According to The Humane Society, the term pitbull is technically not a breed, but more of an umbrella term for many breeds such as the American pitbull terrier, American bully, and the Staffordshire bull terrier.
The term pitbull originated in the 1800s, when the British invented a game called bait bulls. These games were a source of entertainment for the lower class, and the old English bulldog was used. When the game became illegal, dog fighting became a replacement.
With the rise of dog fighting, people started to crossbreed English bulldogs with other terriers to create more agile dogs. If the dogs won, they were deemed heroes.
When immigrants came to America, pitbulls were not used to fight, but to protect their owner’s land and to help hunt.
When cities were built, the pitbulls were a staple of American culture and were seen less as fighters. In War World I a pitbull was even a war hero. Stubby was his name.
However, this did not help the many pitbulls who suffered from mankind, as they were still exploited in dog fights. By the 1980s, the breed was associated with poverty. They were seen as “urban thugs” and related to crime. During this time, Sports Illustrated took advantage of this, and, in one of their articles, they referred to pitbulls as modern-day werewolves and showed aggressive images of them.
Despite their reputation, pitbulls have the chance to be family dogs. When treated right, these dogs are loyal and affectionate toward their owners.
Bad behavior is not a trait that living things are born with, but rather a trait that they are taught.
