800 Hundred Years of AMERICAN BULLDOG History: In 1980, Mr. John D. Johnson wrote Mr. Stodghill a letter, which Mr. Stodghill published in his “STODGHILL’S ANIMAL RESEARCH MAGAZINE” # 64.
Dear Mr. Stodghill,
I reply to the letter you sent me from Mr. Baker concerning American Pit Bulldog, Pit Bull Terrier, the *American Pit Bulldog is the same dog that was developed in England in the 12th century by the meat packers to catch the large bulls to kill for meat, as they did not have facilities to handle them. They were called packers dogs for a couple hundred years, and they started bull baiting with them, and they were then called bull baiting dogs. Later they were registered as English Bulldogs. They were also pit fought over there against each other, badgers, lions, and any thing that would fight. They were brought over here in the 17th century as the country was full of wild cows and hogs, and we needed something that could catch them for meat. They were also used as protection dogs for the home, and owners. In the 18th century in England they outlawed all types of fighting, and they were no longer needed in the present form so they bred them down to the present English Bulldog. We kept ours in the large state and I have developed them even larger than Original. I have one young stud dog that weighs 135 lbs, all bone and muscle, and is still spreading in his shoulders. They have nothing but Bulldog in them. The Bull Terrier is a cross between the English Terrier & English Bulldog. 60 percent Terrier & 40 percent Bulldog. The Staffordshire Terrier is 50 percent English Bulldog & 50 percent English Terrier, the American Bull Terrier is a cross between the two types. David Leavitt’s dogs that he is breeding up are crossed between English Bulldog, *American Pit Bulldog, American Pit Terrier, and Bull Mastiff. The term “Giant Bulldog” is used by some in my dogs because of their extreme large size, as over the years, I have developed a system to breed them into giants. They are a real Protective dog for the family and home, they are real smart you can teach them anything. They love children. Some do trim ears .and dock tail, but is not advisable.”
Signed: John D. Johnson
American Bulldog enthusiast, you have just read some of the most important Bulldog history that you will find anywhere, written by John D. Johnson, an American pioneer of American Bulldogs, an ARF Certified Breeder, and published in the official “ANIMAL RESEARCH MAGAZINE”.