The American Staffordshire Terriers are not very easily available in India and are mostly found in big metropolitan cities and only at a reputed breeder’s place. They have an above average tolerance to heat and humidity, so, they could comfortably thrive in most parts of India. But, their tolerance to cold weather conditions is pretty low, therefore, it is advised not to raise these dogs in an extremely cold environment, like the one which can be seen on a hilly or a snowy area. The Amstaffs are very loyal and kind by nature and they listen to their loved ones’ commands quite sincerely, hence, they can be a good choice for someone who wants to raise a faithful, good-natured and responsive canine.
The American Staffordshire Terrier is a well put-together dog who might have a compact exterior structure but possess a great deal of strength and agility and is equally graceful and poised. The official standards for the Amstaffs are given as follows:
The average height of the American Staffordshire Terriers is around 17-19 inches (at the shoulders). The male Amstaffs are slightly taller and fairly heavier than their female counterparts. The average weight of this breed lies somewhere between the range of 18-32 Kilograms.
|
WEIGHT |
HEIGHT |
|
|
MALE |
25-32 kg |
18-19 inch |
|
FEMALE |
18-25 kg |
17-18 inch |
The American Staffordshire Terriers possess a glossy coat which is a bit stiff to the touch and is fairly short in terms of length. Their coat is quite evenly spread all over their body.
They have a stocky and muscular body with a slightly arched neck which is free of any loose skin and is quite heavy and medium in length. The chest is deep and broad and the back region is fairly short and it gently slopes towards the base of the tail which is also quite short, low set and is tapering in nature. Their forelegs and hind legs are straight, well-muscled and are of moderate size.
They have a medium-sized head which is sufficiently deep and broad. Their eyes are round and dark and are set far apart from each other. The ears are mostly preferred to be uncropped and they are relatively short and are set high on the head.
They possess a well-defined jaw region in which the underjaw is slightly more powerful than the upper jaw. Their overall muzzle is medium in length and is well-rounded on the upper side.
The American Staffordshire Terriers are extremely loyal and faithful canines who are devoted to their owners and loved ones and always stick by their sides under all circumstances. They are very friendly, kind and affectionate with the people they know and can trust, and that includes someone who is not that well known to them. These dogs mix well with strangers and are warm and amiable with them, and once they start trusting them, they can develop a close and loving bond with anyone. These canines are also quite careful and gentle with the small children and like to play various games with them. The Amstaffs don’t gel that well with other canines but by means of early socialization with different canines, the Amstaffs can be comfortable around other dogs too. The basic temperamental traits of this breed are listed below:
The American Staffordshire Terriers are often confused with the Staffordshire Bull Terriers but these two are distinct and separate breeds. They even originated on different continents as per the records, the former comes from North America and the latter is from Europe.
Coming back to the Amstaffs, these dogs are considered to be exceptional companions because of their gentle, good-natured and affable character. They are always looking to please their loved ones and are happy to spend all their time with them. Training these canines is also not that hard (if the owner/trainer is well-experienced) and they possess a decent level of intelligence which helps them to grasp and learn a lot of different skills and commands from their owners. Anyone who wants to be dog parent should look no further as the American Staffordshire Terrier is a good option both as a house pet and a constant companion.
Unofficially, the Amstaffs are divided into three types which are based on slight differences, in terms of overall build and exterior structure, between some of these canines. They are as follows:
Also, this breed is available in quite a few different colors which are as follows:
|
Adaptability |
**** |
Sensitivity Level |
**** |
|
Affection Level |
***** |
Potential for mouthiness |
***** |
|
Apartment-Friendly |
** |
Drooling Potential |
*** |
|
Barking Tendencies |
*** |
Energy Level |
*** |
|
Friendly towards dogs |
* |
Health Issues |
*** |
|
Friendly towards other animals |
** |
Intelligence |
**** |
|
Child Friendly |
***** |
Playfulness |
**** |
|
Exercise Needs |
*** |
Shedding Level |
** |
|
Grooming Needs |
* |
Social Needs |
**** |
|
Good for novice owners |
** |
Stranger Friendly |
**** |
|
Trainability |
**** |
Watchdog Ability |
*** |
|
Tolerates Heat |
*** |
Tolerates Cold |
** |
The American Staffordshire Terriers require a good-quality feeding material to remain healthy and energetic. Mostly, there are given a meat-based dog food in which the protein content should be no less than 30 percent, fat content should be around 20 percent and fiber content needs to be less than or equal to 4 percent.
These medium-sized dogs require a good amount of exercise on a daily basis. They love to be outside the house with their close ones playing numerous games in an open area. They should be kept on their leash while on a long walk as they are surprisingly agile and can outrun their owners. A regular exercise schedule keeps these dogs healthy and contented.
The American Staffordshire Terriers are very responsive and alert while getting trained. They are agreeable and positive towards various kinds of training exercises and can learn a lot of new skills from their owners. But, it is important to start their training at a young age so that some of their negative traits like excessive chewing, digging etc. can be resolved as early as possible.
Their short and glossy coat sheds only occasionally and that too in a very limited manner. Their grooming needs are also quite minimal as their coat is only required to be brushed once a week and bathing and brushing of teeth can be done as deemed necessary by their owners. Their nails should be trimmed regularly as long nails can be painful for them while running or even walking.
They are normally a healthy and fit breed but they also may suffer from a few health-related problems during their lifetime. Some of the common issues found in them are:
It would be better to take this breed to a vet’s clinic at least once every 30-60 days for general health check-ups and consultations with the vet.
The American Staffordshire Terriers were bred apart from the American Pit Bull Terriers in the 1960s. They were most likely created by crossing the Old Terrier type dogs with the Bulldogs.
The Amstaffs were very popular among the farmers and they were used for various purposes like catching pigs and cattle, protecting the stock et cetera. These dogs also became a very close companion of the farmers and ranchers in the U.S. because of their loyalty and devotion to their owners.
Today, this breed is highly misjudged by many people around the world. They associate these dogs with aggressiveness and hostility which is absolutely untrue. The Amstaffs are still equally kind and gentle as their ancestors were and they love their close ones with all their heart. They can be sometimes a bit belligerent with other canines but that can also be overcome through training. The American Staffordshire Terriers were recognized by the AKC in the year 1936.
