9 Terribly Interesting Facts About Pit Bulls

The Pit Bull is, without a doubt, the most misunderstood dog breed. In fact, one of the most misunderstood things about it is that it’s not really a dog breed at all. Pit Bull is actually a general term that means different things to different people. To some, it’s simply a synonym for the American Pit Bull Terrier. To others, it refers to a group of breeds that includes the American Pit Bull Terrier, the American Staffordshire Terrier, and possibly other similar-looking dogs.

See, you can’t even begin to talk about Pit Bulls without running into some confusion. No wonder there’s so much myth and misinformation swirling around them. To help you look past the noise and learn the truth about Pit Bulls, we’ve assembled this beefy collection of fun and interesting facts.

Origins and History

1. Pit bulls pre-date the United States – they were bred in England and were brought to America by the settlers.

2.These dogs were bred to fight other dogs and animals, combining the strength of the English Bulldog with the gameness (fearless nature) of a terrier.

3.Even in the early days, aggressiveness toward humans was an undesirable trait for these dogs, as human handlers often had to be in the fighting ring with them.

4.Pit Bulls were often used in bear baiting, a blood sport in which bears were publicly tortured for the “entertainment” of onlookers.

5.After bear baiting was outlawed in England, the sport of ratting became popular. A pit was filled with rats and dogs competed to see who could kill all of them in the shortest time. Some believe that this is where the pit in Pit Bull comes from.

6.In the old days, Pit Bulls found many uses on farms, from hunting, to protection, to helping with livestock.

7.Pit Bulls were popular mascots in early 20th Century America, appearing often on Army recruitment posters and other advertisements.

8.Pit Bulls were considered to be so trustworthy with children that they were known as nursemaids or nanny dogs.

9.Pit Bulls were on the cover of Life Magazine  three times – more than any other dog.