American Pit-Bull Terriers

Introduction

The American pit bull terrier breed is a well-muscled canine that has a thick neck and and a large head. This particular breed is known for its persistence, strength, and loyalty to masters. The American pit bull terrier is often referred to as a pit bull, but can be incorrectly classified with other terriers by major kennel clubs. In fact, the American pit bull terrier and the American Staffordshire terrier should be classified as bull and terrier breeds. They are also closely related to bulldogs in terms of their behavior and working abilities.

In the past, the pit bull was one of the most trusted companions and was loved by most people (Capp pp.25-30). In England, where the breed is no longer allowed, the pit bull was also considered one of the safest dogs to have around children. Unfortunately, negative attention has been given to this breed in the past several years. There are two groups to blame for these negative events. One group is the media, who report attacks in the most sensational way possible. The other group that needs to shoulder some of the blame is dog breeders who overbreed their dogs, resulting in high levels of aggression. Owners who train their dogs harshly or who encourage aggressive behavior can also be blamed for negative attention on the pit bull breed.

Thesis statement: Adult pit bulls may become agressive with other dogs without showing agression towards humans.

American Pit Bull Terrier History

The term pit bull is actually used to describe several dog breeds, which means that the term is often used incorrectly when referring to the bull terrier, bull mastiff, and American bulldog. This is because these breeds can have similar characteristics, making it easy for people to use the proper terms. The American Staffordshire terrier is related to the American pit bull terrier, so many enthusiasts call the American pit bull terrier the working class of this breed and the American Staffordshire terrier the show type of the breed (Capp pp.25-30).

The American pit bull terrier is the descendent of working dogs that were imported to the United States by immigrants from England, Scotland, and Ireland. These immigrants brought these working dogs to ports such as Boston and New York. The working dogs were then bred with each other in order to create a breed that was stronger and taller. This made an incredibly fit working dog that could be used for hunting, dog fighting, and protecting humans. Farmers also used this breed for protection and for catching wild hogs and semi-wild cattle.

The breed that resulted from this crossbreeding became known as the American pit bull terrier. These dogs become very popular as pets, even for people who had children. These dogs also made appearances in major movies such as The Little Rascals (Foster pp.56-70).

The United Kennel Club was developed by people who enjoted the American pit bull and wanted to establish bloodlines and records of the dogs born in the United States. The founder's dog was given ...