0_Apprentice
Pit bulls are great dogs, but quite often they are misunderstood. 
1_Wizard
I have always wondered where the name pit bull came from as a name of a breed of dog.
0_Apprentice
Pit bulls are a descendant of bulldogs! Maybe that's where the "bull" comes from. What do you think?
1_Wizard
Pit Bulls were originally developed as fighting dogs, so i'm sure that is how they received their reputation.
0_Apprentice
They do sometimes serve as search and rescue and police dogs, so they do have a purpose. I have friends that own them and they are wonderful pets if trained correctly.
1_Wizard
I'm not certain that i would own one as a pet, but they have been used in the modern era as farm dogs to drive cattle or other livestock.
0_Apprentice
I have cats, so I don't think they'd get along with a pit bull, but I'd consider it otherwise. They are certainly a working breed! 
1_Wizard
Unfortunately, even though dog fighting has been banned, they are still the breed of choice in underground, illegal dog fighting operations.