THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THE AMERICAN STAFFORDSHIRE TERRIER
His courage is proverbial. Keenly alert to his surroundings. Muscular yet agile and graceful. These are phrases used to describe the American Staffordshire Terrier, or Amstaff as it is affectionately known.
The American Staffordshire Terrier is not a new breed. Although it gained Australian National Kennel Club recognition in 1987, the Amstaff has in fact been developed since the early 1800s from early bull & terrier type dogs. While the exact origins of the early bull & terriers are not precisely documented, it is known that in 19th-century England bulldogs of the time (much different to the modern British Bulldog) were crossed with various small terriers to create a dog with the strength and courage of the bulldog and the tenacity and quickness of the terrier. These dogs, originally bred for bull-baiting and dog fighting, were then exported to America where a minority where used as fighting dogs while the majority found their place as frontier dogs helping to settle the new lands, providing protection for livestock around the farms and companionship around the home. It is from these early bull & terriers that the Amstaff was developed.
The American Staffordshire Terrier gained official recognition from the American Kennel Club in 1936, with the first National Specialty Show for the breed being held in 1938. One of these early and very famous Amstaffs was Pete the Pup, that lovable kids companion in the 1930s TV series The Little Rascals.
Although ancestors of the Amstaff were fighting dogs, selective breeding since the 1930s has been away from this fighting heritage. The Amstaff today is a companion, show and working dog rather then a gladiator.
The Amstaff is quickly gaining popularity in Australia while it has long been established as one of the most popular terrier breeds in the USA and Europe.
Appearance
The Amstaff is a medium sized, short coated dog that combines agility and grace with great strength for its size. Although muscular and stocky, the Amstaff is very much an athletic dog, able to twist and turn on a dime. A common analogy used is that the Amstaff should give the impression of a triathlete – strong but explosively athletic with much stamina, and not that of a bodybuilder, being cumbersome and overly-musclebound and tiring too quickly.
The ideal height for an Amstaff is 17-18 inches for a bitch and 18-19 inches for a dog. Whilst the Breed Standard does not specify weight ranges it does state that height and weight should be in proportion. This dog is the perfect blend of bull & terrier and as such the balance between height and weight is of the utmost importance.
The Amstaff comes in all colours – brindles, parti, patched or any combination of colours with only more then 80% white, black and tan or liver to be discouraged. Their appearance is flashy and filled with confidence and will immediately win the admiration of observers. Their well developed musculature shows off their unusual strength while their short coat requires little grooming and is easy to keep clean.
Temperament & Characteristics
The Amstaff’s courage is renowned and the breeds determination and indomitable spirit stems from its terrier ancestry. This very confident, self assured dog delights in contact with all humans and its reliability with children are all part of its considerable charm. An Amstaff is a dog with a zest for life, up for anything and ready to take on whatever challenge lies before it.
Due to their courage, inquisitive intelligence, and great strength for size, this breed requires an active owner who wants to spend time with their pet; a firm and loving owner who will give them both discipline when required and an outlet for their energy. Nothing breaks this breed’s heart more then being neglected by its family.
While they will protect their family, an Amstaff is generally not a good choice for a guard dog due to its people loving nature.
Health
An Amstaff’s life expectancy may be 12-16 years with good care. Generally this is a robust, sturdy breed with good health. Some problems they do surface from time to time are hip and elbow dysplasia, skin allergies, thyroid dysfunction, heart murmurs and caners. It is considered essential that breeding stock be hip and elbow scored and cardiac tested at the least.
If you are considering owning an Amstaff please remember this special breed requires special responsibility. These dogs demand and thrive on a great deal of attention so be sure you are ready to devote the time required to training and socialising your Amstaff. In return you will be given many years of love and enjoyment.
The American Staffordshire Terrier is not a new breed. Although it gained Australian National Kennel Club recognition in 1987, the Amstaff has in fact been developed since the early 1800s from early bull & terrier type dogs. While the exact origins of the early bull & terriers are not precisely documented, it is known that in 19th-century England bulldogs of the time (much different to the modern British Bulldog) were crossed with various small terriers to create a dog with the strength and courage of the bulldog and the tenacity and quickness of the terrier. These dogs, originally bred for bull-baiting and dog fighting, were then exported to America where a minority where used as fighting dogs while the majority found their place as frontier dogs helping to settle the new lands, providing protection for livestock around the farms and companionship around the home. It is from these early bull & terriers that the Amstaff was developed.
The American Staffordshire Terrier gained official recognition from the American Kennel Club in 1936, with the first National Specialty Show for the breed being held in 1938. One of these early and very famous Amstaffs was Pete the Pup, that lovable kids companion in the 1930s TV series The Little Rascals.
Although ancestors of the Amstaff were fighting dogs, selective breeding since the 1930s has been away from this fighting heritage. The Amstaff today is a companion, show and working dog rather then a gladiator.
The Amstaff is quickly gaining popularity in Australia while it has long been established as one of the most popular terrier breeds in the USA and Europe.
Appearance
The Amstaff is a medium sized, short coated dog that combines agility and grace with great strength for its size. Although muscular and stocky, the Amstaff is very much an athletic dog, able to twist and turn on a dime. A common analogy used is that the Amstaff should give the impression of a triathlete – strong but explosively athletic with much stamina, and not that of a bodybuilder, being cumbersome and overly-musclebound and tiring too quickly.
The ideal height for an Amstaff is 17-18 inches for a bitch and 18-19 inches for a dog. Whilst the Breed Standard does not specify weight ranges it does state that height and weight should be in proportion. This dog is the perfect blend of bull & terrier and as such the balance between height and weight is of the utmost importance.
The Amstaff comes in all colours – brindles, parti, patched or any combination of colours with only more then 80% white, black and tan or liver to be discouraged. Their appearance is flashy and filled with confidence and will immediately win the admiration of observers. Their well developed musculature shows off their unusual strength while their short coat requires little grooming and is easy to keep clean.
Temperament & Characteristics
The Amstaff’s courage is renowned and the breeds determination and indomitable spirit stems from its terrier ancestry. This very confident, self assured dog delights in contact with all humans and its reliability with children are all part of its considerable charm. An Amstaff is a dog with a zest for life, up for anything and ready to take on whatever challenge lies before it.
Due to their courage, inquisitive intelligence, and great strength for size, this breed requires an active owner who wants to spend time with their pet; a firm and loving owner who will give them both discipline when required and an outlet for their energy. Nothing breaks this breed’s heart more then being neglected by its family.
While they will protect their family, an Amstaff is generally not a good choice for a guard dog due to its people loving nature.
Health
An Amstaff’s life expectancy may be 12-16 years with good care. Generally this is a robust, sturdy breed with good health. Some problems they do surface from time to time are hip and elbow dysplasia, skin allergies, thyroid dysfunction, heart murmurs and caners. It is considered essential that breeding stock be hip and elbow scored and cardiac tested at the least.
If you are considering owning an Amstaff please remember this special breed requires special responsibility. These dogs demand and thrive on a great deal of attention so be sure you are ready to devote the time required to training and socialising your Amstaff. In return you will be given many years of love and enjoyment.