How you answered the question above can tell a lot about how your receive your information and when you grew up. Those folks who are older, born in the earlier part of this 20th century remember the pit bull in its heyday as the companion dog on the 'Lil Rascals Comedies and Buster Brown's dog Tighe. They remember its feature on Time Magazine and they may remember Stubby the decorated War Hero, the most decorated war dog of all time, who saved his fellow solders by sniffing out dangerous gas and holding a German spy at bay. Pit Bulls were symbols of America and had places on war posters from WWI (see below). Everyone wanted one! They were widely featured in political cartoons and on magazines.  50 years ago, they were the ultimate family dog.

So what happened?

How did they fall from grace? A combination of events such as rise of dog fighting popularity and the discovery of it in the media and public outcry, the villain-ization of the breed to sell papers/stories equating animal aggression with aggression towards people. The gravitation towards this breed to those who wanted to affiliate themselves with aggressiveness, greed and money becoming involved in continuing dog fighting but also another culture cultivating the "bad dog" image and using it for their own gain. Breeding and selling aggressive specimens to continue this cycle.

Every era has its "bad dog" du jour, the German Shepherd Dog, the Doberman, have all had their spot in the light and it is the "pit bull's" turn. Hopefully they will fade soon and go back to the wonderful dogs they are.  Next I believe the Rottweiler or the rare Mastiffs will suffer this fate.   Even with all that has happened, most pit bulls are wonderful, friendly and gregarious as you will read below.

What is a Pit Bull?

It really depends on who you ask. The AKC says a "pit bull" is a mixed breed and some breed experts (mostly of the AKC origin) say there is no such thing as a "pit bull" and that it was concocted for the purpose of outlawing dogs.

Generally speaking the term 'pit bull' is used as nickname that  describes dogs of certain physical characteristics such as muscular body of medium size, short hard coat, blocky head and wide chest. 

The term "pit bull" is NOT the name of any recognized breed but a generic descriptor that has been used to nickname those dogs in the bully breed class of dogs. The three breeds typically thought of in the "pit bull" category are the American Pit Bull Terrier, The American Staffordshire Terrier and the Staffordshire Bull Terrier.  All of these breeds in the list below came from the same origins and have slowly diverged over time until now they are "cousins" though some can be cross registered as each other. Sometimes BSL advocates throw in other bully type breeds and mixes in to the pit bull category just for good measure.

The American Pit Bull Terrier (APBT) is an old breed and can be traced back to the 1700-1800s and was known by many different names including, the Yankee Terrier, Pit Terrier, and the half-and-half, prior to the United Kennel Club (UKC) designation in 1898.

The American Staffordshire Terrier (AST) is an American Kennel Club (AKC) recognized breed. The AKC recognized a breed in 1936 (after much lobbying by APBT breed supporters in the US who wanted to compete in conformation shows) with the designation Staffordshire Terrier. It opened its registry and studbooks to dogs that were registered as American Pit Bull Terriers in other clubs and non-registered “Bull and Terrier” dogs that fit the conformation standard. The name was later changed to the American Staffordshire Terrier in the 1970s to avoid confusion with the newly recognized (though not truly a new breed) Staffordshire Bull Terrier. Some ASTs are dual-registered as American Pit Bull Terriers with the UKC. (It is important to note that dogs used to develop the standard were well known Am. Pit Bulls).

The Staffordshire Bull Terrier (SBT) is a very old breed from the UK and is said to be the foundation for both the APBT and AST even though it was not recognized by the AKC until the 1970s. The SBT is also recognized and registered with the UKC. All Three of these breeds are closely related, originating from the same stock, and have diverged into different forms over time.

What is a pit bull to me?

A pit bull to me is a wonderful rough and tumble dog with a sleek short coat, an athletic physique and a gregarious disposition. A good pit bull is a people pit bull, very people oriented and responsive to training. They are inquisitive and have exceptional personalities.  They are not naturally dominant with people but can be quarrelsome with other animals.  They are easy to groom and naturally accept manipulation and examination and adore love and attention. They put 110% into everything they do from chasing the neighborhood cat (better keep your bully on a lead) to sleeping in until noon. They are eager to please and easy to train and excel at almost anything you would like for them to do, their determination is one of their most positive traits. Pit Bulls are currently employed as Search and Rescue dogs, Obedience Champions, Narcotic and Bomb Detection dogs, Therapy dogs, Agility, weight pulling, French Ring and Shutzhund.

A Little History

The American Pit Bull Terrier is an old breed that dates back to the early 1800s and even earlier though before that it was undeveloped and not named. No two history books agree on the development of the APBT or the Staffy bull or even in the history of the American Bulldog. These breeds were all related in early development and went their separate ways as they became specialized in form, function and registry.

Early ancestors of the pit bull were Mastiff in origin and specialized for what was originally bull baiting and other blood sports. They were simply known as Bulldogs and the sport called Bull Baiting. Bull Baiting was used by butchers at first because the belief was that it made the meat more tender, then it became a sport. They also had bear baiting, boar baiting which came earlier. These were performed by bulldog types and the baited animal was tethered in an open area or arena. They also pitted dogs against monkeys, ducks and men, even lions in those earlier days. (the Complete History of Fighting Dogs)

In early photographs you see, some dogs look like APBTs, some look like American Bulldogs and some look like Mastiff dogs. And there were no "specific" breeds at that time, only dogs that were used for purpose. Fans of the Staffy bull say that those are their breed, same with fans of the AB and fans of the APBT , etc, etc and it is in all likelihood that is the ancestors of those three breeds.

When bull baiting became illegal is when fanciers started turning the dogs towards each other in fighting matches and began specializing a breed that became known as the American Pit Bull Terrier by breeding smaller quicker terrier like dogs instead of the larger bulldog. The dogs are called "pit" bulldogs because the dogs fought in a pit, with spectators. (of course there was also the staffy bull that was also used in dog fighting). It was during this time that the APBT became the APBT.

It is also true that in the beginning of the period where dog fighting rose, the dogs also had no name and had a variety of looks. They were called by names such as the half and half, pit terriers, bull and terriers. As the sport seemed to grow and become more organized in the late 1600 to early 1700s, the photos of the dogs begin to look more standard like the APBT and Staffy bull but you don't see dogs named by breed until 1800s to 1900s. In those early pictures you see dogs named as Staffordshire Pit Terriers or Pit Terriers, or Pit bulldogs.

The American Pit Bull Terrier breed is recognized and registered by the American Dog Breeder’s Association (ADBA) and The United Kennel Club (UKC).

The United Kennel Club was formed in 1898 by Chanucy Bennet for the sole purpose of registering "Pit Bull Terriers" to track "fighting dogs". After the APBT, a few different hunting breeds, most notably many of the coonhounds, were recognized.

The American Staffordshire Terrier is an AKC construction which used the APBT (actually a Colby bred APBT named Primo was used) as a guide and they became registerable in 1936. The very first dog registered was a pit bull by the name of Wheeler's Black Dinah and several Colby pit bulls were dual registered as both the Am Staff and the APBT, even Petey the Pit Bull from the lil Rascals Comedies had a name in the Am Staff record books. Colby dual registered his dogs for a few generations and then went back exclusively to the APBT with the ADBA registry. Any pit bull dog in those days that matched the breed standard as written was allowed to be registered with the AKC for that period when books were first opened, then the stud books were closed and no more "outsiders" were allowed. (Colby's book of the American Pit Bull Terrier)

If They Are So Great? then, what's the fuss?

It's very important that today's Pit Bull owners understand the characteristics that have been ingrained in this breed by selective breeding. Contrary to popular belief, the Pit Bull’s original purpose was not to be aggressive towards humans or to be a guard dog of any kind.

*WOW - Click the picture*

A certain amount of aggression or intolerance to other dogs (especially same sex dogs) is to be expected with this breed. Dog aggression can not be easily trained or loved out of these dogs, nor does early socialization guarantee the dog will always get along with other animals. Diligent training, monitoring and responsibility can control dog aggression (but only while the handler is present). Dog fighting is very unpleasant topic, but it is important to understanding this breed and the special traits that have been included and why it requires responsible, vigilant ownership. Pit Bulls have been selectively bred for hundreds of years to fight other dogs. To ignore this would be negligent.

Where can I find more information?

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Pit Bulls on the Web

PBRC

Pit Bull Press

The Real Pit Bull

Working Pit Bull