[Joe 6-pack]

"Most people don’t realise that the name “Pit bull” applies to 3 different breeds, with the English Staffordshire bull terrier being a miniature of the other two."

It depends on who decides to ban "pit bulls"...

"With the knowledge that pit bull ordinances target dogs that simply look like pit bulls, the obviously leads to the question: WHO is charged with identification of a "pit bull" in cities that have enacted breed specific ordinances. What special criteria do they have? What is their area of expertise that entitles them to condemn your dog?

In many cities, the determination as to whether a dog is or is not a "pit bull" is made by a police chief, police officers and/or animal control officials. In other words, the people charged with enforcing these ordinances are not experts in breed identification. The mere fact that animal control officers come in daily contact with various breeds in the course of their job, does not mean they can properly identify all those breeds. In fact, many veterinarians - who also come in daily contact with a variety of breeds on a daily basis - have stated there is no way to positively identify a "pit bull."

To emphasize the incredible potential for arbitrary enforcement of these laws, Tom Skeldon, an Ohio dog warden, testified in a court of law that "there is really no way to tell if a dog is or is not a pit bull, and the determination is made by animal control officers' subjective judgment." To add to the irony of this statement, Mr. Skeldon was testifying as an "expert" on behalf of the city defending its ban on pit bulls

Among the many problems associated with breed specific legislation and its enforcement against pit bulls are the issues associated with identification. "Pit bull" is not a breed, but rather a generic term used to describe the American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier and Staffordshire Bull Terrier. However, the physical traits and characteristics shared by "pit bulls" are also shared by approximately twenty-five (25) other breeds that are not typically classified as bully breed dogs. Obviously, this causes great difficulty in identification and allows for discriminatory and subjective actions by animal control officers."

[yank in the UK]

It’s not hard to distinguish the difference between the 3 breeds, except for when they’ve been crossbreed with another breed. An AKC, or BKC pedigree is easy to identify and differentiate