Pitbulls

a) "pure" pit bulls, often called "gamebred" because they are the dogs most often used by serious fighters
b) "pure" bred American Staffordshires, registered only with the American Kennel Club
c)"hybrid" pit bulls, who are a mixture of AKC registered American Staffordshire and "pure" pit bull
d) "pure" Staffordshire bulls

(Left) Rescue dog of unknown breeding 47 lbs

What is the difference between a "pure" pit bull, an American Staffordshire and a hybrid pit bull/Am Staff mix? Can you tell the difference by looking? Is there a difference in temperament? Is one "better" than another?Yes...

The dog at left is a hybrid. He was an American Staffordshire / pit bull mixbreed, registered as a pit bull with the UKC and ADBA. He had to be euthanized due to severe hip dysplasia.

What does a "pure" pit bull look like?

Any performance bred breed will vary in appearance. Show bred animals are bred to conform to a written standard of appearance, and because of this, they are more uniform. Purebred pit bulls range in size from 25 pounds to about 75 pounds. Dogs larger than this are generally hybrids or mixbreeds. To see the standard for the pit bull 

(Left) Webster's Joker (1914) champion fighting dog. 43 lbs