Springer Pit

The Springer Pit resulted from crossing an English Springer Spaniel with an American Pitbull Terrier. The English Springer Spaniel is believed to be originated in Spain, thus the name. This breed is known to have a long history, traced back to 300 A.D. when Welsh law documents mention the Spaniels. Dogs looking like today’s Springer Spaniel are found in some 16^th and 17^th century paintings. Spaniels were used for hunting; these dogs would spring small animals or birds, and drive them somewhere they could be captured. Later, when guns were invented, these dogs assisted hunting by flushing game. In the 19^th and early 20^th centuries, the English started to classify the Spaniels from the same litter by hunting use, instead of their breed. The small ones were destined to hunt woodcock, hence the Cocker name, and the bigger dogs were perfect for flushing game, so they got called Springers. The English Springer Spaniel was first imported to America by a Canadian breeder in 1913. Since the 1940s, two kinds of Springers are being bred; dogs for field work, and dogs for shows. The Springers that are used for field work have higher endurance, speed, and sense of smell. These two kinds of Springers are not interbred. The American Kennel Club recognized the English Springer Spaniel in 1910. The American Pit Bull Terrier comes from the Bull and Terrier breeds created in England in the 19^th century, for bull and bear baiting. Later, when these spectacles became illegal, the dogs were used for dog-fighting instead. These “bull dogs” were developed for dog-fighting, but it was necessary that they wouldn’t bite their handlers, so they got a dog aggression trait, but had an opposition to attack humans. Therefore, these dogs became known as strong, protective dogs that were affectionate and family-friendly. Later, when the dogs were taken to America, people started to use them for hunting, property protection, and companionship. Here, breeders also developed a larger dog than the original English one. This larger breed got the name of American Pit Bull Terrier and it was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1936, as the American Staffordshire Terrier. The name was changed intending to separate the dogs from their fighting background.