BUYER BEWARE
Is The American Staffordshire Terrier Right For You?
Before you consider buying an Amstaff, consider if it is the right breed for you. Be sure that you are ready to devote the time and energy to this dog that it requires. The life expectancy of this breed may be 12 - 14 years with good care so please take this into consideration when purchasing a dog. Remember you are buying a pet for life.
The American Staffordshire Terrier is powerful, athletic, courageous and loyal. Such a special dog requires special responsibility. This breed will make a great companion for an active owner who plans to spend a lot of time with their dog and wants a close companion. They are not a good choice for a pet who will receive little attention. The Amstaff is determined and intelligent, and if left to their own amusement a bored Amstaff can do great damage to your house or yard and can be hard to keep fenced. It goes without saying that no dog should ever be allowed to run loose outside of a secure property.
Due to its natural feisty terrier nature and ancestry, some adult Amstaffs can display various levels of aggression towards other dogs (but they should never show aggression towards humans). Therefore the Amstaff requires an owner who is conscious of this and is willing to go the extra mile to ensure their Amstaff is an outstanding canine citizen. This means having your Amstaff under effective control at all times and never allowing it to roam at large or mix off lead with strange dogs. Keeping your Amstaff free from any trouble is the first step to protecting this breed for generations to come.
If you are looking for a guard dog or a personal protection dog then the Amstaff is not for you. Although the Amstaff will protect its family, its generally human friendly demeanor means it is not the best choice for a guard or protection dog.
Before you consider buying an Amstaff, consider if it is the right breed for you. Be sure that you are ready to devote the time and energy to this dog that it requires. The life expectancy of this breed may be 12 - 14 years with good care so please take this into consideration when purchasing a dog. Remember you are buying a pet for life.
The American Staffordshire Terrier is powerful, athletic, courageous and loyal. Such a special dog requires special responsibility. This breed will make a great companion for an active owner who plans to spend a lot of time with their dog and wants a close companion. They are not a good choice for a pet who will receive little attention. The Amstaff is determined and intelligent, and if left to their own amusement a bored Amstaff can do great damage to your house or yard and can be hard to keep fenced. It goes without saying that no dog should ever be allowed to run loose outside of a secure property.
Due to its natural feisty terrier nature and ancestry, some adult Amstaffs can display various levels of aggression towards other dogs (but they should never show aggression towards humans). Therefore the Amstaff requires an owner who is conscious of this and is willing to go the extra mile to ensure their Amstaff is an outstanding canine citizen. This means having your Amstaff under effective control at all times and never allowing it to roam at large or mix off lead with strange dogs. Keeping your Amstaff free from any trouble is the first step to protecting this breed for generations to come.
If you are looking for a guard dog or a personal protection dog then the Amstaff is not for you. Although the Amstaff will protect its family, its generally human friendly demeanor means it is not the best choice for a guard or protection dog.
Never Buy An American Staffordshire Terrier without Pedigree Papers
Do not purchase an American Staffordshire Terrier without pedigree papers issued by the Australian National Kennel Council (ANKC) or one of it’s recognised member bodies such as DOGS Victoria.
If you do not purchase an Amstaff with pedigree papers from a Registered Breeder then you cannot be sure you are actually getting an American Staffordshire Terrier. Just as importantly, pedigree papers protect your pet against Breed Specific Legislations. This is vitally important in Victoria, where only pedigree papers or a certificate signed by a veterinary stating that the dog is a purebred American Staffordshire Terrier can exempt an Amstaff from BSL under the Standard for Restricted Breed Dogs in Victoria. Only a Registered Breeder can provide pedigree papers.
Why Buy Your American Staffordshire Terrier From A Registered Breeder?
Only breeders registered with their state canine governing body (such as DOGS Victoria) can provide you with pedigree papers for your dog. People who are not Registered Breeders cannot provide pedigree papers. A pup from two registered parents but that has no pedigree papers itself is considered an unregistered dog.
Finding a Registered Breeder is a step in the right direction, however the puppy should be diligent and educate themselves in order to avoid disappointment. If a breeder offers to sell an Amstaff without papers then walk away. If a breeder is selling dogs without papers it demonstrates that they do not care about the breed nor about the consequences that their puppy buyers face from having an unpapered Amstaff.
Prices for Amstaffs vary however it is best to keep in mind the old saying that “you get what you pay for”. There are no rare colours in Amstaffs and a breeder should not charge more for any particular colour.
7 Questions To Ask A Breeder
1. Ask the breeder if they are selling the puppies with ANKC registration papers
If the answer is no or if it is dependent on price then look elsewhere. Never buy an Amstaff without pedigree papers or from a breeder who sells dogs without pedigree papers.
2. Ask the breeder if the puppies will come microchipped, vaccinated, treated for worms and other parasites, and checked by a vet.
Every puppy sold should be sold with a microchip for identification, with full vaccinations and treated for parasites such as worms, fleas and ticks. You should receive the puppies vet card detailing its previous vaccinations and when it is due for the next one. This is very important as a young puppy that is not vaccinated is at serious risk of contracting diseases such as Canine Parvovirus, which is often fatal. The microchip is also very important as it can allow identification by any vet or animal control officer if your dog is lost at any stage during its life.
3. Ask the breeder about the sire and dam’s temperament
Are they laid back dogs? Or are they very active dogs with high drives? A prospective puppy buyer should aim to find a puppy with a temperament and personality that is suitable for their lifestyle. The temperament of the puppy’s parents can be a good indicator of how the pup may turn out.
4. Ask to view the parents
The breeder should allow you to view the parents or at least the dam if they have used a stud from out of town.
5. Ask if the breeder has done any health testing on the sire and dam?
Health testing will not guarantee the pups are free from defects but it will give a good indication of the likelihood so the buyer can make an informed decision. The sire and dam should be tested for cerebellar ataxia and hip and elbow screened at the least, although cardiac, eye and thyroid tests are also highly recommended. The breeder should be willing to show the prospective buyer the results.
6. Ask the breeder what they hope to achieve from this breeding
Someone who is breeding for the betterment of the breed will have carefully planned their litter and will have a specific outcome in mind. They may be looking to improve certain areas of their dogs appearance - for example they may be hoping to improve their topline or reduce the height of their dogs - or they may be aiming to improve the temperament such as increasing their working drives. If a breeder has no answer to this question then it is a sign they may be breeding for money or ego and thus you should look elsewhere.
7. Ask the breeder how many litters they have produced
One of the biggest problems faced by the pure bred dog community are “puppy farmers”. Puppy farmers are breeders who produce high number of litters and sell them to anyone indiscriminately. Their primary motivation for breeding is to make money. If the breeder is breeding a large number of litters per year then this is cause for concern. The Amstaff is not a breed for everyone and so the breeder should be very concerned about where their pups are placed. It is common for breeders to ask potential puppy buyers many questions as it shows they care about the breed and what happens to the future of their puppies.
Do not purchase an American Staffordshire Terrier without pedigree papers issued by the Australian National Kennel Council (ANKC) or one of it’s recognised member bodies such as DOGS Victoria.
If you do not purchase an Amstaff with pedigree papers from a Registered Breeder then you cannot be sure you are actually getting an American Staffordshire Terrier. Just as importantly, pedigree papers protect your pet against Breed Specific Legislations. This is vitally important in Victoria, where only pedigree papers or a certificate signed by a veterinary stating that the dog is a purebred American Staffordshire Terrier can exempt an Amstaff from BSL under the Standard for Restricted Breed Dogs in Victoria. Only a Registered Breeder can provide pedigree papers.
Why Buy Your American Staffordshire Terrier From A Registered Breeder?
Only breeders registered with their state canine governing body (such as DOGS Victoria) can provide you with pedigree papers for your dog. People who are not Registered Breeders cannot provide pedigree papers. A pup from two registered parents but that has no pedigree papers itself is considered an unregistered dog.
Finding a Registered Breeder is a step in the right direction, however the puppy should be diligent and educate themselves in order to avoid disappointment. If a breeder offers to sell an Amstaff without papers then walk away. If a breeder is selling dogs without papers it demonstrates that they do not care about the breed nor about the consequences that their puppy buyers face from having an unpapered Amstaff.
Prices for Amstaffs vary however it is best to keep in mind the old saying that “you get what you pay for”. There are no rare colours in Amstaffs and a breeder should not charge more for any particular colour.
7 Questions To Ask A Breeder
1. Ask the breeder if they are selling the puppies with ANKC registration papers
If the answer is no or if it is dependent on price then look elsewhere. Never buy an Amstaff without pedigree papers or from a breeder who sells dogs without pedigree papers.
2. Ask the breeder if the puppies will come microchipped, vaccinated, treated for worms and other parasites, and checked by a vet.
Every puppy sold should be sold with a microchip for identification, with full vaccinations and treated for parasites such as worms, fleas and ticks. You should receive the puppies vet card detailing its previous vaccinations and when it is due for the next one. This is very important as a young puppy that is not vaccinated is at serious risk of contracting diseases such as Canine Parvovirus, which is often fatal. The microchip is also very important as it can allow identification by any vet or animal control officer if your dog is lost at any stage during its life.
3. Ask the breeder about the sire and dam’s temperament
Are they laid back dogs? Or are they very active dogs with high drives? A prospective puppy buyer should aim to find a puppy with a temperament and personality that is suitable for their lifestyle. The temperament of the puppy’s parents can be a good indicator of how the pup may turn out.
4. Ask to view the parents
The breeder should allow you to view the parents or at least the dam if they have used a stud from out of town.
5. Ask if the breeder has done any health testing on the sire and dam?
Health testing will not guarantee the pups are free from defects but it will give a good indication of the likelihood so the buyer can make an informed decision. The sire and dam should be tested for cerebellar ataxia and hip and elbow screened at the least, although cardiac, eye and thyroid tests are also highly recommended. The breeder should be willing to show the prospective buyer the results.
6. Ask the breeder what they hope to achieve from this breeding
Someone who is breeding for the betterment of the breed will have carefully planned their litter and will have a specific outcome in mind. They may be looking to improve certain areas of their dogs appearance - for example they may be hoping to improve their topline or reduce the height of their dogs - or they may be aiming to improve the temperament such as increasing their working drives. If a breeder has no answer to this question then it is a sign they may be breeding for money or ego and thus you should look elsewhere.
7. Ask the breeder how many litters they have produced
One of the biggest problems faced by the pure bred dog community are “puppy farmers”. Puppy farmers are breeders who produce high number of litters and sell them to anyone indiscriminately. Their primary motivation for breeding is to make money. If the breeder is breeding a large number of litters per year then this is cause for concern. The Amstaff is not a breed for everyone and so the breeder should be very concerned about where their pups are placed. It is common for breeders to ask potential puppy buyers many questions as it shows they care about the breed and what happens to the future of their puppies.