The Dark History of Pitbulls

The Smart Canine
9 Apr 202107:56
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThis video explores the dark origins of Pitbulls, tracing their history from brutal bloodsports to beloved family pets. Once bred for bull-baiting, these dogs are now known for their affectionate and loyal nature, thanks to careful breeding over the centuries. Despite their aggressive past, modern Pitbulls have excellent temperament scores, often outperforming other breeds as service, therapy, and family dogs.

Takeaways
  • 🐕 The term 'Pitbull' is not a specific breed but refers to four breeds: American Staffordshire Terrier, American Pitbull Terrier, American Bulldog, and Staffordshire Bull Terrier.
  • 📚 The name 'Pitbull' originates from the dogs' history in a brutal bloodsport called 'bull-baiting', where they were pitted against bulls in a pit.
  • 🔍 Pitbulls were bred for their muscular build, strong jaws, and loose skin to protect vital organs, making them ideal for bull-baiting.
  • 🏟️ Bull-baiting was a popular entertainment during the Elizabethan era in London and spread across the UK and to North America.
  • 🚫 The bloodsport of bull-baiting began to decline in the late 17th century and was permanently outlawed in England by the 'Cruelty to Animals Act of 1835'.
  • 🐾 After the ban on bull-baiting, breeders started to repurpose Pitbulls for companionship, leading to a gentler, friendlier breed.
  • 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Today, Pitbulls are popular family dogs known for their loving, loyal, and obedient temperaments.
  • 🧐 Despite their dark past, Pitbulls still retain some of their fighting instincts, which can be managed with proper training and socialization.
  • 📊 According to the American Temperament Test Society (ATTS), Pitbulls have excellent temperament scores, with an 87.4% passing rate.
  • 👮‍♂️ Pitbulls' temperament and trainability have made them suitable for roles as service dogs, therapy dogs, and K9 police dogs.
  • 💬 The script invites viewers to reflect on Pitbulls' history and share their thoughts, emphasizing the transformation from feared beasts to beloved companions.
Q & A

  • What is the origin of the term 'Pitbull'?

    -The term 'Pitbull' originates from the dogs' dark past, where they were used in a bloodsport called 'bull-baiting', and often competed in a sunken pit against bulls, hence the name 'pit bull'.

  • Which breeds are commonly referred to as Pitbulls?

    -The term Pitbull commonly refers to four different breeds: the American Staffordshire Terrier, the American Pitbull Terrier, the American Bulldog, and the Staffordshire Bull Terrier.

  • Why is the term 'Pitbull' used loosely to describe dogs?

    -The term 'Pitbull' has become a generic term used loosely to describe a type or category of dogs based on physical appearance rather than actual DNA.

  • What was the original purpose of breeding Pitbulls?

    -Pitbulls were originally bred for a bloodsport called 'bull-baiting', which was a form of entertainment in the past.

  • How did the bull-baiting process work?

    -In bull-baiting, a bull would be chained and staked to the ground in a pit, and specially trained Pitbull-type dogs would be released to try to pin the bull down by biting and holding on.

  • What physical characteristics made Pitbulls ideal for bull-baiting?

    -Pitbulls were muscular, lean, and dense with a strong frame, a large head and mouth for biting, loose skin for protection, a wide chest for balance, and short legs to stay low and dodge kicks.

  • When and where was bull-baiting particularly popular?

    -Bull-baiting was immensely popular during the Elizabethan era in London and was also widespread in Ireland from the 17th to 19th century. It even reached North America by the 19th century.

  • When was bull-baiting first banned in England?

    -Bull-baiting was first banned in England by the Puritans during the Civil Wars and Commonwealth in the 1640s, but it was not permanently outlawed until the 'Cruelty to Animals Act of 1835'.

  • How did the Pitbull's role change after the decline of bull-baiting?

    -After the decline of bull-baiting, breeders began to breed Pitbulls for companionship, resulting in a gentler, friendlier, and more docile breed suitable for families.

  • What is the American Temperament Test Society (ATTS) and how does it evaluate dog temperaments?

    -The ATTS is an organization that measures dog temperaments by testing dogs in an enclosed arena with various stimuli. Dogs are evaluated on their reactions to these stimuli, and those showing panic, anxiety, avoidance, or unprovoked aggression fail the test.

  • How do Pitbulls score on the ATTS temperament tests?

    -The American Pit Bull Terrier has a temperament passing rate of 87.4% on the ATTS tests, which is above many popular family dogs and even some lap dogs.

Outlines
00:00
🐶 The Dark Origins of Pitbulls

This paragraph delves into the grim history of Pitbulls, tracing their origins back to the brutal bloodsport of bull-baiting. The term 'Pitbull' is clarified to encompass four breeds: the American Staffordshire Terrier, the American Pitbull Terrier, the American Bulldog, and the Staffordshire Bull Terrier. The paragraph explains that these dogs were bred not for traditional roles such as herding or hunting, but for the entertainment of humans through violent matches against bulls. The physical attributes of Pitbulls, such as their muscular build, strong jaw, loose skin, wide chest, and short legs, are highlighted as adaptations for this cruel sport. The narrative also touches on the historical popularity of bull-baiting during the Elizabethan era in London and its spread across the UK and to North America.

05:02
🌟 The Redemption and Transformation of Pitbulls

Contrasting the dark past, this paragraph tells a story of redemption and transformation for the Pitbull breed. With the decline and eventual banning of bull-baiting in the 17th century, breeders began to refocus the breeding goals of Pitbulls towards companionship, resulting in a more gentle, friendly, and docile temperament suitable for family life. The paragraph highlights the success of this rebranding, with Pitbulls now being recognized for their loving, loyal, and obedient nature. Despite their fighting past, modern Pitbulls have shown significant improvement in temperament, as evidenced by the American Temperament Test Society's findings, which place Pitbulls' passing rates above many popular family breeds. The paragraph concludes by acknowledging the breed's evolution from a dark history to becoming valued service, therapy, and family dogs, inviting viewers to reflect on and share their thoughts on the Pitbull's journey.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Pitbull
The term 'Pitbull' is a generic name that refers to a type or category of dogs, based on physical appearance rather than specific DNA. In the video, it's explained that the term commonly applies to four breeds: the American Staffordshire Terrier, the American Pitbull Terrier, the American Bulldog, and the Staffordshire Bull Terrier. The video's theme revolves around the transformation of Pitbulls from their dark history to becoming loving companions, illustrating their evolution and the misconceptions surrounding them.
💡Bloodsport
Bloodsport refers to a type of entertainment involving brutal and violent acts, often involving animals. In the context of the video, 'bull-baiting' is a form of bloodsport where a bull is pitted against dogs, such as the Pitbull-type dogs, for the amusement of spectators. The script describes the cruel nature of this activity, which was a dark part of the Pitbull's history.
💡Bull-baiting
Bull-baiting is a specific bloodsport mentioned in the script where a bull, often with pepper blown into its nose to incite aggression, is chained and attacked by dogs like the Pitbull. The purpose was for the dogs to pin the bull down, demonstrating endurance rather than strength. This activity is central to understanding the historical role and development of Pitbulls.
💡American Temperament Test Society (ATTS)
The American Temperament Test Society (ATTS) is an organization that assesses and scores dogs' temperaments based on their reactions to various stimuli in a controlled environment. The video highlights that Pitbulls have excellent temperament scores on average, as per ATTS, which contradicts their historical reputation and helps to illustrate their current status as family-friendly pets.
💡Breeders
Breeders in the context of the video are individuals who have historically developed and selected for specific traits in dogs, such as the Pitbull's muscular build and strong jaw for bull-baiting. Later, breeders played a crucial role in re-branding Pitbulls by breeding them for companionship, leading to the gentler, friendlier dogs we know today.
💡Re-branding
Re-branding, as discussed in the video, refers to the process of changing the public perception and characteristics of a breed, in this case, the Pitbull. After the decline of bull-baiting, breeders worked to re-brand Pitbulls from aggressive fighters to affectionate and docile companions, which was a significant shift in their public image.
💡Dark History
The 'dark history' of Pitbulls refers to their past association with violent and cruel activities like bull-baiting. The video script uses this term to describe the period when Pitbulls were bred and used for such purposes, contrasting it with their current status as beloved pets.
💡Endurance
Endurance is the ability to withstand hardship or fatigue. In the script, it is mentioned that Pitbulls were bred to outlast bulls in bull-baiting through endurance rather than strength, highlighting their strategy to tire out the bull and pin it down.
💡Physical Appearance
Physical appearance in the context of the video pertains to the way the term 'Pitbull' is used to describe dogs based on their looks rather than genetic lineage. The script explains that the term has become generic, encompassing dogs that look similar to the traditional breeds, regardless of their actual breed.
💡Domestication
Domestication refers to the process by which wild animals are tamed and adapted to live with humans. The video script mentions that prior to modern domestication, all dogs had specific jobs that benefited humans, unlike the Pitbulls, which were initially bred for entertainment rather than work.
💡Cruelty to Animals Act of 1835
The 'Cruelty to Animals Act of 1835' was a significant piece of legislation in the United Kingdom that permanently outlawed bull-baiting, marking the end of this bloodsport. The video script notes this act as a turning point in the history of Pitbulls, leading to their re-purposing and re-branding as companion animals.
Highlights

The term 'Pitbull' originates from the dogs' dark past in bloodsports.

Pitbulls evolved from feared beasts to loving companions.

The term 'Pitbull' refers to four breeds: American Staffordshire Terrier, American Pitbull Terrier, American Bulldog, and Staffordshire Bull Terrier.

Pitbulls are often categorized by appearance rather than DNA.

Dogs historically served specific societal purposes, unlike Pitbulls which were bred for entertainment.

Pitbulls were bred for bull-baiting, a bloodsport involving pitting dogs against bulls.

Bull-baiting involved tormenting bulls with pepper and chaining them for fights with dogs.

Pitbulls were bred with specific traits to excel in bull-baiting, such as muscular build, large head, and loose skin.

Bull-baiting was a popular entertainment and betting activity in the Elizabethan era in London.

Bull-baiting spread across the UK and reached North America by the 19th century.

Bull-baiting was banned in England in the 1640s and permanently outlawed by the Cruelty to Animals Act of 1835.

Pitbull breeders redirected their breeding goals towards companionship, resulting in a gentler Pitbull.

Today, Pitbulls are popular family dogs known for their loving, loyal, and obedient nature.

Pitbulls still retain some aggressive instincts from their past, requiring proper training.

The American Temperament Test Society rates Pitbulls as having excellent temperament scores.

Pitbulls have a higher passing rate on temperament tests than some popular family dogs and even some lap dogs.

Pitbulls are successful in roles such as service dogs, therapy dogs, and K9 police dogs.

Transcripts

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Pitbull HistoryCanine EvolutionBull-BaitingDog BreedingAnimal CrueltyBreed CharacteristicsFamily DogsCompanion AnimalsDog TemperamentHistorical Sports