Lets clarify the bulldog/pitbull/bull terrier situation.

[Lulu]

Well don't look at me!

I thought we could all get together and sort out the differences. They are all often mixed up and some ARE to be worried about, some arent.

Ok so we have

Staffordshire Bull Terrier - American version is big, English is smaller. Very stocky dogs, big heads and silly grins.

Pitbulls - includes American Pit Bull, Red Nose Pit Bull - these are banned.

Bull Terrier - pointy ears, long fat nose generally white or pied

Bulldogs - English bulldogs - squashed in faces, big smiles. French Bulldogs, smaller version?


Don't take any of this as gospel, just my surface knowledge.

I know for ages that Staffies were often mixed up with American Pit Bulls, my family nearly died when I got mine but they know better now.

So feel free to add, refute or clarify anything here!

[Phteven]

My understanding is that the pit-bull and american staffordshire terrier are from the same stock but the breeds have become seperate over time. In the US some dogs are dual registered as both Pit Bulls and American staffies. I think that the Pit Bull peeps will accept dogs that are kennel club rego but not vice-versa.
There is also an American bulldog that is like a taller more athletic version of the English bulldog (which frankly has been bred to a kind of silly point).
There is also a Boston Terrier that is a lovely type of bull breed that is small and perky but they are quite rare in Australia

There's also the good ole aussie pig dog which is probably one of the only breeds that is still evolving - probably because they are actually bred to work and not recognised by any kennel club. Some of them are lovely some of them are dreadful.

They're all big gorgeous boofas lol.

ETA - There are some people breeding miniture bull terriers now. They are uber-cute. I wantz one.
ETA 2 - here is a picture of a mini and a standard for comparison.

[fionas]

I think I can say, without a shadow of a doubt, that all creatures that come out of Staffordshire are charming, friendly, funny and wag their tails a lot.

BTW, I am from Staffordshire

[~clover~]

I love Staffies. My fave breed.
Then Bull Mastiff

[kelebek]

My expereience with staffies are the small stocky ones and they are incredibly friendly and great with children. They are easily stolen though cause they go to anyone.
My experience with pure bred american pitbulls are good as well (this dog was papered, came from america and and it's papers were about an arm long). He wouldn't any human, my blue cattle dogs bit more people then he did Although I wouldn't trust him with another animal.

I think the problem comes from cross breeding and how they are brought up. I would hate to see what a pitt bull cross blue cattle dog would be like for instance too much power with too much brain/cunning.

[Miss E]

When I was very little we had a Staffie and from the stories my dad tells he was the perfect dog for a small child. Apparently when I was two or three I would delight in hitting him over the head with my tonka toys in the sandpit. He'd put up with it and never threatened me. But, after I was done playing in the sandpit apparently he would ever so gently nick the back of my sandals to trip me over that was his revenge!

njd I think you make a very good point about how the way a dog is brought up affects their temperment, particularly in the case of American pit bulls. My brother in law has one, who hasn't been de-sexed (but that's another story). He's a lovely dog, who is incredibly friendly. But I am still terrified of him, mostly because of the incredible strength that is displayed with every movement he makes. But also because of the way my BIL looks after him. Being a young dog he is into everything and if left alone will destroy the house, so my BIL puts him in a cage when he goes to work or goes out. I personally think that this unacceptable.

Many people purchase dogs like american pit bulls, when they shouldn't because their lifestyle isn't suited to the breeds characteristics. When owners keep these highly active animals in cages or chained up all the time, I think they are slowly creating animals that will eventually become aggressive. I believe that like any breed, if an american pit bull is kept stimulated and shown love and affection the liklihood of it becoming aggressive is probably about the same as a labrador.

[Netix]

Pittys are not banned everywhere (in some councils/states they may be, but not in Victoria). In Victoria they are a restricted breed. To find out the conditions of restricted breeds, google "restricted breed conditions victoria" (or whatever state you are in), and there is a vic gov website about what you need to know. Its a bit long for me to transcribe here.

Otherwise, I have already said my piece about how I feel for these beautiful dogs, and rat dogs (shudder)... And if I could figure out how to put a photo in a gallery, then I'd post one of my daughter sitting between my dogs (a red nose and a kelpie). ETA: Never mind about the photo. Since I'm not a paid member, I don't think I can do it anyway.

[Phteven]

Pittys are not banned everywhere (in some councils/states they may be, but not in Victoria). In Victoria they are a restricted breed. To find out the conditions of restricted breeds, google "restricted breed conditions victoria" (or whatever state you are in), and there is a vic gov website about what you need to know. Its a bit long for me to transcribe here.

Otherwise, I have already said my piece about how I feel for these beautiful dogs, and rat dogs (shudder)... And if I could figure out how to put a photo in a gallery, then I'd post one of my daughter sitting between my dogs (a red nose and a kelpie). ETA: Never mind about the photo. Since I'm not a paid member, I don't think I can do it anyway.

In NSW a restricted breed dog has to be desexed so in a generation or so they should be eliminated. They also have to be kept in an enclosure or on a lead at all times. IMO it's kinder not to keep a dog under those conditions. TBH I don't think that the pit bull will be a great loss to the canine population. There might be lovely pitties but their role as the dog of choice for violent, criminally inclined bogans means that far too many of them have been allowed to become nasty dogs of the worst kind.

I'm not sure why you would shudder at rat dogs. There are all sorts of dogs out there that suit all sorts of lifestyles. A big athletic dog is hardly the ideal companion for an elderly lady with mobility issues who wants a lap dog for company. They're all real dogs.

[~StarBright~]

Well thanks LuLu for this thread- coz it was getting a little confusing re all the diff breeds.

Going back to another thread though- are the bull terriors the ones considered "Pig Dogs" ? I ask coz i have a bull terrier (she is a roman nose- the nose nose is slightly pointier than a normal bull terrior and she is caramal coloured- so i dont think she is 100% pure- though DH says she is)- long story we actually found her about 7 years ago while on holiday- she appeared to have been running away from pups as she had milk coming out and we put up posters and took her to vet (no chip) and actually staye din the town for a week longer than planned to try and find her owners but had no luck- so we kept her and called her Karma!

ANYWAY... i have had people tell me she is a pig dog- (not by her temperamenrt or anything like that - just from her look) and i guess many breeds can be used for pigging, but she is quite small- so i just wasnt sure.

As an owner of a bull terrior- i agree with pain threshold thing in regard to kids- my dogs have been great with shane and love getting pats and their ears pulled- to them its just more attention- doesnt hurt at all!!

Oh and usually i think rat dogs are cute- like mini little dogs lol but i dont htink iwould ever get one- i had a friedn at school who had a mini terrior thing who was just vicious as, but i have a friend now who has a choo- thing cross with something and its gorgeous and sweet and doesnt act like a crazy little dog at all!!

[Netix]

The restrictions for the pittys are the same here in Vic, it was just so long (double sided a4 brochure) I figured if people really want to know what it said, they can look. I hope that doesn't come across in a rude way, its really not supposed to. I don't agree that any dog should be kept under these conditions, and to be perfectly honest, ours isn't. Yes, it IS in a secure yard, but shouldn't every dog be? Big, little, fluffy or restricted? We don't have the big sign out the front that says restricted dog on premises, because in our opinion, we may as well wave a big flag to all the numbskulls that want that kind of dog, saying "here's one, come and get it!". Then, our family dog would be stolen, and be treated cruely. We know we should have a sign, we choose not to. She is desexed, but not because she needs to be as a restricted dog, but because she doesn't need to be a full dog. She doesn't need to come on heat for no reason, being that we have no intention of breeding her (whether legal or not), as there are more than enough dogs (of all kinds) out there as it is. All of our dogs have been from the pound or needed new homes for some reason or another.
I accept your opinion on pitties and rat/lap dogs brontide. I just don't like very small dogs. I haven't met one that I feel very comfortable with, or hasn't shown a really nasty streak. I know they are all real dogs.

[mitzy81]

We have a staffy and we get annoyed when we go to the beach etc that people will walk away from us, maybe like you were saying everchange, in the fear that she may attack someone or an animal or we have no control? It is a shame because she is a very timid dog and likes other dogs and puppies and dogs should be socialised. We also have a rat type dog and she is vicious yet people let there kids run up and grab her (generally we keep her on the lead because she can be snappy) but are so afraid and 'keep away from that dog' but go poke the snappy biter. Go figure!