In the last two decades of this century, no breed of dog has been more talked about or misunderstood than the American Pit Bull Terrier. In a lot of cases, just the words "Pit Bull" brings out fear in the average person. Tales of the Pit Bulls' reputation have been heard in almost every community around the world. For example, tales about their "locking jaws", destructive fighting abilities, poor social skills with children, and attacking their owners, are widely spread (Pierce 2). Most of the tales are just rumors passed on from one ignorant person to another. For the kind of people that choose to believe and spread the rumors about the American Pit Bull Terrier, I would want them to take time to research the origins of this breed, the blood sports in which the breed was involved, and the good companionship of today's modern breed.
             Although many breeds are known mainly as "Pit Bulls," only the American Pit Bull Terrier includes the term in its official name (Stahlkuppe 26). Also known as the Yankee Terrier, Half and Half, and American Bull Terrier, these dogs were originally bred as a cross between the English Bull Dog and various Terriers for blood sports (Negron 12-7-00). The cross between these two breeds of dog produced the first Pit Bulls, which met all the expectations of the breeders. It was bred for aggression towards other dogs, unrelenting bravery, a superior blood clotting ability, and a strong, well-built frame (Stahlkuppe 114).
             Blood Sports were a part of everyday life in England around 1800. All classes of people, from royalty to the poor, enjoyed the brutal events. Bull baiting was a cruel sport in which a bull would be brought to the market for slaughter and was attacked by dogs. The notion was that this would tenderize the bull's meat, but in reality, the people would want to see which dog could bring the bull to its knees and pin it. Bear baiting was similar to bull-baiting except that the bear was fighting with cl...