No one can really be sure of the origin of Pitbull Dogs. This dog breed has the reputation of being a vicious and overly aggressive dog, but with the right training, 
this dog can be a loving and affectionate family pet that wouldn't hurt a fly. Many Pit Bull breeders believe this breed originated back in ancient times and is a descendent of the Molossian family of dogs. These were people who lived in ancient Greece and used a type of Pit Bull dog as one of their weapons of war by training them to intimidate and attack their enemies. It is known that these dogs were also traded for commercial goods.
However, the Molassi tribe also bred the Mastiff dogs, which were also used as guard dogs and in war. It was the Roman Emperor, Claudius that began exporting Pit Bull dogs from Greece to Rome in the first century. There, the dogs were crossbred with the native Roman dogs and were used as fighting dogs throughout the country. Over the centuries, breeding with many different dog breeds has resulted in what we now know as the American Pit Bull Terrier.
English immigrants introduced Pit Bull dogs to the United States when they arrived in the 17th through the 19th centuries. Dog fighting was a common source of entertainment in these early years and the Pit Bull, of course, was the dog trained to fight in these tournaments. As settlement spread westward, the dogs were used for other purposes and took on the job of being a herding dog and guardians for the family and the livestock. In spite of this, the Pit Bull retained its reputation as being a fighting breed.
Many famous Americans have owned Pit Bull dogs as a family pet. Noticeable among these names are Laura Ingalls Wilder, Mark Twain, Helen Keller and Fred Astaire. Pit Bull dogs have been known to save the lives of their owners. With the proper training, they are the same as any other breed of dog and can make any owner quite happy with the love and affection they receive from the breed. American Pit Bull dogs have been featured as the logo of record companies, brand name shoes and as loveable pets on TV series. 
Today they serve in many different jobs, such as search and rescue, therapy dogs with the blind and hearing impaired and as farm dogs.
It is because of the reputation that Pit Bull dogs have attained through the centuries as aggressive dogs that many municipalities have banned them from being owned within city limits. Any dogs of this breed that are aggressive are the result of mismanagement by the owners. Instead of enacting legislation preventing anyone from owning one of these animals, cities should put a program in place requiring owners of Pit Bull dogs to enroll the dogs in obedience training. If given the chance these dogs can live in perfect harmony with people and other pets. The proper training is the main consideration in owning Pit Bull dogs.
