Imagine it is 1910 and a young family is in need of a family pet. The kids have been begging for a dog, so the parents surprise them by bringing home the most popular family dog of that time. What breed do you imagine it was? A Labrador? A Golden Retriever? No, the most popular family dog of the early 20^th century was the American Pit Bull Terrier.

These dogs were so loyal, obedient and eager to please that they were dubbed the “Nanny dogs” because of the careful watch they kept over the young members of a family.

These dogs were so popular with the general population that many big businesses realized their appeal and chose to feature the dogs in their advertising campaigns. The most well-known example of a pit bull in advertising is the image of a pit bull sitting next to an RCA Victrola. This iconic image is only one of many examples of pit bulls in advertising.

Some may wonder why anyone would want these vicious dogs being included in their family life. The answer is quite simple. They were not and are not vicious dogs. While it is true that hundreds of years ago pit bulls were used for bull baiting and dog fighting, that is not a testament about the dogs, but about the people who handled them.

The horrific “sport” of cockfighting is also quite popular in some areas, but no one assumes that the birds used are especially vicious. Why then should it be assumed that dogs forced to fight are vicious?

No one worried for the safety of the child stars on the television show The Little Rascals. Their well-known dog, Petey, was a pit bull. It was also a pit bull that kept Helen Keller company for many years of her life. Her much loved pet, named Sir Thomas, is one of many examples of pit bulls owned by famous people.  There were even pit bulls that held the title of “First Dog”. Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson both owned pit bulls. General Patton did as well and it is no wonder considering the most decorated dog of any war was a pit bull named Stubby.  A few other “pitties” in the limelight are owned by Jon Stewart, Alicia Silverstone, Rachael Ray, Jessica Biel, and Jessica Alba, to name a few.

Pit bulls were popular features on greeting cards, post cards and even made the cover of Life magazine three times. People understood this dog’s loyalty and eagerness to please made them wonderful family pets. Unfortunately, it is that same eagerness to please that causes them to be willing to fight. In the hands of the wrong owners, these dogs can be made to fight to the death.

That doesn’t mean that the wonderful family dog of the early 20^th century no longer exists. Instead it means that some people have chosen to take advantage of the loyalty of some of these beautiful creatures.  It’s a testament to the evil of man, not of a particular breed of dog.

A great resource for more information on pit bulls is Pit Bull Rescue Central.