American Pit Bull Terrier Handbook. Joe Stahlkuppe

      

       About the Author

      Joe Stahlkuppe has written over 25 pet-related books, many hundreds of articles, and hosted and produced several popular radio shows on animals and their people. He lives near Birmingham, Alabama, with his wife of 36 years, with visits from his son Shawn and his pet-loving grandchildren: the actress Cathie Stahlkuppe, the scholar Peter Stahlkuppe, the violinist and attorney-to-be Julia Stahlkuppe, and the persistent book-loving Alexandra Stahlkuppe.

       Acknowledgments

      Many thanks go to Cesar Millan, Ken Foster, Jim Gorant, and Diane Jessup who have put their love for the American Pit Bull Terrier into words and actions. Pit Bull Rescue Central (PBRC) who have done so much in their contacts throughout North America to rescue pit bulls and similar dogs, deserve highest praise.

      This handbook is dedicated to those people who have opened their homes and hearts to adopt APBTs in desperate need of a caring and safe environment.

      I also want to thank Tiffany Riccio, Kevin Ryan, and the wonder-of-wonders of editors, Angela Tartaro, for those timeless efforts and limitless patience in helping me complete this revision. On the home front, my wife Cathie has been a wise ongoing source of encouragement and support.

      Lastly, I would like to share this book with the American veterans, especially my fellow Vietnam co-warriors, who have undergone some of the same prejudiced public responses as have the American Pit Bull Terriers.

      © Copyright 2013, 2000 by Barron’s Educational Series, Inc.

      All rights reserved.

      No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means without the written permission of the copyright owner.

       All inquiries should be addressed to:

      Barron’s Educational Series, Inc.

      250 Wireless Boulevard

      Hauppauge, New York 11788

       www.barronseduc.com

      ISBN: 978-0-7641-4744-9

       Library of Congress Catalog Card No. 2012955611

       Photo Credits

      123rf.com: Jim Boardman: page 61; Bonzami Emmanuelle: page 124; Jan de Wild: pages 10, 110; Jiri Hamhalter: page 14; Erik Lam: page 45; Ali Peterson: pages 26, 43, 70, 165; Anna Yakimova: page 64.

      Modern Life Photo: page 34.

      Seth Casteel: page 101.

      PassionPetPhotos.com-Cheryl Carogan: pages 36, 175.

      MaxDogPhoto.com: page 68.

      jeanmfogle.com: pages 76, 87, 98, 103, 136, 172.

      istock.com: Brian Asmussen: page 123; Jonathan Brizendine: pages 50, 73, 84, 92, 122; Jesse DeGraff: page 168; Alexandra Draghici: page 132; Arthur Carlo Franco: page 117; Melissa Meints: page 108; Ploughmann: page 156; Alex Potemkin: page 88; Cameron Whitman: pages 113, 140; Micah Young: page 118.

      Oh My Dog! Photography: pages 6, 16, 22.

      Paws on the Run: page 51.

      Shutterstock.com: aerogondo2: page 129; Ilka Antonova: page 19; Best Shots: page 63; Lars Christensen: page 119; cynoclub: pages 100, 169; Dapixstudio: page 149; Jan de Wild: page 139; dogboxstudio: pages 4, 71, 78, 121, 166; elena: page 80; Espelt Photography: page 72; fotoedu: page 134; Billy Gadbury: page 62; Hamik: page 150; Eric Isselee: pages 3, 31, 32, 56, 66, 86, 90, 94, 120, 142, 163; kostudio: page 83; Erik Lam: pages 17, 25, 28, 38, 47, 55, 81; Sergey Lavrentev: pages 33, 58, 114; George Lee: page 127; Lenkadan: page 30; ots-photo: page 57; Ksenia Raikova: page 99; Julia Remezova: pages 9, 39; rthoma: page 79; Robynrg: page viii; Phillip Alexander Russell: page 13; Peggy Woods Ryan: page 48; steamroller blues: pages 153, 160; Susan Schmitz: page 23; Kazlouski Siarhei: page 53; Colton Stiffler: page v; Andrew Williams: page 105.

      Joan Hustace Walker: pages 5, 20, 69, 97, 106, 130, 141, 145, 146.

       Cover Photos

      123rf.com: Erik Lam: back cover (bottom).

      Seth Casteel: back cover (top).

      istock.com: jbrizendine: front cover (top).

      Shutterstock.com: Four Oaks: front cover (bottom); Eric Isselee: front cover (center); Sergey Lavrentev: spine; tsik: inside back cover; Vera Zinkova: inside front cover.

       Contents

       1. The APBT—A New View

       An APBT Scenario

       Hype About APBTs

       The APBT as a Family Pet and Companion

       Appearance

       What Your APBT Needs