American Staffordshire Terrier

The American Staffordshire Terrier descended from the Olde English Bulldogge, without which no bull- or bearbaiting show passed, until these activities were declared illegal in 1835. The ban on these sports prompted many dog owners to arrange ratfights and dogfights, because they were easier to conceal from government officials. In these fights, people used smaller terrier breeds with a knack for hunting and a high activity level. Sometimes, these smaller dogs were crossed with larger Mastiff type dogs, including the English Bulldogge. This resulted in the formation of the new bull terrier breed that combined hunting excellence with the strength of a Bulldog.

Many such dogs were shipped to the New World, and eventually they formed a group that was referred to as Yankee Bull Terriers. Over the 19th century, the AKC made numerous attempts to officially recognize the American Pit Bull Terrier. However, the dog’s reputation of a vicious and aggressive fighter dog only intended for involvement in illegal fighting contests discouraged the AKC from registering the breed. However, in 1899, the United Kennel Club was founded, and the breed standard was outlined. Around the 1930s, the AKC started working in two directions, one toward breeding the American Pit Bull Terrier, and the other toward developing what we know today as the American Staffordshire Terrier. The former is associated with the bloody sport of dog-fighting, while the latter is considered to be an easy-going and people-oriented companion dog. These two breeds are closely related to each other, and it takes a little bit of knowledge to tell them apart.

The American Staffordshire Terrier of today is a medium-sized and sturdy dog, measuring 16-19 inches high at the withers. These dogs should be robust and muscular, not lean. The legs are long and powerful, the chest is deep and broad, but not barrel-shaped. The head is broad and strong, and the ears are erect and pointed. The eyes are almond-shaped, different shades of brown. The coat is short, smooth and it comes in any color combination.

American Staffordshire Terriers are not as ferocious as some people think they are. In fact, these dogs make superb companions. If socialized properly, they are very good with children and can get along with other pets. However, they should not be left around children unattended, because they cannot properly estimate their own strength and may occasionally hurt a child. They are very protective around their loved ones and homes, but they do know when to fight and when to calm down. American Staffordshire Terriers, like many Mastiff-type dogs, can be willful at times, and hence they can be hard to train for inexperienced dog owners.