Forget the usual charts showing weight, height, or bite force. Those figures are easy to find, but they don’t tell the whole story. I want to talk about their true nature and how they act – the things that actually matter when you live with these dogs.
I grew up with Šarplaninac dogs, nd I’ve also spent some time making videos and handling Pitbulls and American Staffordshire Terriers alongside our dogs. These personal experiences allow me to go beyond the typical labels.
I am sharing what I’ve seen on the ground to show how these breeds handle real-life situations. If you want to understand what makes them special, we have to look at their character, not just the numbers.
American Staffordshire Terrier vs Pit Bull Terrier
The FCI does not recognize the Pit Bull Terrier as a breed, which is why people often struggle to find a formal standard. The confusion isn’t about the dogs themselves, but about how different kennel clubs handled them in the past.
Back in 1898, the UKC was the first to recognize the American Pit Bull Terrier (APBT). They don’t have a separate category for the American Staffordshire Terrier. Instead, they allow dogs registered as Amstaffs with the AKC to be registered as APBTs within their registry.
The AKC took a different path in the 1930s. They took dogs from the same bloodlines but renamed them American Staffordshire Terriers.
This move was made to distance the breed from the “Pit Bull” name and its association with dog fighting. Even today, the AKC does not recognize the American Pit Bull Terrier under that name.
This split led to “dual-registered” dogs—an Amstaff in one club is a Pit Bull in another. Over time, breeding for different goals has changed their appearance. AKC Amstaffs are usually bulkier and more compact, while the UKC APBT standard often leans toward a leaner, more athletic build.
Genetic research confirms what we see on the ground: these are essentially the same dogs. The differences we see today are primarily the result of different breeding goals—focusing on the show ring versus working and athletic performance. [1]
Sarplaninac and 2 American Staffordshire Terrier Dogs
My former music teacher recently got a dog named Car (Eng. “Emperor”).
Watching them together, you could immediately see a level of trust that only comes from years of being around each other.
Seeing how Car followed every move and stayed focused on his owner gave me the idea to make a video for my YouTube channel.
We headed out to a few locations across the city to see what he could do.
While we were working together on the video, what really stood out was Car’s agility and his jumping.
He was well-trained and hit every command without hesitation.
Seeing that kind of control first-hand is a great example of what this breed is capable of when handled correctly.
The Second Dog
This second dog is a female that was nearly put down. Someone had trespassed onto her property, she reacted aggressively, and the case actually went to court.
Luckily, a friend stepped in, rescued her, and brought her home.
The real challenge started when she arrived – introducing her to Meda, the Sarplaninac from our kennel.
Our friend was worried she might harm Meda because of her history. This brought a smile to my face.
To handle the situation, my father decided to bring them together. The first step was getting both dogs out of their yard and onto neutral ground.
You can see exactly how it all went down in the video below.
Sarplaninac and American Pit Bull Terrier
My father came to my apartment one day with a plan: we were going to make a video with a Pit Bull. I’ll admit, I was skeptical.
At the time, my head was full of the same negative stereotypes you see in the media – aggression, dog fights, and all that.
The local news only reinforced that image with constant reports of attacks. But I quickly realized those stories don’t tell the whole story.
I saw first-hand that these dogs are loyal and stable when they’re in the right hands.
My father asked which of our dogs we should bring along, and I suggested a young pup from our kennel.
I had two reasons: first, we had taken some heat for our previous video with Rex (Šarplaninac) and Tyson (American Bully), and second, it was a great chance for socialization.
My Opinion on Pit Bull Terriers
There are a few things I really like about this breed—especially the sharp, defined facial features, along with that explosive speed and agility.
I also love how a collar looks on a Pit Bull; because of the short hair, it really stands out.
That’s something I wish we could see with Sarplaninacs, but with those thick coats, it’s just not possible.
On the other hand, one thing I’m not a fan of is the heavy purple pigment around the lips that I’ve seen on some dogs in person.
When it comes to character, having a well-behaved dog is the most important thing. To me, it’s not even about the breed – it’s about the owner and the work put into socialization.
Conclusion
Every dog has the potential to be a great companion. It’s a shame that breeds like the American Pit Bull Terrier and the Šarplaninac are often unfairly judged or even banned in some countries.
A dog’s behavior depends almost entirely on how it’s raised, socialized, and handled by the owner.
Instead of blaming the breed, the focus should be on responsible ownership and education. That’s the only way to prevent problems.
In the end, it’s simple: there are no bad dogs, only bad owners.
