There is a lot of confusion surrounding Pit Bull dog breeds. In fact, the pit bull isn’t even a type of breed, instead being an umbrella term for a range of dog breeds. These breeds share various origins, appearances, and temperaments, so are often known collectively as pit bulls.
Furthermore, some Pit Bull dog breeds are only recognized by certain Kennel Clubs, only adding the confusion surrounding these breeds. For example, the American Bully is considered a Pit Bull dog by the United Kennel Club (UKC). However, this Pit Bull breed is not recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC)
Additionally, some dogs that have Pit Bull characteristics are mistakenly identified as such, only further adding to the confusion. Some dogs are called Pit Bulls when they’re a totally different breed!
This guide aims to clear all the confusion surrounding Pit Bull dog breeds!
Where do Pit Bull Dogs Originate From?
Pit Bull dog breeds dogs trace their origins to 18th century Great Britain.
Pit Bulls are descendants of the English Terrier and English Bulldog breeds, both native to the UK. The Terrier is known for is speed and agility, while the Bulldog is known for its power and strength.
So, when bred together, the resulting breed was an incredibly fast and powerful fighting dog, later known as the Pit Bull.
The original Pit Bulls were first used for bullbaiting, a type of blood sport where dogs fought bulls. After this was banned, Pit Bulls were used for dog fighting, another cruel blood sport that was also eventually banned.
After dog fighting was banned, most of these dogs were taken to the US, where dogfighting remained legal. These dogs were then further bred by American dog fighters, developing into much larger and more muscular Pit Bull dogs.
These are where today’s Pit Bull breeds come from, including the American Pit Bull Terrier and American Staffordshire Bull Terrier.
Do Pit Bull Dogs Make for Good Pets?
Unfortunately, Pit Bulls have a reputation for being aggressive dogs that aren’t great pets.
However, this reputation is mostly unfair, as Pit Bulls are great pets, providing they receive appropriate care, training, and socializing.
The Pit Bull’s aggressive reputation comes from its dog fighting origins. As explained above, they were bred as fighting dogs, so had to be aggressive and vicious to other animals.
However, they were also trained to be very disciplined towards humans, stopping their attacks on command. Plus, when they weren’t fighting, they were often bonding with their owners. Once dog fighting was banned, their main role was as companion dogs, while some worked, such on farms.
As a result, Pit Bulls are exceptionally loyal and affectionate dogs, Furthermore, because dog fighting has been banned for so long, most Pit Bulls are bred from companion dogs. This results in kind, caring, and loving Pit Bull breeds that are great pets.
Yes, some do show aggressive behaviours, although these are usually avoidable through proper training and socializing from a young age.
They are loving and loyal, enjoying plenty of attention and playtime. Despite their negative reputation, most Pit Bulls are incredibly gentle, showing no signs of aggression.
So, in most instances, a Pit Bull is a fantastic pet dog!
Looking for more information about each type of Pit Bull breed? Here are five of the main Pit Bull dog breeds:
American Pit Bull Terrier
The American Pit Bull Terrier is the only dog breed that is officially recognized as a Pit Bull.
Oddly enough, the American Pit Bull is native to the UK rather than the USA.
They were bred in the US and then exported to the UK, being named the American Pit Bull Terrier. In the UK, they’re one of the most popular pets,
Furthermore, the American Pit Bull Terrier is only recognized by the United Kennel Club in the UK. The breed is still not recognized by the American Kennel Club, although it is considered purebred in the UK.
The American Bull Pit Bull Terrier traces its origins to the Terriers and Bulldogs used for dogfighting in the UK. After dog fighting was banned in the UK, American dogfighting breeders continued to use crossbreeds from Bulldogs and Terriers.
Thankfully, dogfighting was eventually banned in the US, leading the American Pit Bull Terrier to become a companion pet.
Today, the American Pit Bull Terrier is a kind and caring dog that shares a strong bond with its family. Most of the aggressive nature is bred from these dogs, although some do retain a strong prey drive.
Therefore, they can be aggressive towards other animals, so socializing and proper training are important.
American Staffordshire Terrier
The American Staffordshire Terrier and American Pit Bull Terrier were considered the same breed for several decades.
Their name comes from the fact that the American Kennel Club decided to recognize the American Pit Bull Terrier. Instead of using the same name as the United Kennel Club, they opted to rename the breed the American Staffordshire Terrier.
The reason the AKC changed the name of the breed was to stop it from being associated with dogfighting.
So, the breed has similar origins as the American Pit Bull Terrier, coming from Terrier and Bulldog breeds.
Like the American Pit Bull Terrier, it was also used for dogfighting. However, the breed did quickly become a companion dog, becoming far less used for dogfighting than the American Pit Bull Terrier.
Because of this, modern American Staffordshire Terriers are wonderful pet dogs!
They are kind and loyal to their family, with lots of energy and character. With some socialization, they’re also very friendly, even to other people. Some are aggressive to dogs, but socializing does help with this.
Their energetic and playful nature means the breed is best suited for families with an active lifestyle.
Staffordshire Bull Terrier
The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is another Pit Bull dog breed from the UK.
Like the above Pit Bull dog breeds, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier comes from the Bulldog and Terrier, both native to Great Britain.
After dog fighting was banned in the 18th and 19th centuries, most of the leftover dogs were taken to the US. Here, they into the American Pit Bull Terrier and American Staffordshire Terrier. The Staffordshire Bull Terrier developed from the dogs that remained in the UK.
Because dog fighting was banned for much longer in the UK, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier was mainly a companion dog. As a result, they’ve had their aggressive nature removed through many years of breeding.
Staffordshire Bull Terriers are a great family dog, being playful but also gentle around children.
They are still quite stocky in size, so it’s important to handle them properly around younger children. The dog breed is incredibly loyal and affectionate, although does require lots of attention too.
Because they love people so much, they don’t always get on with other dogs.
American Bulldog
As the name suggests, the American Bulldog originates from the English Bulldog. While the English Bulldog was bred for bullbaiting, the American Bulldog was mostly a working dog, due to its strength and bravery.
American Bulldogs are also great companions, being fiercely loyal to their families. However, their love for their family does mean they often suffer from bad separation anxiety.
So, it’s important to not leave an American Bulldog alone for too long, so they’re best suited for larger families. They are also incredibly affectionate, being great around children – just be mindful of their larger size!
Additionally, because the breed is so protective of their family, they may show aggression towards other people. Thankfully, this is mostly avoidable with enough socialization and training from a young age.
American Bully
While most of the Pit Bull type breeds featured on this list are older breeds, the American Bully is relatively newer. The American Bully first emerged sometime between the 1980s and 1990s, although its origins remain a mystery.
The breed is only recognized by the United Kennel Club, with the American Kennel Club not yet recognizing the breed.
Most assume that the American Bully comes from the American Pit Bull Terrier and other Pit Bull breeds. Again, nobody knows for sure where the bred originally comes from.
The American Bully has a more distinct shape than the American Pit Bull Terrier. For example, its head and body are much wider, while also being more compact than the American Pit Bull Terrier.
Their strong, robust build means they require a lot of exercises, so they’re best suited for active families. They’re a kind, affectionate Pit Bull breed
Conclusion
Not only is there a not lot of confusion surrounding Pit Bull dog breeds, but also many misconceptions. They are mistaken as a vicious dog breed that is too dangerous to own as a pet. This is simply untrue, as Pit Bull breeds show various traits of a great companion, including loyalty and affection.
Providing they receive proper training and socializing, and have a suitable living environment, Pit Bulls are a great pet to own.
Of course, finding the right Pit Bull dog is difficult, especially considering many people have different definitions of Pit Bull. All the dogs featured in the above list are considered Pit Bulls by most, each one making a great pet!