It was an improbable pairing of qualities made all the more tragic by what was asked of the American Staffordshire Terrier in its early days. Powerful, strong, tenacious, and utterly fearless towards other dogs, the breed also had bred into it tractability and a docility that allowed it to be handled by humans even in the midst of a dog fight.

For all the wrong reasons, Staffies made their way to America in the late 1800s where they gained a reputation among dog fighting affectionados who wagered big money in the pits. This horrific environment lead to the breed becoming known as the “Pit Bull Terrier,” as well as the Yankee Terrier and American Bull Terrier. Its name was eventually changed from the Staffordshire Bull Terrier to reflect the American preference for a bigger dog, but a good deal of confusion still exists about the breed.

In the eyes of some, the American Staffordshire Terrier is the same breed as the American Pit Bull Terrier, and some AKC-registered American Staffordshire Terriers are dual-registered as American Pit Bull Terriers with the United Kennel Club. This irks those who believe that bloodlines have been separate for too long for the two to be considered the same breed.  On the other hand, the AKC doesn’t permit a UKC-registered American Pit Bull Terrier to be registered as an American Staffordshire Terrier. To be dual-registered, the dog has to be an AKC-registered American Staffordshire Terrier, and only then can it be registered with the UKC as an APBT,  but not vice versa.

Today, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier is known to its fans as the “Staffie,” while the American Staffordshire Bull Terrier is the “Am Staff.” Both are courageous and strong, and both are loyal and affectionate, but whereas the Am Staff has a stocky body and strong, powerful head, the Staffie is shorter at the shoulder and more compact. Both are fabulous breeds that deserve better than to be the target of breed specific laws.

“Staff Bone” by Paul Doyle
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