Post by RealPitBull on Feb 5, 2015 10:35:46 GMT -5
I thought maybe we needed a reminder? Here's some key points and facts about our favorite non-breed-that-is-actually-a-real-breed:
www.facebook.com/notes/10153033856869836/
Timeline of APBT History:
*Bulldogs were used for a variety of activities including baiting in the 1600-thru-1800 hundreds. The bulldogs, descendants of mastiffs, are the direct ancestors of the APBT.
*After baiting was outlawed in 1835, bulldogs were bred down to a smaller, more agile size, crossed with terriers, to create a pit dog that was to become renowned for its abilities not just in the pit but also as a working and companion dog. These dogs were the foundation for the early APBTs.
*The bull-n-terrier breed type became very popular in England and began to be organized into a legitimate breed. These bull-n-terriers in various forms and from various strains were also used as the foundation for other breeds, including the Staffordshire Bull Terrier and the Bull Terrier.
*The forbears of the APBT came to America around the time of the civil war (circa. 1850’s). 30+ years later, in 1898, the United Kennel Club was formed in order to provide registration to the American Pit Bull Terrier.
*In 1909 the American Dog Breeders Association was formed, and began registering the APBT.
*Eventually, a group of APBT fanciers, growing tired of ‘politics as usual’ decided to petition the American Kennel Club and ask for recognition of the APBT. The AKC conceded, but only under the stipulation that the breed be called Staffordshire Terrier (eventually to be renamed AMERICAN Staffordshire Terrier). A new standard for the breed was written up, with Colby’s Primo being the model used to create the standard, as it was thought he was the embodiment of the true, correct APBT.
*Today, a raging debate divides a group of people who believe the AmStaff has now evolved into a separate breed, and those who believe the AmStaff and APBT are still one and the same dog, divided by name only. The AmStaff can, in fact be registered as an APBT with the UKC. But the AKC will not register any APBTs as AmStaffs.
Important Dates:
The name "bulldog" was first mentioned in print in 1631
In 1835, a law was set in motion that would make the sport of baiting illegal
Pit Bulls were imported to America shortly before the Civil War
In 1898 the United Kennel Club was formed with the express intent of providing registration and fighting guidelines for the now officially-named American Pit Bull Terrier
Dog fighting begins to lose favor and attempts to outlaw it begin in American in the early part of the 20th century.
American Dog Breeders Association was formed in 1909
The Staffordshire Bull Terrier became recognized as a breed by the English dog registry, the Kennel Club, in 1935
The AKC conceded [and began registering APBTs] in 1936 but only under the stipulation that the dogs registered with them be called "Staffordshire Terriers"
For a short period in the 1970's, the AKC reopened its studbooks to American Pit Bull Terriers
In 1976, the Animal Welfare Act was amended to include a provision that banned animal fighting.
In 1973 the AKC added the prefix "American" to the Staffordshire Terrier's name in an effort to distinguish it from the newly recognized Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Key Points:
The APBT was always both a fighting dog AND a family-slash-working dog. In the early days, there wasn’t a clear divide between the ‘fighting dogs’ and ‘all the others’. Many dogs were both fighters and pets. It’s kind of silly today how the line between the two has been so clearly drawn, like the dogs that are exploited by dog fighters are some how so different from our companions who sleep in our beds at night. In reality, they are the same thing. The only difference between then and now is that animal fighting is illegal, and fewer of our precious animals may be exploited by the practice.
One thing is certain, the Pit Bull is one of the most versatile, loved breeds of dog to have ever existed, and dog fighting is not by any stretch of the imagination its only use. The fact that Pit Bulls have only grown in popularity as companions and working dog partners since dog fighting has reached felony status across the US, and is pretty much seen as barbaric in the civilized world, is testament to the true nature of this breed.
Despite being hated, and feared, and outlawed, these dogs are prospering in the hands of people who have devoted their lives to them. At some point you really have to stop and ask yourself, what is this all about? The Pit Bull must be doing SOMEthing right.
In 1898 CZ Bennet established the UKC. He set up a studbook for the registration of fighting dogs, one of those dog breeds he named: the Pit Bull Terrier. He also established official rules and regulations for the pitting of these dogs.
What’s important to remember is that in the late 19th century, there was no clear line drawn between all the various ‘bull-n-terrier’ breeds. They were a "type" of dog, used for a specific purpose. It wasn’t until dog shows started to become
popular that clear demarcations were made between types within a type, and specific breeds eventually arose. So you have, at the turn of the century, what were to become Boston Terriers, Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, American Pit Bull Terriers, and Staffordshire Bull Terriers, all kind of intermingling, but eventually branching off and completely separating from each other. The only exception would be the American Staffordshire Terrier and the American Pit Bull Terrier, which never made a clean break from each other. The reason being that, from the beginning, the two were never meant to be two separate breeds.
The actual breed or breeds of terriers used to create the bull-n-terrier are up for discussion. Truthfully, we don’t have exact breed names, although the English white terrier, the black and tan terrier, and the fox terrier have all been mentioned as possibilities. Most likely a combination of game terriers and bulldogs were used to create the bull-n-terrier that was to become the APBT. Less attention was generally being paid to breed back then, and more attention paid to function. So it is doubtful that the early breeders cared so much to use a straight cross of bulldog and one or two specific terrier breeds, and were more interested in dogs that could win in the pit, regardless of pedigree.
www.facebook.com/notes/10153033856869836/
Timeline of APBT History:
*Bulldogs were used for a variety of activities including baiting in the 1600-thru-1800 hundreds. The bulldogs, descendants of mastiffs, are the direct ancestors of the APBT.
*After baiting was outlawed in 1835, bulldogs were bred down to a smaller, more agile size, crossed with terriers, to create a pit dog that was to become renowned for its abilities not just in the pit but also as a working and companion dog. These dogs were the foundation for the early APBTs.
*The bull-n-terrier breed type became very popular in England and began to be organized into a legitimate breed. These bull-n-terriers in various forms and from various strains were also used as the foundation for other breeds, including the Staffordshire Bull Terrier and the Bull Terrier.
*The forbears of the APBT came to America around the time of the civil war (circa. 1850’s). 30+ years later, in 1898, the United Kennel Club was formed in order to provide registration to the American Pit Bull Terrier.
*In 1909 the American Dog Breeders Association was formed, and began registering the APBT.
*Eventually, a group of APBT fanciers, growing tired of ‘politics as usual’ decided to petition the American Kennel Club and ask for recognition of the APBT. The AKC conceded, but only under the stipulation that the breed be called Staffordshire Terrier (eventually to be renamed AMERICAN Staffordshire Terrier). A new standard for the breed was written up, with Colby’s Primo being the model used to create the standard, as it was thought he was the embodiment of the true, correct APBT.
*Today, a raging debate divides a group of people who believe the AmStaff has now evolved into a separate breed, and those who believe the AmStaff and APBT are still one and the same dog, divided by name only. The AmStaff can, in fact be registered as an APBT with the UKC. But the AKC will not register any APBTs as AmStaffs.
Important Dates:
The name "bulldog" was first mentioned in print in 1631
In 1835, a law was set in motion that would make the sport of baiting illegal
Pit Bulls were imported to America shortly before the Civil War
In 1898 the United Kennel Club was formed with the express intent of providing registration and fighting guidelines for the now officially-named American Pit Bull Terrier
Dog fighting begins to lose favor and attempts to outlaw it begin in American in the early part of the 20th century.
American Dog Breeders Association was formed in 1909
The Staffordshire Bull Terrier became recognized as a breed by the English dog registry, the Kennel Club, in 1935
The AKC conceded [and began registering APBTs] in 1936 but only under the stipulation that the dogs registered with them be called "Staffordshire Terriers"
For a short period in the 1970's, the AKC reopened its studbooks to American Pit Bull Terriers
In 1976, the Animal Welfare Act was amended to include a provision that banned animal fighting.
In 1973 the AKC added the prefix "American" to the Staffordshire Terrier's name in an effort to distinguish it from the newly recognized Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Key Points:
The APBT was always both a fighting dog AND a family-slash-working dog. In the early days, there wasn’t a clear divide between the ‘fighting dogs’ and ‘all the others’. Many dogs were both fighters and pets. It’s kind of silly today how the line between the two has been so clearly drawn, like the dogs that are exploited by dog fighters are some how so different from our companions who sleep in our beds at night. In reality, they are the same thing. The only difference between then and now is that animal fighting is illegal, and fewer of our precious animals may be exploited by the practice.
One thing is certain, the Pit Bull is one of the most versatile, loved breeds of dog to have ever existed, and dog fighting is not by any stretch of the imagination its only use. The fact that Pit Bulls have only grown in popularity as companions and working dog partners since dog fighting has reached felony status across the US, and is pretty much seen as barbaric in the civilized world, is testament to the true nature of this breed.
Despite being hated, and feared, and outlawed, these dogs are prospering in the hands of people who have devoted their lives to them. At some point you really have to stop and ask yourself, what is this all about? The Pit Bull must be doing SOMEthing right.
In 1898 CZ Bennet established the UKC. He set up a studbook for the registration of fighting dogs, one of those dog breeds he named: the Pit Bull Terrier. He also established official rules and regulations for the pitting of these dogs.
What’s important to remember is that in the late 19th century, there was no clear line drawn between all the various ‘bull-n-terrier’ breeds. They were a "type" of dog, used for a specific purpose. It wasn’t until dog shows started to become
popular that clear demarcations were made between types within a type, and specific breeds eventually arose. So you have, at the turn of the century, what were to become Boston Terriers, Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, American Pit Bull Terriers, and Staffordshire Bull Terriers, all kind of intermingling, but eventually branching off and completely separating from each other. The only exception would be the American Staffordshire Terrier and the American Pit Bull Terrier, which never made a clean break from each other. The reason being that, from the beginning, the two were never meant to be two separate breeds.
The actual breed or breeds of terriers used to create the bull-n-terrier are up for discussion. Truthfully, we don’t have exact breed names, although the English white terrier, the black and tan terrier, and the fox terrier have all been mentioned as possibilities. Most likely a combination of game terriers and bulldogs were used to create the bull-n-terrier that was to become the APBT. Less attention was generally being paid to breed back then, and more attention paid to function. So it is doubtful that the early breeders cared so much to use a straight cross of bulldog and one or two specific terrier breeds, and were more interested in dogs that could win in the pit, regardless of pedigree.
I look forward to learning much here