Is a pitbull a recognized dog breed?

Question

Is the pitbull recognized in the AKC? I have heard that they are basically the same thing as a staffordshire bull terrier. I know that the staffordshire is recognized but there is no such dog as a pit bull in the AKC.

Answer 1

No, it is not recognized by the AKC as a 'pit bull'. Staffordshire is AKC recognized, which some people do call a 'pit bull'.

It is recognized by the UKC though, as "American Pit Bull Terrier".

There is controversy whether to consider them the same dog breed or not, since the argument is that pit bulls were bred to fight, and staffies were bred to show. They do look very similar. http://www.la-spca.org/dedication/talk/tt_AMstaff.htm

Here is some more information on the breed recognitions:
http://www.pbrc.net/faq.html

Answer 2

The American Pit Bull Terrier (APBT) is not recognized by the AKC, but is by the UKC and ADBA. The American Staffordshire Terrier (Amstaff) is basically the same dog as an APBT, but is recognized by the AKC. Some Amstaffs are double registered AKC and UKC as APBTs. They (both APBT and Amstaff) should be athletic, lean dogs, NOT the oversized stocky/gigantic headed things that are so "popular." These two breeds may also have cropped ears for showing purposes. The Staffordshire Bull Terrier (Staffie) is a completely different breed from the other two. They originated in England and are smaller/stockier (no larger than 40lbs) and have a different look about thier head (wider jaws). They DO NOT crop ears. The APBT and Amstaff originated from the Staffie, and all 3 breeds were originally bred for the same purposes - pit fighting/all around farm dog/family companions. The Staffie is affectionately known as "the Nanny dog" because of its people loving nature, and is also considered "a foremost all-purpose dog" because they are very versatile animals.
Check out the akc.org for more info on the Staffie and Amstaff. Also, sbtfun.com has lots of Staffie pictures. Also if you do a search, you can surely come up with some reputable breeders with pictures of what these dogs really look like. I own a Staffordshire Bull Terrier and she is a WONDERFUL dog, and loves everyone she meets! I got her sight unseen when she was over 18 months old and she settled in like she had been mine since she was a puppy.

Answer 3

I did both an AKC search and a Google search and it's really interesting.

#1: a search for pitbull at the AKC site gives responses, but none start with anything saying This dog is commonly called a Pitbull.

#2: There are a lot of sites found at Google, and I find it interesting that the Pitbull sites say there are two breeds of pitbulls:
American Pitbull Terrier
Staffordshire Pitbull Terrier

The American Staffordshire Terrier IS AKC recognized.
The Staffordshire Bull Terrier IS AKC recognized.

So I guess your answer might best be said to be yes. Both these breeds photos look like Pitbulls. The American tends to be brown and white or tan, and the Staffordshire is mostly black with tan or brown. But the body conformation looks like what I know as Pitbull.

The Pitbull terrier websites show names that are slightly different since they use the word pitbull, but the formal names don't include the word Pitbull. That doesn't mean that Pitbull is required to be included in the formal ACK name for those two AKC breeds to be the pitbulls we all know. Pitbull is a familiar term but apparantly is just not part of the formal name the dogs are known by at the AKC.

Answer 4

No. The AKC recognizes the Staffordshire Bull Terrier and the American Staffordshire Bull Terrier, and both breeds are commonly referred to as "pit bulls." But the AKC does not recognize any breed as a Put Bull, Pit Bull Terrier, or American Pit Bull Terrier. There are other breed registeries that DO recognize Pit Bulls as a breed, but the standards can be drastically dissimilar.

While I certainly don't think the AKC is the be all end all of established dog breeds (there are many ancient breeds that the AKC doesn't recognize) I do believe that the lack of one consistent breed standard in all registeries means that pit bulls are not a breed.

The problem is that Pit Bulls really aren't a single breed, they are a TYPE of dog. Like Retriever isn't a single breed, you have labradors, goldens, curly coated, flat coated, chesapeak bay, etc etc. They are all very similar in behavior and function and many of them look similar, but they are several different breeds, they are all the same type of dog. This is the biggest problem with breed specific legislation against pit bulls. There are several different breeds and body-types that are commonly considered "pit bulls" but there isn't really a single breed standard that covers all of the different kinds of dogs that are usually thought of as pit bulls. This means that the law writers have to describe what exactly the law considers to be a pit bull...and some of these descriptions are so vague that just about any breed could be considered to fit the description.

Answer 5

I got this excellent website from someone on here which has all the information on pitbulls anyone could possibly need:

http://www.workingpitbull.com/aboutpits.htm

On the left hand menu there are the sections 'pit? staffi? staffi bull?' etc which will answer your question.

Basically there's no straight forward answer - it's all to do with how breeds originally came about, and how there were 'types' before that - but in fact 'Pit Bull' is a registered AKC breed, and has been for a long time. The website explains it better than I ever could.

Chalice

Answer 6

There are a few breeds which are commonly referred to as "pit bull". Two are recognised by the AKC:
The American Staffordshire Terrier and the Staffordshire Bull Terrier. The American Pit Bull Terrier is a SEPARATE breed and is recognised by the UKC.

Answer 7

in case you acquire no registration papers for the domestic dog, you acquire a mixed breed canines. Sorry, yet all American Staffordshire Pit Bull Terriers may be registered with the AKC and you will possibly are becoming to be the workplace work on the canines from the breeder. when you consider which you admit it became right into a back backyard breeder, it is common to anticipate that their canines became right into a puppy high quality bred to a distinctive canines that wasn't in all danger even pedigree, and the domestic dogs have been offered to anybody they might convince that they have been purebred. Pits are the main overbred canines (and mixes) available now, they surpassed up black labs approximately 6 years in the past on the shelters.

Answer 8

Yes, they're recognized.

The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is just another name for the American Pit Bull Terrier.

Uhm, by the way, the term pit bull is a really broad term and can mean any of the masculine looking dogs.

Answer 9

The AKC is the only one that recognizes The American Pit bull Terrior. I also have owned and bred them and I did register them with the AKC.

Answer 10

Yes, totally, enjoy the doggie!