Are staffies a 'pit bull breed'?

I am a bit confused about this topic. I have read that the so-called 'pit bull' breed includes the American staffy, the American pit bull terrier, the Bull terrier and finally the Staffy bull terrier.  
The article also said that pit bull isn't technically a breed but a name for the above breeds of dogs (something along these lines). It went on about that in the case of 'some' American staffies it was impossible to differentiate them with the Pit bull terrier.
I believed that the SBT was a breed of its own and had nothing to do with Pit bulls. I mean Pit bulls are not allowed in the Uk, right!??  

The laws, and what breeds are considered what, changes between countries .. I am sure someone with expertise in your country will be able to advise you what the definitions are there.

Here in Australia, thanks to a lot of hard work from the breed communities, the American Staff is recognised as a separate breed from the American Pit Bull .. this has allowed us to keep our Am staffs despite our BSL that includes a ban for the American pit bull. It also means we don't have the same 'type' issues other countries do. Staffordshire Bull Terriers are a separate breed again.

Like Kell, Am Staffs are recognised here (I have one purebred and one English staffy x Amstaff) and Staffordshire bull terrier's are a separate breed too. Fortunately we don't have a BSL. Over here pitbulls are a recognised breed too and seem to be somewhat lighter and shorter than Am staffs. All three are extremely popular breeds and on a Sunday there is nothing nicer than seeing all the bully breeds out for their walks (don't know why, just seem to be a lot of them on a Sunday  )

American class the as a pitbull type dog, really the right group for them it an bull & terrier type dog becasue that where bull terrier, pitbull, boston terrier and staffie came from.

They all come under the general heading of 'bull breeds'.

The AmStaff, the Pitbull and the Boston Terrier come from the same ancestors (ie Bull & Terrier dogs that were exported to the USA before the Staffordshire Bull Terrier was actually created as a breed) as the Stafford & the Bull Terriers, but that's as far as the relationship goes.

Yes for us in the USA. They are lumped in with Pit Bull Types breeds but three breeds are recognized although the Am Staff and APBT can be cross registered. Staffordshire Bull Terriers are seen as truly a separate breed, but most people who see them call them Pit Bulls even though they are not APBT. Here it is like lumping people in larger groups by skin color (white, black, asian...etc.). Lots of conversations I have had trying to help people understand here are received with blank stares. I don't think the general population even cares, they just go with what the media calls something... people thought my old bulldog was a Pit Bull too...

Ben wrote:... people thought my old bulldog was a Pit Bull too...

 

Caryll wrote:

Ben wrote:... people thought my old bulldog was a Pit Bull too...

 

Yes. I just responded by furling my brow and shaking my head. Honestly, most people have no clue here... they just hear crap and assumptions run rampant.  

just the same here ben  

Steve wrote:just the same here ben  

But at least tell me the average Brit doesn't think a bulldog is a pit?!

no they probably thin kthey are staffy or something else  i tell we live in a dumb society

 

Ok cheers for the info. I guess it all depends on the country then and also who is writing the piece! 
In the end it doesn't matter if some people class our dogs as pit type or not...our dogs are just lovely no matter the name.

They all have similiar characteristics and were seemingly have close reasons of why they were bred though. So I would see why people would bunch them all together in the same class.

Though I just usually tell people that dont know much staffys are a nanny dog and they just get shocked lol.

Ben wrote:

Steve wrote:just the same here ben  

But at least tell me the average Brit doesn't think a bulldog is a pit?!

yes i have heard that one before, and the BT are pitbulls too!

I'm happy to say that the main problem here is just trying to get people to understand that my dog is not an 'English' staff .. and that, even though I do get plenty of questions about jaw locking and whether they really do get on with children, on the whole people here generally understand that 'the staff' is friendly.