The History of the American Pit Bull Terrier is widely debated. It seems these days that it really depends on what website you come across as to what information you are given. While researching the history of the American Pit Bull Terrier I came across quite a few legitimate and “official” sites that gave the most accurate information to the question of the American Pit Bull Terrier's origin. These sites include the AKC.org site among others. The common agreement among historians is that the original mixes in breeds were the English Bulldog and Terrier.

Unlike the English Bulldog today, the English Bulldog of the early 19^th century was a very well built animal bred for the purpose of baiting bulls. This Bulldog was athletic, agile, sand straight standing. The primary difference between the two is the head.

Today the debate between historians about which Terrier was used to breed with the Bulldog to create the Staffordshire Terrier is still an argument. Some believe it was the Black and Tan Terrier, others believed it to be the White English Terrier, while others believed it was the Fox Terrier. Of the three Terrier breeds, the Fox Terrier was believed to posses the most amount of gameness. The breeders of that time were looking to create a dog that was both agile, courageous, loyal, tenacious and gamely

At the time, the cross between the Bulldog and the Terrier was at times called the Pit Bull Terrier, Half and Half, Pit Dog, Bull and Terrier Dog and would later acquire its official name of Staffordshire Bull Terrier. It wasn’t until the early 1870’s that this animal found its way into the United States where it was commonly known as the Pit Bull Terrier, Pit Dog and then officially named the American Bull Terrier.

It was in 1936 when the breed was accepted for registration in the AKC Stud Book as Staffordshire Terriers. In January 1, 1972 the breed name was changed to American Staffordshire Terrier. This official change in name was to distinguish the breed from its smaller and lighter cousin, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier of England.