Unlike other types and breeds of dogs, Pitbulls do not fall into a singular category which means the types of breeds that are seen as Pitbulls vary quite a lot. So you’re probably wondering, “what breed is my Pitbull exactly?” In this article, we will be explaining in detail how to tell the different types of Pitbull breeds apart.
The American Pitbull Terrier (APBT) is one of the most well-known dog breeds. However, even though they’ve been living with humans for a very long time, there’s still quite a bit of controversy around them. Their closely related Pitbull breeds are also not left out of this controversy.
This controversy is mostly due to the fact that their nature is misinterpreted and misunderstood. The truth is that this breed is among the most loyal, affectionate, loving and cute companions a person can have.
It is important that you are well informed before you make any decisions concerning buying or adopting a Pitbull dog. In this article, we will be explaining their different features and characteristics so you can identify the differences.
What Breed Is My Pitbull?
It is important to note that this dog breed was bred originally to be used for fights. This is the main motive behind the creation of Pitbull dogs. This does not mean that the behavior of an individual dog will be determined by this, though. This also does not mean that every Pitbull dog is solely bred for this one reason.
Every dog needs and deserved a home with responsible and caring owners willing to take of them and meet their needs. It is also important to remember that dogfighting is now an intolerable practice.
1. The American Pitbull Terrier
This is the breed that is considered the “Pitbull par excellence.” It is also the one from which other Pitbull breeds are believed to have come from.
The United Kennel Club (UKC) recognizes these dogs as the first and only official Pitbull breed in the United States. They are the result of the American terriers and the English bulldogs being crossbred.
Contrary to popular belief, aggression is actually not a part of this dog’s behavior. They have a balanced and friendly nature and they possess a willingness to work and are highly intelligent. Their owners need to occasionally socialize their dogs with other animals in order to prevent them from getting aggressive.
Their weight typically ranges between 13 and 25 kilograms or between 28 and 55 pounds.
They are usually used as search and rescue dogs and they also make amazing drug-detecting dogs. Most recently many have also started to use them as service dogs.
Their cheek muscles are very noticeable which gives them a unique smile and endear people to them especially children.
2. Staffordshire Bull Terrier
The Staffordshire bull terrier is a muscular, compact, and agile dog. They have a muscular body structure and have a shiny but easy-to-maintain coat.
While a lot of the other Pitbull breeds tend to show territorial behavior towards other animals and even dogs, not this dog breed! They are noted for their friendly character especially with children. They are full of life and very fun to be around and they are also very intelligent. Their weight typically ranges between 11 and 17 kilograms or between 24 and 37 pounds.
The strong attachment they form with their owners makes them well known as one of the best dogs for families can own.
When training this dog, watch out because they have a lot of stamina and can be quite stubborn which makes training a little bit challenging. This dog breed needs a confident owner who can give them the training they require.
3. American Staffordshire Terrier
This dog breed has well-developed muscles particularly in the chest area and gives even ripped humans a run for their money. Their weight typically reaches up to 35 kilograms or 77 pounds. They are the bulkiest and tallest among the different types of Pitbulls. These dogs were bred originally to be working dogs and they’ve been around since the 1970s.
They usually have solid color coats or a bicolor coat featuring some speckles here and there. Generally speaking, they are on the quiet side, although they possess strong instincts.
They are well-known for being good with children. They are also good-natured and are friendly even towards strangers.
4. Bull Terrier
One of the most prominent physical characteristics of this breed is their triangular-shaped eyes. They are typically quite short and don’t have the muscular structure and bulkiness of the other dogs in this breed.
They are quite stubborn but they are also gentle. They also tend to need the affection and companionship of any family they become a part of. They are spirited and very brave as well. Their weight typically ranges up to 35 kilograms or 77 pounds.
Their coats come in a variety of colors include fawn, white, red, brindle black and even sometimes a combination of three colors.
Fun Fact: The small variety of this breed is part of the top 6 short-haired dog breeds.
5. American Bully
This dog breed is as a result of cross-breeding English Bulldogs and American Pitbull terriers. They are very popular among dog owners and are one of the most recent types of Pitbull breed.
Their height ranges an average of 16 inches to 20 inches with their weight being proportional to their height. They naturally have a drive for hard work and have incredible fighting instincts. These characteristics were obtained from both their parents.
They make great family members and wonderful companions for their owners.
There are different types of American Bully dogs and they include:
- Pocket bully.
- Classic bully.
- Standard bully.
- Extreme bully.
- XL bully.
6. American Bulldog
This is another popular Pitbull type. They have a muscular physique with lean and stout bodies. This body type makes them suitable for a variety of tasks requiring a lot of hard work, stamina, and strength. They have muscular heads and droopy lips and their brows are often wrinkly or furrowed.
Originally, they were employed as utility dogs and used to guard the homes of their master. They are affectionate in nature and are also assertive and very loyal which makes them suitable as family members. A lot of people use them today as tracking and guard dogs because they are sharp and intelligent in nature. This dog breed has the most protective instincts out of all the varieties of Pitbulls.
They also make a wonderful pet for kids. However, they do need more socialization with other animals to make sure they don’t get too aggressive with other dogs.
This type of Pitbull can weigh as much as 110 pounds and usually have an all-white coat with spots of black, brindle, or red.
Owners will need to ensure they get a lot of exercise so they are happy and occupied.
Which Breed Is The Best Pitbull?
Due to the diversity of Pitbull breeds and types, you may be wondering which one has the best bloodline or breed. It can be a bit misleading to think this way because each dog type has unique characteristics not necessarily positive or negative by themselves.
The most important question you need to ask yourself when you want to adopt or buy a Pitbull is the extent to which these unique characteristics fit into your needs and lifestyle.
Regardless of the different types of available Pitbull breeds, when adopting or buying a Pitbull, you need to consider the following factors:
- They need a strong socialization routine right from when they are puppies especially when it comes to interacting with other animals.
- They require constant exercise which means they need a lot of space and a dedicated owner. This is because the owner will need to ensure their dogs are well disciplined as discipline is necessary for Pitbulls.
- If you have children, your Pitbull will require adult supervision around your children. Pitbulls are really strong animals and even though they love kids, even their play can be too rambunctious for a little kid. So, make sure both are always supervised when together in the same room.
- Pitbulls can only go for a walk when they are supervised by their owner and s/he can take responsibility for them.
Which Breed Is Closest To Their Original Ancestor?
The American bully is more of a “bully” yet less “terrier” than the American Staffordshire and the American Pitbull Terrier. Considering their physical characteristics as well as their bloodline, therefore, the American Pitbull Terrier is the breed considered to be closest to their original Pitbull ancestors.
The American Pitbull Terrier originates from the well-known old school bloodlines which were mostly a part of the dogs bred for fighting. They have a solid build, are medium in size and have smooth coats and short hair. They have a muscular structure which is a central characteristic of Pitbulls.
Compared to the Staffordshire bull terrier, they are larger by up to 8 inches are heavier by up to 35 pounds. As a result of being the closest to the original Pitbulls, they tend to be quite aggressive towards other animals. Notwithstanding, they are usually quite obedient and usually friendly to their human friends.
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Lesser-Known Pitbull Breeds
Stuffawler
This breed was originally bred to be used in dog fights. Their weight typically ranges between 35 and 40 kilograms or between 77 and 88 pounds.
There is one quirky characteristic they have which gives them away. When they smile, their lips droop and it looks like they are gasping.
Now, it is generally believed that they are aggressive in nature. Nonetheless, it is important to remember that aggressive behavior in a dog actually depends on the type of treatment they receive from their owner.
Monster Blue
This breed is a cross between a Dogue de Bordeaux and a Neapolitan Mastiff. They have a thick and heavy build and a powerful jaw. Their weight typically ranges between 45 and 60 kilograms or between 99 and 132 pounds.
Colby
The reproduction and breeding of Colby dogs began as far back as 1889. They were bred with dogfighting in mind.
This dog breed is characterized by a strong head which is broad with a wrinkled and flat snout. Generally speaking, they are not very heavy.
These dogs have a balanced character and are a great nanny for children as they love watching over them.
Chamuco
The Chamuco breed is also known as the Mexican Pitbull. Out of all the breeds of Pitbulls designed for dogfighting, it is the smallest breed. They have a thin but muscular structure and they also have a high resistance as a result of this.
Please note that because these Pitbulls are still used for dogfighting, so their breeding and selection is illegal. However, it is important to note that Chamuco’s usually trust humans and are, in fact, not very territorial in nature.
Spike
This type of Pitbull originated in the US and is believed to have a Dalmatian bloodline. This is because they have white fur with black spots just like Dalmatians. Physically, their muscles are poorly developed. They are also quiet and quite friendly making them an ideal companion for their owners.
Red Nose
This line descended from Ireland as far back as 1830. Their fur is usually white or brown in color and they have green or honey brown eyes.
This Pitbull breed is characterized with a thin muscular build and a pinkish nose, a strong back and has long legs. Their weight typically ranges between 25 and 30 kilograms or between 55 and 66 pounds.
Cobra
The physical structure of this Pitbull breed is similar to the red nose breed. The difference is that the Cobra has blue or black eyes and always has an immaculate white coat.
Villaliberty
This breed was breed in Spain from the red nose breed. It has an excellent physical structure. The behavior of this Pitbull is stable, secure, balanced and brave and these qualities make this breed an ideal pet.
Pynat
This Pitbull breed is muscular but thin and its nose is soft with a brindle coat. Their weight typically ranges up to 30 kilograms or 66 pounds. They are sometimes used as hunting dogs.
Gamer
This breed of Pitbull was also bred quite unfortunately for fighting which makes them not suitable for first-time dog owners. They have a wonderful athletic ability and have a muscular and thin build. Their weight typically ranges between 25 and 30 kilograms or between 55 and 66 pounds.
Johnson
Their weight typically ranges up to 40 kilograms or 88 pounds. Physically, its features resemble that of the Bulldog. They usually have white-colored coats that are patched with black. They are very strong however also quite docile and slow.
Blue Nose
This type of Pitbull is characterized by its blue colored coat and nose which are actually very rare. Due to this rarity, they are extremely admired and desired as companions. They are not just a type of Pitbull, they are in fact a crossbreed between a bull and terrier.
Apart from the distinct color unique to these dogs, their other features such as aggressiveness, coat quality, body structure, etc. are similar for the most part to the other Pitbull types.
What Exactly Is A Pitbull?
A Pitbull is the name given to dog types which descended from terriers and bulldogs. There is quite a bit of confusion regarding what they are exactly and if in fact they are a breed or not. Pitbulls are among the most misunderstood and misidentified breeds of dogs.
Pitbulls can actually be either purebred or mixed dogs that contain bulldog dog types and bull terrier dog types.
In terms of their physical characteristics as earlier discussed, they have a stocky body. They also have a short and broad head. They are courageous, strong and sturdy and have a muscular body structure. They have thick necks which are also muscular and their necks need a “Pitbull collar” to ensure they remain very comfortable.
Pitbulls tend to be extremely intelligent and are also fast and eager in nature. They are very obedient and agile and these qualities make them very admirable indeed. They are suited for tasks like watching over your house or guarding herds if you’re a farmer.
Their aggressiveness is overrated and greatly misunderstood because they are actually very friendly and quite people-oriented. They make a great addition to a lot of families as pets and companions.
As we’ve mentioned earlier, each type of Pitbull has a unique set of mental and physical features and characteristics. In order to ensure their muscular and lean bodies are well maintained, they require a diet high in protein and intense exercise and training plans.
They also love to play so keep them happy by buying a lot of dog-friendly toys to keep them happy and active.
We’ve answered this question — What Is A Pitbull? — exhaustively in a previous article. Click here to read What Is A Pitbull.
