If a dog bit a human, it was usually culled. Gamblers had to be sure that they could enter a pit and handle their dogs in close proximity without the danger of being bit themselves. Through selective breeding and culling, bite inhibition towards humans was greatly encouraged. Ratting and dogfighting both required more agility and speed on the part of the dog, so Bulldogs were crossed with Terriers “Bull and Terriers”, more commonly known as the first Pit Bull Terrier.ĭespite their tenacity and determination in battle, commoners actually bred pit bull terriers with some of the same qualities and traits that we still love about them to this day. Ultimately, the public turned their eyes upon dog fighting as it was more easily hidden from view and thus the law. The “pit” in Pit Bull comes from ratting as the rats were placed into a pit so that they could not escape. This practice pitted dogs against rats in which they were timed to see whose dog would kill the most rats in the least amount of time. Once bull and bear baiting was outlawed, the public turned their attention to “ratting”. However, in 1835 the British Parliament enacted the Cruelty to Animals Act 1835, which prohibited the baiting of some animals such as the bull and bear.
These matches were held for the entertainment of the struggling classes a source of relief from the tedium of hardship. One to two Bulldogs were set to harass a bull for hours until the animal collapsed from fatigue, injuries or both. Pit Bulls were originally bred from Old English Bulldogs (these dogs are similar in appearance to today’s American Bulldog) who gained their popularity on the British Isles in a cruel blood sport known as “bull baiting”. The history of the Pit Bull can be traced back to the early 1800’s in the United Kingdom. We’ll preface this to say that we HIGHLY recommend Bronwen Dickey’s book, “Pit Bull: The Battle Over an American Icon,” for a fascinating and much more in-depth look at the history and culture of pit bull-type dogs.
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