The American Staffordshire Terrier
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The American Staffordshire Terrier originated from crossing the Bulldog with a terrier. Some writers contend that it was the white English Terrier or the Black-and-Tan Terrier that was used. However, others state that the Fox Terrier was used due to its gameness. It is easy to believe that breeders who were attempting to perfect a dog that would combine the spirit and agility of a terrier with the courage and tenacity of the Bulldog, and would not use a terrier that wasn't game.
There is no intention to tag this breed as a fighting machine or praise the characteristic. They are excellent guardians, they protect their masters property with authority, and can easily tell between strangers who have good intentions and those who do not.
They should be 18-20 inches tall, weigh between 55-75 pounds, and their coat is short, close, and glossy. Am Staffs come in all colors, solids and brindles, with our without white markings. Liver, solid white and black with tan points are not desirable for the show ring.
Amstaff ataxia is an inherited disease that occasionally occurs in the breed. These disease is fairly hard to trace since several generations are sometimes skipped. It is believed that this disease is a recessive disease. By this we mean that an animal must have 2 copies (one from each parent) of the abnormal (mutated) gene to cause signs of the disease. Dogs may not show signs of this until they are 8 years old, so breeders are having a tough time trying to prevent this.
Amstaffs excel at weight pulling, obedience, tracking, agility, flyball, as therapy dogs, and of course conformation. This is an excellent breed if you are active in animal activities.
Many people state that the American Staffordshire Terrier and the American Pit Bull Terrier are 2 separate breeds and should not be confused for one another. Although they resemble each other in looks, they were bred for different purposes, and the only common link they share is their ancestry. Others state that they are the same breed, and register them with the AKC as American Staffordshire Terriers while having them registered as American Pit Bull Terriers with other registries.
