Welcome to our blog post, where we invite you on a journey to unravel the truth about the American Pit Bull Terrier. This breed has often faced unfair judgments and misconceptions due to its intricate past. Together, let’s explore the origins of this remarkable breed, uncover its historical and present-day roles, and shine a light on the ongoing efforts to change public perception. By delving into these topics, we aim to foster a deeper understanding and appreciation for the American Pit Bull Terrier, revealing its true nature and potential that goes far beyond the common misconceptions. So, come along, and let’s discover the real story behind this fascinating breed.
If you want to know other details about the history of the Pitbull, its ancestors, and its evolution, among other interesting data… keep reading below.
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Unveiling the Origins: Tracing the Birth of the Pitbull Breed
Let’s embark on a fascinating journey into the world of “pit bulls,” a term that encompasses a group of breeds sharing similar characteristics rather than referring to a specific breed itself. Among these breeds are the American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier (Amstaff), Staffordshire Bull Terrier, and occasionally the Bull Terrier, American Bully, and American Bulldog.
The roots of pit bulls can be traced back to the early 19th century across England, Ireland, and Scotland. They were created by breeding the ancient English bulldog, a breed that had become famous for its involvement in a contentious blood sport called “bull baiting.”
After bull baiting was outlawed in 1835, new secretive activities arose, like rat hunting and dog fighting, which were easier to hide. These endeavors required dogs that were agile and quick, leading breeders to mix bulldogs with terriers. As a result, the first pit bull came into existence, possessing an extraordinary combination of agility, speed, determination, and strength.
These remarkable qualities made pit bulls perfect contenders for secret blood sports competitions, where they would go head-to-head with other formidable opponents, displaying their unbeatable strength.
Did you know…? During the rat hunt, the dogs were released into a kind of pit or hole in order to chase and kill the rats, which had no way of escaping. Precisely, this type of practice gave rise to the name “pit bull “, since the term pit in English means well or pit.
What was the origin of the American Pit Bull?
The first pit bulls came to the United States through the settlement of European immigrants in the lands of the New World. Here they were also used as fighting dogs, especially during a period when these fights were a legal and quite popular activity.
Many wealthy people and prominent politicians used to visit the fighting rings, betting large sums of money on their dogs.
However, a breed with so many talents did not go unnoticed in the eyes of farmers and ranchers, who began using the Pit Bull Terrier as a catch, hunting, and herding dog. He was an excellent companion for driving cattle, hunting wild pigs and bears, guarding property against trespassers, as well as being kind to the family.
The American Pit Bull could do it all, from playing with children to serving in the military.
In keeping with the “bigger is better” mentality of the emerging country, the colonists wanted to develop a dog larger than the English pit bull. In 1898, this new specimen was named the American Pitbull Terrier by the United Kennel Club (UKC).
Later, in the 1930s, the American Kennel Club (AKC) decided to recognize the breed, but under a new name. The intention was to separate her from her past as a fighting dog, hence the name American Staffordshire Terrier.
Since then, the American Staffordshire Terrier has been bred to AKC standards, but ironically the American Pit Bull has never been recognized by this organization. The differences between both dogs are very slight, with some variations in structure and personality.
Currently, the American Kennel Club does not recognize the American Pit Bull Terrier as a breed.4
Other interesting facts about the Pitbulls history
Different types
The evolution of this breed gave rise to two main types of pit bulls: the red-nose pitbull and the blue-nose pitbull. As its name indicates, each type has the nose of the color in question, but that is not the only difference; Pit bulls’ appearance can also vary in other characteristics.
For example, the coat color of the Blue-Nosed Pit Bull is usually in the range of grays and light tans, while the Red-Nosed Pit Bull has a darker coat, somewhere between brown and red.
Recommended: 5+ Pitbull Types – Type of Dog or Breed?
Kind ancestor
Despite the violent and bloodthirsty reputation pit bulls still have, there is evidence that domestic dog lines already ran in their genetics.
It is said that the bulldog, from which the aggressive temperament of the pit bull was derived, was also used as a guard and companion dog.
This is demonstrated by several works of art, with some dating as far back as the 1500s. A very famous painting from 1817, titled Crib and Rose, shows the old English bulldog, now extinct, which gave rise to the pit bull.
It is said that when handlers entered the fighting ring to separate the dogs, they wanted to be able to do so without getting bitten or injured in the process. This meant that very soon the first breeders tried to enhance the traits of friendliness and familiarity towards humans, without losing the protective instinct and strength that characterized the new breed.
