No other breed of dog has experienced as many discriminations and misconceptions as has the Pit Bull. While some people would tell you that Pit Bulls are a gentle and harmless pet, other people consider them as wicked and evil enough to be Satan's guard dog. Although neither viewpoint is accurate, both have some basis in fact and in the dog's controversial origin.

The Mastiffs were polished as war dogs in Britain. When the Romans invaded Britain, they were impressed by the Mastiffs' stance and strength that they brought some back to their country. The Mastiffs then became known as fighters or "dog gladiators" who went against humans, lions, bears, and even against each other.

Like Rome, the British also reveled in this vicious sport. They also placed high worth on contests that showed animals fighting to death. The display of a powerful dog fighting and ultimately killing a bull was the biggest entertainment that the villages could provide its citizens. This form of entertainment extended over all classes and by the sixteenth century bull-baiting and bear-baiting became the finale for a royal night of entertainment.

The dogs' owners gained popularity for their animal's impressive act, and the offspring of these dog gladiators were desired and sought after for their capability of delivering high prices. And because of their power, strength, and ability to bring wealth to their owners, more and more of these dogs were produced over the course of time. This is where the Pit Bull claims his heritage.

During part one of our brief history of the Pit Bull we touched upon the origins of the fighting arena which included this dog. From Rome to Britain, these dogs were used as fighting sport dogs which ranged in battles with other Pit Bulls, to lions, to animals as fierce as cage bulls, in which this dog invariably got its name.

In order to understand the influence that created the Pit Bull of today and what could be a dire future for the Pit Bull of tomorrow, you should be aware of its roots and origin. This remarkable and yet controversial dog is a mixture of strength and softness, between fun and serious business, all wrapped up in loyalty and love.

Where did Pit Bulls come from and why were they branded as the most vicious dogs that were ever to walk the planet?

During the sixteenth century, the cruel practice of bull-baiting was the favorite pastime of the British. Bull-baiting is a spectator sport in which one or two dogs were released and would try to grab a bull (which was chained to a stake) by the nose. This exhibit of tormenting the bull often lasted for hours for the purpose of entertainment. The British also had a misguided belief that torturing the animal before killing it made its meat more tender. For these reasons, bull-baiting became very popular to everyone from all walks of life.

This atrocious sport finally became illegal in England at around 1835, but that only forced the dog fighting fans and gamblers to conduct their own covert matches underground. And although organizing an underground bull-baiting event would have been a difficult task, setting up a dog fight in a barn or back room without being caught was quite easy.

The sport favored a somewhat smaller and swifter dog than the ones that were used at baiting bulls and other large animals. Many historians believe that the stocky bull-baiting dogs were crossed with the more swift and alert terriers to create a small, strong, and agile breed that was named Bull and Terrier. Other historians think that the Bulldog of the time was very similar to today's Pit Bull and it was a simple process of choosing and breeding the most successful fighters.

As the Bull and Terriers or Bulldogs became less recognized for their bull-baiting ability and began to be more popular for their fighting skills in the pits, these breeds became known as Pit Bulldogs, or as we call them today, Pit Bulls. Nowadays, Pit Bulls are recognized as fun loving dogs that would make wonderful additions to any family. But that way of thinking has not always been the case. Before they were considered great pets, these dogs once endured awful prejudice and unfairness because of their ability and strength.

Although dog fighting is considered illegal, fans and supporters continued to carry out the sport with minimal interference from law enforcement. In the 1970's however, the American Dog Owner's Association (ADOA) decided to lobby against dogfights. The association successfully brought public attention to pit fighting, helping to push it into the shadows and completely put an end to the sport.

But that did not stop the supporters and enthusiasts to carry on with the game. Dog fighting continued and went underground. Instead of turning people away, the sport's illegal nature only attracted more people, many who knew more about the game's pay-offs but had very little knowledge about the Pit Bulls.

Knowledgeable breeders of fighting Pit Bulls could no longer disclose information about training methods for fear of getting caught by the authorities. For this reason, novice dog trainers as well as Pit Bull breeders began using cruel practices to train these dogs. They would often use stolen puppies and other dogs to try to encourage the Pit Bulls to kill. These breeders and trainers would go as far as feed them with gunpowder to make them mean. In addition, they used other people to beat the dogs with clubs in order for them to turn aggressive toward strangers. Needless to say, these poor methods of training were unsuccessful and the dogs rarely won at matches. The breeders and trainers had no other choice but to discard these dogs. The terrible harm that was done to these dogs made them very difficult to bring home as pets and the harm done to the dog's reputation was beyond measure.

While most people shun these dogs because of their notorious reputation, some people seek them in order to have the toughest dog on the block. Although certain types of breeds filled the position throughout the years, it was not until the early 1980's when the Pit Bull made it to the top of the list.

While most people think that the Pit Bull makes the supreme macho dog, a lot of them do not understand the instinctive nature of the breed and the training it requires. In an attempt to create a bigger and more aggressive dog, these people promote random aggression and even cross their dogs with larger and more aggressive breeds. This mixture of bad breeding and bad training produced more aggressive dogs that have resulted in the Pit Bull's notorious popularity.

Probably every child, at some point, has wished for a "Lassie dog". Who could resist falling in love with the well-mannered, protective, and obedient collie on the movie screen? Through decades of positive media images, the collie breed has enjoyed favorable popularity.

The truth is, the very first Lassie character, named Pal, was handed over to Rudd Weatherwax because the owners no longer wanted an unruly, motorcycle-chasing dog. Yes, Pal, an unruly, rescue dog, became the first Lassie. However, it didn't just happen. Pal required careful training and care. It seems that, in real life, Lassies are not born; they are made.

Before Lassie, another dog, Petey, starred on the children's series, "Lil Rascals", and brought popularity to his breed. Petey was a purebred, UKC registered American Pit Bull Terrier, a breed well favored for their intelligence, courage, and gentleness with children. In Britain, they were known as the "nanny dog" because they could be trusted to be gentle with, as well as protective of, children. In fact, Theodore Roosevelt had a pit bull in the White House and Cooledge had two.

Except for a few victimized bulldogs who, in recent years, fell into the hands of an irresponsible, unsavory crowd seeking a macho image, these valuable dogs are proving their true nature in many ways.

Weela, the Ken-L-Ration Dog Hero of 1993, was a pit bull who saved the lives of 30 people, 29 dogs, 13 horses, and a cat when the Tijuana River Dam in California broke during a flood. She led the people to safety, finding the safest crossings through the floodwaters, and later braved a raging river while towing food to stranded animals.

It was a pit bull terrier, named Sebastian, who responded when a Rottweiler attacked a 6 year old child. He, unhesitatingly, attacked the Rottweiler and kept the dog away from the child until his owner, an off duty police officer, arrived. Ironically, this incident resulted in a "dangerous breed ban."

The dog holding more working titles than any other dog in the world is a pit bull named Bandog Dread. This intelligent, loving dog also inspired his owner, Dianne Jessup, to write the novel, "The Dog Who Spoke With Gods".

Popsicle fell into the wrong hands and had been used in fights when a police officer in Buffalo rescued him, caked with blood and undernourished. Now, with training, he routinely works among civilians as a drug dog. He once sniffed out 3075 pounds of cocaine crossing the Texas/ Mexico border under a tractor/trailer rig. Another pit bull mix, employed with a K9 unit in San Diego, searches airports for narcotics. He works in close contact with the public and has identified $30 million worth of illegal drugs.

Pit bulls also assist physically challenged owners who must be able to depend on them to respond to all commands in any situation. Spike, a black pit bull, faithfully served his quadraplegic owner who said, "Spike just gave me another part of life. He was the most loving, obedient dog ever." Spike even accompanied his owner to receive his associate degree as software support specialist.

RCA, another fine example of the pit bull breed, became Alaska's first hearing ear dog. She scored highest of 170 dogs in a temperament test and performed her hearing duties to perfection. However, as talk of a pit bull ban increased, she was never placed in a home that may have later had to give her up. She became a demonstration dog and visited schools. As the children lined up, she offered them all kisses. At home, her favorite activities were "rescuing logs" from the pond, playing tug of war with the Sheltie and allowing the cockatiel chicks to nibble her ears.

Perhaps the most convincing cases for the value of pit bull terriers are those involved in therapy, and in search and rescue work. Alexis and Rose, two pit bulls owned by the president of Out of the Pits, are certified therapy dogs. They regularly work in schools to educate children and visit nursing homes and hospitals. Cheyenne, Dakota, and Tahoe participate in the Valley Humane Society Animal Assisted Therapy program, as well as locate missing persons. Their determination, so characteristic of pit bull terriers, makes them wonderful search dogs. In rough and dangerous terrain, where other dogs and handlers turn back, these dogs keep going. Pit bulls will struggle through bushes and thorns, to the point of needing stitches, to find a missing person.

These ambassadors for the breed seem to support the claim of responsible pit bull trainers and Dr. James Harris, a Montclair veterinarian, that the dog maulings we hear of, are a people problem, not a dog problem. Just as "Lassie dogs" are not born, but made, so it is with vicious dogs. With that in mind, it seems that a pit bull terrier, as well as a collie, can be a "Lassie dog".