Description The stocky and muscular look of the American Staffordshire Terrier makes this particular dog breed not only impressive, but also slightly intimidating to strangers and other dogs. The strength of this agile dog is apparent from the outer appearance. With a powerful and broad head structure, the short muzzle is accentuated by a strong set jawbone. The ears of the American Staffordshire Terrier are often short and cropped.
Like its cousin the American Pitt Bull Terrier, the American Staffordshire Terrier is a tough looking dog, but the American Staffordshire Terrier is often the larger of the two with a thicker bone structure, weight, and overall head size. The teeth are set in a scissors bite. The coat of this breed is short and shiny, making it simple to take care of for a wide range of owners.
The eyes of the American Staffordshire Terrier are black and round, with a stern expression that can be perceived as both intimidating and alert. However, with a closer look, the American Staffordshire Terrier seems to be more of a lover than a fighter. Affectionate and loving, this dog breed works well in a family setting and can be a powerful guard dog if necessary.
Temperament
With its powerful stance, it's no wonder that the American Staffordshire Terrier is a natural guard dog. This is a dog breed that naturally will want to protect its family and anyone it deems a part of its pack. The pack mentality in this particular breed is strong, so once you've asserted that you are a part of their pack, they will fiercely protect you.
When they feel they are threatened, these are dogs that will become aggressive and even bite the intruder. Unlike other breeds, the American Staffordshire Terrier will also actively protect their owner's property too. This is an excellent combination for those that want that extra layer of protection for their home.
What's more is that the American Staffordshire Terrier is a persistent fighter that will continue to fight until they feel the attacker or intruder is subdued. This tenacity is helpful in dangerous situations can be problematic if they aren't taught properly who is friend and who is foe. These lessons will need to begin as quickly as possible including socialization with other pets and children that are in the home. Once this dog learns who their 'family' is, they will be docile and loving. This breed has actually been bred to be a family dog over the years. So while you should never leave a dog alone with a young child, the American Staffordshire Terrier is a good breed for all ages.
If a dog is left unsocialized, it might have troubles interacting with other dogs. When the American Staffordshire Terrier feels it is being backed into a corner (whether figuratively or literally), it can lash out and become aggressive.
Stable and outgoing, the American Staffordshire Terrier is a breed that will be fun to have around the house. They want to do nothing but please their master, so they will be willing to do whatever it takes to make you happy.
However, that said, it should also be noted that the American Staffordshire Terrier is a dog that can be difficult to housetrain. You will need to spend extra time with these lessons to ensure this dog doesn't create a bathroom of your home's interior.
Another thing to consider is that while this dog is a loving breed to have in a family setting, it does not do well with an owner that is not willing to assert their authority. The American Staffordshire Terrier takes the idea of pack order very seriously, so you will need to find ways to show that you are in charge of it in order to receive respect in return.
4 - 8 puppies with the average being 6 puppies
Terrier, Terriers
CKC, FCI, AKC, ANKC, NKC, NZKC, ACR
Black/White, Red/White, Fawn/White, Blue/White, and even Brindle/White.
Short
Large
Moderate Shed
17-19 inches (43-48 cm.)
57-67 pounds (25-30 kg.)
16-18 inches (41-46 cm.)
57-67 pounds (25-30 kg.)
Like many other breeds, the American Staffordshire Terrier will be quite content with apartment or small house living so long as they get enough exercise. Even if you don't have a yard, this breed will be happy, as they can be active indoors and keep their fitness levels up. Because of their thinner coat and sensitive skin, it's best that the American Staffordshire Terrier is kept in warmer climates in order to keep them comfortable.
Training
The most important thing to realize about the American Staffordshire Terrier is that it bases its world on the idea of a pack order. This means that it believes that someone is going to be the leader of its life, whether that distinction is theirs or it is their owners, this is the result of training. Making sure the American Staffordshire Terrier is trained early to know that you are the authority can be a challenging task for any owner. But if you're someone that doesn't like to assert authority, it will be especially tricky, if not impossible to control this sort of breed.
You will need to constantly remind the American Staffordshire Terrier that they are not the ones in charge and that you are. This will take consistent discipline and commands to help monitor their progress along the way. Many owners find that some assistance in an obedience class setting can help them get this training started, but since the dog will be in your care for most of the time, you need to be willing and able to keep up the lessons.
While the American Staffordshire Terrier doesn't necessarily need to be attended to at every moment, this is a breed that likes to interact with its master. This might include tasks in which they can do something that will please you - i.e. fetching and pulling on a chew toy. You want to give this dog a lot of praise when you are training it, so that it knows it is pleasing you. This is the best way to approach training with this particular breed as negative training can often cause the dog to become upset or even defensive. However, if the American Staffordshire Terrier does do something it's not supposed to, you will need to be firm to assert your authority and ensure that the action does not happen again.
Though they have a reputation for being guard dogs, some of their skills will have to come from you. For example, the American Staffordshire Terrier will not naturally bark at the door or at strangers, so you may need to teach them to do this, if this is a behavior you want encouraged.
You will also need to realize that even if you aren't overtly trying to tell your American Staffordshire Terrier something, they can often pick up on subtle cues in your behavior. For example, if you're not firm in your training, they will not be consistent in their resulting behaviors.
A American Staffordshire Terrier that is not trained well will often bark excessively, become aggressive and overly dominant, as well as have troubles with urinating.
House training is of particular concern with this intelligent breed. If their owner is not firm about what is acceptable and what is not acceptable, you can create a situation in which the dog is urinating or defecating all over the house. It will help you to be firm with the dog right from the beginning in terms of what you expect for house training. You may also want to take classes in obedience training in this area prior to your dog's arrival in your home.
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