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65-656: Pit bull is an umbrella term for several types of dog believed to have descended from bull and terriers . In the United States, the term is usually considered to include the American Pit Bull Terrier , American Staffordshire Terrier , American Bully , Staffordshire Bull Terrier , and sometimes the American Bulldog , along with any crossbred dog that shares certain physical characteristics with these breeds. In other countries, including

130-402: A "type" fixes a name to a taxon . Dog fanciers use the term "breed type" in the sense of "qualities (as of bodily contour and carriage) that are felt to indicate excellence in members of a group". "Breed type" is specific to each dog breed's written standard . A dog that closely resembles the appearance laid out in the standard is said to be "typey". "Type" also is used to refer to "dogs of

195-456: A "school" book about hawking , hunting, fishing, and heraldry , attributed to Juliana Berners (Barnes), lists dogs of the time mainly by function: "First there is a greyhound, a bastard, a mongrel , a mastiff, a limer, a spaniel, " raches " (small-to-medium-sized scenthounds), "kennets" (small hunting dogs), terriers , "butcher's hounds", dung-heap dogs, "trundel tails" ( lapdogs ?) and prick-eared curs , and small ladies puppies that bear away

260-774: A 2007 study suggested this may relate to the popularity of the breed, noting that sled dogs, such as Siberian Huskies , were involved in a majority of fatal dog attacks in some areas of Canada. Bite statistics by breed are no longer tracked by the CDC, and are discouraged by the AVMA and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). Pit bulls were originally developed from dogs that were bred for bull baiting and dog fighting. Pit bull attacks are often perceived as taking place "without warning", possibly due to

325-465: A common set of inheritable characteristics, developed by long-established, reputable kennel clubs that recognize the dog as a purebred. A "dog type" can be referred to broadly, as in gun dog , or more specifically, as in spaniel . Dogs raised and trained for a specific working ability rather than appearance may not closely resemble other dogs doing the same work, or any of the dogs of the analogous breed group of purebred dogs. The earliest books in

390-628: A connection between breed of dog and aggression towards humans, the difficulty of classifying dog attacks by specific breed after the fact has made this point controversial and debated. Violent interactions between humans and canines have been studied by the U.S. government, notably the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as well as academic veterinary researchers. The interpretation of these studies, breed identification and relevance issues, and variable circumstances have given rise to intense controversy. Additionally, researchers on both sides of

455-431: A disproportionate rate of bite incidents. Dog bite severity varies by the breed of dog, and studies have found that pit bull–type dogs have both a high rate of reported bites and a high rate of severe injuries, compared to other non–pit bull–type dogs. Pit bull–type dogs are extensively used in the United States for dog fighting, a practice that has continued despite being outlawed. Several nations and jurisdictions restrict

520-595: A distinctive conformation." Human manipulation was very indirect. In a very few cases emperors, monasteries, or wealthy hunters might maintain lines of special dogs, from which we have today's Pekingese , St. Bernards , and foxhounds . At the beginning of the 19th century, there were only a few dogs identified as breeds, but when dog fighting was outlawed in England in 1835, a new sport of dog showing began. Along with this sport came rules, written records, and closed stud books . Dog fanciers began refining breeds from

585-526: A dog's tendencies. Homeowners and renters insurance policies typically provide liability coverage from US$ 100,000–300,000 for injuries inflicted by dogs; however, some insurance companies limit their exposure to dog bite liability claims by putting restrictions on dog owners that they insure. These restrictions include refusing to cover dog bites under the insurance policy, increasing insurance rates for homeowners with specific breeds, requiring owners of specific breeds to take special training or have their dogs pass

650-598: A group of well-known fanciers together and The Kennel Club was formed. In April 1873 a small group of people had a meeting in a three-roomed flat, which led later that year to the Kennel Club's first show at The Crystal Palace with 975 entrants. The first general meeting of the Kennel Club took place in Birmingham's Great Western Hotel in December 1874. During the same year, one of the first important actions of

715-550: A higher prevalence and severity of injuries compared with other breeds. A 2020 literature review in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery found that from 1971 to 2018 of all pure breed dogs in the United States, pit bull–type breeds were second, behind the German Shepherd , and ahead of Labradors , Chow Chows , and Rottweilers (in that order) for the most bites severe enough to require hospital treatment. The study found that

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780-636: A kennel club, however, was the breeding and showing of conformation bench purebreds, and this remains the most widely accepted definition. Widely known kennel clubs such as The Kennel Club , the American Kennel Club , the United Kennel Club , and the Canadian Kennel Club each offer canine events and training programs as well as dog registration services. By the mid-19th century, ownership of selectively bred dogs

845-580: A kennel club, people could obtain pedigrees for their dogs, which were included on permanent registers. Kennel clubs have had more influence on the development of dog breeds than any other factor since the original diversification of dogs according to function. Nations that have active groups of dog breeders and people who practice the hobby of dog fancy usually have their own national kennel clubs, often affiliated with those of other countries. Most kennel clubs have reciprocal arrangements and dogs registered in one country can be re-registered in another country if

910-557: A quarter of the agency's dog bite claims. The following table has a sampling of air carrier embargoes on pit bulls. Owning dogs like pit bulls and Rottweilers can be seen as a symbol of power or status symbol. Pit bulls have been cultural symbols in "urban ghettos" and a part of hip hop culture . According to the Anti-Defamation League , pit bulls have been adopted as a hate symbol by racist skinheads . The White supremacist group Keystone State Skinheads have used

975-659: A result, many rental properties forbid pit bull–type dogs and any other breeds if the rental property's insurance will not cover damage inflicted by that type of dog. The dog breeds most often not covered by insurance companies include pit bull–type dogs, Rottweilers, German Shepherd Dogs, Doberman Pinschers , Akitas ( Akita Inu and American Akitas ), and Chow Chows . In 2013, Farmers Insurance notified policyholders in California that it would no longer cover bites by pit bulls, Rottweilers and wolf-dog hybrids . A spokeswoman for Farmers said that those groups account for more than

1040-619: A shelter multiple times and eventually euthanized. Whether pit bull adoptions fail more often than other types of dog due to breed behavioral traits, or due to public stigma, is not known, but in general the most common reasons why shelter dog adoptions fail are behavioral problems or incompatibility with the adopter's existing pets. Widely reported pit bull attacks have resulted in the enactment of breed-specific legislation (BSL) in several jurisdictions. In two cases, breed-specific bans have been reversed by city councils. Breed-specific legislation has been largely found to be ineffective at reducing

1105-827: A short strong lead, be muzzled, and wear a collar bearing the name and address of their owner in public at all times. In Germany the importation of pit bulls is banned. Despite being a banned breed, in 2023 there were 3,316 registered pit bull–type dogs in England and Wales , an increase over the 2,323 that were registered ten years earlier. The dogs are permitted under a system of exemptions that are contingent on owners complying with special rules, such as muzzling them in public and having liability insurance. Seventeen U.S. States prohibit local governments from enacting breed-specific ordinances: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and Virginia. Dog owners in

1170-572: A specific graphic of a pit bull as their logo. Pit bulls have appeared in American World War I propaganda . Pit bulls have appeared in the logos of Brown Shoe Company and Lagunitas Brewing Company . The above-mentioned Nipper appeared in the logo of RCA and HMV . In 2005, two American lawyers used a pit bull logo and the phone number 1-800-PIT-BULL in a television advertisement to convey that they were "especially fierce litigators". The Supreme Court of Florida ruled that this use

1235-435: A square-shaped head or bulky body type. A 2000 joint review project between researchers in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) found the data indicated that Rottweilers and pit bull–type dogs accounted for 67% of human dog bite-related fatalities in the United States between 1997 and 1998, and followed with "It

1300-489: A study might not find all relevant news reports, and the dog breed might be misidentified. However, after 2000 the CDC stopped tracking dog bites, and in 2001, Julie Gilchrist, a CDC pediatrician and epidemiologist, stated that part of the reason the CDC stopped collecting dog bite data was because "making meaningful analysis [of the data][was] nearly impossible". In a 2021 review of 19 retrospective dog bite studies from U.S. Level I trauma centers, pit bulls were found to inflict

1365-416: A well established line", an identifiable style of dog within the "breed type", usually from a specific kennel. In 2011, a study found that herding dogs were more trainable than hounds , toy dogs, and non-sporting dogs. Sporting dogs were more trainable than non-sporting dogs. Terriers were bolder than hounds and herding dogs. Breeds with ancient Asian or African origin were less trainable than breeds in

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1430-482: Is a poor sole predictor of dog bites. According to the AVMA, controlled studies have not identified pit bulls as disproportionately dangerous, but other studies have found that, compared with other dog breeds, pit bulls were more likely to inflict complex injuries, are more likely to attack unprovoked, and are more likely to go off property to do so. Pit bull–type dogs are more frequently identified with cases involving very severe injuries or fatalities than other breeds, but

1495-418: Is compared against the ideal of the written standard, and awards are based on how closely the dog resembles the standard. Their origin comes from the earliest European cynegetica: on a "sound hunting dog" see Xenophon , and the "correct type" of good sighthound, the vertragus , see Arrian . Note 2 : Many modern breeds of dogs still use the names of early types, although they may or may not resemble

1560-523: Is extremely unlikely that they accounted for anywhere near 60% of dogs in the United States during that same period and, thus, there appears to be a breed-specific problem with fatalities." Pit bull–type dogs were identified in approximately one-third of dog bite-related fatalities in the United States between 1981 and 1992. The review notes that studies on dog bite-related fatalities which collect information by surveying news reports are subject to potential errors, as some fatal attacks may not have been reported,

1625-470: Is no locking mechanism in a pit bull's jaws. Pit bull–type dogs, like other terriers, hunting and bull-baiting breeds, can exhibit a bite, hold, and shake behavior and at times refuse to release. Pit bulls also have wide skulls, well-developed facial muscles, and strong jaws, and some research suggests that pit bull bites are particularly serious because they tend to bite deeply and grind their molars into tissue. Breaking an ammonia ampule and holding it up to

1690-735: Is sufficient for the enforcement of breed-specific legislation. Debates often center on whether apparent aggressive tendencies are the result of poor dog ownership or natural behaviors of the breed. In England, Wales and Scotland, the Dangerous Dogs Act of 1991 prohibits the ownership of American Pit Bull Terriers, along with three other breeds; the Act also bans the breeding, sale and exchange of these dogs. Similar legislation exists in Australia. Under Irish law, American Pit Bull Terriers must be led by someone at least 16 years of age, kept on

1755-526: The Canis melitaeus of lapdogs descended from ancient Roman pet dogs to the even more ancient Canis molossus , the Molossan types, to the Canis saultor , the dancing mongrel of beggars. These types were uniform enough to appear to have been selectively bred, but as Raymond Coppinger wrote, "Natural processes can produce, could produce, and do produce populations of unusual and uniform dogs, that is, dogs with

1820-609: The Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) alone. Dog types today are recognized in the names of Group or Section categories of dog breed registries . Named types of dogs that are not dog breeds are still being used where function or use is more important than appearance, especially for herding or hunting, as with the herding dog types of New Zealand that are described by their exact function (Heading Dog, Huntaway , Stopping Dog, etc.—functional terms, not necessarily breed names). For biologists,

1885-587: The Protection of Animals Act 1911 , but devotees of the bull-and-terrier type continued to breed these dogs, predominantly in England's Black Country . Throughout the early 1930s attempts were made in England to gain recognition for these dogs with The Kennel Club ; these efforts were successful in 1935. In order to avoid confusion with the British breed, in 1972 the American Kennel Club changed

1950-664: The fleas and diverse small sorts." Almost 100 years later, another book in English, De Canibus Britannicus , by the author/physician John Caius , translated (Fleming) from Latin in 1576, attempted the first systematic approach to defining different types of dogs in various categories, demonstrating an apparent increase in types and population. "English dogs": the gentle (i.e., well-bred) kind, serving game— harriers , terriers, bloodhounds , gazehounds , greyhounds, limers, tumblers, and stealers; "the homely kind"; "the currish kind", toys ; "Fowling dogs"— setters and spaniels; as well as

2015-522: The 1870s. The bull-and-terrier was a breed of dog developed in the United Kingdom in the early 19th century for the blood sports of dog fighting and rat baiting . It was created by crossing the ferocious, thickly muscled Old English Bulldog with the agile, lithe, feisty Black and Tan Terrier . The aggressive Old English Bulldog, which was bred for bear and bull baiting , was often also pitted against its own kind in organized dog fights, but it

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2080-512: The American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen test, requiring owners to restrict their dogs with muzzles, chains, or enclosures, and refusing to write policies for homeowners or renters who have specific breeds of dogs. Owners of rental properties may also be held liable if they knew an aggressive dog was living on their property and they did nothing to ensure the safety of other tenants at the property; as

2145-399: The English language to mention numbers of dog types are from the "Cynegetica" (hunting literature), namely, The Art of Venery (1327) by Twiti (Twici), a treatise that describes hunting with the limer (a leashed bloodhound type); the pack of running hounds , which included barcelets and brachetz (both scent hounds ); and the sighthound and greyhound . More significant in recording

2210-459: The New World to pursue the blood sport. In the United States, organized dog fights have been progressively outlawed in various states since 1874, culminating in federal legislation criminalizing animal fighting in 2007. In the 1890s breeders of American pit bull–type dogs attempted to have their dogs recognized by the American Kennel Club , but because of the type's association with dogfighting,

2275-585: The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the New York City Center for Animal Care and Control have unsuccessfully attempted to rename the type. Studies have found that when people involved in dog rescue, adoption, and regulation identify the breed of a dog of mixed parentage, this identification did not always correlate with the DNA analysis of that dog. Mixed-breed dogs are often labeled as pit bulls if they have certain physical characteristics, such as

2340-780: The United Kingdom, the term is used as an abbreviation of the American Pit Bull Terrier breed specifically, while the Staffordshire Bull Terrier is not considered a pit bull. Most pit bull–type dogs descend from the British bull and terrier, a 19th-century dog-fighting type developed from crosses between the Old English Bulldog and the Old English Terrier . Pit bull–type dogs have a controversial reputation as pets internationally, due to their history in dog fighting ,

2405-476: The United States can be held legally liable for injuries inflicted or caused by their dogs. In general, owners are considered liable if they were unreasonably careless in handling or restraining the dog, or if they knew beforehand that the dog had a tendency to cause injury (e.g., bite); however, dog owners are automatically considered liable if local laws hold an owner strictly liable for all damage caused by their dog, regardless of carelessness or foreknowledge of

2470-558: The club rejected these entreaties. Following this rejection, in 1898 breeders of American Pit Bull Terriers established a rival kennel club , the United Kennel Club . In addition to being a breed registry, the United Kennel Club also regulated dogfights. In the 1930s the American Kennel Club was faced with a dilemma: whilst not wishing to condone dogfighting, there was a desire to recognize a uniquely American dog breed for which over 30 years of breed records existed. The solution

2535-702: The club was to publish a stud book , which contained the pedigrees of 4,027 dogs that had won prizes at shows in the previous fourteen years. Rules were formed and classifications established. In 1881, the French Société Centrale Canine was founded, followed by the Italian Ente Nazionale della Cinofilia Italiana (ENCI) in 1882, the American Kennel Club in 1884 and the Swedish Svenska Kennelklubben (SKK) in 1889. The United Kennel Club

2600-511: The country where the breed has first originated. These breed 'owner' countries write the breed standard of the specific breed, with the breed standard being a detailed description of the ideal type of the breed, in partnership with and under the oversight of the Standards and Scientific Commissions of the FCI. The FCI is responsible for publication and maintenance of these breed standards, along with

2665-545: The dog is imported. The Fédération Cynologique Internationale , sometimes translated as the International Canine Federation in English or simply known by its abbreviation 'FCI', is an international federation of national kennel clubs and purebred registries. The FCI is based in Thuin , Belgium and has 98 members and contract partners (one from each country) and as such, the FCI is considered to

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2730-561: The dog's nose can cause the dog to release its hold. Many people consider pit bulls undesirable, making it harder for animal shelters to adopt them out. Surveys have found that animal shelter workers intentionally misidentify pit bulls to improve their adoption rates, or to avoid euthanizing them in jurisdictions where they are banned. Animal advocates recommend that shelters stop labeling breeds to improve pit bull adoption rates. Pit bulls also have higher rates of unsuccessful adoptions, and are more likely than other kinds of dogs to be returned to

2795-680: The first dog show society came into existence in Birmingham , England. Within three years, the Société impériale zoologique d'acclimatation  [ fr ] held the first dog show on the European continent in Paris , exhibiting a range of breeds, although the definition of guarding a breed remained open to interpretation. Recognizing the necessity for the establishment of a governing body with punitive powers, MP Sewallis Shirley , called

2860-402: The herding/sighthound cluster and the hunting breeds. Breeds in the mastiff/terrier cluster were bolder than the ancient breeds, the breeds in the herding/sighthound cluster, and the hunting breeds. Note 1 : Every modern dog breed has a written "standard" that describes in detail aspects of its appearance. Modern breed standards are the basis of the sport of dog showing, as each dog

2925-409: The issue of pedigrees and record keeping of breeders and breeder addresses the responsibility of the national canine organisations recognised by the FCI. The purpose of the FCI is to make sure that the pedigrees and judges are mutually recognised by all the FCI members. At present the FCI recognises 356 breeds, with each breed being considered as the 'property' of a specific country, usually based upon

2990-606: The largest kennel club in the world. Worldwide, the majority of countries are members or have contract partners with the FCI, with only Africa and the Middle East poorly represented. In Europe, only the United Kingdom, Kosovo and Bulgaria are not represented by the FCI. Likewise, in the Americas only the US and Canada are not members. In contrast to national kennel clubs, the FCI is not a registry and does not issue any pedigree, with

3055-623: The name of their American breed to the American Staffordshire Terrier. Despite criminalisation, illegal fights using pit bull–type dogs have continued to be widespread in the United States. In the 1990s in that country it was estimated 1,500 dogs died annually in organized fights, and by the mid-2000s it was estimated over 40,000 people were involved in the illegal blood sport. Pit bull–type dogs are also used by criminal organizations to guard illegal narcotics, and to intimidate and attack civilians, other criminals and police,

3120-446: The number of dog attacks. Research has indicated that there is resistance by those who work in the adoption industry, applying a sharper distinction before allowing a dog to be labeled as a pit bull, as well as objections from veterinarians. Many of the jurisdictions that restrict pit bulls apply their restriction to the modern American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, and any other dog that has

3185-940: The number of high-profile attacks documented in the media over decades, and their proclivity to latch on while biting. Proponents of the type and advocates of regulation have engaged in a highly contentious nature-versus-nurture debate over whether aggressive tendencies in pit bulls may be appropriately attributed to owners' poor care for and competency to handle the dog or inherent qualities owing to their breeding for fighting purposes. While some studies have argued that pit bull–type dogs are not disproportionately dangerous, offering competing interpretations on dog bite statistics, independent organizations have published statistics based on hospital records showing pit bulls are responsible for more than half of dog bite incidents among all breeds despite comprising only 6% of pet dogs. Some insurance companies will not cover pit bulls (along with Rottweilers and wolf hybrids ) because these particular dogs cause

3250-683: The original types. Kennel club Kennel clubs maintain breed standards , record pedigrees , and issue the rules for conformation dog shows and trials and accreditation of judges. They often serve as registries , which are lists of adult purebred dogs and lists of litters of puppies born to purebred parents. A kennel club manages all these aspects of the dog breeds it claims to represent, either directly or through its member bodies. Today's kennel clubs specialize in working dogs or conformation show dogs . In today's parlance, dog clubs for mixed-breed dogs are gaining ground and are now sometimes categorized as kennel clubs. The original purpose of

3315-477: The ownership of pit bull–type dogs through breed-specific legislation . A pro–pit bull lobby exists that spends millions of dollars a year promoting pit bulls as family pets, funding pro-pit bull researchers, and opposing laws that regulate their ownership. The term has been used since at least the early 20th century. It is believed all dogs that are now classified as pit bulls descend from the British bull-and-terrier , which were first imported into North America in

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3380-450: The pastoral or shepherd types, mastiffs or bandogs , and various village dogs. Subtypes describing the function of dogs in each group were also included. "It is important", reminded Anne Rogers Clark and Andrew Brace, "not to claim great age for breeds, though it is quite legitimate to claim considerable antiquity for types of dogs". Attempts to classify dogs into different 'species' show that dog types could be quite distinctive, from

3445-414: The pit bull debate rarely disclose when they are being funded by lobbyists, leading to a risk that the scientific literature on pit bulls has been influenced by money. Pit bulls are known for their tenacity and refusal to release a bite, even in the face of great pain. A popular myth mischaracterized pit bulls as having "locking jaws." The refusal to let go is a behavioral, not physiological trait, and there

3510-589: The proportion of bites caused by German Shepherds decreased by 0.63 percent per year over that time interval while the proportion caused by pit bulls increased by 1.17 percent per year. The pit bull proportion of dog bites increased more slowly in Denver, Colorado , where breed-specific legislation had been in place. In a 2014 literature review of dog bite studies, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) argues that breed

3575-532: The substantial physical characteristics and appearance of those breeds, such as the Canadian province of Ontario . Denver , Colorado lifted its longstanding ban on the breed in 2021 following a referendum that voted to repeal the ban. However, a few jurisdictions, such as Singapore , also classify the modern American Bulldog as a "pit bull–type dog". Courts in the United States and Canada have ruled that expert identification, when using published breed standards,

3640-443: The translation of breed standard into the four working languages of the FCI (English, French, German and Spanish). The FCI breed standards act as the reference for the judges at shows held in the FCI member countries, as well as maintaining the qualification and license of judges in dog shows in FCI member countries. For breeders, the FCI breed standards are used as the reference in their attempt to produce top-quality dogs according to

3705-549: The type becoming a status symbol in American gang culture . On the other side of the law, pit bull–type dogs have been used by U.S. Customs and Border Protection as drug detection dogs . There is a lobby of animal rights groups that are spending millions of dollars to try to rebrand pit bulls as family dogs. In efforts to counter negative perceptions about pit bull–type dogs, both the San Francisco Society for

3770-568: The type's fighting heritage, as fighting dogs that do not signal aggression may do better in the ring. However, recent research suggests that this perception may reflect a lack of knowledge of dog body-language , and owners' over-confidence in their ability to interpret those signs. In fighting with dogs of other breeds, pit bulls, German Shepherds, Great Danes and Rottweilers were often the aggressor, and more than twenty percent of studied Akitas , Jack Russell Terriers and pit bulls displayed serious aggression towards other dogs. Although there may be

3835-546: The use and description of various dog types is The Master of Game (circa 1406) by Edward of York , a treatise that describes dogs and their work, such as the alaunt , greyhound, pack scent hounds, spaniel , and mastiff , used by the privileged and wealthy for hunting purposes. The Master of Game is a combination of the earlier Art of Venery and the French hunting treatise Livre de Chasse by Gaston Phoebus (circa 1387). The Book of Saint Albans , published in 1486,

3900-418: The various types of dogs in use. Some of the old types no longer needed for work (such as the wolfhound ) were remade and kept from extinction as show dogs, and other old types were refined into many new breeds. Sometimes, multiple new breeds might be born in the same litter of puppies. In 1873, only forty breeds and varieties were known; today, there are many hundreds of breeds, some 400 of them recognized by

3965-465: Was common among the affluent throughout Europe . Kennel clubs were founded from the necessity to bring order out of chaos to the sport of public competitive dog exhibitions. The first dog show in England was held in 1859, which was a social affair held by English aristocrats to raise funds for charity. They grew in popularity over fourteen years and were held in a rather ad hoc manner. In 1859,

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4030-556: Was established in 1898. The Fédération Cynologique Internationale was formed in 1911, under the auspices of the Austrian , Belgian , Dutch , French and German canine societies. The new kennel club rules reflected that pedigrees must be registered with their respective club. Clubs acted as a court of appeal to set and maintain standards. They successfully popularized the sport of dog showing and elevated it from venues such as bars and public houses to fashionable locations. Through

4095-504: Was found that lighter, faster dogs were better suited to dogfighting than the heavier Bulldog. To produce a lighter, faster, more agile dog that retained the courage and tenacity of the Bulldog, outcrosses from local terriers were tried, and ultimately found to be successful. As it was in the UK, dog fighting became a popular pastime in 19th century America and bull-and-terriers were imported to

4160-466: Was in breach of Florida Bar advertising rules. Dog type Dog types are broad categories of domestic dogs based on form, function, or style of work, lineage, or appearance. Some may be locally adapted dog types (or landraces ) that may have the visual characteristics of a modern purebred dog. In contrast, modern dog breeds strictly adhere to long-established breed standards , that began with documented foundation breeding stock sharing

4225-470: Was to recognize Pit Bull Terriers under a different name and prohibit these dogs from being used in organized fights, and in 1935 the American Kennel Club recognized Pit Bull Terriers as Staffordshire Terriers. The name "Staffordshire Bull Terrier" was first used in Britain in 1930 in advertisements for bull-and-terrier-type dogs. Organized dog fighting had been effectively eliminated in the United Kingdom by

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