Comparing Breeds: Staffordshire Terrier vs Pitbull

The Pitbull, a genre of dog rather than a distinct breed, is possibly the most notorious breed type in existence. The Staffordshire Bull Terrier, a form of the Pitbull type, is oftentimes banned from entering many countries including all those in the EU, but why exactly?

We will go through the various traits of the Staffordshire Bull Terrier and compare it with its Pitbull-type cousin, the American Pitbull.

Size

The Staffordshire Bull Terrier stands at between 36-41cm depending on the sex and weighs in at between 11-17kg meaning that there’s plenty of variation within the breed.

There’s even more inconsistency within the American Pitbull type with weight spanning as much as 14-30kg and with a height variation of between 40-56cm. The American Pitbull is a little less stocky and distinctly muscular than the Staffordshire (or “Staffy”) as they’re commonly referred to making the American Pitbull a bit less visually intimidating.

Lifespan

The lifespan of both these Pitbulls is largely the same again with there being much greater variation in the lifespan of the American Pitbull who lives from between 8-15 years as opposed to the Staffy at 12-15 years.

Grooming

Both the American Pitbull and Staffordshire Bull Terrier have short shiny coats that minimally shed. Thanks to this, both dogs have rather limited grooming requirements; a quick brush a few times a week with a soft-bristle brush will keep their coats in great condition.

Energy Level

Like with many traits, these two dogs have largely similar energy requirements. Both the American Pitbull and the Staffy are so-called bundles of energy. Thanks to their muscular forms, these dogs have seemingly endless stamina so they are best reserved for an active household.

Like with all dogs, exercise requirements must be met to ensure a happy and calm dog. That energy has to go somewhere so let’s make sure it’s not spent chewing on your couch!

Temperament

The violent past of the Pitbull family still weighs heavily on these loving dogs; many countries including all those within the EU have a blanket ban on all Pitbull-type dogs which is completely nonsensical given their temperament.

Both the American Pitbull and Staffordshire Bull Terrier are immensely loving, loyal, gentle, intelligent, and responsible. The Staffy was deemed so gentle in fact that it was previously nicknamed the “Nanny” dog for its gentle affection towards children.

Intelligence

The American Pitbull and Staffordshire Bull Terrier are known for their intelligence and trainability despite their stubborn streak. Pitbull-type dogs have such deep love for their owners that their desire to please supersedes any stubbornness so common to intelligent breeds.

Loyalty

Despite their violent reputation both the Staffordshire Bull Terrier and the American Pitbull make excellent family dogs due to their unwavering affection for their owners. These dogs are exceptionally eager to please thanks to this trait and so are often used as police and therapy dogs.

Protectiveness

The Staffordshire Bull Terrier and the American Pitbull are rather protective breeds but not in the aggressive sense that might come to mind. As mentioned before, the Staffy was often called the “Nanny” dog not only for its affection towards children but also for its innate desire to protect children.

Both the Staffy and the American Pit Bull might not stave off intruders with a mouthy presence but they will indeed show their protection in more gentle ways like never leaving your side.

Conclusion

Despite their reputation, Staffordshire Bull Terrier and the American Pitbull are above all loving and gentle-natured dogs. Thanks to the breeders who reclaimed these lovely pups from their dog-fighting predecessors, we have a family of Pitbull breeds who are largely the opposite of their reputation that unfortunately precedes them.