APBT, AST, SBT- What is the difference?

Did you know there really isn’t a breed registered under the name “Pit Bull”? A pit bull is a term to describe several breeds of dog that have common physical features. In fact over 30 breeds can be mistaken for a Pit Bull. Some that may be mistaken for a Pit Bull are Perro de Presa Canario, Cane Corso, Dogo Argentino, Alano Español, Japanese Tosa, Dogue de Bordeaux, Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog, American Bulldog, Boxer, Valley Bulldog, Olde English Bulldogge, Renascence Bulldogge, and Banter Bulldogge.

However today I will discuss the difference between the the main 3 breeds that are described under the term “pit bull.”  These 3  are the APBT- American Pit Bull Terrier, AST- American Staffordshire Terrier, and the SBT Staffordshire Bull Terrier.

American Pit Bull Terrier

General: APBT’s can weight anywhere from 30-60 lbs, 18-20 inches tall, and can live to be 14 years old. APBT’s are recognized by the United Kennel Club.

History: The APBT was originally bred to combine the gameness of the terrier with the strength and athleticism of the bulldog. At first they were used to bait bulls and bears, when that was deamed inhumane dog fighting became more popular. The dogs soon became better used as family pets due to their friendliness towards people.

Temperament: The APBT is a breed that is loyal to friends and family. They generally greet strangers with wagging tails and big smiles as well. People have been known to be afraid of them because of their bad reputations. Nonetheless, an APBT can be a very congenial pet. Proper training can make the dog obedient and have a high desire to please. Without proper guidance, though, the breed can become dominant and destructive. According to the UKC, “aggressive behavior toward humans is uncharacteristic of the breed and highly undesirable.” The American Temperament Testing Society shows a pass percentage of 84.3% for American Pit Bull Terriers.

American Staffordshire Terrier

General: AST’s can weigh anywhere from 44-77 pounds, 17-19 inches tall, and can live to be 15 years old. AST’s are recognized by American Kennel Club.

History: The AST is considered to be the second cousin of the APBT. They were also bred for bear and bull baiting and coincidently used for dog fighting.

Temperament: These dogs are generally courageous, tenacious, friendly, extremely attentive, and extraordinarily devoted. Amstaffs learn quickly from the subtlest of our behaviors. They are thus not only highly responsive during training but also pick up good habits, such as house training. This can become a problem when an owner unknowingly allows the dog to pick up bad behaviors. A typical training regimen should begin at 8 to 10 weeks of age. It has been proven that Positive Reinforcement Training works very well with this breed.

Staffordshire Bull Terrier

General: SBT can weigh anywhere from 24-38 pounds, 14-16 inches tall, and can live to be 16 years old. AST’s are recognized by American Kennel Club.

History: SBT’s were also bred for baiting bulls and bears. Not only was it seen as a sport but as a way of tenderizing the meat. After bull and bear baiting were eliminated by animal welfare laws, pitting the dogs against each other became more popular. However it is important to remember that during dogfights the dogs were handled by their owners and the judge, so they were bred to be as trustworthy with humans as they were aggressive towards other dogs.

Temperament: Due to its breeding, the modern dog is known for its character of indomitable courage, high intelligence, and tenacity. This, coupled with its affection for its friends (and children in particular), its off-duty quietness and trustworthy stability, make it a foremost all-purpose dog . It has been said that “No breed is more loving with its family.”

The breed is naturally muscular and may appear intimidating; however, because of their natural fondness for people, most Staffords are not good guard or attack-dog training. The SBT appeared in the top 10 breeds most suitable for families and especially children in a report researched and published by Southampton University in 1996 .

APBT vs AST: The American Staffordshire Terrier and the American Pit Bull Terrier are cousins, who derived from the same stock in Britain. In the eyes of the UKC, they are the same breed, but many disagree. Some AKC-registered Amstaff are dual-registered as APBT with the UKC; however, this draws criticism from many, who point out that the bloodlines have been separate for too long for these two breeds to be considered the same. The AKC does not allow a UKC-registered APBT to be registered as an Amstaff. To be dual-registered, the dog must first be an AKC-registered American Staffordshire Terrier and then it can be registered with the UKC as an APBT but not vice versa.

Despite their similarities there are some distinct differences between the two breeds, they have different builds. The Amstaff has a different bone structure particularly in regards to the shape of its robust head and more prominent fore legs. The Amstaff also has a more solid build and is slightly lower to the ground. The APBT generally speaking is lighter, leaner, and has more emphasis on the hind legs. Sometimes distinguishing the difference between the two breeds can be confusing, especially with crosses and hybrids that are advertised as Pit Bulls.

Couldn’t have said it better myself:

A RSPCA chief vet Mark Evans said: “Staffies have had a terrible press, but this is not of their own making – in fact they’re wonderful dogs. If people think that Staffies have problems, they’re looking at the wrong end of the dog lead! When well cared for and properly trained they can make brilliant companions. Our experience suggests that problems occur when bad owners exploit the Staffie’s desire to please by training them to show aggression”

Information coutesy of http://en.wikipedia.org

Think you know the difference? Test your pittie knowledge:

http://www.pitbullsontheweb.com/petbull/findpit.html

After this post- It’s the first time I’ve ever got it right the first try!!!!!