This sport put a premium on certain traits: muscularity, strong jaws, and being compact and close to the ground. The Olde English bulldog (which looked similar to the modern American bulldog) was used in the cruel but popular sport of bull-baiting, in which dogs were directed to attack a chained bull or bear. Most dogs commonly identified as pit bulls originated in the United Kingdom when breeders were looking to combine вЂњthe gameness of the terrier with the strength and athleticism of the bulldog,вЂќ according to the United Kennel Club.

Be sensitive to what your specific companion is telling you about their needs, beyond what you may expect given the breed. Note: Just like humans, all dogs are individuals, with unique genetics, life experiences and environments that influence their behavior. In the end, more than a breed, pit bull is an idea, and there are few more powerful, or polarizing, canine ideas. So, вЂњpit bullвЂќ is really a loose term that can refer to dogs of various sizes, shapes, and genetic mixtures. But even taken together, these traits are not unique to pit bulls. They vary in size but tend to fall between 30 and 85 pounds. Other dogs end up falling under the pit bull umbrella because of some of their physical characteristics-theyвЂ™re often stocky, with wide mouths, square-ish heads, and short, smooth coats. Some people may even include the Bull terrier and the American bulldog in this category. The American bully is also frequently classified as a pit bull.

The rescue, adoption, and advocacy organization Love-A-Bull points out that these include the American Staffordshire terrier, the Staffordshire bull terrier, and mixes of these breeds. Other dog breeds officially recognized by various breed registries may also be identified by ordinary people as pit bulls. The American pit bull terrier, whose appearance many non-breeders would identify with the вЂњpit bullвЂќ breed, is recognized by the United Kennel Club, and by the American Dog Breeders Association. Unlike Labrador retrievers and dachshunds, pit bulls arenвЂ™t considered a distinct dog breed by the American Kennel Club, the largest and most influential U.S. Identifying a pit bull is just the first complicated part of our relationship with these dogs. Adopting a pit bull What is a pit bull, exactly? ItвЂ™s complicated

The american pitbull terrier