Courageous , smart , and loyal , the American Staffordshire terrier ( “ AmStaff " for short ) can be a wonderful family pet that study apace with positive reinforcement . These energetic dogs are always up for a good outdoor adventure with their human friend .
Stocky but sweet - natured American Staffordshire terriers—“AmStaffs " to their admirer — are muscle - bound softy who mold fast , strong bonds with their humans . first-class spotter and loyal companions , they have good deal of vitality and a playful run — they’re always up for a run or agood game of fetch or Frisbeein the yard .
American Staffordshire terrier are thickset and muscular dogs with sometimes more DOE than they know what to do with — and they want a job and activities that shape their strong bodies . For many old age , these traits were exploited to rick AmStaffs into fight dogs or bull baiters . But whenproperly trained with positive reinforcementandcontinually socialise , American Staffordshire terriers can beterrific family petswho are as soft and trustworthy as they come .
Grigorita Ko / Getty
Appearance
work up like fuzzy fire hydrants , American Staffordshire terrier top out around 19 inches tall , but pack a square 40–70 pounds of muscle on those small frames . This gives the AmStaff an unmistakable presence , with their thick , muscular neck , barrel chest , and slender hindquarters .
AmStaffs fare in a motley of colors , with liver , sable , brindle , and brown being the most common , often with some white on their heads and chests . Theirstiff , lustrous coat are shortwith no primer coat , make them soft to give care for , but also more raw to cold temperature .
They have broad , healthy case , commonly with dark - colored eyes , though blue is an occasional exclusion . Their tails are short compare to the relaxation of their physical structure , taper to a point .
Rita Kochmarjova / Adobe Stock
Temperament
OK . So , elephant in the room : Yes , the American Staffordshire terrier has a history as a dog breed for fighting . Despite the stigma around this strain , many person and family receive the AmStaff to be a heavy multi - purpose dog that excels at all sorts of fun dog sports .
AmStaffs areintelligent heel — they read cues well andare very trainable . However , due to their sizing and quickness , they demand a coach who keeps them mentally and physically stimulated . Be sure to provide your American Staffordshire terrier plenteous chance for enrichment and the chance toenjoy training , exercise , and game that put their brain — and consistency — to work . This is not a breed that will be happy with just a unretentive walk around the block or one training family in their life . It ’s also for this intellect that first - meter owners might want to look elsewhere .
" If anything , I ’m subtly steering [ first - time owners ] away from them , " says Dennis Riordan , DVM , ofRiordan Pet Hospitalin Des Moines , Iowa . " If you go to any protection , the legal age of the detent you ’re go to see have those [ Staffie ] traits , partly because people do n’t realize there are breed - specific restrictions [ and have to surrender their click because of those restrictions ] , and partly because they can be a lot for a new dog possessor to handle . "
Copyright Radu Dan / Getty
AmStaffs can make great playfellow and cando very well with children , but they do enjoy a much more rambunctious play elan . Coupled with their grievous , stocky build , it can make them a bit much for smaller children to handle . likewise , their size and strength can make them freight trains on a leash when they have not beentaught to walk nicely . As with all bounder strain , kiddos should be supervised when play with any individual dog .
AmStaffs needdaily exercise and mental stimulationto keep them from getting bored . And go on them from getting bored is go to be a priority for any owner , because a blase AmStaff will chew on place , piece of furniture , or whatever else he can get his paws on . Keepplenty of chew toysaround !
But their private road and muscular frames make them ideal dog for flock of playfulness activities includingdock divingoragility game , and the breed has even excel when trained for search and rescue operation . Their stoical nature and resilience makes them a natural conniption for physically demanding work .
Emre Ceylan / Getty
" My dad loved perdition bulls and Staffordshire terriers because they were such courageous , stoical bounder , " Riordan says .
American Staffordshire terriers are dogs thatwillbark a healthy amount , especially if they are blase or left alone for long periods of time , and they are blessed with forte , cryptic voices . It ’s important to see teaching your AmStaff to offer other behaviors , likego - to - matting , by reinforcing those more desirable behaviors in spot of bark .
Living Needs
You ’re start to call for afenced yard . This is not a wiener that willtypically do well in an apartmentbecause there simply is n’t enough space for them to romp . These detent are also excellent jump shot and climbers , making them adept escape cock artists — so you should never give them alone in your backyard . The AmStaff loves being with his homo , and when left neglected he may developseparation anxietyordig up your yardout of boredom .
This breed traditionally does n’t do well with other dogs . exclusion can be found when American Staffordshire puppies are socialized at an early age , but your AmStaff might still do best if he ’s the only cad in the menage .
Care
Easily the unsubdivided part about own an American Staffordshire terrier is care for an American Staffordshire terrier . Their single - pelage fur is brusque and somewhat oily , forestall it from hold back shite and shit them resistant to burrs and matting . They arevery light shedders , requiring small to no brushing . Similarly , the oils in their hair keep them from develop any of the traditional " dog odors , " meaning thatbathingwill involve to happen only on an as - require basis , rather than on any variety of regular clip tabular array .
Like all dogs , theirnails will need even trim , theirteeth should be brushed , and they needregular spike cleanings , too .
Health
The American Staffordshire terrier is a generallyhealthy dog strain . They are , however , prone to skin allergies , urinary tract infections , and some autoimmune diseases . Hip dysplasiaandelbow problemsare also comparatively vernacular , according to theStaffordshire Terrier Club of America ( STCA ) .
to boot , it’s advised to get your AmStaff tested forcerebellar motor ataxia , a term that can result in a decline in muscle coordination and that normally manifests between the ages of three and five .
History
The American Staffordshire terrier has undeniable affiliation to the bloodsport dogs of 18th and 19th hundred England . These wienerwurst were ordinarily bred to contend or released in packs to gainsay bulls for the entertainment of gang , harmonize to the STCA . It ’s from this unnerving frankfurter that cover like the American Staffordshire , thebull terrier , and the modernEnglish bulldogall draw lineage .
The American Staffordshire terrier was developed from the original bulldog ( a very dissimilar brute from today ’s English orAmerican bulldogs ) . What other dogs were used in cross education is a murkier river to describe , but it is think that now - out breed such as the lily-white English terrier or the black and tan terrier were used to create the Staffordshire terrier , according to the STCA .
Those Staffordshire terrier made their way to the U.S. by the 1850s , where American breeders developed a version that was prominent and heavier than the English Staffordshire , which the American Kennel Club recognized as a disjoined breed in 1936 .
vencavolrab / Getty
Fun Facts
Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
