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Once in Rome, the British dogs were crossbred with their Roman counterparts. He quickly seized on the opportunity and began exporting select quantities of the dogs back home to satiate his countrymen's appetite for entertainment in the arenas and coliseums of Rome. When the Roman emperor Claudius defeated the Briton Chief Caractacus in 50 AD, the powerful pugnaces piqued his interest. The early Britons employed a variation of the Mastiffs as pugnaces - fighting dogs that could be used in either a guardianship or warfare capacity.
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The Molossians gave rise to another family of dogs known as the Mastiffs.
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In fact, early Phoenician traders may even have used the Molossians as a bargaining item in their commercial transactions. Officially termed canus molossi (dogs of the Molossi), these animals were reknowned for their fierceness, and for their innate ability to intimidate the enemies of the tribe.ĭuring this same time period, it is also believed that the Molossian dogs were used for other purposes. The Molossian family of dogs bears the name of the people with whom they were most often associated - the Molossi tribe, a group of people who lived in ancient Greece and favored the use of robust, muscular dogs in warfare. However, many pit bull enthusiasts believe the origins of the breed can be traced back to antiquity and the Molossian family of dogs. Like many modern breeds, it is impossible to be completely sure of the details of the American Pit Bull Terrier's long history. While the pit bull does indeed possess a feisty and spirited character, the history of the breed reveals a much more complex tapestry of temperament and personality. In recent years, the breed has been unfairly villanized as overly aggressive and dangerous. The American Pit Bull Terrier is a wonderful dog, well-known for its intelligence, strength, and loyalty.