The American Staffordshire Terrier is a large dog that originated in England and was developed in the United States for the purpose of dog fighting. They are often known by a variety of different names including the American Staffordshire Terrier, Amstaff, American Staffy, Stafford, Staffy, Staff and Staffie. The origins of the American Staffordshire Terrier can be traced back to the nineteenth century when Bulldogs were crossed with various terrier breeds in Staffordshire, England. The resulting pups were extremely energetic and muscular dogs that the English named Staffordshire Bull Terriers. Some of these dogs made their way to America in the mid to late 1800s, and Bully breeders took to them right away. Through selective breeding, they produced heavier dogs with larger heads, which they named American Staffordshire Terriers. Amstaffs were primarily used in dog fighting until 1900 when the practice was banned.
The American Staffordshire Terrier is a muscular, strong and stocky dog. It has short legs and strong jaws. It has a short, glossy coat and is low maintenance when it comes to grooming, but need regular brushing. They are sometimes sensitive when it comes to being handles and should get used to grooming when they are puppies. They are also prone to bad breath and need regular tooth cleaning. The American Staffordshire Terrier is an extremely muscular dog that typically weighs between 60 and 70 pounds fully grown. However, it is not uncommon for some to weigh more than 70 pounds. It has a large head with a broad skull and powerful jaws. Its neck is thick, and its chest is broad. The tail of the Amstaff is long and is carried a bit high with a slight curve when in motion. The ears are usually cropped short. It has a short coat that can be most any solid color, parti-color, brindle or a solid color with patches of another color. The eyes of the American Staffordshire Terrier should be round and dark-colored.
Personality
Public acceptance of this breed is sometimes low, due to its categorization as a “pit bull”. Even though they are strong-willed, fearless dogs, they are affectionate, playful and obedient. They are generally good with children but are very protective of their owners and families, which sometimes make them aggressive towards other dogs. They need regular daily exercise and enjoy long walks or playing in the yard. Despite its ancestry and tough appearance, the American Staffordshire Terrier is a very docile and affectionate dog. It loves to play, and it is good with children. However, because of its size and energy level, it is not recommended for children who are small. It is also good with other pets so long as they were raised together. The Amstaff is very distrusting of strangers and can become aggressive if it feels threatened. It can also become aggressive with dogs or cats it does not know. Although American Staffordshire Terriers love playing outside, it is happiest when it is indoors with its human family. Although the American Staffordshire Terrier may have a tough-looking exterior, this is a sweet dog that loves human companionship. In fact, Amstaffs often form strong bonds with their human family members and suffer from separation anxiety when left alone. If you are thinking about adding one of these dogs to your home, be sure to provide it with a lot of love and playtime.
Breed Characteristics
| Type: | Pure |
| Family: | Terrier |
| Function: | Not Available |
| Origin: | United States |
| Preferred Climate: | Any Climate |
| Group: | Terriers |
| Life Span: | 12-15 Years |
| Nicknames: | American Staffordshire Terrier, Amstaff, American Staffy, Stafford, Staffy, Staff, Staffie |
| Hypoallergenic: | No |
American Staffordshire Terrier Build Information
The American Staffordshire Terrier is a muscular, strong and stocky dog. It has short legs and strong jaws. It has a short, glossy coat and is low maintenance when it comes to grooming, but need regular brushing. They are sometimes sensitive when it comes to being handles and should get used to grooming when they are puppies. They are also prone to bad breath and need regular tooth cleaning. The American Staffordshire Terrier is an extremely muscular dog that typically weighs between 60 and 70 pounds fully grown. However, it is not uncommon for some to weigh more than 70 pounds. It has a large head with a broad skull and powerful jaws. Its neck is thick, and its chest is broad. The tail of the Amstaff is long and is carried a bit high with a slight curve when in motion. The ears are usually cropped short. It has a short coat that can be most any solid color, parti-color, brindle or a solid color with patches of another color. The eyes of the American Staffordshire Terrier should be round and dark-colored.
| Size: | Medium |
| Length (Male): | 19-25 in. |
| Length (Female): | 18-20 in. |
| Weight: | 26 – 40 lbs |
| Litter Size: | 5 – 10 Puppies |
| Tail Dock or Crop: | Cropped |
Behaviour and Personality
Public acceptance of this breed is sometimes low, due to its categorization as a “pit bull”. Even though they are strong-willed, fearless dogs, they are affectionate, playful and obedient. They are generally good with children but are very protective of their owners and families, which sometimes make them aggressive towards other dogs. They need regular daily exercise and enjoy long walks or playing in the yard. Despite its ancestry and tough appearance, the American Staffordshire Terrier is a very docile and affectionate dog. It loves to play, and it is good with children. However, because of its size and energy level, it is not recommended for children who are small. It is also good with other pets so long as they were raised together. The Amstaff is very distrusting of strangers and can become aggressive if it feels threatened. It can also become aggressive with dogs or cats it does not know. Although American Staffordshire Terriers love playing outside, it is happiest when it is indoors with its human family. Although the American Staffordshire Terrier may have a tough-looking exterior, this is a sweet dog that loves human companionship. In fact, Amstaffs often form strong bonds with their human family members and suffer from separation anxiety when left alone. If you are thinking about adding one of these dogs to your home, be sure to provide it with a lot of love and playtime.
| Activity Level: | Active |
| Affection Level: | Affectionate |
| Aggressiveness Level: | High |
| Barking: | Moderate |
| Dominating or Submissive?: | Dominating |
| Energy Level: | Active |
| Good to Other Pets: | Moderate Friendly |
| Guardian Skills: | No |
| Independant: | No |
| Kid Friendliness: | Friendly |
Appearance
The Amstaff’s short hair is quite easy to take care of. You will simply need to bathe your pet about once or twice a month if it gets dirty. After bathing your dog, check its ears for excessive wax buildup. If necessary, you can clean them using the tip of a damp washrag. Never use a cotton swab as it could damage your pet’s inner ears. During shedding season, you may want to brush its coat with a bristle brush or hound glove. This will help reduce the amount of dog hair in your home. Finally, when your American Staffordshire Terrier’s nails get too long, you can cut the tips of them off using a pliers-style nail clipper made for pets.
| Colors: | Black, Blue, Fawn, Light Brown, Liver, Red, Red-Black Brindle, Sable, Tan Brindle, White |
| Shedding: | Moderate |
| Grooming: | Low Maintenance |
| Coat Type: | Fine |
American Staffordshire Terrier Common Health Conditions
American Staffordshire Terriers are extremely hardy dogs that can live as long as nine to 15 years. However, some Amstaff’s are prone to developing various health issues that you will find listed below. Since these dogs have an amazingly high threshold to pain, you will want to take note of even the slightest behavior changes in your dog: Hip and Elbow Dysplasia, Patellar Luxation, Abnormal Thyroids, Congenital Heart Disease, Skin Allergies, Cataracts, Progressive Retinal Atrophy and Cerebellar Ataxia.
American Staffordshire Terrier Pet Insurance
When adding a dog or cat to your family you want to make sure your pet is happy, healthy and protected. During its lifetime your pet is exposed to many illnesses and diseases and some breeds are affected by a congenital disease which is a condition existing at birth. At these moments when your pet is ill or maybe needs surgery, you want to be protected for the unexpected and high veterinarian costs.
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Breed Talents and Facts
Pete the Pup on “The Little Rascals” was an American Staffordshire Terrier. The most decorated dog in the military’s history was an Amstaff by the name of Sergeant Stubby. The American Staffordshire Terrier and the American Pit Bull Terrier are close cousins.
| Training: | Easy |
| Hunting Companion: | Yes |
| Jolly for Jogging: | Yes |
| Sighting Capabilities: | No |
| Ideal for Tracking: | No |
| Retrieving Skills: | No |
| Pointing Breed: | No |
| Herding Skills: | No |
| Dutiful Watchdog: | Yes |
| Security Guard Capable: | No |
| Police Performer: | No |
| Wet Water rescues: | No |
| Assist Disable Owners: | No |
| Dog Sledding: | No |
| Able to Perform Dog Carting: | Yes |
| Agile/Zippy: | Yes |
| Fun with Lure Coursing: | No |
| Obedient: | Yes |
| Possible Schutzhund Work: | Yes |
| Trainable for Tricks: | Yes |
