Note: The origin of the American Pitbull is unknown and there are no historical records of their exact origin.

It is widely believed that the bulldog was crossed with the English White Terrier (now extinct) to create what is now known as the American Pit Bull Terrier. There is no real evidence of that, so no one can say that for sure.

Long before the pitbulls came to America they were used for baiting and fighting bears, bulls, and dog on dog combat. The dogs' fighting history is very rich, and they have always been part of the so-called "sport".

Some countries, like Pakistan, still engage the dogs in bear baiting. Countries, like the U.S, Turkey, Russia and many others also engage the pitbulls in illegal dog fights.

However that does not mean the dogs are only good for fighting since they are great at just about everything. They have been widely used for many diverse tasks such as catching hogs, working the cattle, herding sheep, guard dogs, and even pulling weights in excess of over 2,000 lbs! They are clearly a lot more than just fighting dogs.

Some people believe that the breed has originated from England, but that is also false since there is evidence of the breed being very well established in other countries as well.

Many people are not aware that the American Pitbull Terrier was the most popular breed of dog in the begining of the 20th century.

In World War I posters, pictures and political cartoons the Pitbull was very often used to represent America. (Eventually replaced by the American Eagle)

When people think of pitbulls they often associate the dog's with fighting and fear the breed because of common misconceptions, especially with the exaggerated number of deaths due to pitbull attacks.

Here are some facts people ignore, and yet blow the pitbull attacks completely out of proportion.

1. Approximately 40 children a year die by drowning in 5-gallon water pails.
2. About 50 children in the U.S are killed every year by their cribs.
3. About 150 people are killed every year by falling coconuts.
4. Every year, 350 people drown in their bathtubs.
5. Every year, more than 2,000 children in the U.S alone are killed by their parents or guardians either through abuse or neglect.

As disturbing as these facts are they don't stop people from putting their kids to sleep in cribs, using pails, or taking a bath!

And yet many people emphasize on those falsified and often exaggerated stories of the pitbull attacks. Each and every scenario is different and needs to be reviewed on a case by case basis.

In no way is aggression "in the pitbulls blood", as some may portray or even argue that they are violent by nature. Is a coconut a death ball by nature? And bathtubs; the contraption of doom? Let's be real.