Home :: What's a Pit Bull? :: Save The Pit Bulls

What's a Pit Bull?:

Note: This is the page formerly known as 'Am Staff Or Pit Bull? What's The Difference?'. There is a lot of confusion surrounding what the difference is between American Pit Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, and Staffordshire Bull Terriers. I think the best way to understand the difference is by combining a little breed history with the breed standards, a few pictures, and an explanation of the basic differences of each breed. This page is basically a hybrid of the last page. Hopefully this will help you better understand the difference. Please read on... - and Thanks for Visiting.

Are they the same dog?: There is no right or wrong answer to this question. It all basically depends on how you look at it. All of the breeds (Pit Bull Terriers, AM Staffs, and Staffie Bulls) AKC, UKC, and ADBA all originated from the same group of British dogs, making American Pit Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, and Staffordshire Bull Terriers (Staffie Bulls) all the same dog. When the original British dogs came over they became American Staffordshire Terriers (AM Staffs) and American Pit Bull Terriers (Pit Bulls - note the capitalized words). However, the dogs which remained in Britain are significantly different from the American dogs. All three of the 'breeds' originated from the same group of British dogs, but have been bred along different lines and for different purposes long enough now to be separate breeds. I, however, accept the idea that they're all cousins, closely related but not exactly the same. The confusion started in the late 1800's when dog shows became popular, bringing with them the concept of 'breeds'. They categorized and subcategorized dogs by similar appearances. Dogs began being bred to follow a strict hand written standard of how humans though they should look.

Breed Standards: These are excerpts of breed standards from the AKC, UKC, and American Dog Breeder's Association (ADBA).
AKC: The American Staffordshire Terrier should give the impression of great strength for his size, a well put-together dog, muscular, but agile and graceful, keenly alive to his surroundings. He should be stocky, not long-legged or racy in outline. His courage is proverbial.
UKC: The American Pit Bull Terrier is a medium-sized, solidly built, short-coated dog with smooth, well-defined musculature. This breed is both powerful and athletic. The body is just slightly longer than tall, but bitches may be somewhat longer in body than dogs. The length of the front leg (measured from point of elbow to the ground) is approximately equal to one-half of the dog's height at the withers. The head is of medium length, with a broad, flat skull, and a wide, deep muzzle. Ears are small to medium in size, high set, and may be natural or cropped. The relatively short tail is set low, thick at the base and tapers to a point. The American Pit Bull Terrier comes in all colors and color patterns. This breed combines strength and athleticism with grace and agility and should never appear bulky or muscle-bound or fine-boned and rangy.
ADBA: Conforming to-Type. Type is the essence of the breed. Breed type is that collection of specific characteristics which, when taken together separate one breed from another.

• 1. Athletic - Solid front end, light and springy back end.
• 2. Sturdy - Not racy or frail.
• 3. Confident, secure, carries its territory with him.
• 4. Should look like an American Pit Bull Terrier from across the ring.

Breed Appearance: "This breed combines strength and athleticism with grace and agility and should never appear bulky or muscle-bound or fine-boned and rangy." - UKC Standard. Purebred Pit Bulls should range in weight between 25 and 75 lbs. Dogs larger than this are generally hybrids (AM Staff/Pit Bull mixes) or mixed breeds. The history of the Pit Bull is one of a small, powerful, and  agile fighting dog, not a stocky, over bred dog that has difficulty moving its own weight around. What good is it to say your dogs are registered 'pure bred' Pit Bulls when the dogs produced look nothing like the breed standard of your organization says they should look? I'm not saying the large, stocky dogs aren't good pets or family dogs, but they don't match the criteria presented to be considered a 'pure bred' Pit Bull.

Breed History: The American Pit Bull Terrier originated as a butcher's dog, a farm dog, and a stock dog in England. The working bulldogs, as they were formerly known as, guarded the shop and watched over livestock. The dogs were safe, capable, intelligent companions and strong guardians, when they needed to be. In the 1800's bull baiting became a popular blood sport in England. Bulldogs were set on mature bulls in stock yards for entertainment, the bulldogs did not disappoint - frequently beating animals over ten times their size. When Bull Baiting became illegal, an even more vicious animal contest was devised for the faithful bulldog - dog fighting. The strong and sturdy Bulldog was mixed with Terrier, creating a smaller bulldog with the speed and stamina of the terrier. The dogs were bred to be small, fast, courageous, strong and to never give up no matter what the odds. Dog aggression, of course, was a necessary breed characteristic as well. However, contrary to popular belief, the Pit Bull was never bred for aggression towards humans. For more on the history check out our history page.

What's a 'red nose' pit bull?: A 'red nose' Pit Bull is simply a pit bull with a reddish colored nose. Red noses are actually considered a fault in the AM Staff (American Staffordshire Terrier) lineage and have been bred out of most of the AM Staff lines. However, red nosed dogs are very common in the APBT (American Pit Bull Terrier) lineage. This may also help you determine whether the dog is an AM Staff or APBT. If the dog has a red nose it is most likely to be from the APBT line. Please note that the color of the dog's nose does not mean it's worth anymore than any of the other colors of noses (red, blue, black, etc...).

Is a 'red nose', 'blue nose', or 'black nose' rare, special, or worth more money?: This is one of my favorite myths and its pretty much answered in the question above; However I'll answer it here again or clarification. Pit Bulls (American Pit Bull Terriers) are bred in every possible genetic combination. They come in virtually every color under the sun from brindle to black to tan and the same goes for their noses. Red Noses, Blue Noses, and Black Noses are NOT a genetic anomaly and are actually quite common in the APBT lineage. This means that all the people that categorize their dog by the color of their nose because they thinks its special, are sorely mistaken. I hope that more people read this and realize, before they overpay for a dog, that blue noses and red noses and any other color of fur or nose are, usually, not rare. Therefore, you shouldn't pay extra for a dog that isn't any different from the rest of them. Its disappointing to know that some people attempt to take advantage of others by advertising their dogs as 'red nose' or 'blue nose' and 'rare' or 'special' when its neither. The point being that pit bulls are a breed of many colors and none are more rare than the other.

What's the Difference?: There are a few differences between the breeds that could help you identify them better. Continue reading for a few of the noticeable differences between the breeds.

American Staffordshire Terrier (Am Staff or AST):  They generally weigh in the area of 25 lbs to 85 lbs. They are also more susceptible to hip dysplasia than the other two breeds.  The easiest way to tell them apart is that they have longer legs (they're taller), a more narrow head, and are usually bigger overall than the other two dogs.

American Pit Bull Terrier (APBT):  They are usually shorter and stockier than the American Staffordshire Terrier, but bigger than the Staffordshire Bull Terrier.  They have blocky-shaped, heavy heads and their muscle definition is, generally, more easily noticeable.

Staffordshire Bull Terrier (Staffie Bull or SBT):  They are usually smaller in size, weighing in the general region of 35 lbs.  They have smaller, more "boxy" (box shaped) Pit Bull Terrier.  They're basically just smaller in size.