The short-haired dog breed whose ancestors hail from Ireland and England, the American pit bull terrier was originated when breeders in the United Kingdom crossed bulldogs and terriers in an effort to find the balance between the strength of the bulldog and the gameness of the terrier. It first baited bears and bulls, and after that sport was no longer in style, they were placed in pits to fight one another. Though friendly to family and frequently toward strangers, the American pit bull terrier has a high prey drive toward animals and can be trained to be vicious and unpredictable attack dogs. The breed is the target of legislation in numerous countries, and they are banned altogether in parts of the United States, prompting owners to pretend they are other breeds.