The Pocket Pitbull, sometimes called the Miniature Pitbull or Pocket Bully, is the smaller version of the American Pitbull Terrier.
Created by breeding the Patterdale Terrier with an American Pitbull or American Staffordshire Terrier, this dog is not a pure-bred but exhibits many of the same features as the American Pitbull Terrier.
The cute pup weighs only 11 to 22 lbs compared to their purebred parent at 30 to 60 lbs, yet they have retained all of the Pitbull’s desirable traits and are known for being a clever, loyal and playful breed.
If you want to learn more about this friendly and loving dog and want to be see whether they might be the right pooch for you, read on below.
History Of The Pocket Pitbull
The Pocket Pitbull is the result of breeding a small Patterdale Terrier and an American Pitbull Terrier or American Staffordshire Terrier. These pups were first bred to cherrypick the best qualities from each parent breed in the hope that undesirable traits could be minimized.
The breeders wanted the active and friendly traits of the American Staffordshire Terrier in a dog that was the small and compact size of the small Patterdale Terrier.
As they are a hybrid dog, the Pocket Pitbull is not recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC), or the American Canine Hybrid Club, The National Hybrid Registry or the International Designer Canine Registry.
This is due to the fact they are a relatively new breed, but don’t let this put you off — there are many people out there who love this dog!
Breed Origin
We cannot be sure when the Pocket Pitbull was first created. It is likely that the first generation of these pups were a mistake and that they started being purposely bred in the last 20 years. As a new hybrid breed, we do not know much about them or their origin.
However, we can take a look at their parent breeds so you can get an idea of their beginnings.
Patterdale Terriers are originally from the Lake District area of Northern England. The landscape of the Lake District is very rocky and hilly, so tough and resilient dogs were needed to guard livestock in the area.
It is hard to determine when the Patterdale Terrier first came to the United States, but it is estimated around the 1960s.
The Pitbull Terrier was created in early 19th-century England for the popular spectator sports of bull and bear baiting. They were thought of as aggressive fighting dogs but it was also known that they were very gentle with humans and made excellent family dogs.
Later, these Pitbull Terriers accompanied immigrants to America and they began new careers as all-around farm dogs. Their jobs included hunting wild game, guarding the property from animal intruders and providing companionship.
In 1898 the UKC, Britain’s equivalent of the AKC, named these bull dogs the American Pitbull Terrier. The AKC recognized these dogs in the early 1930s, but as the American Staffordshire Terrier.
They wanted to distinguish this dog from the ones that were known to fight. So, as of today, the American Pitbull Terrier is not registered with the AKC.
Characteristics Of The Pocket Pitbull
Because the Pocket Pitbull is a hybrid dog and does not belong to a kennel club, it can be difficult for us to determine their characteristics because they do not have a breed standard. However, we can guess based on previous litters.
These dogs collect traits from both parents, although generally look much more like their Pitbull parent than their Patterdale Terrier parent.
A Pocket Pitbull is normally born in litter sizes of between 2 and 5. If the dam is a Pitbull and it is not her first litter, then the size of the litter can be bigger with around 5 to 9 puppies. A Pocket Pitbull puppy can cost you anywhere between $1,500 – $2,500, compared to an average Pitbull puppy that may cost you only $500.
Appearance
American Pitbulls can take around two to three years to fully mature, while the Patterdale Terrier normally matures around 14-16 months. Therefore, your Pocket Pitbull might also take around two to three years to mature.
As we mentioned above, these dogs normally look more like their Pitbull parent, although this can vary. They are a very small, compact dog yet muscular with a very low, wide chest. Their legs are short and muscular too and they have a bulky neck and a large head.
The Pocket Pitbull is a brachycephalic breed, which means their face is flattened. This can cause some breathing issues. They have wide-set floppy ears and a medium-length thin tail.
The Pocket Pitbull can range in size from 11 to 22 lbs and can stand anywhere between 9 to 11 inches high.
Coat
It is difficult to predict the Pocket Pitbull’s coat because they are a crossbreed. Patterdale Terriers have a coarse, wiry coat with a dense undercoat that helps to protect them from the elements.
However, the Pitbull has a smooth, short coat with no undercoat. The Pocket Pitbull will usually have a shorter coat, but this is not always the case.
Color
There is a large range of colors that the Mini Pitbull can come in. This includes red, blue, black, blue and tan, black and tan, fawn, black brindle, brown, chocolate, white and seal and buckskin. They can also be solid in color or they can have markings.
Temperament
There is a common misconception that Pitbulls are a very aggressive dog. However, this could not be further from the truth. These dogs are loving and caring and thrive in an environment where they are doted on and receive lots of attention from their humans.
Pocket Pitbull’s can have a natural guarding instinct which makes them excellent guard dogs and watchdogs and shows just how loyal they are to their family. They can be known to bark, but when trained from a young age this can be fixed.
Due to their high intelligence, the Pitbull Mix is very easy to train. However, their intelligence also means that they need to be kept entertained at all times. Mental stimulation is very important for the Pocket Pitbull because without it, they will be a lot more likely to become bored and exhibit destructive behaviors.
Sometimes, the Pocket Pitbull can inherit the prey drive of the Patterdale Terrier but, fortunately, this can be trained out of them.
Lifespan
A Pocket Pitbull has a life expectancy of 11 to 13 years, on average.
Known Health Issues
Unfortunately, as with any dog, there are a few health problems that a Pocket Pitbull may be subject to. These are health concerns that their parent breeds also deal with and are often inherited. We have laid out the most common health problems in this breed below.
- Hypothyroidism — this can be caused by a deficiency of the thyroid hormone and may produce signs that include infertility, obesity, mental dullness and lack of energy. It can be treated with medication.
- Brachycephalic airway syndrome — this is a condition that is normally seen in dogs who have a short and flattened head and face. It can lead to breathing issues and loss of breath if they are overexerted.
Regular vet checkups and keeping an eye on your dog will ensure you can catch any of these issues before they become untreatable.
Remember — buy from a reputable breeder and the chances your dog will suffer any health conditions will be greatly reduced. Trusted breeders will do health checks on both parent breeds and will not crossbreed if there is a chance of passing on any severe issues to offspring.
Daily Life
Now that we have learnt all about the Pocket Pitbull’s temperament and the traits they may inherit from their parent breeds, it is time to take a look at daily life with one of these adorable pups.
Fortunately, they do not have great care needs and, although they may do better with owners who have pervious experience of looking after a dog, they can also be a great first pet.
Food And Diet
Due to the small size of the Pitbull Patterdale Mix, they do not require a lot of food. A dog of this size should be eating around 400 calories a day, which equates to roughly one cup of kibble.
You should try to feed them twice a day — once in the morning and once in the evening.
Always ensure that the food you feed your Pocket Pitbull is nutritious and high-quality. Based on their size, you can check the back of the food packet to determine the exact amount of a certain food they require based on their weight. Below we have recommended a food tailored to the needs of a Pocket Pitbull.
Best Dog Food For The Pocket Pitbull
Royal Canin Health Nutrition Small Adult Dry Dog Food
We recommend the Royal Canin Health Nutrition dog food for your Pocket Pitbull. Formulated for small breed dogs between 9 and 22 lbs, this food meets the precise nutrition needs of little dogs to keep them active and healthy.
With 25% protein, this recipe ensures your pup’s high energy needs are met, while also helping them maintain a healthy weight with the presence of L-carnitine.
With optimal levels of fatty acids like EPA and DHA, the Health Nutrition food supports skin and coat health and also comes in a great taste so even the fussiest of eaters are satisfied! Even better, the kibble pieces are small, perfect for miniature jaws.
Exercise
Despite their small size, the Pocket Pitbull breed does have high exercise needs and you must make sure you are able to give them the time they need before you purchase one of these dogs.
A Pocket Pitbull needs roughly one hour of exercise every day, but this shouldn’t just be limited to walking on a leash. With high activity levels, these pups need to be let off the leash and be able to run around and burn off energy.
The Mini Pitbull loves to play games and they love to play with you, too. Games such as “fetch” can keep them mentally stimulated so they aren’t bored while also ensuring they are getting the right amount of exercise.
Family Compatibility
The Pocket Pitbull is an excellent family dog. Due to fact they are a small dog, they can make the perfect pet for those who live in smaller apartments or simply do not have the space for a larger dog. With the Pocket Pitbull’s loving and caring nature, you’ll still get a sweet dog — just in a smaller form!
These pups love children and have been known to be called “nanny dogs” because of how caring they are with little ones. However, because they are so laid-back around children, you may want to wait until you children are slightly older to introduce the Pitbull Mix because they can get overexcited and boisterous!
Pocket Pitbull’s are very loyal and protective of their families and this is what makes them excellent guard dogs. However, with the right socialization you can teach them to be sweet with strangers too, so this shouldn’t be an issue. Easy to train, the Pocket Pitbull can also make a good first pet if you have the time to spend with them!
Training
You should begin training your Pocket Pitbull from the day you bring them home. Due to their high intelligence levels, Pocket Pitbull’s are easy to train but you must spend the time ensuring they understand what you want them to do, otherwise they will begin to exhibit unwanted behaviors later on.
These dogs respond well to positive reinforcement training, including verbal praise and reward based training such as treats. They are powerful dogs so, before training them in a public space, ensure they respond to your calling their name. Otherwise, they might run off!
Socializing
Socializing is an important part of raising a dog of any breed especially pitbull breeds. Introducing your Pocket Pitbull to new sounds, sights, smells, places, people and animals at a young age will ensure they are not scared and do not see anything as a threat. This helps greatly with the reduction of aggression or hostile behavior.
Grooming
Luckily, because this dog normally has a short, smooth coat, they will only require brushing once a week. This should be with a rubber mitt as it will help to keep their coat tangle free and get rid of any loose hairs. If they have a longer coat, then more frequent brushing will be required.
You will only need to bathe your Pocket Pitbull when necessary — for example, when they have rolled in something unpleasant! You will need to keep their teeth clean too to prevent dental decay and disease. This can be done with dental sticks. Keep an eye on their nails too and clip them when needed.
Pocket Pitbull FAQ’s
Are Pitbulls dangerous?
We touched on this above but the answer is no. There is a common misconception that all Pitbulls are dangerous, but when trained properly and brought up in a loving and caring environment, Pitbulls are affectionate, loyal dogs and love to be around people.
They have been known to exhibit signs of aggression when not trained properly or when they do not receive enough social interaction, but if you raise your pup right you shouldn’t feel in danger when around them.
Are Pitbulls illegal?
In some areas of the United States, Australia and the UK, Pitbulls and other related dog breeds are under breed-specific laws. These laws prevent residents in those areas from owning these dogs, except from under special circumstances.
Pitbulls in these areas are seen as a danger because of their reputation and dog fighting background, even though there is a huge amount of evidence to show that when trained properly Pitbulls make great pets.
Summary
A Pocket Pitbull is the perfect pet for those who want a Pitbull in their lives but don’t have the space. Created by breeding an American Pitbull Terrier with a Patterdale Terrier, the Pocket Pitbull is a small loving and friendly dog that fits well into any family.
With high exercise needs, you will need to make sure you have the time to take care of this pup properly, but their loyal and protective nature will mean they bond to you for life. Gentle around children, the Pocket Pitbull is a great addition to any home.