Differences between Pitbull Terrier and American Staffordshire Terrier?

I know it's the right place to ask.
So recently I've googled them to find out their history and bunch off pics came out but really can't see the differences. And the description I found about them doesn't always work with the pics. And I've watched some on youtube but some of the dogs describe as pitbull looks like massive pigs. So it would be great if tou could help.

The link below will help you to identify the difference in appearance of the two breeds you have mentioned:

http://staffy-bull-terrier.co.uk/similarbreeds.html

They're really the same breed. The pitbull isn't recognised by the American Kennel Club (AKC) so the people who wanted them registered split from the main body & called the their dogs American Staffordshire Terriers. They were then registered with the AKC under that name.

The American Pit Bull Terrier is registered by the American Pit Bull Registry and the United Kennel Club (UKC). Neither of these are recognised by other countries' Kennel Clubs.

Some AmStaffs and Pitbulls are 'dual' registered - as a pitbull with the UKC and as an AmStaff with the AKC!

Confused?

the ones that look like 'pigs' i suspect are american bullies a different dog again!

So if you call pitbull an amstaff you won't be wrong? Are they any visual differences? And what dogs were breed to get them? And ofcourse where is our staff in there? I know that staff was first,then pitbull and last amstaff,is that right?

American Pitbul terrier

american staffordshire terriers

american bully

Ella,that's what came up when typed pitbull in youtube, some of them were taller. So was bit confused when had description of them in my head and saw that dog.

with american bully there 5 differnet standard

http://theabkcdogs.org/breeds/american-bully/standard/

jola139 wrote:Ella,that's what came up when typed pitbull in youtube, some of them were taller. So was bit confused when had description of them in my head and saw that dog.

Yer alot of people still call them pitbulls when clearly they aren't, as steve said there are different types of bullies some taller and some wider then others

jola139 wrote:So if you call pitbull an amstaff you won't be wrong? Are they any visual differences? And what dogs were breed to get them? And ofcourse where is our staff in there? I know that staff was first,then pitbull and last amstaff,is that right?

It doesn't quite work out that way. To register with any of the registries you have to meet certain criteria such as a full pedigree, with parents etc being registered with the relevant Club.

The AmStaff nowadays is often a bit 'chunkier' than the pitbull, but that may be because they tend to be shown in a heavier condition than the pit.

The stafford wasn't necessarily first! They all come from the original Bull & Terrier dogs. Back in the 1800s they emigrated with their owners to the USA & were developed into pitbulls by crossing with local dogs, whilst back in the UK we developed the Stafford, so although they're both from Bull & Terriers, they're not that closely related.

Now it's more clear,thanks

Just to confuse the issue further ... like in the staffy world, APBT and AST come in many shapes and size's ... from the "WOW" through to the "is that a bull breed at all" ... and with true APBT people, there are those that recognise very little as an APBT unless it is from proper working stock, and still pocess's the qualities of the breed from times gone by ... which these days is mainly proven in hunting, catching, and some extent schutshund (sp)

If you want to see lots of amstaffs go to france spain etc they are a very popular dog !

We do have lots in Poland,that's why we were there on holiday people were kept saying that Debo is vety small for amstaff

jola139 wrote:So if you call pitbull an amstaff you won't be wrong?

Not exactly. Every American Staffordshire Terrier comes from American Pit Bull Terrier bloodlines originally, but not every Pit Bull is an AmStaff. Only a few Pit Bull lines went into making the AmStaff. And, even though no other breed went into creating the AmStaff than the Pit Bull and there are still dogs to this day dual registered as AmStaffs in the AKC and Pit Bulls in the UKC, some people don't consider AmStaffs the same breed as the Pit Bull. Go figure.

jola139 wrote:We do have lots in Poland,that's why we were there on holiday people were kept saying that Debo is vety small for amstaff

Not surprised!! People say Saxon is small for a Pit Bull all the time! I usually correct them, but sometimes don't even bother.

Here are a couple of good visual comparisons of Champion ADBA registered American Pit Bull Terriers, UKC registered American Pit Bull Terriers and AKC registered American Staffordshire Terriers.





It's funny that Steve's picture of an AmStaff had natural ears because, as you can see above, AmStaffs almost always have cropped ears in the US! Sometimes you'll see a UKC Pit Bull with natural ears win conformation, but you almost never see an AKC AmStaff win with natural ears. It's a shame because the standard states that natural ears are preferred.

CatStina wrote: some people don't consider AmStaffs the same breed as the Pit Bull. Go figure.

Some governments don't consider them the same breed!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JKkh7MwWxA&feature=related
AmStaffs we have in Poland

jola139 wrote:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JKkh7MwWxA&feature=related
AmStaffs we have in Poland

Looks just like an AmStaff you might find in the US!

jola139 wrote:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JKkh7MwWxA&feature=related
AmStaffs we have in Poland

OMG gorgeous

Originally there was a huge variation in the appearence of Pit Bulls (it was the 'character' of the breed that was important, not looks). So in the 1930's the term Staffordshire Terrier was born when Pit Bull fanciers created a show standard based on a Pit Bull called 'Colby's Primo' and started to register Pit Bull Terriers as Staffordshire Terriers. Sort of a 'show version' of the breed I guess you could say. The name was later to changed to 'American' Staffordshire Terrier so as to not confuse them with the Staffordshire Bull Terrier.

Here's a link to a really interesting article on the origins of the 3 breeds (staffords, pit bulls and amstaffs) - it even has old photographs including one of the 'Pit Bull' used to base our Staffordshire Bull Terrier show standards on: http://www.fiapbt.net/ingles16.html

Today their are still dogs out their duel registered as Amstaffs and Pit Bulls. Interestingly the UKC (United Kennel Club) will register Amstaffs as Pit Bulls, but the AKC (American Kennel Club) will not register Pit Bulls as Amstaffs, considering them seperate breeds.

Just thought I'd add that I'm from New Zealand and Pit Bull Terriers are now banned here but American Staffordshire Terriers are considered a seperate breed so are completely legal.

It was an horrific attack on a little girl started all of the BSL laws here. The girl was badly mauled in a park by a so-called 'Pit Bull' - and the media had a frenzy over it, and then after the girls family campaigning to ban the Pit Bull breed, followed by another series of seperate dog attacks strict new laws came into place here banning certain breeds. The craziest thing of all though is the 'Pit Bull' that mauled this little girl was actually a purebred American Staffordshire Terrier.

Pit Bulls cannot be imported into New Zealand, and all the remaining dogs have to be muzzled in public and neutered. Pit Bulls are not allowed to be bred from, sold or adopted - meaning most that do come into shelters have to be destroyed. Despite the laws they are still the most common breed to end up in our pounds - sadly meaning they are euthanised if not claimed and the fines paid. When most get seized the owners just get another one as people are still breeding them here so they are easy to get. Smart owners just register them as Amstaffs with their local coucil to avoid the regulations.

Due to the closeness of the two breeds I have heard of at least one Pit Bull breeder importing Pit Bulls as 'Amstaffs' - so this is not a breed that is going to go away here.

Luckily our Staffordshire Bull Terrier has a relitively good name here - making the top 10 most popular breed list in the country for years. I hope this doesnt change though, especially with the amount of dogs labeled as 'staffies' or 'staffy cross' that are infact either purebred or partbred Pit Bull or Amstaffs. Its a great way for people (and shelters) to get around our BSL laws.

In Australia the BSL Laws are outrageous.. They are different from state to state with Victoria and Queensland being the most ludicrous.. These states rely on a point system to determine the difference between the 2.. With a point score of 66 being the highest anything over 45 is classed as a dangerous breed and therefore labelled pitbul and destroyed if ever taken into rescue or found unsecured, but when the laws came into effect the animal control officers in Qld only recieved a 2 hour course on Identifying Breeds.. How can 2 hours training make anyone capable of being called an expert, it's a joke.. It takes years of studying the breeds to be able to identify them (either formal study or just having a keen interest in them). In 2000 the Victoria Domestic Animals Act states the Government requested that dog shelters put down any stray Pit Bulls to "help prevent aggressive dogs returning to the community". Whether they were actually aggressive or not doesn’t matter, because according to the Government, ALL Pit Bulls are aggressive. I think ALL Politicians are idiots is a much more truthful statement.

Sorry that rant was a bit I personally have no idea I'm a little useless with determining breeds..

Kat75 wrote: I think ALL Politicians are idiots is a much more truthful statement.

Maybe all politicians should be put down to avoid idiots being returned into the community.

That's a law that I, personally, would support 100%!

Caryll wrote:

Kat75 wrote: I think ALL Politicians are idiots is a much more truthful statement.

Maybe all politicians should be put down to avoid idiots being returned into the community.

That's a law that I, personally, would support 100%!

I would definately second that!! Reading through the BSL laws here in aus is crazy!! I think Italy is the only country that tops us.. It really is ridiculous And I know this is off the topic and I do apologise.. But the "point" system here was put to the test by an admirer of the bully type breeds, and a Chihuaha ranked a 50/66 so in their opinion that dog is pitbul and deemed to be pts..

So that'll be a Pithuahua!

Caryll wrote:So that'll be a Pithuahua!

Yeah something like that as far as pollies are concened.. I wish a Pituahua would bite some of their faces off

CatStina wrote:

jola139 wrote:So if you call pitbull an amstaff you won't be wrong?

Not exactly. Every American Staffordshire Terrier comes from American Pit Bull Terrier bloodlines originally, but not every Pit Bull is an AmStaff. Only a few Pit Bull lines went into making the AmStaff. And, even though no other breed went into creating the AmStaff than the Pit Bull and there are still dogs to this day dual registered as AmStaffs in the AKC and Pit Bulls in the UKC, some people don't consider AmStaffs the same breed as the Pit Bull. Go figure.

The dual registered bit is no more. The UKC no longer accepts AKC registered ASTs onto its registry as APBTs. The AKC never accepted APBTs onto their registery except for a brief period when they opened their stud book to expand the ASTs gene pool.
the AST was original registered as the Staffordshire Terrier, & changed to the American Staffordshire Terrier in 1974 when the SBT was accepted onto the AKC registry.
Why did they have to change the breed name to gain acceptance to the AKC register?...because the APBT was not & is still not considered a ''pure breed'' by it's country of origins pure breed register mainly due to its very ''liberal'' breed description. Anything from 20lb to 100lb+ is acceptable as long as it looks the part.
The UKC was formed specifically to give APBTs a register . Bennets Ring was the first dog registered. He was owned by the UKC founder. Chauncey Bennet. The UKC is a privately owned business that only recently was sold by the Bennet family.
It is a gold mine.
is the AST & the APBT the the same breed?...in a word. yes.

there are plenty of ''pure breeds'' that aren't recognised as such by all the affilated registries.
The jack Russell is a one example.
It is not recognised by the KC but is by many other registries affiliated with the KC.
The ANKC for e.g.

starling89 wrote:Originally there was a huge variation in the appearence of Pit Bulls (it was the 'character' of the breed that was important, not looks). So in the 1930's the term Staffordshire Terrier was born when Pit Bull fanciers created a show standard based on a Pit Bull called 'Colby's Primo' and started to register Pit Bull Terriers as Staffordshire Terriers. Sort of a 'show version' of the breed I guess you could say. The name was later to changed to 'American' Staffordshire Terrier so as to not confuse them with the Staffordshire Bull Terrier.

Here's a link to a really interesting article on the origins of the 3 breeds (staffords, pit bulls and amstaffs) - it even has old photographs including one of the 'Pit Bull' used to base our Staffordshire Bull Terrier show standards on: http://www.fiapbt.net/ingles16.html

Today their are still dogs out their duel registered as Amstaffs and Pit Bulls. Interestingly the UKC (United Kennel Club) will register Amstaffs as Pit Bulls, but the AKC (American Kennel Club) will not register Pit Bulls as Amstaffs, considering them seperate breeds.

i started to read the link you posted. Pulled up gobsmacked pretty quickly tho.

It is a fairy tale as far as the development of the SBT is concerned.
APBTs were pulling mine carts in the black country & were the basis of the SBT? What? Give us a break.
The British Bull & terrier type was the basis of both breeds.
One was developed in Britain, the other in the USA where it emigrated to with it's British owners.
One is the most popular terrier in the world & the other isn't.

Which explains the reason for the tale when you get right down to it.

Yes, I started to read it as well. Fairy tale? Yes, along the lines of Grimm! What a load of rubbish!

starling89 wrote:Here's a link to a really interesting article on the origins of the 3 breeds (staffords, pit bulls and amstaffs) - it even has old photographs including one of the 'Pit Bull' used to base our Staffordshire Bull Terrier show standards on: http://www.fiapbt.net/ingles16.html

Where on earth did that piece of fiction come from? Sorry to be so blunt, but it's a load of old codswallop! For a start, back in the late 1800s & early 1900s there were no APBTs in the UK, and no dog by that name in America either!

Both breeds originate from the Bull & Terrier crosses of the time, but other than that they are not related.

you have to blame all this confuse on the american staffordshire terrier first breeders they should of call their breed a different name like american terrier or used the yankee terrier then we wouldn't of all these different storys on the net.

the APBT & AST started from the Bull & Terrier not the staffordshire bull terrier.