History of APBT

Much of dog history is speculation, and quite akin to the piecing together
of puzzles. Because of this, opinions vary about exact details of breed
origin. We are fortunate in that the American Pit Bull Terrier, and its chief
ancestor the bulldog, have a fairly well-documented history. Even so,
debate occurs when trying to establish something as simple as whether or
not the Pit Bull is the original bulldog, or whether it is, as popular
short-histories insist, a 50/50 cross between the brachycephalic bulldog of
England (the ancestor of the modern day AKC Bulldog) and now-extinct
hunting terriers. Part of the reason for the confusion lies in the fact that
until very recently, many dogs were classified and named according to
general appearance and job function, not so much by "breed". Historically,
the words "terrier" and "bulldog" were used quite frequently, but had
ambiguous meanings. This makes it especially difficult to trace the Pit
Bull's exact ancestry. Bulldogs and terriers are mentioned in the breed's
history, but WHICH bulldogs and terriers should we be considering?

Presented here is a well-researched document on the history of the breed,
along with bibliography to enable easy research for the interested reader.
The reader is encouraged to further study the history of this most
fascinating breed, for in its history lies the essence of the animal-- an
understanding of its history will give one an understanding of the breed.

This is the APBT/Richard Stratton

Evolution of the Bulldog/VH Ross

A New Look at the contribution of the eastern brachycephalic breeds to
"bull breed" history/ Carl Semencic with Don Fiorino ("Dog World"
magazine, March, 1984)

Bulldog History/John Kragenskjold

As far back as one cares to go in recorded history, one will find reference in both word and art of molossoid
dogs that were used for fighting, hunting, and war. There were different "types" of molossi, spread about the
world, used for similar functions and these dogs evolved into our modern day mastiff and bulldog breeds. It is
unknown if these types sprang up individually, or from one main ancestor. Some believe that this type of dog
originally came from an area close to China.

British Chief Caractacus was defeated by Emperor Claudius of the Roman Empire in 50 AD. The Romans were so
impressed by the fierce fighting dogs they met when they landed in Britain that they began importing the dogs
back to Rome for use in the great arena, along with the animals they already possessed for such uses. It seems
reasonable to assume that the British dogs were at some points crossed into the Roman dogs. Ancestors of
these dogs were exported to all parts of the continent, including France and to Spain where they became
renowned fighting dogs. Later some of these dogs found their way back to Britain. A variety of breeds of
mastiff/bulldog type were scattered about, and most likely contributed to the creation of the bulldog that was to
be one of the main ingredients used in the development of the Pit Bull.

Circa 1406 Edmond de Langley, Duke of York, wrote a treatise entitled "The Mayster of the Game and of Hawks"
in which he described the "Alaunt" or "Allen" dog (a descendant of the ancient molossoid dogs), which was the
popular baiting dog of the time because of its tenaciousness and strength. In a 1585 painting, dogs described
as Alaunts that look very similar to modern day Pit Bulls, only of a larger size, are shown hunting wild hogs.

The name "bulldog" was first mentioned in print in 1631. Later, dogs described as bulldogs were used to bait
bull and bear. These bulldogs are most assuredly the descendants of the Alaunt. A letter written in Spain in 1632
by an Englishman named Prestwich Eaton to his friend George Wellingham who was in London, asked for a
"good mastiff dog and two bulldogs." This gives indication that a split had occurred and the bulldog had already
formed into a distinct type by this time.

By viewing art, we can see two distinct types of bulldog-like dogs. Some are more low-slung, with undershot
jaws, heavier-boned, and broader. It is to be assumed that this is the prototype from which the modern-day AKC
English Bulldog was drawn upon, having been created by the crossing of the Alaunt with a Chinese
brachycephalic breed Pai Dog. However, also to be noted are bulldogs in art that are strikingly similar to modern
day Pit Bulls, with less-exaggerated features, normal bites, and longer legs. Might these be the main ancestors
of the current day Pit Bull? It would seem likely. It must be noted that "bulldogs" at this time were not dogs of
any particular strain or breed, but rather a type of dog with certain traits that was used for certain things. Dogs
which possessed more Pit Bull-like features went on to become the Pit Bull breed, while the more "bulldoggy"
bulldogs were used in creation of the brachycephalic breeds (English Bulldogs, French Bulldogs, etc).

Bulldogs were used for all manner of work, including baiting, fighting, stock work, hunting, and farm dog. They
were an agreeable animal, capable of extreme ferociousness but unwavering loyalty and gentleness towards
humans. They were an animal-aggressive breed, but were routinely used in pairs to bait animals and hunt, so
overt aggression towards others of their same species was not an extreme trait.

In 1835, a law was set in motion that would make the sport of baiting illegal, and over the next few years, the
activity eventually died down upon enforcement of the law. The people turned to another blood sport-- that of
dog fighting, and of course people looked to the bulldog as the likely choice for use in the fights. Selective
breeding produced a bulldog with heightened dog-aggression, smaller size, and greater agility for performance
in a pit that was decidedly smaller than the large areas that baits were typically held in. Hardy, scrappy sporting
terriers were crossed into some of the fighting bulldogs to further enhance these traits. The crosses were
called bull-and-terriers, half-and-half's, and pit terriers. It is considered general knowledge that these crosses
were the first Pit Bulls, however there is some speculation as to whether or not the history of these crosses is
that of our Pit Bulls, or rather a history "borrowed" from the Bull Terrier, which is a documented bulldog/terrier
fighting dog cross. Some students of Pit Bull history believe that the Pit Bull is practically a living replica of the
old-time bulldog, and that during this time the bulldog was refined as a fighting dog ‘as is’, without any
crossbreeding. The question presented is this: why would the devotees of the already extremely game bulldog
dilute the blood of the perfect fighting dog with non-game terriers? The typical argument is that the terrier
blood increased agility and decreased size. However, the jobs the bulldog was typically required to perform
would have demanded agility and the ability to avoid the antics of an enraged bull. As already pointed out,
bulldogs came in a variety of sizes and shapes, so breeding down the size to be more compatible with the pit
would not have been a difficult task, even without looking outside the gene pool. Examining works of art from
all points in history, one will discover dogs that look remarkably similar to today's Pit Bull. It is the opinion of the
author, however, that, while the APBT is probably made up mostly of old bulldog blood, at least some terrier
blood *was* indeed introduced, if only by virtue of the fact that quite a bit of cross-breeding went on among the
game dog fanciers of the time who were not so much interested in purebred dogs as they were in dogs with
fighting ability, and would therefore breed accordingly to dogs that were game, regardless of pedigree.

The breed known as the American Pit Bull Terrier was selectively bred specifically with the idea of it becoming
the ultimate canine gladiator. But by virtue of the fact that so much of the breed was made up of versatile
bulldog blood, the breed also proved adept at a number of non-fighting activities, including those which the
bulldog had been used for. Also, the traits (specifically gameness) bred for in pit dogs were surprisingly
relevant in other arenas. Gameness is defined as the willingness to see a task through to its end, even under
penalty of serious injury or death. Gameness was the trait most cherished in a fighting dog for obvious reasons,
however this same trait proved useful in other areas-- a dog who had the tenacity to hold a wild bull or boar,
steadfastness to protect his master's home and property, and extreme tolerance for pain which made for a very
stable dog less likely to bite out of fear or pain was terribly useful in rural old England. So while a core group of
fanciers focused on the fighting uses of the breed, and bred with the pit in mind, still others kept dogs for
bulldoggy tasks.

Pit Bulls were imported to America shortly before the Civil War, and used in much the same manner as they
were back in England. But in the USA the breed solidified and was named--the American Pit Bull Terrier. Strains
of the fighting dog that remained in England later came to be known as Staffordshire Bull Terriers. There is
speculation as to how closely related the Stafford and Pit Bull are as a breed, but the most convincing case is
made up of claims that they are a similar breed, developed during the same time, made up of similar but
separate strains of bulldog and terrier blood. Cousins, but not brothers. The Staffordshire Bull Terrier became
recognized as a breed by the English dog registry, the Kennel Club, in 1935.

In America, the Pit Bull flourished. It was one of the most popular breeds, highly prized by a wide variety of
people. The Pit Bull was used to represent the US in WW1 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 WW1 hero. Pit Bulls accompanied
pioneer families on their explorations. Laura Ingalls Wilder of the popular Little House books owned a working
Pit Bulldog named Jack. Famous individuals like Theodore Roosevelt and Helen Keller owned the breed. It was
during this time that the Pit Bull truly became America’s sweetheart breed, admired, respected and loved.



In 1898 the United Kennel Club was formed with the express intent of providing registration and fighting
guidelines for the now officially-named American Pit Bull Terrier. Later, those who wished to distance
themselves from the fighting aspect of the breed petitioned the American Kennel Club for recognition of the Pit
Bull so that it would be eligible for dog shows and other performance events. The AKC conceded in 1936 but
only under the stipulation that the dogs registered with them be called "Staffordshire Terriers", the name of the
province in England the breed supposedly originated in. Upon acceptance of the breed, many people dual-
registered their dogs with both the AKC and the UKC. Lucenay's Peter (the dog that starred in the Our Gang
series) was the first dual-registered Pit Bull/Staffordshire Terrier. The UKC evolved, eventually beginning to
register other working-type breeds, and later holding shows similar to those of the AKC. Currently, the UKC is
the second largest purebred dog registry in the United States, complete with strict bylaws that ban anyone who
is convicted of dog fighting. The American Dog Breeders Association was formed in 1909 because of certain
fanciers' opinions that the UKC was not doing it's job protecting and preserving the Pit Bull breed as they felt it
should be preserved. The ADBA's goal is the same now that it was then: to register, promote and preserve the
original American Pit Bull Terrier fighting-type dog.

The AKC eventually closed it's studbooks to American Pit Bull Terriers. They allowed registration only to those
dogs with parents registered as Staffordshire Terriers. For a short period in the 1970's, the AKC reopened its
studbooks to American Pit Bull Terriers. In 1973 the AKC added the prefix "American" to the breed's name in an
effort to distinguish it from the newly recognized Staffordshire Bull Terrier. Today, only those dogs with AmStaff
parents are eligible for registration. Both the UKC and the ADBA allow registration of AmStaffs, but in these
organizations the dogs carry the original name, "American Pit Bull Terrier."

Today the Pit Bull has evolved into a marvelous working and companion dog, used for purposes as varied as
those it originally performed. Pit Bulls are employed as police/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 and the bite sports like Schutzhund and French Ring. They make loving
pets for children and seniors, and everyone in between. The are indeed one of the most versatile breeds on
the planet. Much of this is owed to the activities it once performed. The harshness and physical demands of the
activities molded a strong, healthy, stable animal, one anyone should be proud to own.




 

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