The American Staffordshire Terrier, the American Staffordshire Terrier or Amstaff, is a dog originating from the English region of Staffordshire. Among its ancestors we find the English bulldog, the fox terrier or the white English terrier. Later, this breed became popular in the United States, where a heavier and more muscular variety than the English was finally developed.
In this breed file on our site we will detail with you everything you need to know about the characteristics of the American Staffordshire Terrier in case you are thinking to adopt one. Character or education are some of the sections that you will find below, essential to consider if you want to have an amstaff in your life.
Origin of the American Staffordshire Terrier
The origin and early history of the American Staffordshire Terrier is closely related to the history of the American Pit Bull Terrier. The amstaff has its origins in those dogs that helped British butchers to control and kill the most dangerous bulls Later, the ancestors of these wonderful dogs were used in different cruel activities, which today are considered illegal in much of the world. These activities included bull fighting and dog fighting.
Over time, the American Staffordshire Terrier has shaken off the stigma of dog fighting and has been recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC), a kennel club in the United States that encourages breeding and the welfare of dogs. Until that time, the breed was known as the American Pit Bull Terrier
Later, the amstaff was officially separated from the pit bull and their breeding was developed separately. However, for a long time the dogs of this breed were registered twice, as an American Staffordshire Terrier in the AKC and as an American Pit Bull Terrier in the United Kennel Club. Today the amstaff is recognized by the AKC and the International Cinological Federation, while the pit bull is not recognized by either of them.
Characteristics of the American Staffordshire Terrier
The American Staffordshire Terrier, or also known as "amstaff", is an aesthetically stocky and muscular dog, but very agile. Next, we are going to mention the most general characteristics of the American Staffordshire Terrier:
- The head of the American Staffordshire Terrier is broad and powerful, with a medium snout rounded at the top.
- The jaw is also very powerful and this leads to very characteristic bulging cheeks.
- The eyes are set low in the skull and are widely separated from each other, as well as being round and dark.
- The ears are set high and are rose-shaped or semi-straight. It should be emphasized that under no circumstances and in no case should the ears be cropped The neck of the American Staffordshire is thick, of medium length and somewhat arched and without dewlap.
- The body of these dogs is stocky and muscular, but squat and stockyThe American Staffordshire Terrier's back is short and slopes slightly from front to back. The chest is deep and broad.
- The tail, set low, is thick at its base and gradually tapers towards its tip. It is short in proportion to the size of the body and the dog does not carry it on the back or curled up.
- The coat of the American Staffordshire Terrier is short, stiff to the touch and shiny. It can be any color, such as white, black, or brown.
- Height in males is between 46 and 48 centimeters. In females, however, it is between 43 and 46 centimeters.
- Weight is not specific, but American Staffordshire Terriers typically weigh between 25 and 30 kilograms.
American Staffordshire Terrier Character
The American Staffordshire Terrier is a dog cheerful, confident, curious and friendly with people. Despite the bad press that all "bull" type breeds receive, the amstaff is usually a very sociable and especially outgoing dog. As in all dog breeds, its character will be closely related to the education it receives, so it will be essential to properly inform us about everything that we must teach it.
Generally he is a very calm dog inside the home, affectionate and very attached to all the members of the family. He will get along wonderfully with young children if we get him used to it from the beginning and educate our children to relate to him appropriately. Outside, the amstaff becomes more active and dynamic, looking for varied stimuli that encourage play and fun. He is a dog charming and affectionate, very tender, who conveys everything he feels with his deep gaze. Those who have enjoyed an amstaff next to him will know what we are talking about.
American Staffordshire Terrier Care
Caring for an American Staffordshire Terrier is very simple. Next, we are going to talk about coat care, behavior and exercise.
- Coat care: having short hair, the amstaff will need to be brushed once or twice a week with a soft-tipped brush since a metal one could cause skin injuries. We can bathe him every month and a half and even every two months (or when he is really dirty). In this way, its coat will be shiny and he althy for a long time, since it is a naturally clean dog.
- Behavior: The American Staffordshire Terrier is a dog that gets bored quite easilyif you are alone, even suffering from separation anxiety if you spend too much time without company. For this reason, we recommend that you leave a variety of toys and teethers at his disposal, as well as intelligence toys, since you will encourage his fun and stimulate his mind. The most recommended is the KONG (black), a toy that will help you relax and that is impossible to destroy. Give it a try if your amstaff is a bit nervous.
- Exercise: The American Staffordshire Terrier needs regular and active exercisecombined with games and stimulation of all kinds. If he keeps himself physically fit, he can adjust to living in confined spaces like apartments. Ideally, the amstaff should enjoy 2 to 3 daily walks of at least 30 minutes each. On these walks we will allow you to sniff and interact as well as enjoy exercising if you need it.
Education of the American Staffordshire Terrier
The very sociable nature of the amstaff means that the first part of its education can be carried out very easily. We are talking about dog socialization, an essential process so that our puppy learns to relate well to dogs, animals and people. It will also be very important so that in the future he does not have related behavioral problems such as fear, reactivity or inappropriate behavior. To correctly socialize an American Staffordshire Terrier you will have to go little by little:
- We will start from his puppy stage (after the administration of the vaccines) to relate him to all kinds of living beings and to take him to different environments. It is very important that all these experiences are positive and pleasant for him so that he can relate everything correctly and not suffer rejection of certain stimuli. Also in his puppy stage he will learn to urinate in the street and to bite properly
- Later on, we'll start working on basic obedience: stand still, sit, or come if called. Teaching him will not only help us improve our relationship and communication with the dog, it will also help us to ensure his safetyat all times. To teach him, we will always use positive reinforcement. We should never punish the dog, since due to his sensitivity he rejects this type of behavior and becomes sad and apathetic
Once we have learned the basics, we must continue reviewing everything we have learned, at least once or twice a week. We can also teach him fun tricks or get him started in some kind of dog sport, which he will greatly appreciate.
American Staffordshire Terrier He alth
In general, the American Staffordshire Terrier is a very he althy dog But for this percentage to be met we must be aware that it is going to be It is essential to strictly follow the dog's vaccination schedule and visit the specialist with an appropriate frequency. Every 6 months is usually an adequate number. However, they may have a slight tendency to develop:
- Waterfalls.
- Heart problems.
- Hip dysplasia.
- Demodicosis.
- Disorders of sexual development: to avoid this, it is highly recommended to sterilize our dog, an option that will also help us avoid unwanted litters, excessive sexual attitudes and other he alth problems. As we have mentioned, if we visit the professional regularly we will be able to detect any of these problems promptly, so that the treatment can be carried out more effectively.
- Progressive retinal atrophy.
In addition to this, it will be useful to clean his teeth, ears, anal glands and remove the legañas on a very regular basis to avoid minor he alth problems. Finally, remember that it is essential to properly follow the dog's deworming, both internally and externally, to repel possible parasites that may affect it.
Here you can find more information about deworming in dogs.
Curiosities
- Stubby, was the only dog appointed Sergeantby the US Army for his role in holding a German spy captive until the arrival of American troops. It was also Stubby who triggered the alarm for a gas attack.
- The American Staffordshire Terrier in Spain is considered a potentially dangerous dog, for this reason the use of a muzzle and a leash is mandatory in public spaces, as well as the relevant license and civil liability insurance. consider.
