Skin and coat health are important, so both will do best on a fortified food with omega fatty acids. Depending on how active your dog is, you may need to find a formula specifically made for sporting breeds, with a higher calorie count and supporting muscle growth. It’s worth noting that both breeds can have sensitive stomachs. This means you may also consider a limited ingredient dog food.
It is also common for them to have different color patches across their bodies. Of course, neither of these dogs are accepted if they are albino. Their coats are both short, smooth, and shiny. This tight coat enhances their muscular frame. The AKC provides the full Am Staff breed standards for further information on their appearance, and the UKC provides the full Pitbull breed standards.
The general consensus is that neither the Am Staff nor the Pitbull extends their sociability towards other animals. While they are gentle with humans, they can exhibit fear and aggression towards other animals who they see as a threat to them or their families.
They are both well-balanced dogs, and with the large square heads and muzzles and their defined muscles, in the Am Staff more so, they have a combination that gives them their powerful appearance. It is also common for them both to have their ears cropped. Again, this adds to their mean exterior. Their ears are normally either rose-shaped or half pricked if they aren’t cropped.
However, in the 19th Century, Terriers, for their agility, were mixed with Bulldogs for their muscle. This was purposeful in order to create larger and more powerful dogs. These dogs were then used for dogfighting and bull baiting. In 1835 dog fighting was banned in England. Immigrants who wanted to continue in the cruel sport took off to America and continued to fight them.
Are Pit Bulls And Staffies Related?
One of the main reasons that Pit Bulls and Staffies share so many similarities is because both breeds can be traced back to the same bloodline.
In the late 1700s, the British crossbred Bulldogs and Black & Tan Terriers, and the result were the Staffordshire Bull Terriers[1].
During the 19th century, again, the Brits began breeding Old English bulldogs with Old English Terriers in hopes of creating a breed that had the power and athletic abilities of bulldogs and the “gameness” of terriers.
The result was a new breed of dogs referred to as “Bull and Terrier[2]”
Immigrants brought these bull and terrier crosses to America, and through selective breeding, they were able to increase their height and leaner than their counterparts. They were later called the American Pit Bull Terriers[3].
These Bull and Terrier breeds also became the ancestors of Bull Terrier and the American Staffordshire terrier.
So, Yes, they are related.
In a simpler definition, you could think of the two breeds as relatives with the same bloodline, with the Bulldog as their grandfather.
Pit Bulls and Staffies were once bred for their dogfighting capabilities. But as time progressed, so did feelings about dogfighting.
As people began to become more and more aware of the harshness of such a “sport,” it eventually became abandoned and condemned by the UKC (United Kennel Club).
Unfortunately, the reputation of the American Pit Bull Terrier never recovered. It was one that was continuously associated with dogfighting.
In return, the AKC (American Kennel Club) would not recognize the American Pit Bull Terrier as a breed. They were, however, willing to accept the Staffordshire Bull Terrier.
So two dogs that were essentially the same breed just obtained different names.
WORTH A LOOK: Is the American Staffordshire Terrier A Pit Bull?
Head Comparison:
When it comes to the head size, the difference is a little more evident. The UKC breed standards state that both Pit Bulls and Staffies should have broad, straight, tapering muzzles.
The difference is in the length of the muzzle & width of the skull.
According to breed standards, Pit Bulls should have a muzzle that is 2:3 the length of their head.
For Staffordshire Bull Terriers, there are no such regulations. Muzzles for Staffies can be longer or shorter than the 2:3 ratio given to Pit Bulls.
FAQ
What is difference between Staffordshire terrier and pitbull?
Are Staffies as aggressive as pitbulls?
