American Pit Bull Terrier vs Rottweiler vs Bullmastiff – Which one is a better dog breed for you?

"Find similarities and differences between American Pit Bull Terrier vs Rottweiler vs Bullmastiff" Compare American Pit Bull Terrier and Rottweiler. Which is better: American Pit Bull Terrier or Rottweiler or Bullmastiff?

General Appearance Hair & Care Characteristics Good With Health Factors Reproducibility Show differences only

Name	American Pit Bull Terrier	Rottweiler	Bullmastiff
Origins	United States	Germany	England
All Dog Breeds By Country Of Origin
Group	Hunting Dogs	Working Dogs	Working Dogs
Popularity Rank	336	8	51
Reviews	4	5	0
Rate

Other Names	APBT, Pit Bull, Pitty, Pit, Pitbull	Rottie, Rott	Bully, Bullie
Breed Type	Purebred	Purebred	Purebred
AKC Group	Not recognized by the American Kennel Club.	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1931 as a Working breed.	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1934 as a Working breed.
FCI Group	Not recognized by FCI.	Recognized by FCI in the Pinscher and Schnauzer - Molossoid and Swiss Mountain and Cattledogs group, in the Molossian type section.	Recognized by FCI in the Pinscher and Schnauzer - Molossoid and Swiss Mountain and Cattledogs group, in the Molossian type section.
Breed Recognition	American Canine Registry Dog Registry of America Inc. North American Purebred Registry, Inc. American Canine Association, Inc. Continental Kennel Club National Kennel Club United Kennel Club Backwoods Bulldog Club	American Canine Registry American Kennel Club America's Pet Registry Canadian Kennel Club Dog Registry of America Inc. Federation Cynologique Internationale Kennel Club of Great Britain North American Purebred Registry, Inc. American Canine Association, Inc. Australian National Kennel Council Continental Kennel Club National Kennel Club New Zealand Kennel Club United Kennel Club Colonial Rottweiler Club Deutscher Rottweiler Klub International Rottweiler Club	American Canine Registry American Kennel Club America's Pet Registry Canadian Kennel Club Dog Registry of America Inc. Federation Cynologique Internationale Kennel Club of Great Britain North American Purebred Registry, Inc. American Canine Association, Inc. Australian National Kennel Council Continental Kennel Club National Kennel Club New Zealand Kennel Club
Price	$500-$700	$1200-$2000	$1200-$1500

General Appearance - American Pit Bull Terrier vs Rottweiler vs Bullmastiff

Size	Medium	Large Giant	Large
Weight	22-78 pounds (10-35 kg)	Male: 95-130 pounds (43-59 kg), Female: 85-115 pounds (38-52 kg)	Male: 110-133 pounds (50–60 kg), Female: 100-120 pounds (45-55 kg)
Avg. Weight	50 pounds (22.5 kg)	Male: 112.5 pounds (51 kg), Female: 100 pounds (45 kg)	Male: 121.5 pounds (50–60 kg), Female: 110 pounds (50 kg)
Height	14-24 inches (35-60 cm)	Male: 24-27 inches (61-69 cm), Female: 22-25 inches (56-63 cm)	Male: 25-27 inches (63–69 cm), Female: 24-26 inches (61–66 cm)
Avg. Height	19 inches (47.5 cm)	Male: 25.5 inches (65 cm), Female: 23.5 inches (59.5 cm)	Male: 26 inches (63–69 cm), Female: 25 inches (61–66 cm)

Hair & Care - American Pit Bull Terrier vs Rottweiler vs Bullmastiff

Coat	Fine	Dense	Rough
Colors	Blue Gray White Tan Brown Red Yellow Black	Mahogany Tan Rust Black	Fawn Red Brindle
Grooming	Effortless: The American Pit Bull Terrier requires minimal grooming.	Effortless: The Rottweiler requires minimal grooming.	Easy to groom: The Bullmastiff doesn't require a lot of grooming.
Shedding Level	American Pit Bull Terriers shed moderately.	Rottweilers shed moderately.	Bullmastiffs shed moderately.

Characteristics - American Pit Bull Terrier vs Rottweiler vs Bullmastiff

Temperament	Affectionate Clownish Friendly Loyal Strong Willed Aggressive Courageous Intelligent Obedient Stubborn	Alert Fearless Independent Loyal Courageous Good-natured Intelligent Protective	Alert Courageous Docile Loyal Reliable Calm Devoted Powerful Protective
Intelligent Rank	Average: American Pit Bull Terrier's has average obedience intelligence.	Outstanding: Rottweiler is one of the brightest dog breeds.	Low to average: This canine intelligence is not the brightest one.
Trainability	American Pit Bull Terriers are easy to train.	Rottweilers are easy to train.	Bullmastiffs are quite easy to train.
Playfulness	The American Pit Bull Terrier is a playful breed.	Rottweilers, like any other dog breed, like playing.	Bullmastiffs are not the most playful dog breed.
Sensitivity Level	They are a little bit more sensitive than other dog breeds.	They are a little bit more sensitive than other dog breeds.	They are a little bit more sensitive than other dog breeds.
Affection Level	American Pit Bull Terriers are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving and affectionate dogs toward their handlers.	Rottweilers are average dogs regarding their affection level.	Bullmastiffs are average dogs regarding their affection level.
Social Needs	American Pit Bull Terriers are a social breed.	Rottweilers need a lot of social interaction.	Bullmastiffs need for social interaction is average.
Barking	Average: The American Pit Bull Terrier barks occasionally.	Low: The Rottweiler barks none to minimal.	Low: The Bullmastiff barks none to minimal.
Watchdog Ability	American Pit Bull Terriers are average watchdogs.	Rottweilers are one of the best watchdogs.	Bullmastiffs are one of the best watchdogs.
Territorial	American Pit Bull Terriers are average defenders.	Rottweilers are extremely protective guard dogs.	Bullmastiffs are extremely protective guard dogs.
Biting Potential	High The American Pit Bull Terrier has a high chance of biting somebody.	High The Rottweiler has a high chance of biting somebody.	Low The Bullmastiff has a low chance of biting somebody.
Mouthiness	American Pit Bull Terriers have a strong tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.	Rottweilers have an average tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.	Bullmastiffs have an average tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.
Impulse to Wander or Roam	Wanderlust potential of the American Pit Bull Terrier is strong enough to escape from home.	Rottweilers tend to escape less than other breeds.	Bullmastiffs have average wanderlust potential.
Prey Drive	American Pit Bull Terriers have an average prey drive, which means that they don't have a high impulse to chase and catch something like a cat or any other small aminals, but it might happen.	Rottweilers have a higher impulse to chase and catch something than other dog breeds.	Bullmastiffs have an average prey drive, which means that they don't have a high impulse to chase and catch something like a cat or any other small aminals, but it might happen.
Apartment Friendly	American Pit Bull Terriers are not recommended for an apartment lifestyle.	Rottweilers are not the best choice for an apartment lifestyle, but they don't mind being inside if you walk them several times every day.	Bullmastiffs are not the best choice for an apartment lifestyle, but they don't mind being inside if you walk them several times every day.
Adaptability	American Pit Bull Terriers adapt to lifestyle changes and different living environments quite okay usually.	Rottweilers adapt to lifestyle changes and different living environments quite okay usually.	Bullmastiffs adapt to lifestyle changes and different living environments quite okay usually.
Tolerates Being Left Alone	American Pit Bull Terriers do best when a family member is at home during the day or if their workplace is dog-friendly so they can take the dog at work.	Rottweilers tend to have separation anxiety when their owners left them alone at home because they bond very closely with them.	Just like every puppy, they are prone to panic, cry, bark, whine when they left alone by their owner.
Fighting Dog	Yes In history, this breed was unfortunately used for combat dog.	Yes In history, this breed was unfortunately used for combat dog.	Not really In history, this breed was not really used for combat dog.

Good With - American Pit Bull Terrier vs Rottweiler vs Bullmastiff

Stranger Friendly	American Pit Bull Terriers are average friendly towards strangers.	Rottweilers are not stranger friendly dogs.	Bullmastiffs are average friendly towards strangers.
Child Friendly	American Pit Bull Terriers are kid-friendly dogs.	Rottweilers are not the most kid-friendly dogs.	Bullmastiffs are kid-friendly dogs.
Cat Friendly	American Pit Bull Terriers are not cat-friendly dogs.	Rottweilers are average friendly towards cats.	Bullmastiffs are not cat-friendly dogs.
Dog Friendly	American Pit Bull Terriers are not dog-friendly.	Rottweilers are not dog-friendly.	Bullmastiffs are not dog-friendly.
Office Friendly	No American Pit Bull Terrier is not the best dog breed for office environment.	No Rottweiler is not the best dog breed for office environment.	No Bullmastiff is not the best dog breed for office environment.
Senior Citizens Friendly	American Pit Bull Terriers are usually recommended for elderly people.	Rottweilers are not the best breed for elderly people.	Bullmastiffs are usually recommended for elderly people.
Pet Friendly	American Pit Bull Terriers do best when they’re the only pet at the family.	Rottweilers are generally with other pets.	Bullmastiffs do best when they’re the only pet at the family.
Good For First Time Owners	No American Pit Bull Terriers are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality.	No Rottweilers are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality.	No Bullmastiffs are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality.
Service Dog	Not really This breed generally not used as a service dog.	Yes This breed makes good as a service dog.	Not really This breed generally not used as a service dog.
Therapy Dog	Not really This breed generally not used as a therapy dog.	Yes This breed makes a perfect therapy dog.	Yes This breed makes a perfect therapy dog.
Detection Dog or Sniffer Dog	Yes A detection dog or sniffer dog is a dog that is trained to use its senses (mostly its smell) to detect substances such as explosives, illegal drugs, wildlife scat, currency, blood, and contraband electronics such as illicit mobile phones.	Not really A detection dog or sniffer dog is a dog that is trained to use its senses (mostly its smell) to detect substances such as explosives, illegal drugs, wildlife scat, currency, blood, and contraband electronics such as illicit mobile phones.	Not really A detection dog or sniffer dog is a dog that is trained to use its senses (mostly its smell) to detect substances such as explosives, illegal drugs, wildlife scat, currency, blood, and contraband electronics such as illicit mobile phones.
Search and Rescue Dog (SAR)	Not really The use of dogs in search and rescue (SAR) is a valuable component in wilderness tracking, natural disasters, mass casualty events, and in locating missing people.	Not really The use of dogs in search and rescue (SAR) is a valuable component in wilderness tracking, natural disasters, mass casualty events, and in locating missing people.	Not really The use of dogs in search and rescue (SAR) is a valuable component in wilderness tracking, natural disasters, mass casualty events, and in locating missing people.
Boat Dog	Not really American Pit Bull Terrier breed usually doesn't like being on a boat.	Not really Rottweiler breed usually doesn't like being on a boat.	Not really Bullmastiff breed usually doesn't like being on a boat.
Cart Pulling or Drafting Dog	Not really A drafting dog or draft dog is a dog bred and used for cart pulling.	Yes A drafting dog or draft dog is a dog bred and used for cart pulling.	Yes A drafting dog or draft dog is a dog bred and used for cart pulling.

Health Factors - American Pit Bull Terrier vs Rottweiler vs Bullmastiff

Health Issues	American Pit Bull Terriers tend to have more and frequent health issues than other breeds.	The Rottweiler is a healthy breed, but there are certain health issues that you should check with your vet regularly.	Very healthy dog breed.
Health Problems	Demodectic Mange Hip Dysplasia Skin Allergies	Allergies Aortic Stenosis Bloat Elbow Dysplasia Hip Dysplasia Hypothyroidism Osteosarcoma Panosteitis Subvalvular Aortic Stenosis	Cancer Entropion Heart Problems Hemangiosarcoma Hypothyroidism Kidney Issues Lymphosarcoma Osteosarcoma Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA)
Life Expectancy	10-14 years	8-11 years	8-10 years
Calculate dog years to human years by breed here
Hypoallergenic	No	No	No
Energy Level	American Pit Bull Terriers have a higher energy level than other dog breeds.	Rottweilers have a higher energy level than other dog breeds.	Bullmastiffs have a lower energy level than other dogs.
Exercise Need	American Pit Bull Terriers have an average exercise need.	Rottweilers have an average exercise need.	Bullmastiffs exercise need is minimal.
Sleeping Need	American Pit Bull Terriers are quite energetic dogs and they don't spend to much time with sleeping.	Rottweilers are quite energetic dogs and they don't spend to much time with sleeping.	Bullmastiffs like sleeping so they do sleep a lot.
Avg. daily food consumption	Recommended daily amount: 1.5 to 2.5 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals.	Recommended daily amount: 4 to 10 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals.	3 to 4.5 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals.
Weight Gain Potential	Average.	High: The Rottweiler breed has a strong tendency to overweight.	High: The Bullmastiff breed has a strong tendency to overweight.
Weather & Climate	Prefers average to warm weather conditions	Prefers average to warm weather conditions	Prefers average to cold weather conditions The Bullmastiff can adapt to well to cold weather conditions, some dogs even can be a good mountain dog.
Stinkiness	Medium The American Pit Bull Terrier has an average chance of bad smell.	Medium The Rottweiler has an average chance of bad smell.	High The Bullmastiff has a high chance of bad smell.
Drooling tendency	The American Pit Bull Terrier is a perfect example for very low drooling tendency.	The Rottweiler drools quite a lot, so if you dislike being covered by slobber spots on your clothes, you may want to choose another dog breed.	The Bullmastiff is a big drooler, so if you're disgusted by slobber spots on your clothes, you should choose a dog from another breed.

Reproducibility - American Pit Bull Terrier vs Rottweiler vs Bullmastiff

Gestation Length	60-64 days	60-64 days	60-64 days
How often can the have a litter?	Once a year. More frequent breeding is not healthy.	Once a year. More frequent breeding is not healthy.	Once a year. More frequent breeding is not healthy.
Litter Size	5-8 puppies	8-12 puppies	4-13 puppies, average 8
Dog Name Generator – Find A Perfect Name For Your Puppy

Popular Dog Compares

Despite the best intentions, there may be errors. If you find one, please let us know and we will fix it as soon as possible. Contact us here.

Rate This Comparsion - American Pit Bull Terrier vs Rottweiler vs Bullmastiff

Reviews