American Staffordshire Terrier

The American Staffordshire Terrier commonly goes by the name of Amstaff. It's easier to say. This dog is one great partner in crime. It's trustworthy, full of confidence, loyal to a fault, highly intelligent, and plain ol' fun to be around. Like so many other dogs in this family, the Amstaff if musular and strong, yet loving and tender with both children and adults alike. It's important to train these dogs, not because they've got too much energy, because they don't, but more because of the fact that they can get excited about those things they do choose to do. They need to learn manners early on in puppyhood. This breed loves to go jogging with his or her master, play around in the park or in the back yard, or sit on top of you while cuddling on the couch. What a fun dog to own. Just remember, they need to learn how to best behave early in life.

Continue reading to learn more about the American Staffordshire Terrier, popularly known as the Amstaff.

Popularity: Somewhat popular.

Trainability: This breed of dog loves to pull while being walked on a leash, so it's imperative that it be trained early on while still a puppy or else the pulling can become quite intense as the dog grows and becomes stronger. While this dog can be suitably trained and can become very obedient, again, the earlier the better. Also, this breed must be well socialized during puppyhood. When dealing with this dog in its youth, the training and socialization should be firm and respectful and you should be patient with the animal.

Size/Weight: Medium-large sized dogs, weighing in at an average of 50-60 pounds.

Origin Location/Date: A version of this dog was originally bred in England as a fighting dog hundreds of years ago and then brought to the United States in the mid-1800s and bred to the dog we see today. By 1936, the AKC recognized the American Staffordshire Terrier as a legitimate dog breed as a way to differentiate this particular breed from the American Pit Bull Terrier and the Staffordshire Bull Terrier.

Energy Level: Some claim that this dog is of medium energy, but others know it as an energetic dog that requires a good amount of exercise. The Amstaff loves to be around people, so when choosing an activity for it to engage in, be sure to include yourself as well as others. It's important for this dog to experience human interaction in the form of canine sports, walking, running, obedience training, agility, search and rescue and swimming.

Temperament: The Amstaff can be an excellent family pet that's friendly and one of the gang, but it's important to train the dog for it to understand who is who in the family. It's a highly protective breed that fights to protect those around it, so it must be shown who is in the family and who is good and who is bad. This dog can become aggressive if threatened and it can also become protective of its property. Once familiarized with friends though, this breed can be highly loving and caring and it can be great with kids.

Necessary Space: This dog prefers walking and running with its owner, so having a large back yard for it to play in by itself won't do it much good. Although, that can't hurt when it comes to playing with its master. Space is always a plus. As a medium sized dog, ample space is necessary in which to live so all those who live there are kept happy.

Talents: An excellent guard dog that's protective of its property and of those it loves. Can be trained to effectively conduct search and rescue missions.

Life Expectancy: 9-15 years.

Group: Terrier group.

A few terms and phrases to describe the typical American Staffordshire Terrier puppy and dog: energetic, loving, trainable, good guard dog, protective, strong, happy, caring, good watchdog, tough, tenacious, high stamina, strong, agile, stubborn, fearless, gentle and kind.

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