A Breed of Controversy
Simply the name “Pit Bull” causes many to think of a dangerous, uncontrollable dog, however, the American Pit Bull Terrier is only one of many breeds that seem to be identified by the general public as “Pit Bulls”. They are known as a violent breed that attacks people, but this can and is disputed by many American Pit Bull Terrier owners.
it is true that the American Pit Bull Terrier was breed for, and still illegally used for dog fighting. This in part has added to the many “Pit Bull” myths, as well as the fact that whenever a dog attacks a person it is almost always identified as a “Pit Bull”. In many cases it turns out that the attacking dog is not an American Pit Bull Terrier, or any of its close cousins, including the American Staffordshire Terrier and Staffordshire Bull Terrier. Unfortunately the fact remains that this is one of the most commonly used breeds in the United States for illegal fighting and as vicious guard dogs by irresponsible owners. Owners and breeders of the American Pit Bull Terrier insist that they are not human aggressive and make wonderful pets in the right home.
The ancestors of the American Pit Bull Terrier were bull/terrier crosses brought to America from England and Ireland in the 1800s, and were popular for dog fighting. When bred for fighting the breeder wanted strength and canine aggression, however a lack of aggression towards humans was a must. Any dog that showed aggression towards its owner was destroyed. This created the line of dogs we see today, often aggressive towards other dogs, particularly those of the same sex, however lacking aggression towards humans. When dog fighting became illegal many owners wanted to have the breed recognized and distanced from its history for fighting. In 1936 the Staffordshire Terrier was recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC), although at the time they were still one breed. Many breeders disagreed to the name change, or the standards set forth by the AKC, and continued to breed American Pit Bull Terrier, and the confusion towards the breeds still remains.
American Pit Bull Terriers are in truth an affectionate and loyal breed. They are eager to please, and have a great fondness for people and their families. While they are well known for their aggression to other dogs, they get along well with children. American Pit Bull Terriers need a firm hand and obedience training is a must, as they can be a stubborn breed and sometimes difficult for first time owners to handle.
