Dog Health Questions: Is the American Staffordshire Terrier the same as a Pitt Bull?

Yesterday I recieved some of my books for therapy dog training. In one of them, I read through a list of dogs that were good canidates for therapy dogs. On the list I noticed the American Staffordshire Terrier on it. I know about most of the other breeds listed. But im tottaly clueless about this dog. How hard would it be to train an AST?

Common Gun Dog Training Equipment

Recommended Answer:
Yes and NO. The APBT is supposed to be the fighting counter part of both breeds while the Am Staff is the show dog or model of the 2 breeds. Yes they share common relatives on their pedigrees, but 1 was bred to fight and and 1 was bred for specific physical qualities, (large heads, body structures, color). The APBT was and is bred for " gameness ", ( the never give up attitude in fighting), while the Am Staff was bred for looks. They look the same, i don't think anyone could tell the difference if you place both side by side...you would have to know pedigrees.

As far as training, in my opinion it would be easy to train as both dogs are incredibly smart and eager to please. you would have to establish that YOU are the dominant 1 not the other way around...so think carefully before purchasing ANY dog.

A Review of Secrets to Dog Training

• Yes an American Staffordshire Terrier is the same as a pit bull. They are also known as Am Staffs. They are the biggest of the pitt bull breeds and they are very smart and easy to train. If you choose a pit bull then an Am Staff would be a good choice.


• PItbull is a term used to describe the amercian pitbull terrier. american strattforshidre terriers, and the strattforshire bull terrie, Pitbull is not a breed but to recogonize this group of breeds, how these dogs obtain the name PIT in bull was they were thrown in to large cirlce hole about three feet deep known as pits this how these dogs aboutain the the term Pit and bull becuase the bull terriers were fought in pits to now become the name PIT bull


• Sometimes the only difference in the breed is which org. it is registered with. Some are dually registered, i.e.: Registered as an Am Staff with AKC, AND as an APBT with UKC or ADBA.
  In EITHER case, these dogs are very intelligent and usually easy to train. I have three dogs and the third one I got is an APBT rescue (2 1/2 wks old that I bottle fed) and she was the easiest to train! The other two are intelligent breeds, too. One is Aussie mix and the other is Anatolian Shep. mix.
  The Breeds you just mentioned make great therapy dogs and dogs trained for other disciplines ( search and rescue, police/law enforcement dogs, etc) and as with any breeds, any considered for this sort of training would be temperament tested to see if they are appropriate for further training in any given field.
  I have never trained for search and rescue or police work, so I can't say how easy it is to train a DOG in this vocation, but I would think that the breed you mention would be quick to learn. They are very eager to please people and generally easy to train in obedience or other types of training.


• The term "Pit Bull" actually refers to a type of dog, not a breed. The pit bull type dogs include the American Pit Bull Terrier, the American Staffordshire Terrier and the Staffordshire Bull Terrier. Pit Bull type dogs are actually a lot of fun to train. My brother has an APBT, and he is super smart. Pit Bulls are also highly people friendly, despite what some might say. They do, however, have an inclination to being aggressive with other animals. I love Pits and I think they would make great therapy dogs. Just be careful where you get one and be diligent about training. Good luck!


• they are very good dogs if trained right and easy to train are very smart and loving


• there are american staffordshire terriers,american staffordshire bull terriers and american staffordshire pitbull terriers.go on line type in any one of the names and it will link you to sites for more complete info.
  train one to do what?? mine were very easy to train to walk at heel,stay on command,come when called..you know,all the basics.


• The true Staffordshire Terrier are lovely little dogs with a very good name where I come from
  The American Staffy is virtually the same animal
  Pit bulls are a crossbreed and are taller than staffies and were bred specifically for fighting
  
  John
  Stoke on Trent
  Staffordshire
  UK


• The American Pit Bull Terrier split off from American Staffordshire many years ago.
  
  The idea from what I read, is that the Pits were still breeding for "gameness" and the Am Staffs. were breeding more for a show type/pet temperament.
  
  So same roots on both breeds. ASTs are AKC and APBTs are UKC registered.
  
  Pit Bulls are a breed, but thanks to rampant bad breeding and cross breeding they are also using the name to label almost any Bully breed.


• Not any harder then other breeds,if done right you can have the most friendly dog then others. They where orginaly bred to be humans best compain and very loyal to people and children. They where bred for other reasions but where bred to be a very human friendly dog.


• American StaffordshireTerrier and the American Pitbull Terrier are not the same breed. Both would be great at this type of job though.