Elite Apex Kennels

06/20/2024

06/16/2024

📢 Hey everyone! 👋 I'm considering getting some Elite Apex merchandise, including hoodies, shirts, hats, and more! 🎉 If I were to make these available, who would be interested in purchasing? This would really help promote and support our small business 😄

06/08/2024

Some nice side shots 👌✅ ゚

06/04/2024

Hot days call for pool time ❤️

06/01/2024

Theodore

05/30/2024

05/24/2024

The Working American Pit Bull Terrier

American Pit Bull Terrier History: Past & Present

The American Pit Bull Terrier (APBT) is a true gamedog, and should not be confused with the dogs commonly but falsely labelled as "pitbulls." Game dogs have existed for hundreds of years, and the APBT we know today resulted from "Bull-n-Terrier" crosses produced in the United States of America (USA) by cross breeding bull-baiting dogs and game terrier breeds imported from Europe and Ireland during the 1800's. By only breeding the best working individuals produced from those crosses, dedicated breeders in the USA utilized performance based selective breeding strategies to refine this new population of game dogs. This breeding methodology concentrated the genes responsible for producing the desired traits into a refined gene pool, resulting in a more prolific population of superior canine gladiators. With competition driving the evolution of these new game dogs, they not only outperformed game dogs of the past, they also more consistently produced offspring with superior structural soundness, excellent health, mental stability, exceptional athleticism, great wrestling skills, a powerful grip, toughness, endurance, tremendous drive, and extreme determination (aka..."gameness"). These dogs became recognized by the UKC in 1898 and by the ADBA in 1908 as the "American Pit Bull Terrier." Bert Sorrells' close friend, Ralph Greenwood, purchased the ADBA in 1973, and today the ADBA is managed by the Greenwood family.

In 1936, the AKC recognized many of these same dogs as the "American Staffordshire Terrier;" however the AKC excluded rednose dogs. While the APBT was continually competing as a game dog and bred to meet the performance standards required by such activities, the American Staffordshire Terrier was competing more in the show arena and less in the performance arena. Breeding standards drive the evolution and divergence of all breeds, and as time passed the performance of Am Staffs began declining as they lost the essential traits required of game dogs. Meanwhile, the performance of the APBT was continually evolving as ultimate game dog. Given the amount of divergence that has occurred due to having different niches with different selection criteria, the APBT and Am Staff have today without question diverged into two different breeds despite sharing common ancestry.

In 1976 the Animal Welfare Act was passed, and due to legal pressures now placing serious punishments towards particular types of game dog activities, by the 1990's many of so called "APBT enthusiasts" gave up their interest in game dogs completely. Others became more involved in the UKC show arena and their breeding practices became more along the lines of the AKC Am Staff. While the UKC dogs were still registered and known as "APBTs" by the UKC, many true game dog enthusiasts tend to look down upon the UKC registered dogs, and no longer consider the UKC dogs true APBTs due to repeatedly falling short of being true game dogs when tested since the UKC registered dogs were generally no longer bred to game dog standards.

Meanwhile, those seriously committed to true game dogs registered their dogs pretty much exclusively with the ADBA. In addition to this, APBT enthusiasts were also now forced to either risk serious punishments for participating in activities that were outlawed or find a new means of testing the abilities and will of their dogs, such as hog hunting.

What is a "game dog" one may ask. Well, if you have ever heard the question, "Are you game?," then you know that question simply means, "Are you willing?" As a result, gameness is most easily defined as the willingness to continue a task despite stress. The abilities of an individual are irrelevant if the individual is not first willing to perform the task at hand. As a result, the willingness of a game dog is its most essential trait, making gameness typically the most sought-after trait that APBT breeders seek to maintain or enhance within their breeding program.

05/20/2024

That's true!

05/06/2024

If you are wanting your dog trained give us a shout! We don’t disappoint!

04/29/2024

Josie Bruener get an all black one

Great photography! 🥰❤️

04/28/2024

Warm days call for sprinkler fun ❤️

04/23/2024

Today was a beautiful day we got all the dog outside now that the girls are out of heat we got them all working and playing!!!we had a blast! Look at these studs! 🧬🐕✌️

04/17/2024

You can usually tell if a man is a good man if he has a dog who loves him.
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Daisy ~ 10 months old

04/16/2024

I guess you could say mother and daughter bonding time lol who needs pest control when you got dogs that will damn near kill any type of wild game or will at least die trying. ✌️

For those who think it’s cruel it’s the natural order of the animal world I’m not gonna stop my dog from killing a rabbit that entered their territory or any animal at that unless it’s a cat or dog those would be the only acceptions. Anything else is up to them whether they want to let it pass through or not but chances are whatever goes in probably won’t get back out or survive very long and will be almost eaten before I can even get back there ✌️✌️

04/11/2024

Historical
Russell's CH Red Joe & Heys' Rio

04/11/2024

👇👇✌️✌️

The following few lines were written by my friend Rudy from FWK many, many years ago. It hasn't lost its relevance to this day!

- Youngsters must know that these dogs aren't the ones to let play loose in the park or beach.
- Youngsters must know that these animals are made of flesh and blood.
- Youngsters must know that many talk, but not many walk the talk, and if they find out who's the talker, try to stick with the walker.
- Youngsters must know that it isn't cool at all to show off your dog to your non-dog-owning buddies or in public.
- Youngsters must know that these dogs aren't bred to be 'mean'.
- Youngsters must know that these dogs must have the best care, housing, and attention.
- Youngsters must know that many questions about health, history, breeding, and general dog care are written in many good books.
- Youngsters must know that reading is important, but not the tool to 'learn it all'. Bundled with lots and lots of practice, they are heading in the right direction.
- Youngsters must know that these dogs are not bred to be a "toy" to satisfy their ego.
- Youngsters must know that if they are totally "into the dogs", their weekly pocket money given by their parents isn't enough. If done right, it's quite an expensive endeavor.
- Youngsters must know they will probably never have the opportunity to see much of the world by having a yard full of dogs at home.
- Youngsters must know that talking is easy and not the way to earn respect.
- Youngsters must know it's all about dedication, patience, common sense, enough time, money, and total commitment, otherwise, they will find out soon that the game doesn't need them.

Pictured below is Roberto & FWK's GINGER.