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Dog breed 17 min read

American Pit Bull Terrier in India: legal status, care and notes for your sitter

Updated By PetymFacts checked against official sources on

Quick answer

A pit bull can do well with a sitter it knows, handled with care for the dog, the neighbours and the law. The Pitbull Terrier is on the centre's March 2024 list of breeds called ferocious, which two High Courts struck down, while Gurugram still requires a leash, chain lead and muzzle outside the home.

The ASPCA says dogs from fighting lines may be more likely to fight with other dogs, though that does not make them unpredictably aggressive. So a sitter keeps it away from unfamiliar dogs, on a strong lead, and judges it by its behaviour.

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A red American Pit Bull Terrier standing on grass, side view with its head turned
Photo: geoggirl (Flickr), CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Origin
United States, from bull-and-terrier crosses made in England, Ireland and ScotlandUnited Kennel Club
Adult weight
13.6 to 27.2 kg (Females to males, UKC: females 30 to 50 lb, males 35 to 60 lb, converted. UKC says balance matters more than the exact weight.)United Kennel Club
Height
43.2 to 53.3 cm (Females to males, UKC guideline: females 17 to 20 inches, males 18 to 21 inches, converted)United Kennel Club
Lifespan
12 to 16 yearsEncyclopaedia Britannica (Caroline Coile)
Coat
Glossy, smooth, close and moderately stiff to the touch. Any colour or pattern except merle.United Kennel Club
Energy
ModerateEncyclopaedia Britannica (Caroline Coile)
Indian heat
Copes with careEncyclopaedia Britannica (Caroline Coile)
Flats
Needs spaceEncyclopaedia Britannica (Caroline Coile)

Pit bull snapshot for owners and sitters

American Pit Bull Terrier: status and care facts
WhatThe ruleSource
On India's 2024 listYes. 'Pitbull Terrier' heads the list in the centre's D.O. letter of 12 March 2024, with all mixed or cross-breeds.Municipal Corporation Gurugram
Status of that letterSet aside by the Delhi High Court on 16 April 2024, which records that the Karnataka High Court quashed it on 10 April 2024.High Court of Delhi (order downloaded from the court's server, hosted by LiveLaw)
Gurugram rule (June 2026)Register with the corporation; leash, chain lead and muzzle whenever outside private premises.Municipal Corporation Gurugram
OriginsThe ASPCA says today's pit bull descends from the English bull-baiting dog, later crossed with terriers.ASPCA
With other dogsDogs from fighting lines may be more likely to fight with dogs, says the ASPCA, which does not mean they cannot be around other dogs.ASPCA
Size and standardNot quoted here: the breed's standard is the United Kennel Club's, which Petym could not open. Your dog's own weight on its vet card is what matters for its plan.Not stated
In the UKA banned type, judged by what a dog looks like rather than its breed or name.GOV.UK

Where does the American Pit Bull Terrier come from?

Sometime in the 19th century, the United Kennel Club's standard says, dog fanciers in England, Ireland and Scotland began crossing Bulldogs with terriers, looking for a dog with the terrier's gameness and the Bulldog's strength and athleticism. The ASPCA traces today's pit bull to the English bull-baiting dog, later crossed with terriers. Britannica adds that the dogs were bred to show aggression to other dogs but not to people, because fighting dogs had to be handled by their trainers.

Immigrants brought these bull-and-terrier crosses to the United States. There, UKC says, farmers and ranchers used them as catch dogs for semi-wild cattle and hogs, to hunt, to drive livestock and as family companions. The United Kennel Club was the first registry to recognise the breed: its founder, C. Z. Bennett, gave UKC registration number 1 to his own dog, Bennett's Ring, in 1898.

The American Kennel Club does not recognise the American Pit Bull Terrier as a breed, Britannica notes, and the name pit bull has been used loosely for several related breeds. UKC describes the breed as eager to please, an excellent family companion noted for its love of children, very friendly even with strangers, and says most dogs of the breed show some level of aggression to other dogs.

How did the American Pit Bull Terrier come to India?

No source Petym found records when or how the pit bull reached India, so its arrival is not documented. Its legal history here is documented. The centre's letter of 12 March 2024 put the Pitbull Terrier first on a list of breeds an expert committee called ferocious, with all mixed or cross-breeds. The Delhi High Court set that letter aside on 16 April 2024 and recorded that the Karnataka High Court had quashed it on 10 April 2024. AWBI's notice of 19 March 2024 says the letter came from the Ministry, not from AWBI.

Local rules still apply. Gurugram's order of 23 June 2026 requires owners of the listed breeds to register them and use a leash, chain lead and muzzle whenever the dog is outside private premises. Ask your corporation what applies where you live.

What care does a American Pit Bull Terrier need?

The three things that shape a good day for this breed.

  • Exercise

    Britannica says it needs a securely fenced space to exercise, with leash walks on a harness that limits pulling, and activities that engage mind and body such as obedience, agility and scent work. It is not suited to dog parks. In Indian summers, exercise only at dawn and after dark. Encyclopaedia Britannica (Caroline Coile)

  • Grooming

    Minimal: an occasional bath and a weekly brush, Britannica says. Check the short coat for ticks after every walk. United Kennel Club

  • Training

    UKC calls it eager to please and highly intelligent, and says good fencing is a must because most dogs of the breed show some aggression to other dogs. Britannica notes that a dog that gets on with other dogs can change at maturity, around 18 months. Socialise early, keep it away from unfamiliar dogs and use reward-based training. Encyclopaedia Britannica (Caroline Coile)

How much should a American Pit Bull Terrier eat?

Daily calories for a healthy, neutered adult American Pit Bull Terrier, worked out from its weight with the formula vets use (70 x weight in kg to the power 0.75, then AAHA's factor for a neutered adult). Divide by the kcal per kg on your food's pack for grams a day, and adjust by body shape.

Resting need (kcal a day)Neutered adult (kcal a day)
13.6 kg AAHA (American Animal Hospital Association)500690 to 790
20.4 kg670940 to 1080
27.2 kg8301170 to 1330

Feed a complete and balanced food chosen with your vet, measured, with treats under about 10% of daily calories as WSAVA suggests. Be careful with boutique diets: in a US study of 91 pit bull-type dogs with dilated cardiomyopathy, 84% of those with a known diet were eating nontraditional commercial diets, and dogs whose diet was changed improved significantly on heart scans. Talk to your vet before choosing any nontraditional or boutique diet. From the Indian kitchen, no onion, garlic, grapes, raisins, chocolate, salty snacks or xylitol, as ASPCA warns, and go easy on milk and dairy. Keep the dog lean, since heavier dogs and dogs above their breed's average weight had higher odds of heat-related illness in a large UK study. Meals a day: 6 to 12 weeks, 4 a day; 3 to 6 months, 3 a day; 6 to 12 months, 2 a day; adult, 1 or 2 a day; VCA suggests at least two. Puppies, kittens, working, pregnant and older animals need different amounts: ask your vet, or use Petym's food calculator.

Which illnesses is the American Pit Bull Terrier prone to, and how are they treated?

The conditions veterinary studies and breed surveys most often report in the American Pit Bull Terrier. Knowing the early signs means a vet sees it sooner.

See your vet first. This is general information from veterinary sources, not a diagnosis. Only a vet who has examined your pet can say what is wrong and prescribe treatment, and this page never gives a dose. Do not give your pet human medicine. If your pet seems very unwell, go to a 24-hour vet: find one in your city.

  • Dilated cardiomyopathy (heart muscle disease)

    See a vet soon

    The heart muscle weakens and cannot pump well. A US study of 91 pit bull-type dogs with this disease found heart failure and abnormal heart rhythms common, and most dogs with a known diet were on nontraditional commercial diets. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (2023)study

    Signs to watch for

    • Tiring quickly or fainting
    • Coughing or fast breathing at rest
    • A swollen belly
    • Collapse

    How a vet treats it

    A vet listens to the heart and uses chest x-rays, an ECG and echocardiography, which Merck calls the ideal test. Merck lists diuretics, medicines that help the heart contract, medicines against abnormal rhythms and, in some breeds, taurine. In the pit bull study, dogs whose diet was changed improved.

    Prevention

    Choose the diet with your vet and avoid switching to boutique diets without advice.

  • Hip dysplasia

    See a vet soon

    An abnormal development of the hip joint that leads to arthritis. Britannica says the breed is susceptible to bone diseases, notably hip dysplasia. Encyclopaedia Britannica (Caroline Coile)

    Signs to watch for

    • Lameness that gets worse after exercise
    • A bunny-hopping gait
    • Stiffness after rest

    How a vet treats it

    A vet diagnoses it with x-rays. Merck lists weight reduction, less exercise on hard surfaces, physical therapy, anti-inflammatory drugs prescribed by the vet and surgery, including total hip replacement.

    Prevention

    Keep the dog lean and choose a puppy from hip-screened parents.

  • Underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism)

    Ask at a routine check

    Britannica lists thyroid conditions among the breed's issues. In hypothyroidism, low thyroid hormone slows the body's metabolism; Merck says most cases come from destruction of the thyroid gland itself. Encyclopaedia Britannica (Caroline Coile)

    Signs to watch for

    • Dullness and tiredness
    • Weight gain without eating more
    • Dry coat, heavy shedding or thinning hair
    • Feeling the cold

    How a vet treats it

    A vet diagnoses it with blood tests for thyroid hormones. Merck says treatment is thyroid hormone replacement, generally lifelong, with blood levels rechecked to adjust it.

  • Heatstroke

    Emergency: go to a vet now

    Britannica says pit bulls do not like extreme heat. In a large UK study, exercise caused most heat-related illness, and dogs over 10 kg had higher odds than small dogs. Encyclopaedia Britannica (Caroline Coile)

    Signs to watch for

    • Heavy panting that does not settle
    • Drooling, vomiting or diarrhoea
    • Weakness, wobbling or collapse
    • Confusion or seizures

    How a vet treats it

    PDSA says cool the dog at once with cool tap water and moving air, then go to the vet. A vet keeps cooling the dog and may give fluids through a drip, oxygen and medicines, with blood tests and organ support.

    Prevention

    No fetch or tug in the heat. Walk at dawn and after dark, and keep water on every walk.

  • Tick fever (ehrlichiosis)

    See a vet soon

    A short coat does not keep ticks off: ticks were found on 53% of dogs in a survey of four Indian cities. Merck says canine ehrlichiosis is spread mainly by the brown dog tick. Parasites & Vectors (2011)study

    Signs to watch for

    • Fever and dullness
    • Nosebleeds, bruising or black stools
    • Swollen lymph nodes

    How a vet treats it

    A vet diagnoses it with blood smears, antibody tests or PCR. Merck says the antibiotic doxycycline is the treatment of choice, with supportive care and, for severe bleeding or anaemia, blood or platelet transfusions.

    Prevention

    Check for ticks after walks and keep the tick prevention your vet chose up to date.

Is the pit bull banned in India?

Not clearly, as of 21 October 2026. It was on a central list in 2024; courts struck that letter down; some cities still regulate it.

On 12 March 2024 the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying wrote to all States and Union Territories that an expert committee had identified certain breeds as ferocious and dangerous for human life. Gurugram's municipal order of 23 June 2026 reproduces the list: it begins with the Pitbull Terrier, names the American Staffordshire Terrier and American Bulldog among others, and ends with "all mixed or cross-breeds thereof". News On AIR reported at the time that the letter asked for dogs already kept as pets to be sterilised to prevent further breeding.

The Delhi High Court set that circular aside on 16 April 2024, after the Union's counsel admitted that no private body had been heard before it was issued. The court directed a public notice inviting written objections before any final notification, and recorded that the Karnataka High Court had quashed the circular on 10 April 2024. Petym's page on banned breeds follows what has happened since.

Local rules are a separate question. Gurugram's order requires owners of the listed breeds to register them, keep strict physical control and use a leash, chain lead and muzzle outside private premises, and warns that bites or negligent handling can lead to criminal proceedings under section 291 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. Ask your corporation what applies where you live.

Where the 2024 breed letter stands, as Petym could confirm it
WhatThe ruleSource
DelhiSet aside by the High Court, 16 April 2024High Court of Delhi (order downloaded from the court's server, hosted by LiveLaw)
KarnatakaQuashed by the High Court, 10 April 2024High Court of Delhi (order downloaded from the court's server, hosted by LiveLaw)
GurugramRegulated, not banned: register, leash, chain lead and muzzleMunicipal Corporation Gurugram
Who issued itThe Ministry, not AWBI, as AWBI's public notice of 19 March 2024 saysAnimal Welfare Board of India

How a pit bull handles a sitter

Usually warmly with people it knows. The care point is other dogs, not strangers at the door.

The ASPCA's position statement says dogs bred for work and companionship have long been popular family pets, noted for their gentleness, affection and loyalty, and that even dogs bred for fighting were not prone to aggression toward people. It also says the great majority of pit bull type dogs today come from random breeding, which produces a wide range of behaviour, so each dog should be judged by its actions, not by its DNA or looks.

For a sitter that means two things. First, read the dog in front of you at the meet and greet: how it greets, how it takes food, how it walks past a community dog on the road. Second, plan as if other dogs are a risk, because the ASPCA notes some lines may be more likely to fight with dogs. A sitter in your home, with no other dogs, avoids that risk entirely. PDSA's general advice is no more than 4 hours alone at a time for any dog, and the ASPCA adds that dogs chained outside and isolated from people are more likely to bite.

Handling a pit bull safely in a city and society

Do

  • Use a strong, well-fitted collar or harness and a short lead on every walk, held by an adult who can hold the dog.
  • Follow your city's breed rule exactly. In Gurugram that is a leash, chain lead and muzzle outside the home, and the registration token on the dog. Municipal Corporation Gurugram
  • If a muzzle is used, it must fit and must never be left on unsupervised, as AWBI's 2022 muzzle guidelines say. Animal Welfare Board of India
  • Walk at quiet hours and choose routes away from community dog groups and the society's play area.
  • Keep the dog indoors with its people. AWBI notes that failing to exercise a dog kept chained or closely confined is cruelty under the PCA Act, 1960. Animal Welfare Board of India

Don’t

  • Do not let it greet unfamiliar dogs, even on lead. Turn away calmly and give space.
  • Do not leave it alone with another dog in the home, even one it knows.
  • Do not punish a growl. It is a warning: step back and tell the owner.
  • Do not abandon a dog because of a breed rule. Abandoning an animal without reasonable cause is cruelty under section 11(1)(i) of the PCA Act. Animal Welfare Board of India

Health signs a pit bull's sitter should report

A sitter notices, records and tells the owner, and calls the vet for anything sudden or severe.

  • If Tiring quickly, coughing, breathing fast at rest or fainting. A US study of pit bull-type dogs with dilated cardiomyopathy, a heart muscle disease, found heart failure and abnormal heart rhythms common.

    Call the vet the same day; collapse or blue gums is an emergency. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (2023)study

  • If Heavy panting that does not settle, drooling, wobbling or collapse after exercise in the heat. Exercise caused most heat-related illness in a large UK study.

    Move the dog somewhere cool, pour cool water over its body, use a fan and go to the vet at once. Scientific Reports (2020)study

  • If A fight or a bite, given or received, even if no wound is visible.

    Separate safely, never with hands between the dogs. Call the owner and the vet; puncture wounds can be deeper than they look.

  • If Ticks, or fever, dullness and loss of appetite days after tick exposure. In a survey of 525 dogs in four Indian cities, ticks were found on 53%.

    Remove ticks close to the skin with tweezers and call the vet about any fever. Parasites & Vectors (2011)study

  • If Ate something it should not have: chocolate, grapes, raisins, onion, garlic or a xylitol gum.

    Call the vet straight away with what and how much was eaten. ASPCA Animal Poison Control

Food, weight and heat

Feed exactly what the owner feeds, measured. In the US study of 91 pit bull-type dogs with dilated cardiomyopathy, 84% of those with a known diet were eating nontraditional commercial diets, and dogs that changed diet had significant improvements in their heart scans. That is a question for your vet, not your sitter: never switch food during a stay, since a sudden change can also cause diarrhoea. WSAVA suggests treats stay under about 10% of daily calories.

Heat is the everyday risk. In the UK heat study, dogs over 10 kg had higher odds of heat-related illness than small dogs, dogs at or above their breed's average weight had higher odds again, and exercise was the main trigger. A muscular, energetic dog that loves to play fetch will keep going past the point it should stop. In summer, play and walks happen at dawn and after dark, with water on every walk, and the India Meteorological Department's heat warnings decide whether the evening walk is short.

Talk to your vet about sterilisation if your dog is not already neutered. The 2024 central letter asked for this, as reported, and the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023 make the owner of a pet dog responsible for sterilising it.

Pit bull myths, checked against the sources

  • You may have read

    A DNA test will prove whether my dog is a pit bull.

    Myth

    What the sources say

    A 2026 study sent the same pit bull-type dogs to two commercial DNA services and found substantial disagreement between them on American Pit Bull Terrier versus American Staffordshire Terrier. Animals (2026)study

  • You may have read

    Pit bulls are aggressive to people by nature.

    Myth

    What the sources say

    The ASPCA says even dogs bred for fighting were not prone to aggression toward people, and that each dog should be judged by its actions. ASPCA

  • You may have read

    AWBI banned pit bulls in 2024.

    Myth

    What the sources say

    AWBI's public notice of 19 March 2024 says the letter was issued by the Ministry, not by AWBI. Animal Welfare Board of India

  • You may have read

    In the UK, a dog is only banned if its papers say pit bull.

    Myth

    What the sources say

    GOV.UK says whether a dog is a banned type depends on what it looks like, rather than its breed or name. GOV.UK

Pit bull sitter checklist

  • Behaviour notes: other dogs, cats, visitors, food or toy guarding, and what the dog does when stressed.
  • Collar or harness, strong lead, the registration token and the muzzle if the dog is trained to one.
  • Your city's breed rule, written down, and the safest walking times and routes.
  • Meal amounts and times, the exact food, and the treat allowance.
  • No other dogs in the home during the stay, and how visitors are handled at the door.
  • Tick prevention product and next due date.
  • Vaccination card and registration papers, kept where the sitter can show them if asked.
  • The vet's number and the nearest 24-hour vet on Petym's city list.

Which Petym service suits a pit bull?

  1. If Your dog is unsure of other dogs or lives in a busy society

    Overnight pet sitting in your home by one sitter it has met, with no other dogs. Overnight sitting

  2. If You are out all day on workdays

    A dog walker it knows, at quiet hours, following your city's breed rule. Dog walking

  3. If Your dog has a heart condition or is on medicines

    Special-needs pet care, with the vet's plan followed and logged. Special-needs care

  4. If You want group day care or boarding with other dogs

    Usually not the right fit for this breed: a home with no other dogs is the safer plan.

Breeds with similar care needs to the American Pit Bull Terrier

Going away soon? Tell us your dates.

A checked local sitter feeds, walks and keeps your pet company at home, follows your care sheet to the letter and sends a photo every day. Petym is opening city by city: send your dates and we will tell you when a sitter can take them.

Find a sitter for your pit bullHow it works

  • Meet your sitter first, free
  • PAN-checked, first-aid trained
  • A photo every day
  • Pay through Petym, never cash

Questions owners ask

Is the pit bull banned in India?

Not clearly, as of 21 October 2026. The Pitbull Terrier was on the centre's 12 March 2024 list of breeds called ferocious, but the Delhi High Court set that letter aside in April 2024 and recorded that the Karnataka High Court had quashed it. Some cities, such as Gurugram, still regulate the breed.

What does Gurugram require for pit bulls?

Gurugram's order of 23 June 2026 requires owners of the listed breeds to register them, keep strict control, and use a leash, chain lead and muzzle whenever the dog is outside private premises. It warns that bites or negligent handling can lead to criminal proceedings.

Can a pit bull stay with a pet sitter?

Yes, with a sitter it has met and trusts, and ideally in your own home with no other dogs. Use Petym's free meet and greet to walk together and hand over the lead. Tell the sitter honestly how your dog reacts to other dogs, visitors and food.

Are pit bulls good with other dogs?

Some are and some are not. The ASPCA says dogs from fighting lines may be more likely to fight with other dogs, though this does not mean they cannot be around other dogs. A sitter should avoid unfamiliar dogs and never leave the dog alone with another dog.

How long can a pit bull be left alone?

PDSA's general advice is no more than 4 hours at a time for any dog. Pit bulls are people-focused dogs, and the ASPCA notes that dogs chained outside and isolated from people are more likely to bite. On long days, arrange a sitter or a walker.

What should a pit bull eat?

What your vet recommends, measured, with treats under about 10% of daily calories as WSAVA suggests. A US study found most pit bull-type dogs with dilated cardiomyopathy were on nontraditional commercial diets and improved after a diet change, so talk to your vet before choosing a boutique diet.

Do I have to give up my pit bull?

No official text Petym found asks owners to give up their dogs. Abandoning an animal without reasonable cause is cruelty under the PCA Act. Register the dog where your city requires it, follow any local breed rule, and talk to your vet about sterilisation.

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Sources

Each source was opened and read on the date shown. How Petym checks its sources

  1. United Kennel Club: American Pit Bull Terrier: official UKC breed standard (revised 1 May 2017) (read in a web-archive copy) (opens in a new tab)checked 22 October 2026
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannica (Caroline Coile): Pit bull: breed of dog (read in a web-archive copy) (opens in a new tab)checked 22 October 2026
  3. ASPCA: Position statement on pit bulls (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
  4. Municipal Corporation Gurugram: Office order on registration and control of pet dogs (23 June 2026) (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
  5. High Court of Delhi (order downloaded from the court's server, hosted by LiveLaw): Sikander Singh Thakur v. Union of India, W.P.(C) 4374/2024 and connected matters, order of 16 April 2024 (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
  6. Animal Welfare Board of India: Public notice on news reports of a ban on dog breeds (19 March 2024) (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
Show all 30 sourcesShow fewer
  1. WSAVA: Frequently asked questions and myths (Global Nutrition Committee) (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
  2. ASPCA Animal Poison Control: People foods to avoid feeding your pets (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
  3. Merck Veterinary Manual: Puppy care (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
  4. VCA Animal Hospitals: Feeding times and frequency for your dog (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
  5. AAHA (American Animal Hospital Association): 2021 AAHA Nutrition and Weight Management Guidelines for Dogs and Cats: energy requirement calculations (Box 1, PDF) (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
  6. Merck Veterinary Manual: Nutritional requirements of small animals (full review November 2023, updated September 2024) (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
  7. Merck Veterinary Manual: Acquired heart and blood vessel disorders in dogs: dilated cardiomyopathy (pet owner version) (opens in a new tab)checked 22 October 2026
  8. Merck Veterinary Manual: Hip dysplasia (dog owners) (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
  9. Merck Veterinary Manual: Disorders of the thyroid gland in dogs (pet owner version) (opens in a new tab)checked 22 October 2026
  10. PDSA: Heatstroke in dogs (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
  11. Merck Veterinary Manual: Ehrlichiosis in dogs (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
  12. GOV.UK: Controlling your dog in public: banned dogs (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
  13. PDSA: Separation anxiety in dogs (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
  14. PDSA: Diarrhoea after a change of food (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
  15. India Meteorological Department: FAQ on heat wave (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
  16. Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying (Gazette of India copy on AWBI's site): Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023: G.S.R. 193(E), 10 March 2023 (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
  17. Animal Welfare Board of India: The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, as amended in 1982 (AWBI's copy) (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
  18. Animal Welfare Board of India: Guidelines for the use of muzzles on dogs and care of community dogs (letter dated 16 August 2022) (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
  19. Animal Welfare Board of India: Circular and guidelines for pet owners (1 June 2020) (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
  20. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (2023): Pit bull-type breeds with dilated cardiomyopathy eating nontraditional diets improve after diet change (2015 to 2022) (abstract read) (opens in a new tab)Peer-reviewed study · checked 21 October 2026
  21. Scientific Reports (2020): Incidence and risk factors for heat-related illness in UK dogs (opens in a new tab)Peer-reviewed study · checked 21 October 2026
  22. Parasites & Vectors (2011): A survey of canine tick-borne diseases in India (opens in a new tab)Peer-reviewed study · checked 21 October 2026
  23. Animals (2026): Evaluation of two commercial DNA-based breed identification tests for pit bull-type dogs in Taiwan: a pilot study (abstract read) (opens in a new tab)Peer-reviewed study · checked 21 October 2026
  24. News On AIR (All India Radio): Central govt proposes ban on sale, breeding of ferocious dogs (15 March 2024) (opens in a new tab)News report · checked 21 October 2026