Baiting or dog baiting most commonly refers to the act of setting game

Game (dog)

Game or Gameness is a quality of fighting dogs or working terriers that are selectively bred and conditioned from a very early age to develop traits of eagerness despite the threat of substantive injury...

 dog

Dog

The domestic dog is a domesticated form of the gray wolf, a member of the Canidae family of the order Carnivora. The term is used for both feral and pet varieties. The dog may have been the first animal to be domesticated, and has been the most widely kept working, hunting, and companion animal in...

s against a chained or confined animal

Animal

Animals are a major group of multicellular, eukaryotic organisms of the kingdom Animalia or Metazoa. Their body plan eventually becomes fixed as they develop, although some undergo a process of metamorphosis later on in their life. Most animals are motile, meaning they can move spontaneously and...

 for sport

Sport

A Sport is all forms of physical activity which, through casual or organised participation, aim to use, maintain or improve physical fitness and provide entertainment to participants. Sport may be competitive, where a winner or winners can be identified by objective means, and may require a degree...

. The dogs bite, and tear to subdue the opposing animal by incapacitating or killing

Death

Death is the permanent termination of the biological functions that sustain a living organism. Phenomena which commonly bring about death include old age, predation, malnutrition, disease, and accidents or trauma resulting in terminal injury....

 it. Baiting is a blood sport

Blood sport

Bloodsport or blood sport is any sport or entertainment that involves violence against animals.Bloodsport includes coursing or beagling, combat sports such as cockfighting and dog fighting, or other activities...

 used for entertainment

Entertainment

Entertainment consists of any activity which provides a diversion or permits people to amuse themselves in their leisure time. Entertainment is generally passive, such as watching opera or a movie. Active forms of amusement, such as sports, are more often considered to be recreation...

 and gambling

Gambling

Gambling is the wagering of money or something of material value on an event with an uncertain outcome with the primary intent of winning additional money and/or material goods...

. It is illegal

Law

Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...

 in most countries with varying levels of enforcement.

History

During various periods of history and in different cultures around the world, various types of baiting, named for the species used, have been confirmed. These include Badger-baiting

Badger-baiting

Badger-baiting or badger baiting is a blood sport in which badgers are baited. A baiting session typically results in the death of the badger, and possibly serious injuries to the dogs.-Background:...

, Bear-baiting

Bear-baiting

Bear-baiting is a blood sport involving the worrying or tormenting of bears.-Bear-baiting in England:Bear-baiting was popular in England until the nineteenth century. From the sixteenth century, many herds of bears were maintained for baiting...

, Bull-baiting

Bull-baiting

Bull-baiting is a blood sport involving the baiting of bulls.-History:In the time of Queen Anne of Great Britain, bull-baiting was practiced in London at Hockley-in-the-Hole, twice a week – and was reasonably common in the provincial towns...

, Donkey-baiting

Donkey-baiting

Donkey-baiting is a blood sport involving the baiting of donkeys.Donkey-baiting was quite common during the Victorian era, but was never popular with the masses. This had less to do with not wanting to exploit the animal, but rather that the donkey offered little appeal, as it was rarely possible...

, Duck-baiting

Duck-baiting

Duck-baiting is a blood sport involving the baiting of ducks.-Overview:Duck-baiting involved releasing a pinioned duck on to a pond. The dog dived into the pond coursing the duck, which was unable to fly. A spectacular diving exhibition ensued, as the duck dived the dog dived to pursue. ...

, Hog-baiting

Hog-baiting

Hog-baiting, also known as, hog dogging, is a spectator event that simulates wild boar hunting with dogs. It requires specially bred "hog dogs" that are used to bay a hog or boar...

, Human-baiting

Human-baiting

Human-baiting is a blood sport involving the baiting of humans. There are at least three known documented cases of human-bating, all of which occurred in England in the 1800s.-Gentleman and the Bull Dog:...

, Hyena-baiting

Hyena-baiting

Hyena-baiting is a blood sport involving the baiting of hyenas.The striped hyena has historically been the most frequently used species. Hyenas can be challenging opponents for dogs, as their jaws are exceedingly powerful. A single bite from a hyena lasting a few seconds without holding on is...

, Lion-baiting

Lion-baiting

Lion-baiting is a blood sport involving the baiting of lions.-Antiquity:Antiquity has examples of the eternal dream of man's faithful companion, the dog, which defeats even the 'King of Beasts', the lion. Greek legend reflects Achilles shield with a depiction of the victory of his dog over two lions...

, Monkey-baiting

Monkey-baiting

Monkey-baiting is a blood sport involving the baiting of monkeys.-Background:The English were always keen for something new to challenge their dog fighting breeds. This resulted in rather strange fights, in part with completely surprising outcomes...

, Rat-baiting

Rat-baiting

Rat-baiting is a blood sport involving the baiting of rats in a pit. Unlike most varieties of baiting, there were usually more rats than dogs involved in an exhibition.-History:...

, and Wolf-baiting

Wolf-baiting

Wolf-baiting is a blood sport involving the baiting of wolves.Historically, the baiting of wolves was more in the context of training dogs for wolf hunting than public entertainment. Wolves would sometimes be caught, either at the end of hunts, or in set traps, and would be set upon by the dogs,...

. Much of what is known about baiting comes from England

England

England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...

 in the middle ages, although it has not been legal there for some time. It is still practiced, however, in other parts of the world, including some cultures of Central Asia

Central Asia

Central Asia is a core region of the Asian continent from the Caspian Sea in the west, China in the east, Afghanistan in the south, and Russia in the north...

.

The United Kingdom

In 1835, the Parliament of the United Kingdom

Parliament of the United Kingdom

The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...

 implemented an Act

Act of Parliament

An Act of Parliament is a statute enacted as primary legislation by a national or sub-national parliament. In the Republic of Ireland the term Act of the Oireachtas is used, and in the United States the term Act of Congress is used.In Commonwealth countries, the term is used both in a narrow...

 called the Cruelty to Animals Act 1835

Cruelty to Animals Act 1835

The Cruelty to Animals Act 1835 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom , which was intended to protect animals from mistreatment....

, which prohibited the baiting of domestic or captive animals.

The USA

While baiting is generally illegal in the United States of America, an exception has been made in Louisianna for Uncle Earl's Hog Dog Trials.