Breed At A Glance

Classification
Terrier

Personality
Extremely protective, affectionate and easy to train

Life Expectancy
9-15 years

Average Height
17-19 inches

Average Weight
57-67 pounds

Coat Color
Varies

Coat Length/Texture
Short and glossy

Shedding Propensity
Consistent year-round

American Staffordshire Terrier

Also known as AmStaff

This breed is not yet identified by our thirty-eight breed test

General Temperament
Contrary to it’s media persona, the American Staffordshire Terrier is a happy and even-tempered breed. They are loving and gentle towards people, including children. They are loyal and extremely obedient when properly trained. AmStaffs are very affectionate and eager to please, generally making wonderful family pets. Socialization with other dogs during puppyhood is essential to this breed in order to minimize any unnecessary dog aggression.

American Staffordshire Terriers make great guard dogs, for several reasons, including their persistence, natural courage, highly protective nature, fierce loyalty to their owners, and high threshold for pain. Throw in a little media-inspired (yet undeserved) vicious reputation, and you’ll find this breed to be one that most criminals with think twice, or even three times, before messing around with.

This breed picks up on even the subtlest human behavior and tone. They can develop either good or bad behaviors depending on their owner, and it is easy for unscrupulous owners to instill and promote aggression, or novice owners to allow bad or inappropriate behaviors to proliferate. The AmStaff needs an owner who can provide consistent and firm training that is never harsh or brutal. It’s also best to spay/neuter this breed early, especially males, to minimize territoriality and roaming to find a mate.

With appropriate socialization, obedience training, and affection from family members, the American Staffordshire Terrier makes an excellent family companion. As with all pure-breed dogs, it is important to locate a responsible breeder who has the breed’s best interests in mind. Be very wary of puppy mills and backyard kennels.

Breed History
The origin of the American Staffordshire Terrier can be traced back to England as a cross between the Bulldog and various terriers sometime around the middle of the 19th century. At that time, wagering sports including dog fighting and bull baiting were quite popular, and these breeds were mixed to combine the spirit and agility of the terrier with the courage and tenacity of the Bulldog. This cross breed was originally called the Bull-and-Terrier Dog or Half-and-Half, and eventually, it was accepted as the Staffordshire Terrier. When it made it’s way to American around 1870, it was termed Pit Dog, Pit Bull Terrier, then later American Bull Terrier or Yankee Terrier. They were accepted into the American Kennel Club stud book in 1936 as the Staffordshire Terrier. Breeders in this country developed a Staffordshire Terrier that was significantly heavier than it’s cousins in England, and as a result, the AKC renamed the U.S. version of the breed American Staffordshire Terrier in 1972.

There is some confusion in popular culture about the difference between the American Staffordshire Terrier and the “Pit Bull.” Dog fighting was banned in the United States in 1900, and two strains of this breed were developed, a show strain and a fighting dog strain. The show strain was eventually labeled the Staffordshire Terrier, while the fighting dog strain was labeled the Pit Bull Terrier.

Body Structure and Composition
The American Staffordshire Terrier is a muscular and stocky dog, yet very agile. They are extremely strong in comparison to their small stature. They have a broad head and a short muzzle with powerful jaws. The ears are usually cropped, although this is optional. The body is squarely built, the chest is deep and broad, and the legs are set relatively far apart. The tail is short in comparison to the body and tapers to a fine point. The AmStaff has a springy and graceful gait.

Medical Information
The American Staffordshire Terrier is a healthy breed with only a small incidence of Hip Dysplasia. This condition occurs when the head of the thigh bone no longer fits firmly in the "cup" provided by the hip socket, causing lameness and arthritis-like symptoms. Some lines can also be prone to cataracts and Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA), a condition characterized by degeneration of cells of the retina, leading eventually to loss of sight. Congenital heart disease can also be a problem for this breed.

Caring for an American Staffordshire Terrier’s coat is a simple task - just brush once a week to remove dead fur.

Anecdotal Information
Pete the Pup, from the Our Gang films, was played by an American Staffordshire Terrier.