Known as a powerful dog, the American pitbull is renowned for its aggressive behavior. However, this dog is also known for being loyal, brainy, and very strong. It is quite unfortunate that the history of the pitbull is often filled with horror stories that depict these animals as brutal and frightening.

At the most, it could be said that these powerful dogs are merely misunderstood and it is not fair to judge them because of their aggressive temperament and occasional nasty demeanor. Most often than not, history will show that they do not deserve the bad press that they have been getting.

Early history
In its earliest days, many people who were fond of dogs chanced upon these muscular animals in the Mollossi tribe, a Greek tribe that is noted for its use of these dogs in times of war. The pitbulls were very efficient in warfare because they often get to use their huge jaws to immobilize their enemies.

The history of the pitbull will also show that these animals also evolved from another large group of dogs called the Mastiffs. These dogs, like their distant cousins, were also used in war, but at times were also used to guard their owners as well.

Rise to fame
The pitbull’s history also demonstrate the rise of the stature of these dogs when two pit bulls became the symbol of the United States itself in the First and Second World Wars. To illustrate this fact, a pit bull known as Sgt. Stubby displayed heroism by saving a whole squadron of soldiers from a deadly gas attack. He was also able to survive wounds inflicted on him during the war, and even caught a German spy who was had been troublesome to the Americans.

The pitbull dog was one of the mascots of the Buster Brown Shoe Company. A pit bull named Bud was the first dog to travel throughout America while riding a car, accompanying Horation Jackson and Sewall Crocker, the first people to likewise travel throughout the country in a car. Bud’s travelling goggles can still be found at the Smithsonian.

Current History
All the newsworthy achievements of these pitbulls faded from public consciousness, however, and by the 1980s, things took a turn for the worse for their reputation. These years were the dark episodes of pitbull past wherein they came to be known as treacherous dogs that attacked people, thanks to an article featured in Sports Illustrated that painted them in a bad light.

Instead of portraying these dogs positively, this article featured a group of irresponsible owners who raised very aggressive pit bulls that were used for criminal activities. This unfortunate chapter in the history of the pitbull breed further dampened the idea of raising these dogs.

However, years after this negative article was published, responsible owners were able to show people that with proper training, these pit bulls can be managed. Thanks to these pitbull owners, the dog’s history won’t be viewed negatively by dog lovers.

One bad pitbull does not mean that the others are similar to it. These dogs are wonderful companions, and should be given a chance to be assessed for their individual traits. Moreover, it is unfair to use pit bull history as a gauge to judge the nature of these animals. All the bad press should not stop pitbull lovers from raising dogs that are not aggressive. In the end, responsible ownership is the key to bringing up these much maligned animals.