In the UK, it is against the law to own certain types of dog. These include pit bull terriers (as well as the Japanese Tosa, the Dogo Argentino and the Fila Brasileiro). The type of dogs:   “Pit Bull” is NOT a breed.  It is a general term often used to describe all dogs with almost the same qualities and traits, often known by the public as Pit Bulls.  This article is addressed to owners of any “Pit Bull” type dog including American Pit Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers and Pit mixes. The act bans four breeds. The first of these, the Pit Bull terrier, originally from England.  They were bred with fighting in mind. The Japanese Tosa is also forbidden in the UK. The other two illegal breeds, the Dogo Argentino and Fila Braziliero, both came from South America. With this being said they are all banned for “fighting”.1. The Pit Bull Terrier The Pit Bull Terrier is a popular pet in many countries of the world, where they are not banned.  They are especially popular pets in the USA. However, the Pit Bull is not specifically a breed of dog, but refers more to a dog of a certain type, that has common qualities and traits as dogs such as the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, the Bull Terrier, and the American Pit Bull Terrier. Dogs of the Pit Bull type are usually made up of a crossing of a terrier breed and a bull breed. They are normally medium sized and very muscular. Pit Bulls come in a wide range of different colors.  Pit Bulls generally have a short coat. Historically the Pit Bull was used to assist with hunting and managing livestock.  While many Pit Bulls live in loving homes and are a part of the family, unfortunately, many are now used for dog fighting.2. The Japanese Tosa The Japanese Tosa is a Japanese dog, and one that is very rare in both Japan and further away today. As well as being banned in the UK, the Japanese Tosa is banned in several other countries, including Australia, Denmark, Norway and New Zealand. They can differ in size from 80 pounds up to 200 pounds, and have a short, single layered coat that usually falls in the red color family. The Japanese Tosa was originally bred as a fighting dog. The Japanese Tosa is, unfortunately, still used for fighting today, which is why it is included on the banned list.3. The Dogo Argentino The Dogo Argentino is a large and very muscular dog from Argentina. It was initially bred for the hunting of big game, and for personal protection. The Dogo Argentino’s are generally white in color.They were mainly bred from the Cordoba Fighting Dog, which is now extinct.  They were trained and bred to work well with other dogs without showing aggression. The purpose of breeding the Dogo Argentino was also to breed out the mostly aggressive qualities of the Cordoba Fighting Dog. This was mostly successful. However, due to their ability to work hard for a long time, persistence and boldness, the Dogo Argentino has also been trained and used for dog fighting. The Dogo Argentino is forbidden in Australia, Iceland, Singapore and Ukraine, and the UK.4. The Fila Brasileiro The Fila Brasileiro or the Brazilian Mastiff is a dog from the Molosser grouping, with family history in the English Mastiff, Bloodhound and others. They are tall, heavy and muscular dogs with a large head, jaw and mouth.  They also have large bones and loose skin. They also have an unusual walk, known as “pacing,” where the legs move in pairs on the same side of the body instead of diagonally. The Fila Brasileiro was first famous for its worth as a working dog, with the ability to work hard for a long time and an amazing ability to track. However, the breed is also famous for its short temper and aggressive nature. They try to socialize with and train puppies of their breed to a calmer behavior are only partially successful, which is the reason for including this dog on the forbidden list. The Fila Brasileiro is not only forbidden within the UK, but also several other countries including Australia, Israel, Denmark, Malta and Cyprus. Why they are banned:In 1991, the government introduced the Dangerous Dogs Act of 1991. The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 (c. 65) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that was introduced in response to various incidents of serious injury or death resulting from attacks by aggressive and uncontrolled dogs,particularly on children. It has attracted criticism as an example ofpoorly-drafted laws quickly put into law in response to a short-lived mediastorm. Pit bulls were originally banned after this act was made law.It was introduced to try and stop illegal dog fighting, which can includetraining methods such as slamming the dogs into brick walls or stringing themup by their teeth. The Dangerous Dog Act makes it illegal to not onlyown a pitbull, but also to sell, leave behind, give away or breed from one. Ifyou have a forbidden dog, the police can take it away and keep it, even if yourdog isn’t acting in a dangerous manner and there have been no complaints. The police do not need a warrant if your dog is in a public place, but they do if it is in a private place – such as your home (although if they have a warrant for something else such as a drugs search, the pit bull could be seized at the same time). Why they shouldn’t:  I do not think Pit Bulls should be forbidden anywhere in the world. I think they are forbidden for very unreasonable reasons.  They are forbidden because of their background.  Pit Bulls are not born as fighters.  They are born just as any other breed of dog.  They are born loving and born to be pets. The Pit Bulls are only dangerous and fighting dogs if they are raised that way, which is the owners fault not the dogs.  The American Pit Bull Terrier has been “selectively” bred forhundreds of years to fight other dogs.  This is the sad “work” these dogs were created for. We would be equally irresponsible if we were placing medium sized dogs such as Beagles with owners and did not educate them about why the qualities that these dogs had that could be dangerous (hunting, scent, etc.).  Pit Bulls have great physical and mental characteristics that make them excellent partners for responsible, active, and caring owners.  On the other hand, these same outstanding qualities can make them very hard to handle for people who don’t have a lot of experience with being a dog owner or for those who don’t understand the breed very well. Luckily, Pit Bulls are very quick to respond to training and eager to please.  It is strongly recommended to take them to obedience classes as soon as they are up to date with their shots. Pit Bulls are very adaptable and will even do well in urban living, provided they have enough exercise or other positive outlets for their energy.  Many Pit Bulls are easy going couch potatoes, but can also be quite hyper until they mature.  Maturity can come late with this breed (up to two to three years old sometimes).  Pit Bulls remain playful all their life and have a great sense of humor.  These dogs will make you laugh like no other. It is not necessarily a hate of other dogs that will cause Pit Bulls to fight, but rather an urge to do so that has been bred into the breed for many generations.  Pit Bulls may fight over hierarchic status, but external stimulus or excitement can also trigger a fight.  Remember that any breed of dog can fight, but many Pit Bulls were trained specifically for fighting and will therefore do it with more drive and strength than most other breeds. Pit bulls can make great pets if they are cared for properly.