The Pit Bull is defined as a class of dog that includes the following breeds : American pit bull terrier, American Staffordshire terrier, Staffordshire bull terrier, American bulldog, and any other pure bred or mixed breed that is a combination of these dogs. Size, weight, shape, and color can all vary greatly since the class is made up of so many different breeds. The pit bulls origin dates back quite far in history. It was created by cross breeding to create a dog with enormous drive and agility and overall strength. .
The beginning of the Pit Bull was dark and eerie. The breed was created mainly for the purpose of blood sports, which has evolved into the modern day dogfighting. The original purpose was NOT created for dog on dog fighting, this came many hundreds of years later. At this time in history, most dogs were wild animals and ferocious by nature. As settlers moved across lands they captured and transported wild dogs along with them as they founded and conquered new lands for entertainment an gambling purposes them threw blood sports.
Blood sports included bull baiting, bear baiting, and cockfighting. Bull baiting began in England over a thousand years ago it was Britain’s national pastime. In the 1500’s. is where we find the first mentions of the Bulldogs, which wasn’t being named as the breed but just a function. Bulldogs at this time were developed into compact muscle dogs with tremendous jaw strength, for participation in bull baiting.
Once Bull baiting was banned in 1835,people moved onto the sport of ratting. Ratting is placing a number of rats into a pit and betting on how many rats the dog could kill in X amount of time. To increase the speed and agility and prey of the Bulldog, ratters cross bred the bulldog with the terrier. This is where “pit” became a part of the name we know today: pit-bull. This in essence was the creation of the Pit Bull we know today.
Interesting fact: Did you know that Teddy Roosevelt had working ratting dogs in the basement of the White House?
From the mid-late 1800’s pit bulls were used for dogfighting and remained unrecognized by the American Kennel Club which was founded in 1898, due to the association with dog fighting. Pit bulls were however recognized by the United Kennel Club and its founder Chauncey Bennet who used the American Pit Bull terrier as the founding breed of his registry. This is the point in time where the Pit Bull Terrier is officially registered as a breed. In the early 20th Century pit bulls began to find their way into a new career as catch dogs for cattle and hogs. They were finding their way into families homes as hunting and driving dogs for livestock and as companions.
In the sense of privacy concerns, many people still feel the same way today as they did in 1898, and choose NOT to register their Pit Bulls to avoid being attacked by BSL or labeling.
Pit bulls today are targeted by BSL, singled out in news reporting and are the topics of so many heated issues and debates. With one side claiming they are horrible and the opposing side praising their loyalty and companionship. Whether you are a Pit Bull lover or not, you can see the significant part they have played in American History. Dating back to the end of WW1 the pit bull was seen as the American favorite. They were found on Army recruitment posters, athletes were referred to as “pit Bulls’ in the 1930’s, and they were child’s best friend with very few bites or attacks noted anywhere in history. It is clearly the owners job to nurture the positives through socialization and training if this breed is to ever regain its place in the countries hearts and homes and OFF the BSL list!
Myth: the ” Lock Jaw”. Many pit bull enthusiasts and critics refer the locking jaw the pit bulls have. There is in fact no such thing. Pit bulls like other hunting breeds can bite, hold and shake refusing to release because of a strong jaw and well developed muscles, but the jaw does not have a “built in locking feature”.
