But the American Bulldog , which is a popular pet dog in the United States does not have a reputation for violence. Its English ancestors , the original British bulldog, were bred in the C18 for bull-baiting; the Boxer, which dates from 1850, has a similar pedigree. And there's the problem. There are breeds that were bred for strength and tenacity when required to attack animals. We'd have to ban every breed which had those ancestral features. So the familiar boxer, modern bulldog, bull terrier, all mastiffs, and others would all have to go (or be subject to large charges for owning one, if you prefer). And so would the Dobermann, which was bred to protect tax collectors (well, the man who first bred one intended it for that purpose, he being of that occupation)
The American pitbull was bred to kill other dogs, in dogfights, among its other characteristics. It is so dangerous that our law bans dogs of pitbull 'type' (type because the breed is not recognised as a breed).