American Staffordshire terrier
The American Staffordshire terrier shares its ancestry with the American pit bull terrier but was separated in 1936, when the American Kennel Club recognised a show-bred line under its own name.
Decades of breeding for the ring have produced a heavier, more uniform dog.
It is medium-sized and unmistakably muscular, with a broad head, well-defined cheek muscles and a short glossy coat. The standard asks for a confident, good-natured dog, and well-bred amstaffs are notably steady with people. As with its close relatives, tolerance of other dogs varies and should be managed rather than assumed.
- Origin
- United States, recognised separately from 1936
- Size
- 18–32 kg, 43–48 cm at the shoulder
- Lifespan
- 12–16 years
- Coat
- Short, close and glossy
- Temperament
- Confident, good-natured with people, courageous
- Exercise
- About an hour daily plus training
Related: American pit bull terrier · Bull terrier · Airedale terrier · American bulldog · American bully
2 american staffordshire terrier photos, newest first
Living with a american staffordshire terrier
Weekly brushing covers the coat. Like other short-coated bull breeds they feel cold and can sunburn on pale skin.
Training pays off quickly — these are responsive, food-motivated dogs — and early socialisation with other dogs is the part not to skip.
The significant inherited condition is cerebellar ataxia, which has a DNA test and should be cleared in any breeding line. Hip dysplasia, skin allergies and hypothyroidism also occur. Ownership restrictions apply in some jurisdictions, so check before committing.
General guidance, not veterinary advice. Individual dogs vary, and anything about a specific animal is a question for a vet who has seen it.
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