TheSmartCanine.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. In actuality, it’s more of a label or term that describes the group of “bully breeds.” These dogs include the Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier and the American Bulldog. With the proper obedience training and socialization, Pit Bulls make wonderful family dogs. The role of the Pit Bull completely changed when the British brought their Pits over to America.  =  The breed is not for everyone, but for those willing to work a little harder in training and socializing, Pit Bulls make excellent pets. However, many pit bull enthusiasts believe the origins of the breed can be traced back to antiquity and the Molossian family of dogs. In 1987, Time Magazine ran a cover story entitled “The Pit Bull Friend and Killer.” This caused the Pit Bull to be feared by the general public, which led to many abandoned in shelters. These jobs could range from retrieving birds, to hunting, companionship (lap dogs), or herding livestock. They were bred selectively and culled if they showed characteristics that were unfavorable. The Molossian family of dogs bears the name of the people with whom they were most often associated - the Molossi tribe, a group of people who lived in ancient Greece and favored the use of robust, muscular dogs in warfare. Some sources suggest it is not appropriate to speak of Pit Bull breeds. As a result, they’re still viewed as aggressive dogs to those unfamiliar with the breed. While the pit bull does indeed possess a feisty and spirited character, the history of the breed reveals a much more complex tapestry of temperament and personality. There was an increase in demand for these dogs and, as many of the breeders were breeding them illegally, there was not much concern for the breeding of social dogs with good temperaments. Bulldogs were first mentioned by name in 1631, referring to their function rather than a distinct dog breed. There is a lot more positive press these days regarding Pit Bulls and Pit Bull-type dogs. This was for pure entertainment and nothing more. Chad also covers the history of the breed, the myths and undeserved dark clouds surrounding the breed and much more. The Pit Bull technically isn’t a dog breed, per se. History of the Pitbull – a mixed breed dog. Thanks for your comment, Carlos. With me, he’ll be careless and run into things when he’s excited. The American Bully breed developed as a natural extension of the American Pit Bull Terrier. This act forbade blood sports like bear and bull baiting. These cookies are strictly necessary for the site to function. He also talks about Pitbull breeding and how to choose the right breeder. The registry’s first member was the American Pit Bull Terrier. These dogs also had a wide skull, stocky frame and muscular build. The rise of illegal dogfighting, unfortunately, meant that criminals sought out Pit Bulls for breeding in order to run illegal dogfights. Obviously, there was probably some Pit Bull fighting still going on behind closed doors but generally speaking, these dogs were bred as loyal and loving family pets or for hunting, herding and guarding. In 1936, the AKC decided to recognize the Pit Bull if it underwent a name change eliminating ‘Pit.’ Fifty Staffordshire Terriers were accepted into the AKC; in 1972, the name was changed to the American Staffordshire Terrier in order to distinguish the breed from the Staffordshire Bull Terrier. Because dog fighting is illegal, the American Kennel Club could not register a breed that was formed around dog fighting. Still, these dogs are notorious for attacking humans because of negligence and bad training of the owners. Pit Bull Fact: While it is true that the term Pit came from placing breeds of certain types into a literal Pit for sport the sport the "Pit" actually got its name from was however was "Ratting" where rats were thrown in a literal "Pit" along with a dog to see how many rats the dog could kill. When people began to realize that this dog could still be the friendly companion it once was, they became popular dogs once again. Dogs that are well-bred will have behavioral tendencies that favor the learning of the role they are to perform. These matches were held for the entertainment of the struggling classes; a source of relief from the tedium of hardship. }. If you didn’t already know, Pit Bulls are the result of crossbreeding bulldogs with various terrier breeds. Those 50 Pit Bulls were originally UKC registered, but re-registered as American Staffordshire Terriers with the AKC, creating dogs that had dual registered registries. This was when the first “official” Pit Bull Terriers came about. It was not uncommon for weak dogs or dogs who were thought of as unreliable to be put down by their handlers. Historically, "pit bull" was an informal and slang term that was used to describe any dog that was used for the cruel sport of bull-baiting - using dogs (of any breed) to seize tethered animals such as bulls within an enclosed area called a "pit" (thus the term "pit bull"). They’re most commonly used as guard dogs, watch dogs or companions, but also serve many other purposes. Pit Bulls continued to be bred after the wars and were finally viewed in a similar way to other breeds of dogs for the first time. The United Kennel Club (UKC) was created in 1898 in response to the AKC’s restrictions on certain dog breeds. There’s a lot of controversy about these dogs and some confusion about what a Pitbull is. So, what were Pit Bulls bred to do? The history of pit bulls back to 1800s in the United Kingdom. I’m fortunate to have grown with the best dogman which know about the Real American Pitbull Terrier than you would ever accumulate in your lifetime. This sport, along with other baiting sports, was outlawed in 1835 and so a new sick sport came of interest. So, their long history and origins actually start with the bulldog. The result of this genealogical history is manifested in certain shared physical characteristics and behavior. In fact, these organizations still continue to help these dogs today.  +  Like many modern breeds, it is impossible to be completely sure of the details of the American Pit Bull Terrier’s long history. One thing that pitbull history has taught us that pitbulls are loyal to a fault. So, have a look at the full review or order right now. 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