The American Staffordshire Terrier (also known as Am staff) is an easily trainable, smart, and courageous dog breed. In fact, he is one of the most popular dogs among US servicemen. Am staffs are characterized by confidence and self-esteem, so they can make excellent guard dogs. Learn more about this dog breed below.
History
American Staffordshire Terriers are large dogs with a stocky build and athletic ability. They were developed in the 1800s by crossing various breeds, including the bulldog and the English White Terrier.
They originated from crossbreeding bulldogs with terriers. This hybridization was meant to create a dog that could hold its own in the field, but still be able to have the temperament of a family pet. The result of this breeding experiment was the American Staff, a breed that has continued to change and evolve but has always maintained its focus on being versatile and reliable.
Breed Characteristics
Although they look like small pit bulls or other large breeds, they are much less aggressive than their pit bull counterparts and are not as likely to attack. They do, however, share many similar characteristics and are often mistaken for one another at first glance.
Despite these similarities, though, both types of dogs belong to different breed groups within their category (Am Staffs fall into Molosser while Pit Bulls belong to working). They have a semi-short nose, which makes it easier for them to breathe when they play outdoors or during exercise sessions.
Health
- The American Staffordshire terrier has a very long and healthy life, which is good news for owners who need to plan ahead.
- The American Staffordshire terrier is an athletic breed, so they’re unlikely to be in the hospital very typically.
- This breed is also known to have a relatively high-energy level, and can be prone to some health problems like entropian, diabetes, and heart disease.
- However, if you take care of your pet, you may live a very long time with this energetic dog.
Appearance
The American Staffordshire Terrier has a short, glossy coat that comes in many colors. Colors include red, brindle, blue, and fawn, with most featuring white markings on the chest and feet.
The American Staffordshire Terrier is average regarding exercise needs and can adapt to indoor or outdoor living depending upon the climate. They enjoy daily walks, which can be sustained by long leashes, since they love running and pulling.
Grooming Needs
American Staffordshire terriers require a moderate amount of grooming. They can go longer between baths than some other breeds, but they should be washed at least once every three months to rid them of any germs and odors.
The coat isn’t too long, so brushing it once or twice a week for only a few minutes is enough to get out any tangles. When bathing it, use dog shampoo and cold water when possible, as warm water will dry out their skin faster.
Trainability
The American Staffordshire terrier is a highly trainable breed. As one of the more popular pit bull types, they are known for being very eager to please and can learn to respond to voice commands.
They are also not known to be barkers, but instead make their moods known with active body language and an alert stance. This breed makes an excellent agility dog, due in part to its strong work ethic and energy.
Size and Weight
- The American Staffordshire terrier, or Am Staff for short, is a medium-sized dog with a muscular build and an athletic appearance.
- This dog breed is generally known for its powerful, stocky body and broad head.
- The Am Staff also has a broad chest and thickly muscled hindquarters that are often compared to the hindquarters of the boxer dog breed.
- An adult male Am Staff stands 18 to 19 inches tall at the shoulder, while an adult female stand around 17 to 18 inches tall at the shoulder.
- Most Am Staffs weigh between 50 and 70 pounds when they are fully grown.
- The males in this dog breed tend to be bigger than females on average.
Temperament
The American Staffordshire terrier has a personality that is the perfect combination of playful, affectionate, and confident. The breed was bred to be a working terrier who could handle a variety of different tasks from ratting to guarding and even fighting.
Since this breed is also very people-oriented, it is important for them to have an owner who will spend plenty of time with them (at least an hour or so a day). Because they are so energetic, they need lots of play time as well as time spent running around in your yard.
If you don’t have enough time for your dog, you should consider getting another pet instead of the American Staffordshire Terrier. Because it would not be fair to either animal if you can’t make enough room in your life for them both.
Feeding
The American Staffordshire Terrier isn’t a dog to let its appetite get out of control, but that doesn’t mean it has to stick with the same bland diet day in and day out. With its easy-going nature and plenty of energy, this breed thrives on meat-based treats and a balanced meal plan. Let’s take a look at what constitutes an ideal American Staffordshire Terrier diet, along with some general tips for feeding your pup!
Although some commercial brands are still marketed as such today, pet parents have come around to the fact that dogs weren’t meant to subsist on lettuce and carrots alone. Pet nutritionists across the board recommend meat-heavy diets for dogs like the American Staffordshire Terrier because they contain proteins necessary for strong muscle growth and support throughout life.
The benefits aren’t just physical—a meat-focused diet also helps keep your pup’s coat healthy. The key is variety: both dry food and wet food play important roles in an ASPCA’s nutrition needs, with supplements being especially crucial for meeting them all!
Is an American Staffordshire Terrier considered an aggressive breed?
Yes, the American Staffordshire terrier is considered an aggressive breed. While it’s true that these dogs have known to be protective of their families, especially children, they are not considered dangerous by any means.
Their stubborn reputation makes them prone to becoming protective of their surroundings, which can cause them to become defensive. They are good guard dogs and can make for excellent therapy dogs without proper training and socialization.
American Staffordshire terrier price
The cost can vary depending on where you purchase your puppy from, but a good estimate would be around $700-$1200 USD.
If you’re looking at adopting one from a shelter you’ll likely pay less than $300 since they tend to be older animals and may have some health issues that require extra care when they get older, but these adoption fees also help support the shelters, so it’s still a win-win situation!
Is an American Staffy a good family dog?
Although these dogs are commonly known for having a high-energy level and being quick to react, they retain a loving nature even when they are stressed. It also helps that American Staffordshire Terriers rarely bark without reason, with their barking mostly limited to alerting you to potential dangers in your home.
Conclusion
The American Staffordshire Terrier is a medium-sized, muscular dog with a thick coat. A leaner version of the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, it has the same mask and alert expression. Their coat needs only occasional brushing and combing to keep it looking great.
These playful pups are very social and love to be around people; they make good family pets if raised as such from puppyhood. They get along well with children, but need to have adult supervision with smaller kids due to their large size (fearless puppies may hurt themselves trying to play with smaller children).
Additionally, they can be aggressive around other dogs, so it’s important that owners take care when introducing them to other animals. It would be best for an interested owner to talk to their veterinarian first before bringing home one of these beautiful creations!
