PitBull : Everything you need to know about pit bulls,

The term "pit bull" applies to several different breeds of medium-sized fighting terriers originally created through experimental crosses with bulldogs and terriers, originating in the 18th and 19th century Europe and America. PitBull The aim of these crosses was to combine the strength and bite of a bulldog with the athleticism, gameness, and courage of a terrier to create an all-purpose farm dog that could catch and drive cattle and hogs, clear the barn of vermin, hunt, and just do miscellaneous frontier era ranching tasks while also being a great family companion and babysitter for the kids. Later, especially after the banning of bull baiting as a sport, the focus was taken off of them as all-purpose farm dogs and they were developed and standardized as the fighting dogs we know them as today. These breeds include: The American Pit Bull Terrier: The APBT is what one generally thinks of when they think "pit bull." They are a moderate, medium sized dog that should weigh between 20 and 55 pounds, though the preferred range is probably closer to 35-50 pounds. They are happy, cheerful, athletic, eager to please goofballs that love everyone but can work their butts when called on to do so. This is why they make awesome search and rescue or hunting dogs. This breed is the original Bull and Terrier, the dog that started it all, created from crosses of old-school bulldogs and English White Terriers and standardized in 1898. The United Kennel Club was the first registry to recognize the American Pit Bull Terrier, and was actually created for the purpose. PitBull The Staffordshire Bull Terrier: Known as the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Staffy, or Staffie Bull, SBTs are the smallest version of the pit bull; and are basically the UK's APBTs. They are a medium-sized, stocky, and very muscular dog, with a similar appearance to the american staffordshire terrier and american pit bull terrier. They tend to average around 14-17 inches at the shoulder and weigh around 20-30lbs, and are just more compact dogs in general. They are very popular and common in the UK, but until recently they were uncommon in the US. They can have a bit of a stubborn streak, unlike the APBT, which is about the only difference in temperament between the two. They were standardized in 1935 and a parent club was formed, and the first SBTs were brought to America in the 70's. The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is known for its character of intelligence, fearlessness and loyalty. PitBull This, coupled with its affection for its friends, and trustworthy stability, make it a great all-purpose dog. It has been said that "No breed is more loving with its family". The breed is naturally muscular and may look scary. But because of their natural fondness for people, most Staffies are temperamentally ill-suited for guard or attack-dog training. Once you find their motivation (food, toys, etc), they are a breeze to train.