Last Updated on August 11, 2024 by Amin Tawar
Both powerful, muscular, broad faced and alert dog breeds with fearsome reputations, people often find it quite difficult to tell the differences between the American Staffordshire Terrier and the Pitbull. And why shouldn’t they, when they both come from the same stock and there’s such massive confusion about what the Pitbull even is in the first place. However, whether you consider looks, temperament or history, the two breeds do have significant differences. Let’s take a closer look.
What Is an American Staffordshire Terrier?
The American Staffordshire Terrier, affectionately called the AmStaff for short, has recently become one of the most popular breeds of dogs in the United States. Different from the Staffordshire Terrier, which is a British breed, these medium sized dogs are both friendly and playful.
Yes, they get quite a bad rep because they get associated with the fearsome fighting dogs of the Bull and Terrier lineage. But with more awareness, people are becoming aware that for all their intimidating appearance, they’re actually extremely loyal and loving.
AmStaffs were originally known just as the Staffordshire Terrier and the ‘American’ was only added later to differentiate them from the British breed.
What Exactly Is a Pitbull?
Now, the Pitbull, or the American Pitbull Terrier as is its correct name, is a complicated breed. Not recognized by the American Kennel Club and many other kennel clubs in the world, their history is a dark and terrible one. Just like the AmStaff, it was used for blood sports like bear baiting and dog fighting. But it didn’t even have the degree of safety that the AmStaff had, not being recognized by any major bodies.
‘Pitbull’ is a generic term used to refer to many dogs of the bull and terrier group. Bred by crossing bulldogs with terriers, they originated in Britain and were used in all kinds of illegal fighting (they still are, even today). Now, the term is used to refer to the particular American Pitbull Terrier breed.
Fearless and loyal, the American Pitbull Terrier is a strong and muscular dog that is beloved by many. While the breed certainly has a bad reputation and ranks number one in the list of most dangerous dog breeds in the world because they have caused more fatalities than any other breed, an American Pitbull Terrier in a good household is a gem. Usually calm and gentle towards family members, they make a very affectionate addition to the family.
History Of the American Pitbull Terrier
As noted earlier, the origins of the American Pitbull Terrier lie in England. Bred from the Old English Bulldog and the Old English Terrier in the 1800s, they only became American when immigrants brought them over to the United States. In the UK and the US alike, these dogs became a huge part of brutal dog sports and dog fights. (In fact, that’s where the ‘pit’ part of their name comes from, since they were made to fight in pits in secret once dog fighting became an illegal sport.)
The American Pitbull Terrier was also used for sports such as rat baiting where they were required to fight off multiple rats for the entertainment of humans. Combining the fearless nature and strength of the Bulldog and the agility of the smaller Terrier, American Pitbull Terriers were the ideal candidates for such sports. Thousands of these dogs have died for the entertainment of human beings. And it is only very recently that people have become aware of their brutal history and various NGOs work to rescue and rehabilitate fighting dogs.
The breed is now doing better. They can suffer from aggression issues and it is of vital importance that they have experienced, caring owners. However, as people become more and more aware of the breed’s history, sympathy has been generated and many people wish to take in American Pitbull Terriers into their families.
History Of the American Staffordshire Terrier
The history of the American Staffordshire Terrier isn’t all that different from the American Pitbull Terrier. In fact, AmStaffs are descended from Pitbulls and they were often used for the same kind of pit fighting. However, they became accepted into the mainstream much sooner than the Pitbull and had a greater degree of protection because of the efforts of a man called Joe Dunn.
Dunn and fellow lovers of the breed sought out a way to protect their Pitbulls from the stigma of being fighting dogs. (Pitbulls were looked down upon by many dog lovers because their purpose in life was to fight and kill fellow dogs.) Dunn and his compatriots wanted a new name and new purpose in life for their dogs. The name ‘Staffordshire Terrier’ was first used and the dogs were registered as such.
However, the name and the breed didn’t become popular until later. The name ‘American Staffordshire Terrier’ was only recognized in 1936 by the AKC to differentiate it from the Staffordshire Terrier breed from Britain. The two breeds are similar and have the same kind of history but they aren’t the same. Now, they make for excellent watchdogs and goofy family companions and their bloody history has long fallen to the wayside.
American Staffordshire Terrier Vs Pitbull Appearance
People often mistake the AmStaff and the Pitbull as the same breed because they look so very similar. However, there are certain subtle differences in their looks. For one thing, the AmStaff isn’t as big as the Pitbull. At the same time, the AmStaff is heavier than the lean and muscular Pitbull.
In general, a male American Staffordshire Terrier stands at a height of about 17 to 19 inches (43 – 48 cm) and weighs between 56 and 70 lb (25 – 32 kg). A female American Staffordshire Terrier stands at a height of around 17 to 18 inches (43 – 46 cm) at the shoulder and weighs around 50 to 55 lb (22.5 – 25 kg).
On the other hand, an adult male American Pitbull Terrier stands at a height of about 20 – 22 inches (51 – 56 cm) and weighs anywhere between 30 to 75 lb (13.5 – 34 kg). Females stand at a height of about 17 – 20 inches (43 – 51 cm) and weigh anywhere between 30 and 60 lb (13.5 – 27 kg).
Thus, it is clear that while Pitbulls are generally taller, AmStaffs are generally heavier. The leaner Pitbull has more muscle mass and it is more clearly visible throughout their body. The American Pitbull Terrier comes in every single imaginable coat color and pattern except merle. AmStaffs are usually found in solid colors and may have some white markings. Some colors for the AmStaff are red, black, white, cream, tan, blue, gray, fawn, buckskin and brindle.
They also have some similarities. They’re both stocky, medium sized dogs with broad square faces and muscular builds. They’re both short haired dogs and don’t need a lot of grooming. They have thick legs that are on the shorter side. Their long tails are often docked and their ears, which naturally flop down, are docked to give them a more alert and fearsome appearance.
American Staffordshire Terrier Vs Pitbull Temperament
The temperament of the American Staffordshire Terrier and the American Pitbull Terrier is a very important question. With a reputation of being fearsome and aggressive dogs, the truth is actually quite different from the rumors. AmStaffs and Pitbulls are similar in many ways as far as their temperament is concerned and they make excellent family pets.
Both breeds are friendly and affectionate and do surprisingly well with children. Of course that doesn’t mean that you can leave them unsupervised. But they’re not a danger to have around young kids (as opposed to smaller breeds like Chihuahuas). They’re stubborn by nature and absolutely fearless. Despite this, they’re not difficult to train because they have a deep loyalty to their family.
Thorough and consistent training and socialization from a young age allows these dogs to live comfortable, worry free lives. They love being around people and can suffer from separation anxiety when left alone. They are highly protective and might react negatively to strange people or other animals if they’re not socialized.
These breeds are generally quite playful and high on energy. They need a lot of physical and mental stimulation and are best suited to active families that can devote time to them. The AmStaff is generally calmer and less energetic than the Pitbull who is ready to run and play at any time. Both dogs just love attention and will shower you with affection as well.
American Staffordshire Terrier Vs Pitbull Training and Exercise
Both the American Staffordshire Terrier and the American Pitbull Terrier are strong, powerful dogs. This means that it’s absolutely essential to train them if you want to keep in control of your dogs. They’re also pretty stubborn by nature. So they aren’t difficult to train, exactly, but they do need a firm hand. Of the two, AmStaffs are definitely easier to train. They’re smart, eager to please and respond well to positive reinforcement. So if you’re debating between the two dogs and would like one which is more easily trained, that’s the breed to opt for. They are quite vocal and noisy though, so you should be prepared for that.
Pitbulls need a lot of rigorous training. They’re notoriously protective which can be bad news for visitors or other animals unless they’re extremely well-trained. They also need a lot of exercise and play time and are high energy dogs. If they have too much pent up energy, they might get destructive and chew on your furniture and other belongings. They’re best suited for homes which don’t have other pets because they might view them as competition (particularly if the other animals are smaller than them). They can be socialized but they’ll never be the most social dogs.
Both dogs need a lot of exercise. They’re not well-suited to apartment living. They need proper backyards where they can play and a minimum of 30 minutes of daily exercise is a must for these breeds. These dogs aren’t lazy and they’re happiest when they’re running around and playing with their family.
American Staffordshire Terrier Vs Pitbull Health
Finally, the health conditions of the AmStaff and the Pitbull also aren’t that far apart. They’re hardy, active breeds but are susceptible to some conditions. Foremost among them is joint issues like hip and elbow dysplasia. The Pitbull also suffers from kneecap dislocation.
Skin conditions like mange is another common health issue that both these breeds face. While their coats are easy to care for and need grooming just once a month, you should always keep an eye on their skin and coats to make sure they’re not suffering from skin infections.
AmStaffs suffer from progressive retinal atrophy and hypothyroidism. This breed is also prone to weight gain because of their stocky build so it’s imperative that you regulate their diet and give them enough exercise. The coats of both of these breeds don’t shed much but you should occasionally wipe them down with a wet cloth to keep them clean. Trim their nails and clean their years once every fortnight or so.
Both breeds have a pretty long life expectancy of around 12 to 16 years.
Conclusion
And that is all that you need to know about the American Staffordshire Terrier vs Pitbull. I hope that this article was helpful and that you gained something valuable from it.