American Staffordshire Terrier: breed characteristics, price

History of the American Staffordshire Terrier breed

American Staffordshire Terrier
The desire to see cruel and bloody scenes has been observed in humans since time immemorial. The medieval English were no exception, who loved to have fun by staging dog fights with bulls, bears and wild boars. Most often, bulldogs and mastiffs were used for these purposes. The problem was that the dogs of these breeds were very large and not agile enough, which is why they often died from the blows of the hooves or horns of angry opponents.

The desire to “modernize” the dogs’ fighting qualities forced the owners to engage in breeding work. Terriers turned out to be the best candidates for crossing with bulldogs: the dogs are active, agile and, most importantly, very smart. Thus, at the very beginning of the 19th century, bull terriers appeared that perfectly combined the best features of their predecessor breeds. After the ban on bullfighting, which the English Parliament passed in 1835, dog fighting came into fashion, and the successful “terrierization” of the breed made it possible to obtain a phenotype that was perfectly suited for this purpose. Variants of the name of the breed - Staffordshire Terrier, Pit Bull Terrier - were gradually transformed and consolidated in the single name of the English branch "Staffordshire Bull Terrier".

English migrants who rushed to America after the North's victory over the South in the Civil War brought a large number of animals to the continent. Brutal dog fighting, which by this time had already been prohibited on the islands of Foggy Albion, gained particular popularity in the New World. The main direction of breeding work remained the development and consolidation of the fighting qualities of dogs. The United Kennel Club, created at the very end of the 19th century in the state of Michigan, chose the development and improvement of the pit bull terrier breed as its main activity. The dogs bred here not only took part in battles, but were also successfully used to protect houses, farms, and hunt wolves.

American Staffordshire Terrier puppy

At the same time, the voices of those animal lovers who did not share the passion for dog fighting and paid more attention to exhibition work were heard louder and louder. They set about developing a standard and improving the appearance of the pit bull. As a result, a dog was obtained that looked very similar to a pit bull terrier, but was quite suitable for a “peaceful life.” They called it the Staffordshire Terrier, and it was under this name that the breed was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1936. This led to the division of breeders into two camps. Some registered their pets exclusively as fighting American pit bulls, others gave preference to Staffordshire terriers and did not recognize pit bull terriers at all.

FCI officially registered Amstaffs in its registry under number 286 in May 1971. The following year, the American Kennel Club changed the name of the breed to “American Staffordshire Terrier,” emphasizing that the branches have certain differences - the “American” is on average 8 cm taller at the withers and 5 kg heavier than the “Englishman”.

The first Amstaffs came to Russia in the 80s of the last century and very quickly gained popularity. High demand led to the fact that unscrupulous breeders did not bother to control either the appearance of the resulting dogs or their mental stability. This is precisely the reason why Staffordshire Terriers began to be considered “killer dogs”. Such a bad reputation lies entirely on the conscience of the owners, who either through stupidity and inability, or deliberately raised aggressive and ferocious dogs. Today the trend has changed, Staffords confidently occupy the niche of companion dogs.

Training a Staffordshire Terrier

You can engage in the following types of training with a representative of the Am Staff breed:

obedience (OKD, UGS, IPO-1, etc.);
waitpulling and dogpulling;
frisbee dog;
agility;
freestyle;
Flyball.

It is not recommended to engage in protective guard duty with the Stafashirian Terrier. For these dogs, types of training are suitable that do not allow the animal to be provoked into displaying aggression.

They begin to train the puppy immediately after he gets to his new home. The first classes can be conducted at home, but it is better after 3-4 months to start attending group or individual classes conducted by an experienced instructor. This is especially true for inexperienced and novice dog breeders.

Amstaffs learn new commands quite easily, but do not tolerate coercion. You need to find a common language with them and look for the right motivation; only by following these rules will you be able to teach the dog the necessary skills.

Amstaff appearance

American Staffordshire Terrier with undocked ears
The American Staffordshire Terrier is a strong dog with well-developed bones and pronounced athletic muscles.

The height of males at the withers is 46-48 cm, females - 43-46 cm. Body weight - 25-30 kg and 22-25 kg, respectively.

Head

Medium length, but very voluminous and wide. The skull is almost flat, wide between the ears, almost square in shape. The occipital protuberance is poorly expressed. The transition from the muzzle to the slightly convex forehead is clearly visible. The muzzle is of medium length, the ratio to the length of the skull is 1:1. The chewing, buccal and parietal muscles are prominent and dense. The lips cover the jaws, but do not look saggy.

Nose

The lobe is black, rather large in size with well-opened nostrils.

Jaws

The jaws of the American Staffordshire Terrier are very powerful, strong, and dense.

Ears

Located high and wide. Amstaffs have options for both sharply and short-cropped ears and undocked ears. The latter option is rated higher if the shells are naturally short and stand very firmly on the cartilage (the so-called “rose”).

Eyes

Set low and wide apart, round in shape. The color of the iris is dark. Eyelids are pigmented.

Teeth

The American Staffordshire Terrier's teeth are large and white. The incisors on the lower jaw are arranged linearly. Scissor bite.

Neck

Strong, with well-developed muscles, expanding evenly towards the withers. Length – average. No folds or sagging are observed.

American Staffordshire Terrier muzzle

Withers

The Amstaff's withers are clearly defined, muscular, with a smooth transition into the line of the back. The shoulder blades are long, pressed to the back.

Back

Running amstaff

Short, straight, the line slopes slightly towards the croup. The muscles are well developed.

Croup

Slightly sloping, moderately rounded. Wide and muscular.

Rib cage

Wide and deep, rounded ribs.

Tail

The Amstaff's tail is straight and short. Set low, slightly tapering towards the end. When excited, stands erect.

Limbs

The forelimbs, when viewed from the front, are parallel and straight, set wide apart. Moderate high anteriority is observed. The bones are powerful, the muscles are sculpted and athletic. The elbows look straight back and are pressed to the body.

The Amstaff's hind legs, when viewed from behind, are straight and parallel, with well-developed (but not excessive) muscles. The angles of the joints are well defined.

Paws

Arched, not large, round and collected.

Wool

amstaff at the exhibition

The American Staffordshire Terrier's coat is short, moderately thick, hard to the touch, and lies close to the body. Straight and shiny in appearance.

Color

Solid - from cream to black, but not white, as well as two-color, spotted, brindle or piebald. White markings are possible if they make up no more than 20% of the basic color tone of the Amstaff.

The gender of a dog is clearly manifested in its appearance.

Possible defects

Any deviations from the standard, depending on the degree of their severity, can be considered either shortcomings or defects.

Disqualifying faults for American Staffordshire Terriers include: cryptorchidism, flesh-colored nose, skewed lower jaw, undershot, deafness, long or docked tail, light eyes, and ambling.

Why do you need cupping?

The older the dog, the longer the recovery period after docking.
The Staffordshire Terrier is a strong and resilient dog. Her head is wide, her muscles are well defined. The eyes are deep-set. The coat is short and shiny. The color may vary, but the “black Boston” look is widespread. He has white on his face, back, neck, paws, and the rest of the parts are black.

Staffords were specially bred to participate in dog fighting. In skirmishes, the possibility of damage to the ear tissue arose quite often. This led to significant blood loss in the pet. Therefore, a Stafford with standard ears was considered unsuitable for participation in such events. Over time, docking became a tribute to fashion and was considered an integral part of the standard of this breed. An undocked Stafford was not allowed to participate in exhibitions.

However, over time, everything changed. In Europe and the USA, this procedure was classified as prohibited. Staff dogs with undocked ears are considered the standard of the breed, while dogs with cropped ears are classified as defective. Owners who initiate this procedure may be held liable for cruelty to animals.

This operation is still being carried out in Russia and the CIS countries. Many owners of dogs of this breed still believe that it is necessary to crop staff’s ears for decorative purposes. This, in their opinion, gives the dog a more aesthetic appearance.

Important! Docking is the partial removal of the ears, and in some breeds, the tails, which is performed by a veterinarian.

Amstaff photo

Character of the American Staffordshire Terrier

If we talk about the character of the Amstaff, then there is hardly another breed of dog whose character would be described by such diverse, and sometimes completely opposite, epithets.

Amstaff with owner

Reliable, intelligent, loyal, endowed with a considerable amount of fun and even some playfulness, balanced and self-possessed - this is what lovers of the breed say about the Staffordshire. Aggressive and vicious - this is the assessment given by critics of the breed. But the latter character traits are associated in almost all cases with either inept or with education aimed at the formation of negative qualities.

Anyone who wants to have such an animal should firmly understand that the American Staffordshire Terrier is a very powerful dog with pronounced guard and fighting qualities. She will until the end protect not only the members of the family in which she lives, but also the integrity of the territory entrusted to her from any encroachment. With such inclinations, a properly raised Amstaff will show aggression only if it feels threatened from the outside. A dog's intuition is so strong that sometimes it seems that it reads the thoughts of your ill-wisher. The Staffordshire Terrier attacks very often without “declaring war.” Barking and growling are for weaklings. The dog fights until complete victory; it is almost impossible to stop him. In “peak” situations this is quite acceptable, but in everyday life such behavior can cause many problems, so proper education and skillful socialization of the dog are very important. By letting your puppy know that all members of your family are his friends, you will eventually get a loving, attentive and devoted friend.

Initially, one of the goals in developing the Staffordshire Terrier breed was to obtain a dog that was best suited to perform the function of family protector. People of all ages can easily find a common language with Amstaff. For children, the dog will become a gentle, attentive nanny who will patiently endure all the little ones’ pranks. But you still shouldn’t leave your dog alone with very young children.

In a calm home environment, the American Staffordshire Terrier can be the sweetest creature, trying in every possible way to amuse and please its owner. But the authority of the latter must be indisputable, and only a fairly experienced owner can cope with such a strong spirit and body dog. In order to control the Amstaff and manage his natural instincts, desire alone is not enough - you cannot do this without professional knowledge and skills.

American Staffordshire Terrier with cat

Amstaff walks with a child

Advantages and disadvantages

Like any breed, the Staffordshire Terrier has a number of positive and negative aspects.

Advantages:

faithful and devoted friend;
tireless guard;
unpretentious in care and food;
is easy to train;
smart and agile.

Flaws:

constant education and training is necessary;
there is hereditary aggressiveness;
prone to joint dysplasia and bone diseases, as well as eye diseases.

There is a lot of information about a dog like the Staffordshire Terrier, but no one can dispel all the terrible myths better than the owners of these dogs. Share stories about your favorites in the comments - let justice prevail!

Education and training

The American Staffordshire Terrier is a dog whose upbringing and training should never be left to chance. From the very first day a puppy appears in your home, you need to clearly understand all the responsibility that you have taken upon yourself by getting this particular breed.

Got it!

The main thing at the first stage is to properly organize the socialization of the animal. You can start immediately after the end of the “vaccination quarantine”. Pay special attention to introducing your baby to other pets. A small nuance - for this purpose it is better to choose the most good-natured and affectionate pets (you probably know these in your yard or nearby). The puppy is very curious, and it is important that he only has pleasant memories from new acquaintances, since the fear he experiences will be remembered for a long time and will eventually develop into aggression. Surprisingly, a small Amstaff can even remember the breed of its offender. This is fraught with problems in the future.

Often, owners of Staffordshire Terriers, when raising a pet, resort to two extremes. They either allow everything or prohibit everything. Both are wrong. In the first case, when the dog grows up, you will look, to put it mildly, funny on walks with it. The sight of an owner trying in vain to restrain a powerful Amstaff that is tearing off the leash (even for peaceful purposes) is simply pitiful. In the second case, you will raise a coward. And from cowardice to anger there is only one step. And no one knows when your pet will do it.

Obviously, some people consider the American Staffordshire Terrier to be an unsafe dog. You must be prepared for the fact that during walks the reaction of passers-by may not always be adequate. Do not engage in arguments or explanations in a raised tone, the dog will sense your aggression and think that your opponent is dangerous. The consequences of such an assessment of the situation are not difficult to predict. The best way out is to pass by in compliance with all norms of peaceful coexistence.

Rope game

Otherwise, raising an Amstaff is not much different from interacting with dogs of other breeds. You need to do it from the very first day the baby arrives at home. The principle is very simple. It says: “What is possible is always possible; what is not allowed is not allowed under any circumstances.” What is good and what is bad must be explained patiently and persistently, but in no case using violence or punishment, without changing the rules of the game along the way.

Do not spoil your pet at least until you develop a stable behavioral stereotype in him.

Amstaffs are very smart and easy to train. The best results can be achieved by visiting special sites.

And the last thing: you don’t need to raise a monster out of a dog. It won’t make you cooler than “cool Walker.” Don't turn your pet into a tool for self-affirmation.

Amstaff care and maintenance

Where's my beer?

The Amstaff is an unpretentious dog, and following simple rules will allow you to avoid many problems or, at least, minimize them.

Starting from puppyhood, you must systematically, in a timely manner, carry out preventive measures to combat parasites. Treatment for fleas, ticks, and deworming are performed using special medications selected depending on the age and weight of your dog. Vaccination is another procedure that is extremely necessary and should never be neglected. Notes on all vaccinations must be included in the veterinary passport of the American Staffordshire Terrier.

Caring for an animal's fur is easy. For combing, a special brush is used, which not only removes dead hair, but also massages the skin well. For daily hygiene procedures, you can use wet wipes (preferably without fragrances and hypoallergenic) or simply wipe your pet with a clean towel soaked in water. But it is not recommended to bathe the American Staffordshire Terrier often. This can harm both your dog's skin and coat. Don't forget to use special gels and shampoos designed for this breed.

Trim your dog's nails monthly. Amstaffs do not really like to have their nails done, so it will be better if the owner carries out this manipulation. And you can’t trust a stranger to brush your teeth with a special brush either. Don't forget to keep your ears and nose clean. Dryness and cracks in this area indicate health problems in the dog.

The American Staffordshire Terrier is a fairly active dog by nature, so be prepared to spend plenty of time interacting with it.

Regarding feeding, a number of important points should be highlighted.

A strong skeleton requires a high content of the “building material” of calcium in the food, so vitamins containing this element must be present in the diet of the Staffordshire Terrier.
Meat should predominate in the menu, which can be given both boiled and raw. The use of exclusively dry food is not recommended.
The amount of food should correspond to both the age and gender, as well as the physical condition of the dog.
The Amstaff diet should include cottage cheese, milk, and boiled eggs. It is recommended to add vegetables to porridges and soups. Meat and bone meal and bones (not tubular ones) are useful.
Puppies need to be fed especially well so that they actively gain muscle mass.

Amstaff walks with owner

Nature and features of the content

AST is distinguished by fearlessness, stubbornness, endurance, energy, physical strength, and willfulness. Aggression towards other dogs is possible, but this largely depends on the owner. Provided the puppy is properly and timely socialized, problems in communicating with relatives usually do not arise.

Based on these qualities, the owner of the AST must physically burden the dogs . Long walks with active games are required. If the pet does not splash out its energy on a walk, it will begin to do so at home, which is fraught with unpleasant consequences for both the owners and the dog.

You should not seek obedience by force . The dog will find a way to outwit the owner and do it his own way: he will eat something from the ground when the owner is far away and cannot take it away, or he will run away for a walk as soon as he hears the click of a carbine on a leash. We must patiently achieve our goal. If this doesn’t work and the dog gets out of control, you should contact a dog handler. It is easier to immediately form the right behavior than to correct bad habits later.

ASTs are very attached to their owner, so they need to devote a lot of time to the dog. It is not enough to communicate with her a couple of times a day while walking.

These dogs do not require special care . You should not wash the animal too often; it is better to do this only if the dog has gotten dirty in something. You can brush it once a week. In the summer, it is necessary to treat against ticks and fleas once every three weeks. The animal should be wormed once every six months and vaccinated once a year. Ten days before vaccination, drive away worms. This can be done either independently (tablets are sold in pet stores) or at a veterinary clinic. It is advisable to trim the nails or walk the dog more on the asphalt so that they wear down, and if necessary, carefully clean the ears.

Health and Diseases of the American Staffordshire Terrier

The American Staffordshire Terrier is a breed characterized by good health. These dogs are active and resilient. However, there are a number of diseases to which they have some tendency.

Ear placement on an American Staffordshire Terrier puppy

First of all, we can talk about hip dysplasia. The problem is common to almost all large dogs. This does not mean that all Amstaffs suffer from dysplasia, since a lot depends on diet, intensity of physical activity, as well as genetic predisposition. When buying a puppy, ask the nursery about the heredity of your chosen one. Find out how often this disease occurred in his ancestors, what was its development. No one will say for sure whether your dog will get sick or not, but some rough forecast, based on the information received, can be made.

Bloating due to indigestion is another problem that occurs in American Staffordshire Terriers. By contacting a specialist, you will find out which foods need to be excluded from the diet (or, conversely, added) in order to normalize your pet’s metabolism. Proper nutrition will help avoid the difficulties associated with obesity.

Amstaffs can also be genetically transmitted to a tendency to allergic reactions to a variety of irritants. Most often this manifests itself as redness of the skin and severe itching. In most cases, it is possible to accurately determine the agent only in a veterinary clinic.

Eye diseases such as retinal atrophy and cataracts can also affect American Staffordshire Terriers.

Modern veterinary medicine makes it possible to cure or at least minimize the consequences of a very large number of diseases. It is only important to detect them in time. Carefully monitor the condition of your pet: what his coat looks like, whether his ears and eyes are clean, how active he is, whether he has a good appetite, whether there are any problems with the discharge of natural needs. It won’t require any extra effort, but it will definitely bring the desired effect.

What can Amstaff do?

ASTs excel in weight pulling (a sport in which dogs compete in moving heavy objects) and can engage in almost any type of training. These dogs are used in the service of the police and the Ministry of Emergency Situations, and perform well in circus (stunt) training, dancing with dogs, Frisbee and obedience.

Even in protective standards, they show themselves in a dignified manner, however, it should be borne in mind that aggression towards people is not typical for representatives of these breeds, therefore they should be taught protection in a playful way and you should not expect real anger from them.

How to choose a puppy

Let’s make a reservation right away: if you want to buy a purebred Amstaff, then the options of the bird market or advertisements on the Internet are immediately and unconditionally dismissed.

The procedure for purchasing from a specialized nursery has been well established for a long time, and you should definitely be familiarized with it in detail, if, of course, we are talking about a place with a good reputation. In this case, it is important to know that when buying a dog it is better to enter into a formal contract. Sometimes the form of purchasing a puppy “under contract” offered to clients has a number of nuances that can infringe on the owner’s rights to both the dog itself and its future offspring.

The third option is to buy an American Staffordshire Terrier puppy yourself from an experienced and trusted breeder. In this case, experts recommend paying attention to the following points.

American Staffordshire Terrier puppy face

When planning a show career for your dog, ask the owner of the bitch to give you the opportunity to observe the development of the babies. The Amstaff's future traits are best demonstrated at birth, on the third day of life and at the age of one month. It is unlikely that you will have time to see the baby on the first and third days, but the monthly period is worth studying more closely. It is at the age of thirty days that the small American Staffordshire Terrier is an exact miniature copy of what can grow out of it, subject to all the rules and conditions for raising dogs of this breed. Don’t take stories that the deficiencies visible at this age can be corrected with a massage, a special diet, or some kind of “dancing with tambourines.”
American Staffordshire Terrier puppies, which have a lot of white in their color, may not have completely colored noses, eyelids and lips, but partial coloring should definitely be observed. This process is finally completed by 8 months of age (sometimes a little later). The color of the iris of the eyes acquires its final shade even later, so you need to be very attentive to the eyes of a soft blue color, especially if the puppy has a fawn-blue or red-blue coat color.
The puppy's coat should be short, “velor”, without bald spots. Skin without ulcers and pustules.
The ears should be clean, without any unpleasant odor. The eyes are clear, without signs of souring. Under the tail it is clean and dry.
If you notice a small hernia during examination of your abdomen, do not be upset. This problem can be dealt with through simple procedures.
A Staffordshire Terrier puppy at this age should weigh from 2.5 to 5 kg, look fairly well-fed, without protruding ribs or rumps. In addition to mother’s milk itself, the baby’s diet should already contain other dishes: kefir, cereal porridge, scraped meat, cottage cheese.

An interesting fact is that the bitch sometimes regurgitates recently eaten food to her puppies, and the kids happily pounce on such a treat. This is absolutely normal and is explained by natural instincts. Moreover, this behavior indicates a well-developed maternal instinct, which is highly likely to be inherited by all female puppies in this litter.

You are unlikely to buy the baby you like right away. The sale of an Amstaff is permitted after it reaches the age of 45 days and the owner of the bitch has completed the mandatory branding procedures and expert assessment. Your first visit to the nursery will be more of an informational nature, but it will not be superfluous to thoroughly prepare for it by collecting the maximum amount of information.

Photos of Amstaff puppies

How much does an American Staffordshire Terrier cost?

Like most other dog breeds, the cost of an Amstaff puppy directly depends on which class it belongs to.
Prices for show-class animals that have good makings for a successful exhibition career range from 25,000 - 35,000 rubles and above. The gradation in this case is associated with the eminence of the parents, as well as the personal inclinations of the puppy, the degree of expression of the best traits of the breed.

Representatives of the breed class are cheaper - 18,000 - 25,000 rubles. These American Staffordshire Terrier puppies meet breed standards or have minor deficiencies. They are unlikely to become champions, but they are quite suitable for breeding.

Pit class is the cheapest. Prices range from 12,000 to 18,000 rubles. If you do not plan to become a breeder or spend time and money preparing your dog for championship shows, but just want to have a reliable friend and protector, the pit-class American Staffordshire Terrier will be the right choice.

In any case, no matter which puppy you choose, the responsibility for its happy future lies entirely with you.

Animal character

If you're looking for a reliable friend to go on your morning runs with, the Stafford is a great choice. The dog, the photo of which is presented below, will become your protector and guard.

But before you buy an animal, you need to know that this is a fighting breed. Therefore, their character is complex and aggressive, it is inherent in nature and genes.

Before buying a pet, read the relevant literature and consult with experts. You must clearly understand how to act correctly in a given situation.

The Stafford dog fully complies with the rules of the pack and the hierarchical ladder. Therefore, from the very first day you need to show the animal who is boss in the house. It is in this case that she will unquestioningly obey and carry out commands.

The dog needs to be constantly cared for, educated, trained - so that it does not see or feel aggression from a person. Otherwise, it will be unsafe to live with an animal in the same area.

As you can see, the character of the Stafford dog is not easy, but at the same time it gets along well with children and can tolerate all their pranks and games. Remember, this pet can become a true friend and protector for your family.