Pit Bull History

The American Pit Bull Terrier: From nanny dog to neighborhood nightmare

Once called "America's dog", the pit bull is not really a pit bull; that's just a nickname. The American Pit Bull Terrier, or American Staffordshire Terrier, has a long history in the United States. The United Kennel Club first recognized it as a breed in 1898. They were bred to be athletes and loyal family companions as they were once known as 'Nanny dogs' -- a breed that cohabited well with children, according to pit bull owners.

It is this athleticism that has gotten the breed into some trouble . Many pit bulls have either been trained to attack or abused so horribly that they resort to using their physical strength.

The need for a new environment

Michael Girvin, a dog trainer at the Bull Run Rescue in Easton, sees the breed a little differently.

Bull Run Rescue, which started in 2010, is a work in progress and a part time venture, but since they started last year they have rescued approximately 20-25 pit bulls and other bully breeds facing possible euthanasia. Their mission is to take dogs on death row from shelters and rehabilitate them.

Girvin goes to the shelters to evaluate the dogs looking specifically for temperament- how they react to people, strangers and other dogs. He also looks to see if they show signs of avoidance.

Recently, a Bethlehem man turned his pit bull loose on his wife and brother-in-law, and an unidentified Bethlehem police officer was forced to shoot and kill the dog, as reported by The Express-Times. It is this kind of story that people associate with the breed. It is from attacks like this that people develop a fear of aggression in pit bulls.

Jessica Lucas, Director of Bethlehem's Environmental Health Bureau says however, that there is not a breed specific problem in the area. "There is a high frequency of pit bulls (living) in the area... but this is not higher than the average amount for a city."

According to Lucas, the bureau frequently reviews their numbers, but the high population hasn't led to an increase in pit bull bites or attacks, in comparison to other cities.

For unprovoked attacks or bites The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture's Dog Law Enforcement Bureau requires residents to register their dogs on a Dangerous Dog list if they have been deemed dangerous by a court judge. The bureau's definition of a dangerous dog is "one that has attacked, inflicted severe injury to, or killed a human being or a domestic animal without provocation while off an owner's property.

Video: The History of the Pit Bull | Seattle DogSpot

Here’s a great video from the creator of  The Dog Files about the history of the pit bull.

I’ve been working on Pit Proud: The History Of The Pit Bull for well over a year. But I believe that every second that went into it was worth it, because I knew then and I know now that Pit Proud is the single, most important Dog Files Episode yet.

It’s the story of what I believe to be, the most maligned and abused animal on Planet Earth.

The Pit Bull.

A dog that the media has made out to be the “great white shark” of the land. A monster waiting to jump out of the shadows and attack your children.

But you know what I’ve found out over the course of researching, writing and crafting this episode?

Pit Bulls… are just dogs. No more, no less.

And like all dogs, they are individuals with individual personalities and temperaments. But because of their intense loyalty and strong form, the pit bull has been singled out amongst lesser men to abuse and kill for their small-minded, cruel entertainment.

You see, the pit bull problem isn’t the dogs, by any means.

The pit bull problem is people.

The people that want to fight them. The people who want them so they feel tougher when they walk down the street. The people that keep them tied up in chains. The people who go about their days and weeks and months and years while ignoring the extremely social animal that’s locked up in their basement.

These are the irresponsible owners that should never own ANY dog. And these are the people that we should always have on our radar.

And the abused dogs?

Well, if the Vick case taught us anything, it’s that even fight dogs, when given a chance, would rather curl up on the couch next to it’s loving human.

And that says it all to me. Pit Bulls are dogs. Dogs are as individual as any human. And like humans, they shouldn’t be painted with a wide brush.

Unless that wide brush has peanut butter on it. I hear pit’s LOVE peanut butter.

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