A Good PIT BULL GAME DOG Keep: Classic APBT Conditioning and Pitbull Game Dog Training

The document known as “A Good PITBULL GAMEDOG Keep” is one of the most detailed and structured examples of a traditional APBT keep. It outlines how to condition a pitbull game dog for peak performance, emphasizing nutrition, weight management, exercise, and discipline. While written in the language of its time, today it serves as a historical reference for understanding how APBT conditioning was approached by old‑school dogmen.

📜 Philosophy of the Keep

The author explains that conditioning is the deciding factor when two dogs are equal in natural ability and gameness. If dog A and dog B are equally game, the one better prepared through a proper APBT keep will win “nine times out of ten.”

The principle is simple:

• A casual trainer may bring a dog to 50% of its potential.

• A skilled amateur can reach 75%.

• A top professional can consistently show dogs at 90% or more.

The pitbull keep is about discipline, attention to detail, and doing “10–15% more” than your opponent.

🐕 Schooling and Testing

• Schooling (rolling): Begin at 15–16 months with short 10‑minute rolls, adding 5 minutes every 6 weeks until the dog reaches 25 minutes at 2 years.

• Testing: At 26–27 months, roll the dog against a larger opponent for 30 minutes, then add a fresh dog for 10 minutes with multiple scratches. If the dog performs well, he is considered ready.

This reflects the old gamedog culture of pitbull dog testing, which today is studied only as part of APBT history.

🥩 Feeding and Weight Control

The feeding program in this APBT keep was strict and precise:

• Keep the dog within 3–4 lbs of match weight year‑round.

• Daily weigh‑ins before feeding.

• Diet: ¼–½ lb lean meat (preferably bull neck meat) + cottage cheese + 1½–2½ cups of high‑protein kibble.

• Supplements: One‑A‑Day vitamin with iron + Clovite conditioner.

• Feeding at night to match the timing of shows.

• No food 24 hours before, no water 12 hours before.

👉 This reflects the meticulous weight management that defined the pitbull keep tradition.

🏃 Work and Conditioning

The training schedule is the heart of this APBT conditioning program. It combines roadwork, treadmill work, and hand walking.

• Pre‑keep: 2–3 weeks of light 10–15 minute workouts to toughen feet.

• Hand walking: Up to 5 miles per day, considered one of the best forms of pitbull dog conditioning.

• Treadmill work: Gradual increases in distance and time, from 3 miles/15 minutes in Week 1 up to 15 miles/90 minutes by Week 5.

• Supplements during work: B‑15, B‑12, and male hormone injections (reflecting the practices of that era).

• Final week: Work is tapered down, with hand walking and light exercise before the show.

The keep also emphasized rest days (usually Sundays) and careful observation of the dog’s energy, breathing, and stool as indicators of health.

🚗 Travel and Preparation

The keep included practical advice for traveling with a pitbull game dog:

• Stop every 100 miles to hand walk.

• Take the dog on practice car rides during the keep.

• Arrive a day early if traveling more than 300 miles.

This ensured the dog was not stressed by travel before competition.

🏆 Key Takeaways

• Discipline and consistency are the foundation of any APBT keep.

• Nutrition and weight control are as important as exercise.

• Hand walking is one of the most effective forms of pitbull conditioning.

• Observation and record‑keeping (weight, stool, energy) are critical.

• The philosophy: “There are no secrets in conditioning. The only secret is dedication.”

✅ Conclusion

“A Good PIT BULL GAME DOG Keep” remains a classic example of how old‑school dogmen approached APBT conditioning. It reflects the culture of the pitbull keep, where training, conditioning, and gameness were seen as inseparable.

Today, it stands as a historical document—a window into the methods, discipline, and philosophy that shaped the legacy of the pitbull game dog.