Pit Bull Dogs - A Brief History of the Breeds

"People don't realize what an amazing dog a pit bull is. In World War One it was one of America's most decorated and beloved dogs. They're very loyal and affectionate. Stella is the gentlest dog, all she wants to do is cuddle."
~Bernadette Peters, singer/actress/pit bull owner

There are several excellent writings already on the web that give concise breed histories relating to the Pit Bull, so we are not going to try and reinvent the wheel. We'll only give some brief background and recommend additional resources to learn more.

The term "Pit Bull" refers to certain breeds of dogs developed from what was referred to as "bulldogs" in England, including the American Pit Bull Terrier (APBT) and the American Staffordshire Bull Terrier (AmStaff), and may also be used to refer to the (English) Staffordshire Bull Terrier (SBT), as well as mixes of these breeds.

The American Pit Bull Terrier is recognized as a breed and registered by the United Kennel Club (UKC). The American Staffordshire Terrier is recognized as a breed and registered by the American Kennel Club (AKC). The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is recognized as a breed and registered by bothe the UKC and the AKC. The AKC considers the Staffordshire Bull Terrer as separate and distinct from the American Pit Bull Terrier, yet the UKC will register both the American Pit Bull Terrier and the Staffordshire Bull Terrier as APBTs. Lucenay's Ptere (Petie from the Our Gang series) was the first dual registered APBT/SBT. All in all, with the exception of some differences in breed standards, all three of the breeds are basically the same dog.

The Pit Bull was used to represent the US in WWI artwork; popular companies like RCA and the Buster Brown Shoe Company used the breed as their mascots. A Pit Bull named Petie starred in the popular children's television series, Our Gang; a Pit Bull mix named Stubby became a decorated WWI hero. Pit Bulls accompanied poineer families on their explorations. Laura Ingalls Wilder of the popular Little House books owned a working Pit Bull dog named Jack.

Famous individuals such as Theodore Roosevelt and Helen Keller owned Pit Bulls. It was during this time that the Pit Bull truly became America's sweetheart breed, admired, respected and loved. Pit bulls have long been considered to be an ideal family pet and are recommended to this day by the American Kennel Club as an especially good dog for children. In fact, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier is known throughout Great Britain as the "nanny dog" because they are so good with children.

The Pit Bull is a marvelous working and companion dog. Pit Bulls are employed as police and armed services dogs, search and rescuers, therapy animals, and livestock workers. They compete in all manner of organized dog sports, from herding to agility to conformation to obedience as well as Schutzhund and French Ring. They make loving pets for children and seniors, and everyone in between. They are indeed one of the most versatile breeds on the planet - a strong, healthy, stable animal, one anyone should be proud to claim as a companion.