If you’re looking for the ideal dog to add to your family, you may have ended up considering an American Pitbull or Staffordshire terrier. Not surprising, because although Pitbull terriers especially have a dark history, they both make fantastic companions. But… which one to go for? What are the differences? 

Let’s go into Pitbull vs. Staffordshire terrier in order to help you make an informed decision!

*According to the UKC
**According to the AKC

A similar history

Both American Pitbull terriers and American Staffordshire terriers are of British origin: they descend from the bull-and-terrier. This now-extinct breed was likely the original mix between bulldogs and terriers, and it was commonly used for blood sports including dogfights in the UK. These dogs were introduced in the United States and eventually developed into the two breeds we know now: American pitbull and Staffordshire terriers. Pitbulls especially quickly became popular for their fighting prowess, something which haunts the breed until today.

The American Pitbull terrier was registered first, with the UKC (United Kennel Club, in 1898) to be specific. The American Staffordshire terrier, also known as AmStaff or American Staffy, didn’t follow until 1936 and was registered with the AKC (American Kennel Club). The breeds have not been crossbred since the 1970s, which has led to the subtle differences we see today. Still, they are not always considered separate. 

Instant Service Request

What Kind Of Pets Do You Have? (Select All That Apply)

Dog(s)

Cat(s)

Other

What Service Are You Interested In?(Required)

Dog Walking

Cat or Small Animal Pet Care

Overnight Care

Pet Supply Delivery

Pet Taxi

When do you need service to begin?(Required)

MM slash DD slash YYYY

Pet's Name(s)(Required)

A Little About Yourself

Name(Required)

First Last

Email(Required)

Phone(Required)

Address(Required)

Street Address Address Line 2 City AlabamaAlaskaAmerican SamoaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareDistrict of ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaGuamHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaNorthern Mariana IslandsOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaPuerto RicoRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahU.S. Virgin IslandsVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyomingArmed Forces AmericasArmed Forces EuropeArmed Forces Pacific State ZIP Code

How did you hear about us?(Required)

Google SearchYelpSocial MediaMy Base GuideFriend or FamilyOther

Consent

I agree to be contacted via email or SMS by Kate's K9 Pet Care.

If you’re interested in keeping either dog as a pet, you’ll have to check local legislation. Due to their reputation as aggressive fighting dogs, they’re often included on breed restriction lists, despite the fact that temperament has more to do with how a dog is raised than inherent traits.

Did you know? There’s also a British Staffordshire: the Staffordshire bull terrier, another descendant of the bull-and-terrier. They’re not the same as the American Staffy, although they do share a similar dogfighting history.

Pitbull vs. Staffordshire terrier: Appearance

Although the differences between Pitbull vs. Staffordshire terrier are pretty subtle, the trained eye can tell the two apart. As you can see in the comparison table at the top of this post, there is actually a difference in size and weight.

AKC standard American Staffordshire terriers range between 40-55 pounds for females and 55-70 pounds for males. This makes them a bit heavier than UKC’s American Pitbull terriers, which should be around 30-50 pounds for females and 35-60 pounds for males. 

Pitbulls overtake AmStaffs in size, though, with the range for females being 17-20” and 18-21” for males. Female Staffs should be 17-18” and males about 18-19”. What this means is that we can generally expect an American Staffordshire terrier to be more stocky and compact than an American Pitbull terrier. They’re smaller but heavier, making Pitbulls the more athletic-looking of the two.

There is also a difference in the accepted colors. The UKC accepts any color or pattern aside from merle and albino for their pits, while the AKC is a bit more rigid with their AmStaffs. They do accept all colors, but not all patterns, excluding dogs with more than 80% white, black/tan or liver color. This doesn’t mean there are no AmStaffs with these patterns, of course, just that they’re discouraged from shows.

Pitbull vs. Staffordshire terrier: Personality

Considering their common ancestor, it won’t come as a surprise that American Pitbulls and Amstaffs are pretty similar in terms of personality. They’re both considered eager to please and highly trainable. This a good thing, because they’re powerful breeds that can display aggression to other dogs, meaning their owner should be dedicated to providing proper training and socialization.

So what about the elephant in the room? Is it true that Pitbulls especially are highly aggressive dogs? We can be short about this: no dog is inherently aggressive. Their behavior depends on their socialization. The fact that Pitbulls and Staffs are still often involved in dog attacks likely has more to do with the self-fulfilling prophecy of folks buying and training them specifically for viciousness due to their reputation, thus keeping said reputation alive.

In fact, both American Pitbull terriers and American Staffs are generally friendly with everyone. They’re reputed to be great with children, very social and devoted to their families. The former is described by the UKC as ‘brimming with enthusiasm’, while AKC says about the latter that ‘his courage is proverbial’. 

Pitbull vs. Staffordshire terrier: Activity level

As with personality, both these dogs are pretty similar in terms of activity level. We’d describe them as medium-high: while they love to lounge some, most of the time they’re pretty bouncy. 

If you’re interested in keeping one of these breeds, you’ll have to consider the fact that they need at least around an hour of vigorous exercise a day. They can entertain themselves reasonably well, but they do prefer to be around their owners. Plenty of walks, playing together or even getting into dog sports together would be a great idea.

Despite their differing physiques, both breeds are great for a range of sports. Pitbulls are said to do better at agility and Staffs are more suitable for weight pulling due to their more powerful build. In practice, though, their unmatched drive means they have the potential to be good at anything you introduce them to.

Which one is right for you?

Some of the breeds we compare in our posts are definitely different (take huskies vs. malamutes as an example!), with their suitability for your family depending on your lifestyle. This isn’t really the case here.

As we’ve discussed, American Pitbull terriers and American Staffordshire terriers share a common ancestor, and the latter was in fact developed from the former. Although the breeds have been moving away from each other somewhat, this is mostly limited to their appearance. Personality and temperament-wise, they’re still very similar!

If you care about looks, you’ll have to choose whether you like the more athletic (Pitbull) or the more powerful (Staffy) appearance. Other than that, especially when you’re (hopefully!) adopting, we’d say you can just go for the first individual that you connect with. Whether it’s a Pitbull or a Staff, with the right training, we think you’ve found yourself a fantastic furry companion.

Conclusion

Social dogs like American Pitbull terriers and American Staffordshire terriers love being around people. If you don’t want your dog to get lonely while you’re away, why not consider a pet care service? Contact Kate’s K9 Pet Care if you need a professional dog walker, sitter, taxi or even something else.