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American Staffordshire Terrier Information
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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.
The American Staffordshire Terrier is sadly on many breed banning lists due to them being used for fighting by thugs. The average American Staffordshire Terrier, who is brought up in a loving family, are incredible dogs who just want their families love. They are not at all human aggressive, though some still are dog aggressive by nature. If properly trained and cared for, you're going to have an absolutely magnificent pet.
They are excellent guardians, they protect their owners property with authority, and can easily tell between strangers friendly strangers and those who are not friendly. They are very eager to please their owners, and do very well with training. Amstaffs do require a great deal of mental and physical stimulation, especially in their younger years. Keeping your young Amstaff cooped up in the house all the time will make for a very unhappy dog. They enjoy long walks, playing ball, and lots of one on one attention from their owner.
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.
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.
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.
I'm personally not going to get into the middle of a battle on the subject since both sides of the debate have given great evidence toward their opinions. From personal experience, I have personally been around and worked with dogs that were registered as American Pit Bull Terriers, registered as American Staffordshire Terriers and a couple of dogs who were registered as both- all were truly wonderful dogs.
Sadly, this is a breed that is targeted for Breed Specific Legislation (BSL) and in my opinion, is wrongly targeted. I've worked with dogs from all walks of life for 15 years, and if I was to make a list of the most common biters the American Staffordshire Terrier/American Pit Bull Terrier wouldn't even be on the list. Another thing you should know- I have never owned an Amstaff or APBT- so I am not simply stating this because I owned one. If raised properly, well socialized, your Amstaff is going to be an incredible family pet.
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