American Pit Bull Terrier Information & Dog Breed Facts

Pitbull-type of breeds were developed in England during the 1800s, mostly by mixing the Old English Terriers with Old English Bulldogs. Breeders sought after creating a breed that has the drive and gameness of a Terrier but also has the resistance, strength, and robust physique of a Bulldog. The reason behind the breeders’ intention was the bull and bear-baiting dog fights in pits. Fortunately, this cruel “sport” was legally banned in most parts of the world, including England in 1835, with the creation of new animal welfare and care laws. Consequently, more dangerous, illegal dog fighting grew, and the ultimate losers were the Pitbulls because selective breeding had begun in order to make the dogs more aggressive, deadly, and more willing to fight.

During the mass migration of Europeans to the United States, immigrants brought their dogs with them, including the Pitbull breeds. Soon, the dogs started to perform other tasks besides fighting, like catching wild cattle and controlling the vermin and rodent population on farms and ranches. They quickly gained the trust of people, so more and more were kept just as companions and guard dogs of people and property. Later, as their popularity grew, settlers started to breed their dogs, in order to make them bigger in size than its ancestor in England. Very early on, in 1898, they succeeded, and his new, bigger breed, called the American Pit Bull Terrier was recognized by the UKC (United Kennel Club). The AKC (American Kennel Club) gave the breed recognition at the beginning of the 1930s, under a new name, in order to separate this new breed from its pit-fighting past. The AKC renamed the breed American Staffordshire Terrier. This might be confusing, because the AKC solely registered them both under the name American Staffordshire Terrier, while the UKC realized that the American Pit Bull Terrier is a completely different breed, even though that they are related, possess different behavioral traits, and conformation.

Another indispensable part of the American Pit Bull Terrier’s genetic makeup is that the dogs are unwilling to bite humans. This trait was developed during their fighting years, for the reason that they would not bite their handlers reaching into the rings. This characteristic helped them a lot to increase popularity, and to be considered nowadays as a good and gentle family-friendly pet. However, in more than 20 countries, including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and most of Europe, there are legal liabilities associated with the ownership of an American Pit Bull Terrier, there usually is breed-specific legislation. The level of seriousness and the type of legislation ranges from complete banning to certain restrictions or conditions of ownership.

Just like with every other Bull-type of breed, proper and early obedience and socialization is a must with the American Pit Bull Terrier, in order to prevent aggressive behaviour. Nowadays, the breed is considered a great and versatile sporting dog in agility, lure coursing, obedience, flyball, and weight pulling. Moreover, many specimens are employed as service dogs for the deaf, as police dogs detecting explosives and narcotics, as search and rescue dogs, as border patrol dogs, and as property or person guarding dogs.