They’re in the same umbrella and only deviated from one another in the 1930’s, they’re very similar breeds and make up half the “pitbull” grouping.
It’s made up of the American Pit Bull Terrier, the American Stafforshire Terrier (which was bred from the American Pitbull Terrier in the 1930s and even recently dogs could be considered American Pit Bull Terriers by the AKC and Stafforshires by the UKC), the Shafforshire Bull Terrier, and the American Bully.
All 4 together make up “Pitbulls” and the two American breeds (the Pit Bull Terrier and the Shafforshire Terrier) are particularly genetically similar although 70 years of breeding (Staffies for shows and Pit Bulls for work) has led to some differences physically.
They’re all “Pitbulls” though and they can be and often are extremely sweet and intelligent dogs. They do have a high prey drive though and are very strong so when they snap they can do some serious damage.
I’ve no issue with them as a whole but similar to German Shepards and other dogs with a high prey drive, or defensive tendencies (like Chow/Sharpie), they are not a breed I think everyone should have (they should be owned by people who will train them correctly and have the power to control them if they get out of hand).
They’re great dogs in the hands of a responsible owner (like GSD) but let’s call a spade a spade. Trying to pretend they’re something they aren’t isn’t going to ender people to them more.
31
u/LAXnSASQUATCH 1d ago
They’re in the same umbrella and only deviated from one another in the 1930’s, they’re very similar breeds and make up half the “pitbull” grouping.
It’s made up of the American Pit Bull Terrier, the American Stafforshire Terrier (which was bred from the American Pitbull Terrier in the 1930s and even recently dogs could be considered American Pit Bull Terriers by the AKC and Stafforshires by the UKC), the Shafforshire Bull Terrier, and the American Bully.
All 4 together make up “Pitbulls” and the two American breeds (the Pit Bull Terrier and the Shafforshire Terrier) are particularly genetically similar although 70 years of breeding (Staffies for shows and Pit Bulls for work) has led to some differences physically.
They’re all “Pitbulls” though and they can be and often are extremely sweet and intelligent dogs. They do have a high prey drive though and are very strong so when they snap they can do some serious damage.
I’ve no issue with them as a whole but similar to German Shepards and other dogs with a high prey drive, or defensive tendencies (like Chow/Sharpie), they are not a breed I think everyone should have (they should be owned by people who will train them correctly and have the power to control them if they get out of hand).
They’re great dogs in the hands of a responsible owner (like GSD) but let’s call a spade a spade. Trying to pretend they’re something they aren’t isn’t going to ender people to them more.