American Staff

Hi,

I wanted to ask a question and hopefully someone can help me.

Is a American Staff really a Pitt Bull? but people in the UK say AM Staff so they keep it on the low?

I have put a deposit down on a puppy and have been told mum is Mastiff x Staff and a father is American Staff... until then I had never heard of a American Staff.

The only thing I guess I could do is do a dog DNA test but I am worried if it says pitt bull will the company snitch on me... Id hate to loose her.

My friend has a Pitt Bull she was rescued from a drug house in North London and she is an amazing loving girl. The owner says shes a lab cross but some people do know what she is as my friend got stopped a few yrs back saying is she neutered? because he had a pitt boy... (Ofcourse she ignored the guy and kept walking)

Hi and welcome from me and mine!

The important thing to know when it comes to breed specific legislation (BSL) in the UK is that the pit bull type assessment is based solely on appearance. It doesn't matter what the parents are, what a DNA test says, what the breeder calls it, what you call it or what the man in the street calls it. The assessment is done by a specifically trained police officer (and some others) according to a check list, mostly of measurements. If the dog is classed according to that as mostly meeting type, then it is deemed a pit.

I've been told by many a know-it-all that Chaos is a pitbull. He's not, and he's not pit type. I've met a few through the kennels where I volunteer that have been assessed and, sadly, destroyed and they're not what the man in the street always thinks.

You can never tell what a crossbreed puppy will end up looking like until the grow up but with that parentage my guess is that you'll end up with quite a chunky girl, which isn't a pitbull.

The best advice is to train her well (using positive methods) and socialise her from early on to make sure no one can have an issue with you or her. And if you do get someone making a fuss, just thank them kindly for their concern but assure them there is nothing to be concered about, and avoid an argument.

Does that help you feel better?

Hi & Welcome to the Forum from Flo and me

Pit bulls are very rare in the UK now due to the BSL laws etc but it's the BSL laws you need to think about really. As already said above, the best thing to do is to train the dog to be really sociable with both humans and dogs so as not to give any reason for anyone to question "type" in the first place.

Hi from me & Katy Am staff is not pit bull!! both lovely dogs though, in the right hands

Thank you very much! It has put my mind to rest.

My friend rescued a female Pitt from a drug house in North London she was in fact in a police kennel to be put to sleep but someone who worked there broke her out. Never seen such a lovely dog in my life considering her past (scars on her body)

My friend just tells people shes a lab cross and so far its been ok.

I hope to introduce her to my mums dogs straight away and then from there get her out and meet others. I have a 18 month old son so hopefully from pup growing up with him she will be ok.


I have heard they are good family dogs. I'm a single mum so want that company and protection should I need it.

Company you'll get, protection I'm not sure. Most bull breeds would be more likely to lick someone to death rather than attack them!

I do hope we'll see photos soon???

Ha! Some people seem to think any dog with a fat head is a pitbull.

hia from me and sasha