ThunderStorm's: American Pit Bull Terriers

A brief history of the:  American Pit Bull Terrier

A few hundred years ago the pit bull, as we know it, was two seperate breeds. Actually not just two breeds but two entirely differnt types of dogs! The Bulldog group and the Terrier group. Bulldogs were bred in Europe to take down large animals. Mainly bulls, hence the name bulldog. The sport of "Bull Baiting" and/or "Bear Baiting" was of growing popularity. The process was to put a large animal in a ring against a few dogs. The animal was usually a bull or bear (yes a bear) and was typically free in the ring or cage but sometimes tied down. The "bull"dogs, as they became to be known, would jump and bite ripping the flesh away from the animal.  The sportsmen would watch and gamble to see if the dogs could match the strength of the mighty beast. The dogs would slowly kill the beast bit by bit. The meat of such animals was even considered a delicacy by most all who knew of the sport. They considerd the meat to be healthy and that it gave the consumer a sense of empowerment. Most butchers of that era would not even sell meat that hadn't been "baited."

Well eventually bull baiting became illegal. This created a highly entense, very violent dog with nothing to do. So what would they do with the dogs? Well the dogs were turned on each other by their owners. These early fighting dogs were a bit sluggish after a long bout in the "pit." To overcome the somewhat unremarkable stamina of the dogs, they turned their eyes to other breeds. What they found was a nimble, swift, little dog group called terriers. They found that by breeding the temperment and drive of their bulldogs to the more agile, longer winded terriers they would have a dog who embodied both types of characteristics. They were leaner than their bulldog parents, and much more solid than their terrier parents. They were powerful,agile, and would never stop going, a perfect combination. The enterbreeding of the bulldogs and terriers went on until a few dogs proved themselves in the pit. These bull and terrier mixes were then bred to each other and then to their offspring.  This produced a line of fighters more feirce and more agile than the previous generation. England was where this breed was engineered namely, Stoffordshire. These dogs became what are now referred to as Stafforshire Bull Terriers. These dogs were, and still are, smaller and much more coarse coated (scruffy)  than our  American "PitBulls" .

These dogs were bred to be a feirce competitor in the pit, who never stopped at competing (this is what they call "gameness"). Also when a dog was fought the handeler had to be able to control the dog whenever need be. In doing so the handelers would be able to stop the fight or to get his dog under control after a fight. if a dog ever turned on the handler, the dog would be put down, because the owner felt his own security to be of highest value. This practice weeded out any human aggression in the pit bull. In fact those same fighting dogs were typically friendly to all humans, just not towards other dogs.

The "sport" of dog fighting was quickly spreading throughout Europe and America. The Staffordshire Bull Terriers were imported and fought and the breed was tweeked and refining with each passing generation. The sport was now an American sport. The sportsmen wanted to start proving their dogs ancestry and individuality. In 1989 founder of the UKC C. Z. Bennett registered his own dog "Bennett's Ring", as the first dog to ever be registered in the UKC. Another man behind the plan was guy McCord. He founded the ADBA in 1909. John P Colby (probably the most famous name in all of Pit Bull history) decided to register his dogs in the American Dog Breeders Association. In the 1930's the AKC also decided to add the growing popularity of these dogs, to their registry. Unfortunately they deemed the American Pit Bull Terrier an unsuitable name for their prestigious kennel club. The AKC decided to change the name to The Staffordshire Bull Terrier. They even used a Colby dog "Primo" as their breed standard. Up until the 1960's the UKC, and the occasional ADBA  "APBT" was registerable in the AKC as a "Staffie". In 1972 the AKC then changed the name again to the Amarican Stafforshire Terrier because of the different look that had become of the breed. The new dog was larger heavier bodied and more broad, with a sleeeker coat. This distinguishes it from its ancestor The Staffordshire Bull Terrier. Although an AKC "Am Staff " is still registerable in the UKC as an "APBT", and a UKC dog is registerable in the ADBA, a UKC or ADBA registered "APBT" is not registerable in the AKC as an "Am Staff ." The AKC did this to distinguish "their" dogs as family dogs, not fighters like the infamous "Pit Bull." Even though they are still very closely related, and their charcteristics are basically the same: Both breeds are strong, heavy bodied, agile, and very loyal, loving companions, and never human aggresive. ( The only reason people hear about a "PitBull" biting someone, is because "PitBulls" sell newspapers. The media cant sell "Golden Retriever Bites Child" or "Poodle Turns on Owner." They feel that every time a dog bites someone it is insignifigant, unless it happens to be a "PitBull." Other breeds bite people every day they just don't report it.)

Anyway, the bull and terrier mixes are responsible for more than just the three breeds that we have spoken on so far, The Staffordshire Bull Terrier, The American Pitbull Terrier, and The American Staffordshire Terrier. The three varieties of Bull Terrier were also derived from these dogs. The characteritic elongated nose of these dogs was a defect that wound up being a desired trait for a few breeders in the 1800's. The three varieties are The White Bull Terrier, The Colored Bull Terrier,and The Miniature Bull Terrier. Also a "new" breed called The American Bulldog, is also a derivative of the bull and terrier mixes. The American Bulldog is actually debated upon on how it is supposed to look, some look like a tall pit bull, and some look like a tall bulldog.  Some even say that these are the most pure strain of bulldogs brought over in the early 1800's, and dont have much, if any, terrier in them at all. These dogs were raised primarily throughout the south to be guard dogs and herd dogs on farms. 

And now a new breed is being formed.  It is called The American Bully. The American Bully is being brought to us by the Americn Bully Kennel Club. They believe that the "APBT" and the "AmStaff " are essentially the same breed but have individual characteristics that will blend to form the perfect "American Bully." To form this breed they want to take the look of both dogs while growing on the "sometimes" less dog aggressive tendencies of the "AmStaff ." (My APBT's aren't at all dog aggressive, as are most now days, but i will get on with it.) They allow all AKC "AmStaff's" and UKC "APBT's" to be registered in their kennel club as "American Bully's." By building this "new" breed together,  we can breed out aggression that may still be left over from 100 plus years ago (and present day irresponsible owners), we can ensure that BSL doesn't take over our land.

All of these dogs: The American Pit Bull Terrier, The Staffordshire Bull Terrier, The American Staffordshire Terrier,  The Bull Terrier, The American Bulldog, and The American Bully are all cosidered the "Bully Breeds". The bully breeds are all well built, strong, agile, loyal, and loving companions! It is our duty to make sure that generations to come have the chance to experience the dogs we love.