Content Summary : The Pit Bull To start with, the Pit Bull is just a dog. It is a specific breed of dog, and like any breed of dog, it has its own unique traits. But the core of the animal is all dog, and although some sensation-seeking media representatives may wish to leadyou to believe otherwise, do not be fooled. The Pit Bull has no special powers, no basic biological uniqueness separating it from other breeds. It is notpsychotic, nor does it suffer from any “syndrome” that causes it to go from sweet and innocent to Jack the Ripper in the blink of an eye. It is not a wild animal, nor does it act like one. It is a domesticated pet, like a Poodle, a GoldenRetriever, or a Dachshund. It is a dog, and like any other dog, responds to kindness, feels pain, and can learn many behaviors and perform many tasks. History: What, by definition, is a Pit Bull? The term “Pit Bull” is most correctlyand commonly used to describe the breed of dog known as the American Pit Bull Terrier. This breed was developed in 19th century England by mixing the bulldog of the time with game terriers, but its ancestors go back much further, to thewar and combat dogs of Roman times. The bulldog (not to be confused with the short, squat AKC show Bulldog) that makes up most of the Pit Bull’s genetichistory was a versatile animal (more of a ‘type’ than a distinct breed), characterized by the work it performed: catch work, bull and bear baiting, farm work, and dog fighting. The terriers that were crossed into the bulldog wererough and hardly little ratters and fighters. These original mixes were selectively bred over many generations and eventually formed a breed, the American PitBull Terrier.