American Pit Bull Terrier vs American Staffordshire Terrier
The two published breed profiles side by side: size, energy, grooming, lifespan, temperament ratings and health.
| American Pit Bull Terrier | American Staffordshire Terrier | |
|---|---|---|
| Size class | Medium | Medium |
| Adult weight | 13.6 to 27.2 kg | 18.1 to 31.8 kg |
| In pounds | 30 to 60 lb | 40 to 70 lb |
| Adult height | 43 to 53 cm | 43 to 48 cm |
| Energy | High | Moderate |
| Grooming | Low | Low |
| Coat | Short smooth | Short smooth |
| Shedding | Not published | Low |
| Lifespan | Not published | 12 to 16 years |
| Good with children | Not published | Fine with supervision |
| Good with other dogs | Not published | Fine with supervision |
| Country of origin | United States | United States |
The main differences
- The American Staffordshire Terrier is the bigger dog: 18.1 to 31.8 kg against 13.6 to 27.2 kg for the American Pit Bull Terrier.
- The American Pit Bull Terrier needs more exercise: high energy against moderate for the American Staffordshire Terrier.
- Grooming is low for both.
Temperament
American Pit Bull Terrier: The American Pit Bull Terrier is strong, confident and eager to please, and their registry notes they are usually friendly even with strangers. Most show some level of aggression towards other dogs, so careful socialisation and obedience training are part of owning one.
American Staffordshire Terrier: The American Staffordshire Terrier is a stocky, muscular bull and terrier breed that is good natured and confident with their family and highly aware of their surroundings. They are trainable and enjoy mental and physical challenges.
Health worth asking about
Conditions each breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable: it means ask the breeder for the parents' test results.
American Pit Bull Terrier
- Allergies to food, flea bites or pollen and dust mites, which show as itching, skin irritation and hair loss and are managed by finding and avoiding the trigger
- Hip dysplasia, which shows as hind limb lameness and difficulty rising or jumping, diagnosed on x-ray
- Cataracts, a clouding of the lens that can progress to blindness, found on eye examination and treatable by surgery
- Obesity, tracked by regular weighing and body condition scoring, since the breed gains weight easily
American Staffordshire Terrier
- Cerebellar ataxia, also called neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis 4A, which causes a loss of coordination from three to five years of age, detectable by DNA test
- Hip dysplasia, screened by hip evaluation of breeding stock
- Cardiac disease, screened by a cardiac exam
- Thyroid disorders, screened by a thyroid evaluation
- Skin and coat allergies, diagnosed by a vet once parasites and infection have been ruled out
Common questions
Which is bigger, the American Pit Bull Terrier or the American Staffordshire Terrier?
The American Staffordshire Terrier. Adults weigh 18.1 to 31.8 kg, against 13.6 to 27.2 kg for the American Pit Bull Terrier, going by the published breed profiles.
Related comparisons
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Not veterinary advice. Breed information is general. Your own dog, and your own vet, always win.
Sources
Every figure on this page comes from the two breed guides, which cite:
- ukcdogs.com for adult weight and height, life expectancy, coat type and country of origin
- petmd.com for energy, grooming and the temperament ratings and health notes
- gov.uk for the legal status notes
- akc.org for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming, shedding and the temperament ratings, coat type and health notes
- fci.be for country of origin
- ontario.ca for the legal status notes