Pit Bulls Real Name Revealed: American Staffordshire Terrier

You might be surprised to learn that the real name of the breed commonly referred to as a "pit bull" is actually the American Staffordshire Terrier.

This breed has a long history dating back to the late 19th century, and was originally bred as a companion dog for working-class families in England.

The name "pit bull" is believed to have originated from the breed's early use in bloodsports such as bull-baiting and dog-fighting, where they would be pitted against other animals in a pit.

In 1936, the American Kennel Club recognized the breed as the American Staffordshire Terrier, a name that has stuck to this day.

Discover more: American Staffy Mix

Pit bulls are a group of breeds with similar characteristics, not a single breed. They can be a bit tricky to define, but we can break it down.

The term "pit bull" covers a range of breeds, including the American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, and Staffordshire Bull Terrier. These breeds have a shared history and physical traits.

Recommended read: American Staffordshire Wikipedia

These breeds have a rich history dating back to the 1500s, with bulldogs appearing in paintings as far back as 1817. The pit bull's origin traces back to Ireland, where bulldogs and terriers were bred for agility and strength.

Pit bulls are known for their strength, agility, and determination. They were originally bred for blood sports like bull-baiting and bear-baiting, but today they're used for more positive roles like search and rescue and as guide dogs.

Despite their reputation, pit bulls are not inherently aggressive. In fact, the bulldog breed they're descended from was typically a guard and companion dog. The red nose and blue nose pit bulls have distinct characteristics, with the blue nose tending to have a gray coat and the red nose having a brown or red coat.

Pit bulls are becoming more welcome in society, with many working as soldiers, police dogs, search and rescue dogs, and guide dogs. They're also beloved pets in many homes, despite still carrying some stigma.

Expand your knowledge: Are Pit Bulls Bred for Aggression

The American Kennel Club (AKC) was initially hesitant to register pit bulls due to their fighting history, but eventually recognized a subset of the breed in the US in 1936, after breeders assured them that their dogs would not be used for dogfighting.

The AKC initially registered the first 50 dogs as American Staffordshire Terriers, not American Pit Bull Terriers.

In 1935, the Kennel Club in Britain formally recognized and registered the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, paving the way for the AKC to recognize the breed in the US a year later.

The AKC permanently closed the studbook for the American Staffordshire Terrier in the 1970s, meaning that today only dogs whose parents are AmStaffs can be considered part of the breed.

The term "pit bull terrier" can be broken down into three components: "pit" acknowledges the dog's history as a fighting dog, "bull" highlights the dog's bulldog ancestry, and "terrier" describes the dog's terrier ancestry.

The AKC recognizes the American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, and Staffordshire Bull Terrier as part of the technical definition of "pit bull".

For more insights, see: American Staffordshire Pitbull Terrier Mix

The American Bully is a more modern breed that was first recognized in the 1990s. It's not yet recognized by the American Kennel Club.

The American Bully was developed by breeding the American Pit Bull Terrier and American Staffordshire Terrier with other bully-type breeds. English Bulldog is one of those breeds.

The American Bully has a thick, muscular build on a shorter body than other types of this breed. They come in four size varieties, from pocket to extra large size.