The Australian Government has tried to stop the breeding and sale of American Pit Bulls with NO success. They are constantly advertised as American Staffs to avoid detection. Local councils have had enough and have started to actually inspect dogs within their districts. The only real way they can determine your dog is an Am staff 100% is if your dog is registered with the ANKC and has Pedigree papers to verify it, along with a microchip. Unless inspectors are 100% certain your dog is an Am staff it will be classed as an American Pit bull and you will have to deal with the consequence.
It is a breeders responsibility to provide you with 100% proof of pedigree and that IS NOT done with a micro chip. Avoid breeders who can not supply pedigree papers with your Am staff or hide the pedigree of the parents from you, they are just selling you heart ache.
You might save a few dollars at first but if your dog is found to have no pedigree papers it will be a sad day for your family and your dog. Not to mention you will also have no idea what you have bought or what to expect from your new pup.

Below is a link to that runs through the legislation in most states and gives a few horror stories as well.

Breed Specific Legislation

Below is couple of paragraphs from the site.

In a hugely publicised case in Brisbane, the Middleton family was told their pet Ollie, who had never hurt anyone, would be seized by the Logan council on the suspicion he was a Pit Bull, despite two independent and professionally qualified vets ruling this out. Logan councillor Sandmann apparently told the family: "Veterinarians are good at looking after animals, not identifying them." Interestingly, another family’s dog had been attacked twice by a Cattle Dog without provocation, but was told by the same council there was nothing they could do.

The most integral part of the law, and the one that causes most outrage in the dog community, is the way in which restricted breeds are identified. First, there is no scientific method to identify a breed and identification often depends on the owner declaring the breed or the breed being identified by an authorised officer. Staffordshire Bull Terriers and American Staffordshire Terriers have been seized and destroyed on numerous occasions because they were mistakenly believed to be Pit Bulls.

This can happen to you.......

Here at DDDAWGS Kennels we run a 100% STEROID FREE breeding program. We also have a zero tolerance policy on any breeders that choose to dope their dogs in an attempt to gain extra size in their breeding stock.

If you susspect a breeder has used steroids on their dogs STAY AWAY..

If a dog doesn't have the genetics to be massive steroids only mask what its lacking. If breeders want larger dogs then they can work on the genetics.
People have got to start realizing that a dog on steroids may look big but it is artificial size and it would be naive to think their pups will inherit it.

If you give your Amstaff steroids it shows how little you care little for your dog and how wound up in your own status you are. If you are a breeder it shows you are in it for the $$$$$$$ and care little for the pups you breed and the new families you sell them to.

Just remember ROID RAGE is a common side effect of Steroids in both people and animals so you run a real risk of your dog turning on you for no apparent reason at any given time.

The harsh reality is that there is a real chance that the Steroids will seriously effect the pups both mentally and physically and many of the signs a pup has been effected will only start to show as it gets older. The even sadder reality is that people are now so obsessed with size and weight of their Amstaffs they are over feeding them trying for extra size and weight. They are even lying about the weight of their dogs. I have even had arguements with other Amstaff owners who have put their males right next to my boys and although they were tiny in comparison claimed their weight to be over 40kg.

A well bred Amstaff looks great regardless of size and weight. They are an absolute joy to own and a fantastic family dog and a loyal friend for life. Enjoy the experience for all its worth because they are not here for ever.

There is a massive difference between the two and unfortunately not many people know what that difference is. I will keep this as simple as possible.

ANKC Limited Register:
Dogs bought with this registration are as the name says limited to what they can be used for. They cannot be bred from or can they be entered in any ANKC endorsed shows.
This register is here if you are after a Pet Only. Always be sure to the breeders terms when buying a pup on this register because people have been know to recieve their new pups de-sexed without their knowledge.

ANKC Main register:
Dogs bought on the main ANKC Register can be shown and can be bred from, how ever breeders can sell their dogs Co-Owned or under a strict contract giving them ultimate say over your dog.
An example of this would be if one day you decide to breed your dog and the breeder doesn't like the mating or didn't give their OK, they can deny your entire litter pedigree papers. You must be very clear on your rights before entering a contract or Co-Ownership type arrangement and have every thing in writing.

Please Note: this happens with every breed not just American Staffordshire Terriers so regardless of what breed you are buying ASK QUESTIONS and get written confirmation on everything relevant regarding Pedigree papers and breeder restrictions....

When buying a Pedigree Amstaff you are paying for not only it but it's registered lignage. You have a right to see the parents pedigree before you pay one dollar for your pup.

REMEMBER THAT HAVING A ANKC REGISTERED AMSTAFF KEEPS BOTH YOU AND YOUR DOG SAFE AND CAN SAVE YOU ONE OF THE WORST HEARTACHES YOU WILL EVER EXPERIENCE.... HAVING YOUR DOG TAKEN AND DESTROYED BECAUSE OF MISTAKEN IDENTITY...