terrier owners reported on the temperament of their American Pit Bull Terrier in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the American Pit Bull Terrier has a separation anxiety score of 51.4 %.
Other dog breeds that are quite a bit prone to develop separation anxiety just like the American Pit Bull Terrier are listed in the table below
| Separation-Related-Behavior Rank | Breed | Separation-Related-Behavior Score |
|---|---|---|
| 29 | Pit Bull mix | 52.3 % |
| 30 | German Shorthaired Pointer | 51.7 % |
| 31 | Bull Terrier | 51.5 % |
| 32 | American Pit Bull Terrier | 51.4 % |
| 33 | Basset Hound | 51.0 % |
| 34 | Jack Russell Terrier | 50.8 % |
| 35 | Bichon Frise | 50.7 % |
The dog breeds that are most prone to develop separation anxiety are listed below. These dog breeds do not like to be left alone. These dog breeds are the:
- Treeing Walker Coonhound
- Fox Terrier (Smooth)
- Chinese Crested
- Miniature Pinscher
- Australian Silky Terrier
The dog breeds that are least prone to develop separation anxiety are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their tendency to develop separation anxiety.
Are American Pit Bull Terriers Touch Sensitive? Do They Like to be Groomed?
Dogs that are touch-sensitive are fearful of `painful` procedures such as bathing, grooming, nail clipping, and veterinary examinations.
These dogs do not like going through these `painful` procedures, and they will react to show they do not like the procedure.
American Pit Bull Terriers are somewhat touch-sensitive.
This is because the American Pit Bull Terrier ranks average for touch sensitivity.
The American Pit Bull Terrier ranks number 66 out of 124 dog breeds for touch sensitivity.
This information is based on what 156 American Pit Bull Terrier owners reported on the temperament of their American Pit Bull Terrier in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the American Pit Bull Terrier has a touch-sensitivity score of 26.6 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat touch-sensitive just like the American Pit Bull Terrier are listed in the table below
| Touch-Sensitivity Rank | Breed | Touch-Sensitivity Score |
|---|---|---|
| 63 | Fox Terrier (Wire/Wire-haired) | 27.3 % |
| 64 | Black and Tan Coonhound | 27.2 % |
| 65 | Bearded Collie | 27.0 % |
| 66 | American Pit Bull Terrier | 26.6 % |
| 67 | Great Dane | 26.5 % |
| 68 | Weimaraner | 26.3 % |
| 69 | Newfoundland | 26.0 % |
The dog breeds that are most touch-sensitive are the:
The dog breeds that are least touch-sensitive are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their sensitivity to touch.
Are American Pit Bull Terriers Hyper? Are they Highly Excitable?
Excitable dog or hyper dog breeds display strong reactions to potentially exciting or arousing events, such as:
- going for walks
- car trips
- sound of the doorbell
- arrival of visitors, and
- the owner arriving home
Highly excitable dog breeds have difficulty settling down after arousal.
American Pit Bull Terriers are quite a bit hyper (excitable).
This is because the American Pit Bull Terrier ranks high for excitability.
The American Pit Bull Terrier ranks number 44 out of 124 dog breeds for excitability.
This information is based on what 156 American Pit Bull Terrier owners reported on the temperament of their American Pit Bull Terrier in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the American Pit Bull Terrier has an excitability score of 51.0 %.
Other dog breeds that are quite a bit excitable just like the American Pit Bull Terrier are listed in the table below
| Excitability Rank | Breed | Excitability Score |
|---|---|---|
| 41 | Bearded Collie | 51.6 % |
| 42 | Rat Terrier | 51.1 % |
| 43 | Pit Bull | 51.0 % |
| 44 | American Pit Bull Terrier | 51.0 % |
| 45 | Beagle | 50.7 % |
| 46 | Giant Schnauzer | 50.6 % |
| 47 | Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | 50.2 % |
The dog breeds that are most hyper (excitable) are the:
- Australian Silky Terrier
- Fox Terrier (Smooth)
- American Eskimo Dog
- Parson Russell Terrier
- Miniature Schnauzer
The dog breeds that are least hyper (excitable) are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on how hyper they are.
Are American Pit Bull Terriers Playful? What is the Energy Level of American Pit Bull Terriers
Energetic dog breeds are very playful dog breeds. These are the dog breeds that do not get tired easily.
American Pit Bull Terriers are quite a bit energetic.
This is because the American Pit Bull Terrier ranks high for energy level.
The American Pit Bull Terrier ranks number 35 out of 124 dog breeds for energy level.
This information is based on what 156 American Pit Bull Terrier owners reported on the temperament of their American Pit Bull Terrier in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the American Pit Bull Terrier has an energy-level score of 68.2 %.
Other dog breeds that are quite a bit energetic just like the American Pit Bull Terrier are listed in the table below
| Energy-Level Rank | Breed | Energy-Level Score |
|---|---|---|
| 32 | Fox Terrier (Wire/Wire-haired) | 68.9 % |
| 33 | Australian Shepherd | 68.5 % |
| 34 | Bull Terrier | 68.2 % |
| 35 | American Pit Bull Terrier | 68.2 % |
| 36 | Rat Terrier | 68.1 % |
| 37 | Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever | 67.5 % |
| 38 | Miniature Pinscher | 67.4 % |
The dog breeds that are most playful and most energetic are the:
The dog breeds that are laziest are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the most energetic to the least energetic.
Conclusion on American Pit Bull Terrier Temperament
The temperament of your American Pit Bull Terrier comes from a combination of its genetics and what environment your American Pit Bull Terrier is exposed to.
You cannot change your American Pit Bull Terrier`s gene but you can change the things you expose your American Pit Bull Terrier to.
Exposing your American Pit Bull Terrier to dog training sessions early in its life can help you mold the temperament of your American Pit Bull Terrier to what you desire.
Again, with proper training, you can better your American Pit Bull Terrier`s temperament. To learn how to properly train a dog, I highly recommend Dr. Ian Dunbar`s online dog training classes, which you can find here.
I learned most of the things I know about training dogs by reading Dr. Dunbar`s books and watching his training videos. Dr. Dunbar`s dog training methods are for people expecting to own a puppy soon, new dog owners, and experienced dog owners.
Another helpful online dog training class that I recommend is this one. The class will teach you how to properly train your American Pit Bull Terrier.
If you think the American Pit Bull Terrier is the right dog breed for you, see our article on how much American Pit Bull Terriers cost and American Pit Bull Terrier puppy buying guide.