Discover the authentic roots of the American Pit Bull Terrier in this compelling episode of The APBT Ring Podcast by APBT INFO, guided by the meticulous research of historian Richard F. Stratton. American Pit Bull Terrier Game Dog History. Far from a simple bull-and-terrier hybrid, the APBT emerges as the direct heir to the original working bulldog, a dog celebrated for its agility, strength and gameness well before 19th-century terrier crosses ever took place. Stratton reconstructs this forgotten lineage using centuries old visual records from Peter Paul Rubens’s 17th-century hunting scenes to Charles White’s 1795 anatomical drawings revealing dogs indistinguishable from today’s Pit Bull performing catch work, tenacity trials and pit contests.

Through a fresh analysis of period engravings, apbt kennel records and legal hunting statutes, Stratton exposes how social class and feudal game dog laws led to confusing game breed names like “bull and terrier” or “pit terrier,” terms more about navigating ownership restrictions than describing true genetic mixes. He contrasts the heavy, brachycephalic show bulldog with the lean, functional bulldog that traveled to North America, ultimately evolving into the modern American Pit Bull Terrier. By unpacking selective breeding practices for stamina, structural balance and unwavering loyalty, Stratton illustrates how early dogmen preserved working capabilities that remain hallmarks of game-bred APBT bloodlines today.

Ideal for canine historians, game-dog enthusiasts and serious breeders, this episode shines a light on the APBT’s genuine heritage—debunking myths, clarifying nomenclature and celebrating the functional bulldog legacy at the heart of America’s most enduring working terrier. Experience a new chapter in Pit Bull lineage that reconnects the past’s practical purpose with the breed’s present-day structure, temperament and tenacity.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9f1xQuhviAw

True Origins of the American Pit Bull Terrier | BULLDOGS, TERRIERS & APBT HISTORY | Richard Stratton