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You probably haven't seen a pitbull because over there, they're usually called American Staffordshire Terriers - which are their close, show cousins. Wikepedia has a good article on the American Staffordshire that you might be interested in. It also touches on how so many dogs of this type can even accidentally be turned wrong by their owners....

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just to set the record straight..... a pitbull is the nickname for an american or english staffordshire terrier. they arent cousins...they are 1 and the same, just has more then 1 name. im a pitbull owner myself and if you seriously think they should be muzzeled or killed, you must be retarded. the big problem is that a few sick people use them for fights because its 1 of the strongest dogs in the world and feels allmost no pain. but it all depends on the owner, my dog doesnt even bark at people, hes a buddy for all. the only danger he means to us is when he licks your face...kinda sloppy kisses :p im from holland myself and i have friends in belgium england and holland offcourse they all own staffords or pitbulls as you call them or dogo´s and none of them is dangerous, i even know a few people that have a baby and the dog and the baby even get along sorta speak. so to close of 1 last thing: there is 1 small difference between a pitbull and stafford and that is: its called a stafford if its got all the correct papers including a family-tree certificate, and its called a pitbull if it doesnt have a notified familytree...thats the 1 and ONLY difference. there....i said it hahaha. if any1 wants to respond...please do i love a good discussion hahahahaha. cheers guys..and ladies :)

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Almost, but not quite: for breed standards, an American Pitbull can have any colour of nose. An American Staffordshire Terrier's nose must be black. There are other (also minor) differences as well.....

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I thought there are three types that are often classified at 'pitbulls' English Staffordshire Terrier American Staffordshire Terrier American Pit Bull Terrier They all have slightly different breed 'standards' when it comes to CKC registration and showing.

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There is always panic over here..recently there has been a spate of (or at least reports would suggest it is unusual) dog attacks...we have a 'Dangerous Dogs Act', off hand I can't remember exactly which breeds are affected. But the law regarding muzzle or destruction is probably due to the following: 1. Lack of knowledge about the dogs 2. Ownership of powerful breeds for the wrong reasons by the wrong people (recently a PitBull fighting ring has been exposed after a young girl was killed by a 'family' PB) 3. Reaction to public outcry. It is a sad fact that I see many Staffies (as opposed to PB's) being led around by young men wanting to look hard, rarely do I see the same type/age leading Labradors...I don't think that they all are about to treat them badly or get them to fight, but they definately have these type of dogs for effect. I don't believe Pit Bulls and Staffordshire Bull terriers are exactly the same thing?? Pit Bulls in the UK have to be muzzled and are rarely seen, Staffies do not and are a very common breed of dog at the moment. Aren't they just under the same umbrella of 'Bull type' dogs, alond with English Bull Terriers (my favourite) etc. Sal

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the English staffi one year was considered to be # 1 family dog they are small and compact. The American staffi has more bullmastiff and they are a lot more taller and have more skin. The pit bull was a cross of the English staff, bull dog and bull terrier and they are also taller and more muscles then the English staff . Here in Canada we have the same problem with punks walking around with pits and rotties and these people make a bad name for these breeds.

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Thanks for clearing that up, I was beginning to wonder if I had misunderstood what a PB was altogther. Staffordshire Bull Terriers are very popular right now for right and wrong reasons, but I do know that treated well they make great family dogs and are very loyal to their human family (not sure about other dogs??). I guess it's like any powerfull breed, when it goes wrong with these dogs it goes horribly wrong because they are so strong and have very strong jaws. One of my dogs is a staffie/Boxer mix, she is a great dog and very friendly, but with the boisterousness of a boxer and the muscles of a staff she can be quite a handfull! I make sure she is properly excerised every day otherwise she will climb the walls (literally)... Sal