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The modern day American Pit Bull Terrier (APBT) in South Africa, can trace its roots back to the United States and even further back to England and Ireland as early as the start of the 19th century. Although much smaller in size than the present day American Pit Bull Terrier, it’s early European ancestors were used as working dogs, watchdogs, and herders in England and Ireland, controlling unruly bulls for butchers and farmers, guarding family and property against intruders and protecting life stock from attack by wild predators at risk of their own lives. Dogs taken from the British Isles to the United States of America, were used in crosses done by Boston Irish immigrants between a variety of their English and Irish “bully” type terriers which produced a proto-type of the present day American Pit Bull Terrier. The Boston Irish breeders aimed to increase their dogs weight with a more muscular physique, adding an enduring stamina and an even more powerful head structure. These dogs were bred to preserve the high sprinted gutsy courageous traits of their British Isle ancestors with a lower pain threshold and a higher prey drive. The hallmark of this breed in America was unwavering tenacity, unfaltering courage, extreme endurance and bold determination in completion of any task required to perform, especially during pit matches. The early pioneers of the breed in America understood that aggression towards humans was a bad quality that must be avoided at all costs. This breed of dog required extensive human handling prior and during their pit matches and most of these dogs were also kept as prized family pets therefore no human aggression in the breed could be tolerated by these seasoned dog men. Pit bull terriers that did exhibit aggression towards humans were typically culled, meaning that only human friendly bloodlines were desired, breed and perpetuated. Recognised by South Africans for their tenacious endurance capabilities, intelligence, bravery and loyalty the American Pit Bull Terrier was imported into South Africa from reputable kennels in the United States as early as the 1960s and more proven dogs were later imported into South Africa from kennels in the South Americas and Balkan regions. One of the most popular breeds of its time in South Africa, highly prized by a wide variety of people for its unwavering courage and determination when confronted with sure danger, admired for their instinct of never giving up and never letting go, the breed flourished in South Africa. |
