PIT BULL TERRIER

or Staffordshire terrier

Dog breed developed in 19th-century Britain for fighting other dogs in pits.

It was created by crossing the bulldog (which at the time was longer-legged and more agile) with a terrier, possibly the fox terrier . Once known by such names as bull-and-terrier and half-and-half, the pit bull is a stocky, muscular, unusually strong dog with powerful jaws, standing 17–19 in. (43–48 cm) tall and weighing 30–50 lb (14–23 kg). Its stiff, short coat may be any colour, solid or variegated. See also bull terrier .