What are the differences between a Stafford and a pit bull terrier: photos of dogs, differences in character and maintenance features

There are often some similarities in character and appearance among different dog breeds.

One such pair is pit bull terriers and Staffordshire terriers, which are often confused or believed to be the same breed.

The similarity between pit bulls and staff dogs is understandable - they were bred for the same purpose and from the same dogs, in particular the Staffordshire bull terrier.

So how are they different?

Pit bull terriers

Pit bull terriers are a popular and well-known breed of dog, bred by English breeders to participate in dog fighting.

Photo and description

Pit bulls are medium-sized dogs. They have a strong, muscular body, and their overall figure looks athletic and fit. The appearance of representatives of this breed amazingly combines barely restrained strength, power and incredible grace, dexterity and mobility.

Pitbull has:

• rectangular head of medium length;
• wide and deep square muzzle;
• scissor bite;
• medium-sized eyes that may be almond-shaped, elliptical or round in shape;
• small semi-drop ears;
• powerful and strong back;
• short, strong and slightly convex loin;
• low set tail of medium length.

Pit bull terriers have a short, hard, close-fitting coat with no undercoat, which can be of almost any color except merle. The most popular colors are black and gray.

NOTE!

Albinism in representatives of this breed is considered an unacceptable disadvantage.

Advantages and disadvantages

Speaking about the advantages of pit bulls, it should be noted that they:

• do not require labor-intensive care;
• smart;
• trainable;
• loyal;
• hardy;
• friendly;
• get along with children;
• sociable.

The disadvantages of representatives of this breed include:

• the need for early socialization and proper education;
• a tendency to lead both in the family and in contact with other animals, which provokes an aggressive attitude towards pit bulls towards the latter;
• the inability to be alone and the need for constant contact with the owner.

Pit bulls are also stubborn and willful; not everyone can cope with their difficult character.

Character

Pit bulls, despite the popular opinion about them, are distinguished by their friendly, affectionate and playful character. They are incredibly loyal to their owner and become his companions, companions and true friends.

Being strong and fearless, these dogs do not hesitate to defend their owner and his family if they are in danger.

Pit bull terriers are smart and their training is quite easy, since representatives of this breed memorize commands quickly. Problems can arise only because of their inherent stubbornness, willfulness and habit of making decisions on their own.

It is important that the owner indicates to the puppy as early as possible that he is not a leader, begins his socialization and training, and also shows patience, perseverance and strength of character.

Appearance

American Pit Bull Terriers are medium-sized, stocky, powerfully built dogs. Dogs' ears are usually cropped in the form of a pyramid, but if desired, the ears can be left; if you are not going to show off your dog at various exhibitions, then the ears will not interfere with it. The uncropped ears of American pit dogs hang down.

The dog's chest is wide, its paws are powerful, straight, but may be slightly curved. The head is massive, most of the dog’s head is occupied by a huge mouth, one look at the smile of a pit bull terrier will be enough to understand that there is no joke with this dog and the person who has this dog on a leash. Pit bull terriers can come in a variety of colors: red, white, white with black, red spots, brindle, black, gray. Sometimes the color on a pet’s skin is quite funny; often in photos of American pit bull terriers you can see a white dog with a black spot on one of the eyes. It seems that someone put a “lantern” on the dog.

Training and education

The training of this dog must be taken very seriously; if you decide to get yourself such a dog, you must understand that such a dog without proper education and training can cause a lot of trouble. Therefore, it is better if you seek help from specialists if you are not one yourself

First of all, you need to pay attention to the dog’s obedience, it must obey you unquestioningly, and you must learn to find a common language with the dog

Therefore, raising and training a dog should be done literally from the first minutes, as soon as the puppy comes to your home. The puppy immediately needs to be shown who is boss and maintain his authority as the leader of the pack throughout the dog’s life. These dogs will definitely want to take the place of the leader of the pack, and you must stop all these attempts in the bud.

Difference between the American Staffordshire Terrier and the Pit Bull

Many people confuse these two dog breeds and think that they are the same breed; in fact, this is not the case and there are quite a lot of differences between the pit bull and the Staffordshire terrier. Let's start with the fact that Staffordshire and pit bulls have different physiques, Staffs are higher at the withers, have a wider and more powerful chest, and are higher on their paws. These breeds also have different characters; Staffordshire terriers are much softer in character than pit bulls. If you have a fight between a Staffordshire and a pit bull, then most often the Staffordshire loses to the pit bull due to the fact that the pit is a more agile and tough fighter. But these are not all the differences; in addition to differences in physique and character, there are also differences in the color of the dog. If any colors are acceptable for a pit bull, then it cannot be acceptable for a Stafford to have a light nose, red or black coat colors, and so on. As you can see, there are quite a lot of differences, and a specialist can easily distinguish one dog from another, and an amateur, if you put two dogs side by side, will also be able to notice these differences.

So, what can be concluded from all that has been said? American Pit Bull Terrier

A great dog for a family, provided you raise him correctly. If you have a small child at home, then you need to make sure that he does not interfere with the dog with his games, the baby can accidentally hurt the pita, and they do not forgive such things, so the little one can easily get a rather painful bite from the dog. If you raise your dog correctly, you will get an excellent pet, guard and companion. Remember that there are no evil, aggressive dogs, there are only evil owners.

Staffordshire Terriers

Staffordshire Terriers are a breed of dog bred by breeders in the 30s. XX century based on pit bull terriers.

Photo and description

Staffies are stocky, hardy, proportionally built and muscular dogs, in which even at a quick glance one can see impressive strength, combined with mobility and elegance.

To meet the breed standard, these dogs must have:

• short back, with a slight slope from the withers to the croup, convex loin;
• deep, medium-length head;
• rounded muzzle with a pronounced under-eye area;
• large nose with well-opened nostrils and a black lobe;
• scissor bite;
• ears set high and wide;
• low and wide-set round eyes with dark irises;
• well defined withers;
• wide and deep chest;
• low set, straight and short tail.

The coat of representatives of this breed can have different colors. Most often there are individuals with fur of black, black and white, blue, and brindle colors.

Advantages and disadvantages

The advantages of these dogs include:

• intelligence;
• learning ability;
• endurance;
• fearlessness;
• easy care;
• lack of specific odor;
• ability to get along with children.

The disadvantages of the breed are that its representatives:

• stubborn;
• strive for dominance;
• cannot stand loneliness;
• need socialization and education.

IMPORTANT!

The disadvantage of Staffordshire terriers for many is their unsuitability for street and especially chain keeping.

Character traits

Staffordshire Terriers can be described as good-natured, sociable and inquisitive dogs, with a gentle and cheerful disposition. They are characterized by devotion to their owner and the need for his constant attention and care. These dogs cannot be ignored or kept alone - due to being in isolation, their character deteriorates, they become angry and unbalanced.

Representatives of this breed are not prone to displaying unreasonable aggression towards people; such behavior can only be the result of improper upbringing. Staffords' anger can only be directed at other dogs who, in their opinion, claim to be their leader.

Character comparison

Many people are interested in who is stronger: a pit bull or a bull terrier. The aggressiveness of an individual largely depends on the environment in which the dog grew up and the amount of attention given to it. Let's look at the characters separately.

A pit bull can become a true friend, a faithful companion, a home guard and a bodyguard for its owners. A pet can live comfortably in an urban environment, or in a private house in the suburbs, provided that it is not chained. This animal will be an excellent companion due to its energy and activity.

By nature, pit bulls are hard workers, so they try to be useful to their owner always and everywhere. They need an active lifestyle, and if the dog’s needs are met, it will always be positive, flexible, and good at communicating. Despite numerous reviews of the breed as aggressive, pit bulls are friendly animals. If the dog was initially raised and trained, and it is sufficiently socialized, it will not pose a threat to members of its family, other animals and strangers.

The pit bull is very patient, but due to its developed hunting instinct, if another animal or person attacks it, it is unlikely to retreat. Fans of the breed who want to have two animals at once should know that same-sex animals do not get along well together.

The Bull Terrier, raised in a peaceful environment, has a calm disposition. If this is a fighting dog, then you should never walk it without a muzzle; it tends to show its aggressive character in any case. The animal is highly trainable. At the same time, the owner should present tasks clearly and consistently, without going to extremes. It is worth noting that bull terriers are extremely difficult to tolerate loneliness, striving to spend as much time as possible with their family members. They are distinguished by devotion and are able to sacrifice their lives to save their owner.

Despite the fact that information about the ferocious nature of the dog is widespread among the masses, most breeders unanimously convince that these are friendly and playful animals that love to play with toys and get along well with children. Giving a brief description of the representatives of this breed, we can highlight several main qualities:

• powerful grip;
• agility characteristic of all terriers;
• endurance;
• pursuit of one's goal;
• bravery;
• low pain threshold;
• absolute submission.

Bull Terriers are intelligent and quick-witted, but sometimes their intelligence leads to disobedience. Proper training of the animal helps to avoid possible resistance of the pet and turn all the disadvantages of the character into advantages. Since they are physically strong dogs, they need to maintain their physical condition. They will undoubtedly be good running and training partners. If you don't keep active, they will start to misbehave or become lazy and fat.

As you can see there is a difference. Pit bull and bull terrier differ in weight, body shape, colors

Dogs are the same in one thing - they all need the attention and care of the owner, otherwise the animal will grow up aggressive

Differences in the exterior

The main difference between an Amstaff and a Pitbull is their build.

The Staffordshire Terrier is distinguished by a more proportional and harmonious body, while minor disproportions are observed in the build of pit bulls - they have a large head, short limbs and a dome-shaped back. At the same time, they are much stronger and more resilient than Staffords.

The Stafford's limbs are longer and more muscular. Their chest is deep and powerful; in pit bulls it is wide, but less developed. Pit bull terriers have a larger wedge-shaped head and powerful jaws.

The nose of Staffords can only be black, while in Pitbulls any shades that are in harmony with the color of the coat are allowed.

NOTE!

The ears of Staffordshire Terriers can be natural length or cropped, but this procedure is not performed for pit bulls. In this case, the tail, on the contrary, is docked only for pit bull terriers.

Both breeds are smooth-haired and have similar colors, but among pit bulls, individuals with white spots on the main color are more common.

The height at the withers of adult pit bull terriers is 43-53 cm with a body weight of 14-27 kg; Staffordshire terriers grow to 43-48 cm and weigh 22-30 kg.

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How are they similar?

Representatives of both breeds have a short, hard-to-touch, shiny coat that fits tightly to the body.

Their colors can be the same, but for Staffbulls white, liver and black and tan colors are prohibited, as well as variants in which white occupies more than 80% of the body. In pit bulls, the standard excludes only the merle color and albinism.

Both pit bulls and Staffords have good health - these dogs are prone only to hereditary diseases and are not immune to the development of infections, so vaccination cannot be neglected.

Staffordshire terriers, as well as pit bulls, have a powerful build, strong limbs with developed muscles and a rather menacing and even frightening appearance.

Both dogs have a short muzzle, a strong scissor bite, and round, low-set eyes with dark irises.

Which breed is best suited for living in an apartment?

You can keep both pit bull terriers and Staffordshire terriers in an apartment or private house. Representatives of both breeds differ slightly in size, so they also require approximately the same space.

It is important to provide dogs with regular active walks and provide them with a personal place in the house with a moderately soft bed appropriate to their size, as well as a place for eating, where there should be bowls for food and clean drinking water.

Neither Staffords nor pit bulls are suitable for street keeping. Both of them cannot stand the cold and will freeze in winter even in a well-equipped enclosure.

IMPORTANT!

It is forbidden to put these dogs on a chain - such keeping contributes to the development of unmotivated aggression and problems with territorial behavior in them.

Today's AmStaff

Today, it's been almost a century since AmStaff parted ways with its pit bull brethren. Generally speaking, the two breeds look very different, which is no coincidence: since pit bulls were bred for one elusive quality - playfulness or refusal to give up even in the most excruciating pain - their breeders did not attach much importance to them. appearance. Even today, pit bulls vary greatly in size and shape, from small whippet-type dogs to robust bulldog imitators.

American Staffordshire Terriers, on the other hand, did not have pit requirements to drive their evolution. Instead, their breeders focused on similar appearance and sound minds. And if there's one relic of his fighting days that AmStaff stubbornly refuses to give up, it's his unabashed love for people - the species that brought him into the fighting pit and then ripped him off with the same thing.

Who is easier to care for?

It is equally easy to care for both pit bulls and Staffords. Caring for these dogs does not require effort or special grooming and is a set of hygiene procedures that must be performed regularly.

So, these dogs need to be brushed with a brush with soft natural bristles or a special glove to get rid of dead hair and dust, as well as improve their blood circulation and bathe as needed, using shampoo according to their coat type.

It is also necessary to regularly brush your pet’s teeth to avoid the formation of plaque and stones, trim the claws as they grow, if they do not grind down on their own, and wipe the eyes and ears.

In addition, caring for representatives of these breeds involves regular deworming, treatment for external parasites and vaccination.

To maintain the physical and psychological health of Staffords and pit bulls, you need to walk them at least 2 times a day for 1 hour. Walks should be active and include elements of training, running, physical activity and games.

Stafford

At home, Staffords behave excellently. They love their owners and try to please them. They willingly play with children and frolic with various toys. They do not require special care. But it is not recommended to ignore this issue. You need to brush your dog daily. Bathing is necessary for exhibition and for a good shine of the coat. During this hygiene procedure, high-quality shampoo is used, sold in pet stores. And also, using a piece of suede, you need to constantly wipe your pet’s fur - this way you will achieve an impeccable appearance for your pet.

Remember to walk your dog at least twice a day. A kind and sensitive attitude will not keep you waiting. Your pet will only bring joy to you and your loved ones. Typically, dogs of this breed live from 9 to 15 years. Life expectancy depends on many factors. Including the presence of diseases inherent in American Starffordshire Terriers. For the most part, these are hardy and healthy dogs. Proper care, care and love will ensure longevity for your pet.

What is the difference between a Starfford and a Pitbull? With paws. For the former they are much higher. Quite strong. For Staffies, the height at the withers should be 46-48 cm, for a Pit Bull - 40-42 cm. There are actually many differences. Even the behavior of these dogs when walking is different. A pit bull can rush and bark at another dog, staffs are calmer and won’t bark again.

Attitude towards children and pets

Representatives of both breeds treat children well, get along with them, and play with pleasure. Both pit bulls and Staffords are aware of their size and try to behave more restrained and delicate in the presence of a child. They have a special reverent love for the kids and will always protect and protect them even at the cost of their own lives.

It should be understood that a lot depends on the child’s behavior. It is important that the child understands how to behave with a dog and does not perceive it as a toy that can be dragged by the ears or tail. Such excessively neglectful treatment can provoke a rather aggressive reaction from the animal.

NOTE!

Representatives of these breeds are best owned by families with children who have reached school age.

As for other animals, it is generally accepted that Staffords are more tolerant and loyal to them than pit bulls. But that's not true. They both have a strong hunting instinct, so they perceive smaller animals, especially cats and rodents, as prey.

Staffords and pit bulls will always compete with other dogs, especially dogs of the same sex, trying to prove their superiority to them. The only exception can be made for pets who grew up with them.

Character traits

Both breeds are not very different in character. If we make a comparison, it can be noted that the animals were bred from the same breed, which was endowed with powerful qualities of a fighter

Since in the past attention was paid to fighting qualities, at the moment dogs are the most aggressive and cruel among other varieties

However, anger and bloodthirstiness are the result of human manipulation of a dog’s character. Most Amstaff owners admire their pets' desire to fight, believing that game can only be proven in the ring. However, play that is aimed at fighting with other dogs can develop bloodthirstiness in the pet towards others.

It is only because people begin to train the Staff or Pit as a bodyguard that information often appears about attacks by this breed on humans. Most often, such information can be heard in Russian cities, because in many European countries fighting breeds can only be purchased for the police or military structures.

Staff and Pit are peaceful creatures by nature who are good with children. Four-legged friends have exceptional devotion to their owner and see him as their comrade and companion. They not only love children, but adore them. They are ready to forgive the baby all his pranks and will protect their little friend even at the risk of their lives.

Despite the love for children, it is recommended to get such a breed no earlier than the child goes to school. This is due to the fact that a dog with great power and activity can accidentally touch a child and injure him.

The Amstaff is incredibly intelligent, honest and playful. The pit bull is characterized by activity, curiosity and cheerfulness. He will happily spend time on the territory of the house, as well as exercise on the sports ground.

The dog may perceive other animals as prey. You should immediately teach your pet not to touch the animals living with him under the same roof. However, even if the dog treats his housemates appropriately, you need to carefully ensure that he does not chase cats, birds or squirrels.

There is a misconception that the Stafford gets along better with other animals. This is not true: both representatives are endowed with a pronounced hunter instinct, but both of them can be loyal to those with whom they grew up.

Who is more picky about feeding?

Both Pit Bulls and Staffords are not picky about food and are considered almost omnivorous dogs.

They can be fed with both natural products and industrial feeds, the main thing is to ensure that the diet is balanced, contains all the necessary vitamins, macro- and microelements and is appropriate for the age, health and physiological state of the pet.

It is important to know that some foods, in particular beef, rice, corn and wheat, contribute to the development of allergic reactions in pit bull terriers.

In addition, these dogs should not be given grains that are so necessary for representatives of other breeds, since grains provoke obesity in pit bulls, which puts additional stress on the heart and joints. The only exception is puppies during the period of active growth.

Other criteria

The table below shows a comparison of Pit Bull and Stafford also according to other criteria.

Price difference

There is also a certain difference in the cost of a pit bull terrier and a Staffordshire terrier.

Pit bull terrier puppies cost on average about 4-15 thousand rubles.
depending on the class to which they belong. In rare cases, if there is a pedigree and registration in international associations, the cost is approximately 25 thousand rubles.
A representative of the Staffordshire Terrier breed without vaccinations and documents can be bought for 6-9 thousand rubles, a puppy that has been vaccinated and has documents costs 8-20 thousand rubles, a show-class puppy will cost about 60 thousand rubles.

Which breed should you choose?

There is no clear answer to the question of which of these dogs is better to get, since it is necessary to choose a pet in accordance with the goals and objectives for which it is purchased.

So, if the dog’s main task is to protect the home and family, you should choose a pit bull terrier - representatives of this breed will do everything in their power to cope with the responsibility entrusted to them and carry out the owner’s orders.

If you buy a dog not only for protection, but also as a pet, you should give preference to the Stafford, since these dogs not only look more graceful and aristocratic, but are also more oriented toward family life, and better understand people and their feelings. Representatives of both breeds will protect the owner and all household members equally selflessly.

In the case where there are already other pets in the house, the optimal choice would be a Stafford, which, subject to proper upbringing and socialization, will get along with other animals, which cannot be said about a pit bull.

If you have plans to participate in exhibitions and breeding, you should not purchase pit bull terriers - these dogs are not recognized by either the FCI or the RKF.

Representatives of both breeds should only be purchased by experienced dog breeders.

Where and how to buy a puppy

First of all, it should be noted that purchasing a dog of this breed is a crucial stage in a person’s life.

What to pay attention to

It is very important to adhere to the standards when purchasing a puppy of this breed. The fact is that the standard coloring, shape of the paws and the whole body indicate that the dog does not have any impurities at the genetic level

In connection with this factor, you can safely count on a standard behavior, which is very important. In case of any impurities that cannot be documented, it is possible to purchase a dog with various abnormalities, including in its behavior

In other words, you can buy an angry and bloodthirsty dog ​​with whom it will be difficult to communicate normally.

You should also pay attention to whether the nursery is engaged in legal activities and whether there is an appropriate document for each animal

If the nursery is legal, then all individuals have a pedigree

You should pay attention to the behavior of the puppy so that it is calm and balanced, and also reaches out to the person. It is also necessary to find out what kind of births the female has had and whether genetic abnormalities occurred in previous births

Important information! Puppies with a calm character and under 2 months of age are selected. The sooner you start training your dog, the better.

Puppy cost

The cost of puppies depends on a number of factors, such as pedigree, availability of documents and class of kennel. Without any documents, you can buy a puppy that looks like an American Staffordshire Terrier for 5 thousand rubles. If you take a puppy from a nursery, then prices here only start from this amount. If the breed has documentary evidence, then you will have to pay up to 30 thousand rubles for the puppy.