The Truth About the American Pitbull Terrier

The All-American Dog is Born: The American Pitbull Terrier

The American Pitbull Terrier and other “Pitbull” family breeds helped shape the United States of America that we know today! During the early 19^th Century, these dogs became a popular companion of the working-class. Pitbulls established themselves as a valuable contributor to their families by being an “All-Purpose” dog. These jobs included herding cattle, and sheep, helping on hunts, feral hog catchers, guarding livestock and families against thieves and wild animals.

The American Pitbull Terrier is the American Dream

Pitbulls share similar admired qualities to “The American Dream.” These qualities include but are not limited to: friendly, brave, hardworking, and worthy of respect. America was not a world power in the early 19^th century, however it established itself as a “land of opportunity” via the American Dream. This “Land of Opportunity” speaks to where everyone has an equal chance for happiness based on their ability and effort. American Pitbull Terriers personified this idea through their character qualities, which quickly made them the “All-American” Dog.

As America entered the world stage during the World Wars, the American Pitbull Terrier was used as a symbol of American Strength. Pitbulls were used as the United States’ mascot during the war effort to raise morale, sell war bonds, and other American products. The breed’s loyalty and bravery were personified through Sargeant Stubby and other heroic dogs who served alongside our troops.

Brief History of the American Pitbull Terrier

The American Pitbull Terrier’s origins trace back to England, where bearbaiting and bullbaiting were popular pastimes. After these brutal activities were banned, ratting emerged, leading to the creation of the “Pitbull” breed—dogs bred for agility and speed. Sadly, Pitbull Terriers were also used in dogfighting, but breeders selected dogs with minimal aggression towards humans, making them safe for their owners to handle. This selective breeding led to the friendly and loyal dogs we know today.

Putting the “Pit” in the American Pitbull Terrier

The creation of the Pitbull Terrier breed was out of necessity. The baiting of bears and bulls was outlawed; however, the extermination of rats was not. The public turned its attention to “ratting,” which pitted a single dog against a hoard of rats. People placed bets on how many rats a dog could kill in a set amount of time. The arena where this would happen was described as a “Pit.” Dog Owners quickly found out they needed to upgrade their old English Bulldogs’ athletic ability. So, they started breeding the bulldogs with terriers to enhance their agility and speed, thus the “Pitbull Terrier” was created.

Sadly, Pitbull Terriers were also bred for dogfighting, however there is a silver-lining. Breeders were very selective when cross breeding these bulldogs and terriers together. They valued bite inhibition towards humans, because gamblers had to be able to handle their own dogs without the danger of being bitten themselves. If a dog bit a human, it was usually put down. As the years went on, the biting risk towards humans was greatly reduced, which made them the friendly dogs we know today.

Adding “American” to the Pitbull Terrier

As immigrants from England arrived in the United States, they brought their pastimes with them. This included their beloved Pitbull Terriers. Immigrants soon discovered the versatility of these dogs for different roles within the family outside of dogfighting. The breed’s physical and personality traits made them stand out amongst the working class. Thus, establishing themselves as Americans like their owners now were.

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Lost Dog: The American Dream

The “All-American” Dog and the “American Dream” were prospering together up until the late 1970’s. The United States Congress officially made dogfighting illegal throughout the land. This good deed did not go unpunished, and the dogs were the ones that suffered. Now that the government made dogfighting illegal, dogfighting as a criminal activity has become much more lucrative for criminals.

Greed was the downfall of the Pitbull Terrier and the American Dream. Slowly, the admired qualities between the dog and the dream no longer mattered. Success was determined by how quickly someone could get rich, and it wasn’t important how you got there. The care that when into creating the Pitbull Terrier breed’s positive temperament towards humans was no longer important. This ultimately led to the negative stereotype of Pitbull Terriers that still exists today.  This was a gigantic fall from grace for the “All-American” dog.

The American Dream also eroded over time. Those Americans who benefited the most forgot about the underlining idea. In this “Land of Opportunity, you can achieve anything you desire if you are friendly, brave, hardworking, and worthy of respect.” The American Dream was never based on having money.

Dog Found: Rescuing the American Dream

Ask any grade school student what they want to be when they grow up. These kids will give you the purest answer, and they will give you hope the dream is still alive. It is a pure answer, because money hasn’t become important yet. What was your answer back when you were asked the same question, “What do I want to be when I grow up?”

The answer you gave in grade school is most likely different than your profession present day. But, why is that? Outside of money, it usually is because other people have talked you out of doing it. When dreams are big enough, others will believe you will fail. The American Dream is the biggest dream of them all. Doubters look at “how to get there” and see a difficult path ahead.  After being unwilling to make sacrifices, the Doubter’s frustration leads to them quitting their own dream. This cycle eventually concludes when they convinced others it is not possible for them either.

Your Dog is Waiting

The American Dream isn’t lost or dead, it is right in front of you! The idea is so powerful, we believe it cannot be killed off, only buried by the lies we tell ourselves. Deep within your heart, the dream is still alive. It often takes a major life event to unleash the dog.

Your dream is waiting for you to rescue it! Your dream is locked up in the dog pound you created for it. Only you can rescue your dog because it belongs only to you. As the faithful, working-class companion, the Pitbull Terrier is often locked up in the same dog pounds. They are too brave and loyal to give up on you, even when you give up on them. These dogs forgive you, much like your dream will once you give them a home.

A Rebel with a Cause

We All Started Somewhere

The American Dream does not have a time-limit, nor does it matter where you are in life. Many of our ancestors came to America in search of creating a new life for themselves. Their journey started when they got on the boat for the long trip across the Atlantic Ocean. The major key to the American Dream is just to start. Take that first step towards what you want to do with your life.

I Lost my way TOO

My profession is drastically different than my grade school answer. Between that initial dream to when I started, I allowed others to influence my decisions. I listened to those doubters who gave up on themselves. I have no ill will towards those doubters, because like myself, their dog is waiting for them too. They taught me a valuable lesson. It took a major life event for me to come to terms with the consequences of my decisions. I decided I wanted to show my child the American Dream is still alive.

My American Dream is to be an Off-Road Racer. How do I know this is true? I feel the burning desire within myself to be successful. I am willing to make sacrifices to achieve my goal, unlike any other dream I had in the past. The competitiveness within the sport, amongst other drivers and the terrain, is what keeps me locked in on my path. There is a lot of work in front of me, so success is measured by when I get there, and how long I can stay.

What We Want to do with our Lives

What we are made to do is different than what we want to do. American Pitbull Terriers were made for “Ratting” and Dogfighting; we cannot say for certainty that’s what they wanted to do. After arriving in “The Land of Opportunity” Pitbulls showed they were much more valuable to their families by being that All-Purpose, All-American dog we forgot. Just like Pitbulls, we too can be products of our environment.

Change your environment, change your mind set on life. As we discussed before, throughout your life many people will try to talk you out of your American Dream. These voices will tell you many reasons why your dream won’t work. They will show you a common, but honorable and respectable path for your adult life. However, when they explain, it sounds more like existence: go to School, get a Job, start a family, retire, and die. Nothing is said about pursuing what you want out of life, your American Dream. We at Dead Red Off-Road, challenge you to find or rescue your American Dream, and charge forth relentlessly to make it a reality!