Are pit bulls and mastiffs the same breed of dog? I was watching a show about dogs on animal planet and the narrator said at one point, "pit bulls or mastiffs..." as if the two words were synonymous. Anyway, just wondering.

If they are the same breed, that's very interesting because as an artist I know there are many famous paintings, from as far back as the renaissance period, that feature people with mastiffs.

Mastiffs are a different breed. Actually ''Pit Bull'' is a bit of a loose term applied to at least 2 different breeds. I am afraid it is often applied to any aggressive dog. There is just a lot of sloppy things said. I suggest www.akc.org for more precise definitions. There are good and bad web sites out there. I trust them.

Thanks labman I'll check out that site!

My friend who is a breeder says they are separate breeds. They have little in common except four legs and a tail.


Tom

Also, the phrasing "pit bulls or mastiffs" could have been used to link two different groups with the same concept. "Pit bulls or mastiffs were often used as guard dogs by the Roman army", for example, means that both breeds were used, not that pits and mastiffs are the same breed. And I made that statement up, so no one go using it to support anything!

That would be pit bulls and mastiffs.

Tom

Possibly. But that would generally imply that they used both at the same time.

To take it to a different subject:
"Chicken or veal is used to make parmigiana" means that people make it with either.
"Chicken and veal is used to make parmigiana" means that people use both together in the dish.

And, of course, there is the appositive phrase, which is probably what threw the OP off:
Germans Shepherds, or GSDs, are often used by the police.

But that would properly need the commas, which might not be as apparent when someone is talking.

But at the end of the day, pits and mastiffs are different breeds. :)