Pit Bull is a term used to describe several breeds of dogs with similar physical characteristics. The American Pit Bull Terrier and the American Staffordshire Terrier commonly fall under the category of "pit bull." There are several other breeds that can fall under the category of pit bull,
including: the Argentine Dogo, the English Bull Terrier, the American Bulldog, and the Perro de Presa Canario. These breeds are usually not included by breed name in any Breed Specific Legislation (see below), but are usually included
because of a broad definition and confusion as to what a pit bull actually is. All of these breeds as well as many others
(including Great Danes, Newfoundlands and Rottweilers) are members of the Molosser family of dog breeds.
American PitBull Terrier ( APBT ) breed History
The history of the PitBull varies depending on the sources you refer to. In fact some sources go so far as to
claim the PitBull is not a pure breed at all. This is an often perpetuated myth by registries that do not support the PitBull
breed and others that do not understand the the PitBulls well established history a a pure breed or what it takes to meet
the standard of a pure breed line.
The PitBull in fact has a lineage that goes back further than most other considered pure breeds
in existance today.
The most reliable history on the beginning development of the PitBull, goes
back to the time of the Romans. During the time of Minos in Crete the sport of bull baiting was quite a popular form of entertainment.
This sport was developed as a part of the worship practice in honor of the warrior god "Mithras".
During this time most dogs were wild and ferocious by nature. As the Roman tribes of the time
conquered and moved across the land they also took the sport with them. Due to the 
selective breeding of the best dogs a distinctive breed began to emerge.
By the 1700's there were two primary bull baitig dogs that had developed. This was the Blue
Poll of Scotland and the Alunt from Ireland both of which were referred to as bulldogs. The Alunt of the time resembled
something closer to a Great Dane but is presumed to have later developed into the Alono of Spain as seen below.
As this and other dog sports were developed people selectively breed different dogs to achieve
the working attributes that they desired. They often mixed these breeds with the great dogs of England also used to bait bulls.
During this time it was thought that the use of the dog on a bull had a tenderizing effect on
the meat. In reality this was a myth perpetuated by dog men and gamblers in order to encourage participation and thus draw
the profits of gambling.
By the time of the early 1800's due to selective breeding a dog had emerged which was very similar
to the American PitBull of today. Due to a slow economy and a law which prohibited people of low economic means from owning
a sporting dog the practice of bull baiting began to diminish.
In 1835 bull baiting was officially banned. This forced people especially of the lower classes
to find alternatives for their dogs. This resulted in a sport known as ratting 
where a number of rats were placed in a pit for a specified time with the dog. THIS IS IN FACT WHERE THE
"PIT" IN THE AMERICAN PitBull TERRIER NAME CAME FROM NOT FROM FIGHTING OTHER DOGS.
A little known fact is that Teddy Roosevelt worked ratting dogs in the basement of the White House.
The terrier part of the name came from its ability to hunt small game and was one of the reasons
why ratters knew these foundation PitBulls being developed during this time would excel in the rat Pit. The larger the number
of kill the better the dog placed in the match.
Due to the constraints of space and the agility of Black & Tan and now extinct White terriers
of England these terriers were often being mixed with the old bull baiting dogs to achieve dogs which were premium for these
purposes.
It is believed that this practice of mixing bulldog's and terriers began in the town of Staffordshire
England and became known as the Staffordshire Bull and Terrier.
Due to the agility and gameness of this newly developed breed many began to also fight dogs
with each other. Soon dog on dog fighting and ratting became so popular that practically all Inns and Pubs were equipped with
a fighting pit.
As colonization of America and Canada began growing immigrants and explorers also brought their
dogs. These dogs soon became known by the current name of "PitBull Terriers"
As time progressed a gentleman by the name Chauncy Bennett founded the UKC in 1898 with the
American PitBull Terrier as its foundation dog breed. This is in fact when the officialization of the American PitBull Terrier
( APBT ) as a breed is recorded.
Due to the protective nature many PitBull owners had at the time of their dogs many refused
to register even though the breed standard had become officialized. Today many PitBull owners still continue not to not register
their dogs due to privacy concerns - especially with rampid Breed Specific Legislation ( BSL )- financial constraints and
subsequent loss of lineage determination.
Today the PitBull breed is in fact the most unregistered pure bred line of dog in existance.
This has fractured supportive services to PitBull owners and over the years has worked to severly diminish the value of the
PitBull breed as a whole.
Here at the American PitBull Registry we seek to turn this trend around and to register peoples
otherwise un-registered American PitBulls and to encourage people with PitBulls registered among other registries to dually
register their Pits with us.
By the time of WWI the American PitBull Terrier had 
became a well loved and desired dog breed of choice. In fact the PitBull was used as America's canine military mascot of the
time as seen in such posters as these during war time.
In 1917 a PitBull by the name of Sgt. Stubby became a war hero for saving several soldiers lives
and even capturing a German Spy while in the trenches of France with the 26th Yankee Division.
Later the PitBull was used to signify sturdiness, dependability, and loyalty by such organizations as RCA, Buster Brown
shoes, and even the loveable Pete of the Little Rascals.
In fact the first dog to travel across America in a car was a PitBull ( Bud ) and did so with
the first persons ( Horatio Jackson and his assistant and "bicycle" mechanic Sewall Crocker ) to cross America in a car (
a Winton named the Vermont). Horatio later donated Bud's goggles to the Smithsonian Institute
in Washington D.C. During the trip Bud would assist in watching for large bumps in the road and often received as much if
not more attention by the press than did Jackson. After the trip was completed Bud bravely guarded the Jackson home until
his death of old age.
To order a film, book, or learn more on this trip click here.
Many a famous people such as Rachel Ray, Ashley Olsen, Pink, Jessica Alba, Jesse James ( West
Coast Choppers) Fred Astaire, President Roosevelt, Jack Dempsy, Thomas Edison, Madonna, Michael J Fox, Brad Pitt, Bernadette
Peters, Sinbad, Alicia Silverstone, Linda Blair, 
Humphrey Bogart, Usher, Mel Brooks, Ann Bancroft, John Stuart, Jan Michael Vincent, Pink (the singer), Kelli Williams (Actress
from The Practice), Ken Howard (Father in Crossing Jordon - his Pit Shadow saved his life), Malcolm Jamal Warner, Stephan
Jenkins, Rosie Perez, Amanda Lewis, Amy Jo Johnson, Mary Tyler Moore, Steve and Terrie Erwin (Crockhunters), 
Jack Johnson (Hawaiian singer), Bill Berloni (Broadway show dog trainer who has said that the Pit is the breed of choice for
training), Anthony Robbins, Molly Price (Actress from Third Watch), President Woodrow Wilson, Frankie Muniz, AJ Mclean, Barbara
Eden, and even Helen Keller have been lucky enough to own this magnificent animal.
Well known sports figures who own PitBulls include: Tennis Star Serena Williams (Bambi), Professional
Basketball Players Desmond Mason (Zane, Capone), Rashard Lewis (Cookie, Angel, Ginger), Amare Stoudemire (JT, Ace, Deuce),
Alton Ford (Mischif, Rosy, Spicey, Diable +3 pups with names unknown), Tamika Dixon and Mo Vaughn.
http://americanpitbullregistry.com/PitBull%20History.htm
