Differences Between the Pit Bull and the American Staffordshire Terrier

The differences between the Pit Bull and the American Staffordshire Terrier aren't easy to pin down, since international kennel clubs like the FCI and the AKC don't recognize the Pit Bull as an official breed.

Even though it isn't officially recognized, there are clear differences between these two canine varieties. Want to know how to tell them apart? We'll show you all the tricks to do it in just a few seconds.

Physical Characteristics of the American Staffordshire Terrier

This breed originated in Great Britain, where it was bred for brutal blood sports such as fighting other dogs, bears, or bulls. It's a medium-sized dog with a muscular, compact body, standing between 46 and 48 centimeters at the withers for males, or 43 to 46 centimeters for females.

The head is medium-sized, with a black nose and a long, rounded muzzle with tight lips. The eyes are round with a dark iris, while the ears are set high and fold slightly forward, without lying flat against the head.

The American Staffordshire Terrier's coat is short and coarse to the touch, though very glossy. It comes in many color combinations, but according to the FCI, dogs with roughly 80% white coat and black or tan patches are the most common.

Physical Characteristics of the American Pit Bull Terrier

The Pit Bull, also called the American Pit Bull Terrier, was developed from the American Staffordshire Terrier in Great Britain. According to the United Kennel Club (UKC), it has a medium-sized body standing between 45 and 53 centimeters at the withers for males, or between 43 and 50 centimeters for females.

The head is long and broad, with round eyes that can be any iris color except blue. The jaw is strong with a scissor bite, while the ears can be prick or rose-shaped. The nose can be any color.

Like the Staffordshire Terrier, the Pit Bull has a short, glossy coat. The coat can come in any color except the merle pattern.

On top of that, both breeds share a similar personality: intelligence, loyalty, and a good temperament are their hallmarks. Now, given all these similarities, are there any real differences between the Pit Bull and the American Staffordshire Terrier? Let's take a look.

How to Tell Apart a Pit Bull and an American Staffordshire Terrier

As you've probably noticed, both breeds are very similar; on top of that, the fact that the Pit Bull isn't recognized by several kennel clubs adds to the uncertainty around what the breed standard should even look like. Even so, it's possible to draw out the following differences between the two:

• Size: both breeds are medium-sized, but the Pit Bull tends to be several centimeters taller than the Staffordshire.
• Iris color: while the Staffordshire's eyes are always dark, the Pit Bull's iris can be any shade except blue.
• Nose color: like the iris, the Staffordshire's nose is always black, while the Pit Bull's changes depending on coat color.
• Build: both dogs have strong, compact bodies, but the Staffordshire looks more muscular, while the Pit Bull tends to have a longer body.
• Muzzle: although very similar, the Staffordshire's muzzle is longer, while the Pit Bull's is a bit shorter.
• Coat: both come in many colors, though large areas of white tend to dominate in the Staffordshire.