An incredibly powerful and muscular dog, the American Staffordshire Terrier, descends from the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, although it is taller, and more heavily built.
At 17 to 19 inches tall the American Staffordshire is taller than its close relative, the American Pit Bull Terrier. It gives the impression of immense power, with a huge head and incredibly powerful jaws. Cropping the ears make the dog look even more intimidating, although uncropped ears are more common. The coat is short and can be a variety of colors, either sold or cropped.
To understand the Am Staff’s history we have to pay a brief visit to Staffordshire, England. Here, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier was created by crossing the Bulldog with various terrier breeds. When this breed reached America, breeders decided they wanted a bigger more powerful dog to participate in dog fighting.
When dog fighting was outlawed in the early 20th century, there was a split in the Am Staff breed. The American Staffordshire Terrier became a popular competitor in the show ring, while the unfortunate dogs still used in illegal dog fights formed the foundation for the American Pit breed.
The Am Staff may look fierce an intimidating, but it is actually an affectionate, friendly and outgoing dog. They make excellent pets and are known to be very good with kids. You will have to watch them around young kids though as they tend to be quite boisterous.
They are also fiercely protective of those they love which makes them excellent guard dogs. Not many people would be stupid enough to take on an Am Staff.
With any dog this powerful, training socialization and strong leadership are an absolute must with this breed. They are not generally aggressive, despite their reputation, but an untrained Am Staff will be incredibly difficult to control.
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Like all purebred dogs, the American Staffordshire Terrier suffers from a number of congenital diseases, including hip dysplasia, congenital heart disease, tumors, cataracts, skin allergies, and thyroid problems. Median lifespan is generally 12-16 years.
The Am Staff is an easy dog to maintain, needing only a weekly brush down to keep it looking its best. Don’t bathe the dog too often or you’ll strip essential oils from the coat and skin.
The Am Staff requires a lot of exercise, but it will adapt quite well to apartment living provided these exercise needs are met. A house with a large garden would still be preferable, but whatever the living arrangement, a long walk on the leash is required every day.
The Am Staff dislikes cold weather, and is better suited to being an indoor dog.
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