From Wolves to Pitbulls
- theexploreroffice
- 3 days ago
- 5 min read
On August 11th, 2025, India’s Supreme Court issued a landmark order. “Capture, Sterilize, Vaccinate dogs, and relocate the dogs to newly built shelters!” This caused an uproar over social media with debates criticizing and supporting this decision equally. Several people cried saying that Supreme Court has time on their hands to do this, but won’t resolve the decades old pending cases. The supporters of these decision, often someone who knew someone who got terrorized by the dogs in India, said that the decision was timely. In response to public backlash and legal concerns, Chief Justice B. R. Gavai reassigned the matter to a three-judge bench led by Justice Vikram Nath, who began re-hearing the case, signaling possible reconsideration of the order.
Who is right? Who’s wrong?
It is a matter or opinion and in The Explorer, we do not talk about opinions. We will talk about Science of breeding that led to what we call now the devil’s dog: Pitbull
Pitbulls: The Killing Machines
Pitbulls account for less than 5% population of American households, but they are at the top of chain when it comes to killing or mutilating humans.
According to DogsBite.org, by 2024, Pit Bulls and their mixes had maimed or killed an estimated 512 Americans since 1998. Another 20-year CDC-based study reported that Pit Bulls and their mixes caused death of 17.5 people annually between 2004 to 201.
Data from “Dog Attacks by Breed 2024” highlights that Pit Bulls account for around 66.9 % (380) of deaths, and Pit Bulls plus Rottweilers constitute about 76 % of total fatal dog bites.
The situation got so bad that people started a non-profit organization called “The Pitbull Victim’s Foundation” in November 2012. This nonprofit urged CDC to resume tracking richer data set and a Super Bowl commercial stated “DO NOT ADOPT A PIT BULL”.
If Pitbulls are so much dangerous, why do people still choose them as pets?
Companionship
Personal Identity
Prestige
Among some circles, owning a strong, often misperceived breed like the Pit Bull may signal boldness or status.
So, now let us go in to the origins of Pitbulls.
A long, long time ago—about 15 million years in the past—humans and dogs didn’t even know each other. The world was wild, filled with roaring rivers, giant shadows in the forest, and nights that could be very, very scary. But one misty dawn in a green valley, something magical happened.
By the firelight of a tiny camp, a small group of humans huddled together. Among them was Aru, a curious boy, and his sister Nila, who loved telling stories about the stars. Their father, Rakh, kept the fire alive with dry sticks, while their mother roasted roots and meat for breakfast.
Far away, in a den near the forest, a family of wolves stretched and yawned. One pup was different from the rest. He had pale fur that glowed in the moonlight and eyes that sparkled with mischief. His name—at least the name his pack gave him—was Luma. Unlike his brothers who loved growling and chasing, Luma loved watching. He often stared at the humans’ campfires, fascinated by the crackling flames.
That night, when his pack slept, Luma crept out of the shadows.
“Where are you going?” whispered his sister wolf. “To see the light,” Luma replied, wagging his tail.
At the campfire, Aru noticed a pair of glowing eyes. He gasped.
“Nila! Look! A wolf!”
Everyone tensed. Wolves usually meant danger. But this pup didn’t snarl or bare his teeth. He wagged his tail, stepping closer, nose twitching at the smell of roasted tubers.
Rakh reached for his spear, but Nila held his arm. “Wait! He’s… not angry. He looks… curious.”
Aru bravely picked up a small roasted tuber, still steaming, and stretched out his hand.
“Here, little one. Want to try?”
Luma hesitated. His ears twitched. Then, slowly, he padded forward, sniffed the tuber, and—crunch— took a big bite. His tail wagged so hard it knocked over a stick from the fire. The humans laughed. For the first time, they laughed with a wolf.
From then on, Luma returned each night. Sometimes he brought bones, sometimes he simply lay near the fire, keeping watch. When other predators crept close, he growled, waking the humans. One night, Aru whispered, “I think he’s guarding us.”
Nila nodded. “And I think he understands us.”
Over time, Luma had pups of his own. The humans noticed that some of them were calmer, friendlier—just like their father. Aru and Nila cared for them, fed them scraps, and taught them games. The wolves learned to follow voices, to walk beside humans, and to share both food and safety.
One evening, as the stars shimmered above, Nila said,
“Maybe one day, there will be many Lumas. Not wolves… but friends. Friends who run with us, guard us, laugh with us.”
Aru smiled and scratched behind Luma’s ears. “Not wolves,” he agreed. “Dogs.”
And from that misty valley, a friendship was born—one that would last forever. The wolves who stayed close became more than wild hunters.
Evolution Through Cross-Breeding
The evolution of dogs involves both natural and human-mediated cross-breeding. Millions of years ago, the canids began diversifying. The genus Tomarctus (see image below), from around 15 million years ago, gave rise to varied lineages, from which the modern foxes and dogs considered today originated. Over time, selective breeding produced regional and functional variations.
From the canid lineage, fox-like canines stayed small and solitary, while early dog-type canids expanded socially and ecologically.
Over millennia, human-directed selection emphasized traits that served specific purposes.
Among these early dogs, rough conceptual types might be characterized as
herding variants (“sheep dogs”), hardy cold-adapted types (“huskies”), scent-tracking or hound-types robust working terrier or bulldog types
Today, dog diversity is vast, with hundreds of recognized breeds and countless mixed-breed combinations. The American Kennel Club recognizes over 190 breeds, while global recognition varies. Cross-breeding continues, yielding designer mixes (e.g., Labradoodle, Goldendoodle), working hybrids, and localized landraces.
The Story of the Pit Bull
What we now know that moden day Pit Bulls come from Bulldog and White Terriers. History records that the English Bulldog was originally bred for strength, used by farmers to immobilize bulls for slaughter directly—a practice that later shaped its reputation.
The White Terrier, known for its agility and vivacity, complemented the Bulldog’s power. Crossing these breeds produced the Bull Terrier, combining strength with speed and tenacity. (See image on top right)
Subsequently, breeders crossed the Bull Terrier with other terrier breeds such as the Jack Russell Terrier, the Italian Greyhound-type “Levriero” , and the Staffordshire Terrier, among others.
The origin of name is interesting.
Back in the days, people used to dig large holes in land and put two Pit Bulls inside it to fight. It was a ‘Kill-or-Die’ match where humans gambled and put money on their favorite dog. This ‘pit’ created in ground is said to be the origin of the name ‘Pit Bull’.
In the U.S., Pit Bull–type dogs are estimated to be about 6 % of the canine population
Why are they so angry?
The concept of a “RAS activating system” (reticular activating system) suggests that neurological and emotional responses have been shaped by centuries of selective breeding. In Pit Bulls, intense breeding for strength, tenacity, and aggressiveness may have influenced emotional regulation, potentially reducing expressive warmth compared to other breeds. Scientific exploration into breed-specific neurobiology is limited, and traits vary widely among individuals. While selective traits may shape behavioral tendencies, empirical evidence specifically connecting the RAS to emotional erosion in Pit Bulls is limited in mainstream scientific literature.
The cross-breeding of the dogs has undoubtably made certain breeds of dogs more aggressive than others. It is a lesson for us that there are always unintended consequences and we need to be mindful about the scientific research we embark upon.
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