Though it may look like a type of dog that’d scare the life out of you in a dark alley, the Razor-Edge Pitbull’s mean appearance only hides its bubbly personality and patient demeanor. A faithful companion dog, this breed only appeared a few decades ago and has already won the hearts of many.
If you’re eager to find out if this is the right dog for you, read on — here’s everything you need to know about this gorgeously bulky, loveable canine.
The Origin and History of the Razor-Edge Pitbull
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Unlike some other dog breeds that came to be through natural crossbreeding, the Razor-Edge Pitbull was a strategically bred breed. Carlos Barksdale and Dave Wilson were eager to develop a stockier, shorter breed with a large head and thick legs. This entailed experimenting with a few different breeds to get the right look and temperament.
This type of Pitbull could be a cross of at least five breeds. It’s impossible to tell which were used precisely, but the American Pit Bull Terrier, the English Bulldog, the American Bulldog, and the Mastiff are likely choices.
Carlos and Dave already had their fair share of backyard-bred Pitbulls, but they slowly started purchasing finer game-bred dogs, including the grandson of “Plumber’s Alligator” and Diablo, an offspring of Hollingsworth’s Bull and Wildside’s Miss Leaky.
The pair took the project seriously and researched breeds thoroughly in order to determine which qualities they wanted in their breed and how to come by them. They started adding more size and bulkiness to the dogs to improve their physical structure. Eventually, they registered the first-ever “ADBA” Razor’s Edge Pit Bull breeding. The offspring was a cross between two Mayfield dogs called Zeus and Jinx.
It took them seven generations to finesse the breed, so it’s possible now to cross-check a dog against the laid standards to determine if it’s really a Razor-Edge Pitbull.
Fast Facts about the Breed
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• Weight: 65-85 lbs (male), 60-75 lbs (female)
• Height: 22 inches (male), 21 inches (female)
• Coat colors and style: blue, blue brindle, black and white, or blue fawn; coarse, short coat with a nice shine
• Lifespan: 6 to 8 years
• Litter size: 4 to 8 puppies
• Indoor or outdoor pets: preferably indoor since they cannot stand the cold well. A tall fence is a must as they’re good at climbing them.
Appearance and Personality
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At a glance, the Razor-Edge Pitbull looks pretty scary due to its large head and stocky, muscular build. The dogs of this breed have a short blocky muzzle too, which is usually the same color as the coat. The ears, on the other hand, can sometimes be comically short and pointy or cropped. Face-wise, you could say the breed looks a bit dopey, but as it turns out, that’s all an act.
In reality, the breed is a smart one, so training it isn’t as challenging as one may think. However, the zesty personality of the Razor-Edge may prove to be a bit more problematic for owners looking for a mean-looking guard dog.
Since these dogs have the American Pitbull Terrier in their bloodline, they are people-oriented and friendly. Contrary to their appearance, they aren’t bloodthirsty or even aggressive, so they’re more likely to welcome intruders rather than chase them away.
They are, however, good alert dogs — sometimes too good — and will bark at people. This trait, though, mostly boils down to them being excited to see humans.
The dogs are fantastic family pets that get on marvelously with children and have lots of patience, even with hyper kids. Since they’re so large and stocky, there’s little a child could do to them to actually hurt them — so they aren’t likely to bite them. They are also a bit clingy and will be satisfied with doing just about anything, as long as they are with their people.
How Much Does a Razor-Edge Pitbull Cost?
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Getting a Razor-Edge Pitbull from quality breeders isn’t going to be cheap. At best, you may be able to pay $2000 to $3000 for one. Some breeders charge upwards of $3,500, and the prices can even go above $5,500+. You may also have to make a deposit for the puppy, which could be about $500 to $1000.
Pros and Cons of Getting a Razor-Edge Pitbull
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Advantages
• They are affectionate and loyal creatures that love spending time with their owners.
• The breed is fantastic with kids since it has a patient nature.
• There’s very little grooming involved.
• They aren’t difficult to train overall since they want to please their owners.
• The breed doesn’t have any major health issues.
Disadvantages
• They look mean and scary, which may attract judgment wherever you go.
• The breed has a stubborn nature.
• You have to walk the dog multiple times a day and provide lots of exercise time.
• Boredom may make the dog bark, chew, and dig excessively.
• This is a large breed, so the costs of quality food and care can get high.
Health and Care
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Much like other Pitbulls, Razor-Edge dogs love being active and thrive on intense levels of exercise. Since they are pretty athletic, they enjoy playing, running around, and going for walks (short or moderate, twice a day). Their good nature also makes them terrific companions in public; though some people may get scared when they see them, it’s unlikely they will show any signs of aggression.
One thing to keep in mind is that they need a bit more mental stimulation (achieved with puzzles, toys, and other simple games) than some other breeds. They can engage in excessive barking, digging, and chewing if they aren’t having fun or are bored. While unsupervised, it might be best to keep your dog in a crate or in a puppy-proof room while it’s still young.
As for coat care, here’s some good news. This breed doesn’t shed much, so you won’t have much grooming (or cleaning) to do. You can simply remove dead hair with a slicker brush once a week.
Even though they aren’t prone to periodontal disease or ear infections, pay attention to their teeth and ears too. Without regular teeth brushing and ear cleaning sessions, any dog out there could develop these issues.
Common Health Problems
Though Razor-Edge Pitbulls are generally healthy, they may occasionally suffer from common canine ailments, as well as have issues with allergies and obesity.
This breed is already pretty robust, so over-feeding the dogs can put too much pressure on their whole bodies and lead to other potentially dangerous or at least painful conditions.
As for allergies, Pitbulls are, in general, prone to reactions to fleas, pollen, grass, and dust, which can cause skin allergies. Some types of food, such as pork, beef, and chicken, are common food allergens you should keep in mind. Sometimes, they may also have allergic reactions to medication and grooming and cleaning products (shampoo, perfumes, and detergent).
1. Hypothyroidism
The thyroid gland produces thyroxine, a hormone that plays a crucial part in heart and muscle function, digestion and metabolism, bone maintenance, and brain development. If a dog’s body doesn’t make enough of this hormone, the animal can develop hypothyroidism.
Some of the symptoms of this condition include:
• hair loss
• dry skin and coat
• black skin patches
• weight gain
• muscle loss
• intolerance to cold
• sluggishness.
2. Hip and Elbow Dysplasia
Larger and heavier breeds like the Razor-Edge are prone to developing hip dysplasia while they’re still growing. The condition is characterized by the wearing down of the cartilage and bone and the loosening of the hip joint. The condition is usually hereditary or develops due to environmental factors, too (like obesity).
Common symptoms include:
• limping
• lameness
• bunny hopping while running
• popping and cracking sounds coming from the joints
• strange sitting positions
• trouble standing.
A similar condition that can affect the breed is elbow dysplasia. It can also be hereditary or a result of over-feeding and obesity. Common symptoms are:
• stiffness or limping
• front limb lameness
• elbows held at an abnormal angle or front paws pointing outwards
• swollen puffy elbows
3. Brachycephalic Respiratory Syndrome
Dogs with short muzzles may develop this syndrome, which is characterized by upper airway abnormalities. As a result, they may breathe loudly, gag or retch frequently, snort when they’re excited, and snore. Exercise intolerance, occasional collapse, and cyanosis are also common, and the symptoms may appear worse in obese dogs.
4. Heart Disease
Pitbulls can either be born with congenital heart disease or acquire it over time, so the condition affects both puppies and adult dogs. The two most common varieties are valve disease (which causes a heart murmur) and dilated cardiomyopathy (heart muscle disease).
The symptoms may not be evident right away, so staying vigilant is a must. Common signs of heart disease include:
• difficulty breathing
• persistent coughing
• fainting or collapse
• fatigue
• behavior changes
5. Eye Conditions
Finally, this breed may develop several eye conditions:
• Cataracts, which can be an inheritable trait or caused by diabetes, eye injuries, or old age. Eventually, this condition can lead to blindness, so pay attention to any cloudiness in the dog’s eyes.
• Cherry eye, which refers to the prolapse of the pup’s third eyelid. It’s mostly an aesthetic problem, though it can lead to conjunctivitis and irritation if the dog paws at it or scratches it.
• Ectropion and entropion, in which the eyelids roll outward or inward. Ectropion affects the lower eyelids, causing them to roll outward. Entropion, however, causes them to roll inward and can affect both upper and lower lids.
• Cone-Rod Dystrophy, a retinal degeneration that causes visual impairment and, later on, severe blindness. It affects American Staffordshire Terriers and American Pit Bull Terriers, so Razor-Edge Pitbulls could have it too.
How to Train Your Razor-Edge Pitbull
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Even though these Pitties aren’t hard to train, it’s best that new owners take them to obedience classes at first. Since the breed can get a bit stubborn, having a little guidance at the very beginning could be beneficial.
Keep in mind that these dogs can also have selective hearing sometimes, so they may get over-excited and ignore commands. This makes them unsuitable to be off the leash — they could easily run into traffic simply because they saw something interesting.
Much like most dogs, Razor-Edge Pitbulls will thrive in a positive training environment, so avoid scolding or shouting at them. This kind of behavior can only instill fear in them or make them frustrated, which, in turn, makes training itself more difficult.
Instead, use their need to please their owners by making the training fun and following up commands with lots of treats and praises. It’s essential to make the sessions something they can look forward to, as otherwise, they may go back to their stubborn ways and refuse to cooperate. If you get a puppy, aim to socialize it well from the very start, too, with both people and other animals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where Can You Buy a Razor-Edge Pitbull?
Not many breeders offer quality Razor-Edge Pitties, so it’s best to be wary of too-good-to-be-true deals and breeders who don’t offer enough information about the puppies. The list of dedicated breeders is pretty short in comparison to other breeds:
• Blue Fire Pits
• Crump’s Bullies
• Pitbulls Breeder
• Finest Pitbulls Made
• Nola Blue Pitbulls
• Pitbull Empire
• Mugleston’s Pitbull Farm
• Blue Iron Kennel
Why Are the Razor-Edge Pitbull So Popular?
The careful breeding of various other breeds with the Pitbull has resulted in a rather exceptional dog that looks mean but is actually very friendly and non-aggressive.
One of the reasons for Razor-Edge’s popularity could be the fact that they offer “scary dog privileges” to their owners when they’re out and about but are kind and sociable at home. These dogs can be the perfect pets for families with children and loveable, loyal companions for their whole lives.
Can You Get a Razor-Edge Pittie at a Shelter?
This breed rarely appears in shelters since there aren’t many dogs out there. The origin is closely tied to specialized kennels, so that’s the best place to look for them. Plus, even if a Razor-Edge Pitbull ends up in a shelter, it will probably be mislabeled due to how similar the breed is to other bully breeds.
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