American Staffordshire Terrier: description of the breed

Amstaff is the short name for a North American species that appeared at the beginning of the 20th century. The dog's predecessors were bulldogs and game terriers. The Staffordshire Terrier appeared to the world as an excellent defender of territory; over time, individuals began to constantly participate in dog fights.

Breed standard

The American Staffordshire Terrier has a very recognizable appearance: the breed standard was approved in 1935.

The fighting breed is large in size, well built, and has a muscular build. At the same time, the Amstaff is elegant, agile and quickly reacts to what is happening around.

It’s worth immediately understanding what a Staffordshire Terrier looks like: the photos show the most common external appearance of individuals. The breed standard describes the dog as follows:

• The head of the Stafford is of medium size, the transition from the frontal zone to the muzzle is clearly visualized, the ears are located high;
• Previously, the ears of the Staffordshire Terrier were cropped; at the moment, this event is banned in most regions. In the original position, the Amstaff's ears are raised and slightly shortened. Uncropped shells cost little. If the staff's ears droop, this is considered a defect;
• Amstaff's eyes are small, round in shape, dark;
• the muzzle of the Staffordshire Terrier is distinguished by a pronounced jaw relief and a rounded nasal dorsum;
• The Amstaff Terrier has a dense build: with a muscular neck, broad shoulders, and oblique shoulder blades;
• The Amstaff's tail is set low, becomes narrower towards the end, docking is not performed;
• The breed's coat is short and shiny;
• The front legs of the Staffordshire Terrier are set wide apart and the gait is springy.

A description of the breed cannot be completed without mentioning the colors of the Staffordshire Terrier. The black shade of the Amstaff's fur is thick and rich (small marks may form on the nose and on the paws). A combination of white and black shades is possible (a light tone is noted in the area of ​​the muzzle, neck, back and paws).

A blue dog has a nose of the same tone. The blue staff with blue-black fur boasts an almost black tip. The brindle or red Amstaff has a bright and even color with a reddish tint. There is also chocolate, grey, brown and white Stafford.

The first standard of the American Staffordshire Terrier was drawn up by W. Brandon, the future president of the Breed Club (STCA).

Description of the breed

The Amstaff gives the impression of a powerful, strong, very strong, proportionally built dog.

The appearance of a purebred dog must meet the following characteristics:

• small head;
• the muzzle is wide, with pronounced muscles and transition to the forehead;
• The ears are set high; if they are not cropped, they should stand up. Hanging dogs are recognized as a breed defect;
• The eyes are small, dark brown, deep-set. Irises of all shades of blue are not allowed;
• powerful jaws;
• nose is large and black;
• paws are strong. The front ones are set wide apart;
• the neck is massive and wide;
• the back is wide, straight;
• the stomach is tucked;
• massive chest;
• the paw pads are medium-sized, the toes are pressed tightly together;
• the tail is set low, straight, short, tapering to the tip.

According to the breed standard, the American Staffordshire Terrier moves quickly, with a slight spring when walking. Lethargy and excess body weight are not allowed.

As mentioned above, the direct ancestors of the Amstaff are the bulldog and terrier, so cynologists are still struggling to ensure that individual individuals do not deviate towards one or another breed.

Experts distinguish three types of Staffords:

1. proportional – closest to the approved standard. This includes dogs with wide shoulders, a voluminous chest, and the correct length of the lower back. Active and inquisitive;
2. b the uldogoid type weighs more than 45 kg, has a rough build, a short neck, and is constrained in movement due to poor angles of the hind legs and turned out elbows;
3. Terrier-like staffs weigh less than 30 kg, have an elongated, narrow mouth, a long neck, without a pronounced reversal of the sternum. They create the general impression of a puny animal. At the same time, they are restless, but get tired quickly, since they have an incorrect angle of articulation of the scapula with the shoulder.

The latter two species are more prone to hereditary diseases of the heart and joints, in comparison with representatives of the proportional variety breed.

Size and weight

The breed standard provides for the following characteristics of Amstaffs:

• males – height 46-48 cm, weight 25-30 kg;
• females – height 43-46 cm, weight 22-25 kg.

Males look more powerful and muscular than females.

Color and coat type

The Staffordshire Terrier's coat is short, straight, hard to the touch, and lies close to the body. A healthy dog ​​has shiny, thick hair.

Faults include soft or sparse coat, defects include silky, long, wavy, sparse or dull coat.

Almost all solid Stafford colors are allowed: from black to cream. In bicolor dogs, white spots should cover no more than 20% of the body.

Solid white or blue colors are considered a fault.

Purebred Staffordshire Terriers can also be brindle (when stripes of a darker color are noticeable on the main color) or piebald.

Red-brown and black with red tan (Rottweiler color) coat colors are considered undesirable.

Types of amstaffs

There are three types of dogs depending on their build (body proportions, weight and height):

1. Proportional amstaff. Weight of an adult dog: up to 30 kg. The body is rectangular, has the dimensions of a bulldog, the temperament of a terrier, the loin is of appropriate length, and the ideal appearance of the hind legs.
2. Bulldog Amstaff. The weight of a Staffordshire Terrier of this type is more than 45 kg. The breed is distinguished by its short neck, rough build, and lack of mobility.
3. Terrier Amstaff. The Stafford dog breed of this variety weighs about 30 kg. The animal has an elongated, narrow mouth and a long neck. It is characterized by an irregular angle of the glenohumeral joint.

The most valuable representatives of the breed are individuals of the first group. They lack the unattractive characteristics of their progenitor individuals and are rare.

American Staffordshire Terrier: nutrition

• American Staffordshire Terriers should be fed a diet formulated for medium to large sized dogs with moderate energy levels. You should consult your veterinarian or professional nutritionist about how to feed your American Staffordshire Terrier and what portion sizes he needs.
• Their needs will change as they age, so be sure to make adjustments from puppyhood through adulthood to older age as recommended.

You need to feed properly from childhood.
But there are also general recommendations on how to feed your dog:

1. Feeding should always occur after a walk, this applies to both puppies and fully grown individuals.
2. Feeding an American Staffordshire Terrier puppy should be done using a stand in order to avoid unwanted postural distortions. Adjust the height of the stand as your dog grows. So, the correct position of the bowl is strictly at chest level; the dog can only lower its muzzle into the bowl.
3. The temperature of food is very important for the proper functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.
4. Do not allow the dog to put its hind legs under its body while eating; try to pull them back, teaching them the correct stance.

Any dog ​​needs a balanced diet that contains the following components:

• Protein is the most important nutrient for dogs because it helps puppies develop strong, healthy muscles and then helps adult dogs maintain muscle mass—this is especially important for a muscular breed like the American Staffordshire Terrier.
• Fat – Provides a concentrated source of energy for dogs to fuel their metabolism.
• Both ingredients must be derived from animal sources, as pet food companies have recently been using concentrated plant proteins to cut costs. Unfortunately, proteins often do not contain enough amino acids that dogs require.
• Plant sources of proteins and fats can only be used as a supplement to the main diet. Therefore, carefully study the label before purchasing food for your pet.
• Amstaffs do not have special requirements for carbohydrates in their diet, but whole grains, vegetables and legumes provide them with dietary fiber as well as essential nutrients. Your pet may also benefit from certain supplements, such as prebiotic fiber to support healthy intestinal flora, probiotic for proper digestion, and chelated minerals for optimal nutrient absorption.

Nutrition must be complete

• Glucosamine and chondroitin are also beneficial for medium to large sized dogs to maintain healthy joints.
• As for the diet of American Staffordshire Terrier puppies , they need a minimum of 22% protein and 8% fat in their diet. It is best to feed your dog a high-quality puppy food to ensure he gets the energy and calories he needs to grow and develop adequately.
• For adult American Staffordshire Terriers (12 months and older), you should choose a high-quality adult dog food. This will provide a minimum of 18% protein and 5% fat, although you may want to give your pet a protein range of 25% to 30% to help your dog maintain muscle mass without gaining unhealthy weight.
• Diet for Older American Staffordshire Terriers. As the American Staffordshire Terrier ages, its metabolism begins to slow and its risk of obesity increases. During this time, it is necessary to switch to a senior dog food to reduce calorie intake and provide additional nutrients to support healthier joints.
• In addition to proteins, fats, and carbohydrates, you need to add fresh fruits and vegetables to your dog's diet. They provide a natural source of key vitamins and minerals and are more biologically valuable than synthetic supplements.

Character

Contrary to popular belief, the Amstaff is a very friendly animal towards humans. The dog is devoted to the owner and his entire family. The Staffordshire Terrier and children are a completely harmonious union. When playing with small family members, the individual is good-natured and gentle. Amstaff attacks only in case of obvious danger.

If you believe the Stafford breed standard, the Amstaff's character excludes unjustified aggression towards people - the dog is not dangerous. The breeders deliberately eliminated specimens that behaved aggressively and left exclusively human-oriented dogs.

Among the qualities inherent in the Amstaff breed are:

• courage;
• endurance;
• force;
• devotion;
• high intelligence.

Since it is logical to analyze the pros and cons of the breed, it is worth warning future dog owners that the animal does not know how to ignore the owner’s command. In this matter, the key point is the adequacy of the owner. Another disadvantage of the animal can be considered the constant need for attention from family members. Keeping such a dog on the street is a sin. Even if you build an enclosure for an animal, the dog will not be able to live there: it prefers the comfort of home.

Breed characteristics and character traits

The Staffordshire Terrier's loyalty and courage are its main character traits.

Positive traits:

1. A pet with a healthy psyche does not have unmotivated aggression.
2. Attentiveness, courage, determination.
3. Intelligence, ingenuity, devotion and obedience to the owner.
4. Strength and endurance.
5. No specific dog smell.
6. Easy to care for.
7. Good health.
8. Rarely barking pets, not prone to howling.

The Staffordshire Terrier is very family friendly and children adore it. But it is not recommended to leave your pet alone for a long time with a preschooler or a child of middle school age, so that a situation does not arise between friends who are playing together that can cause a violent reaction from the animal and frighten the baby.

- This is us…

Relationships with other animals

The Stafford dog breed is quite tolerant of other pets. This is a significant advantage, considering how many years dogs live. The characteristics of animal relationships depend on the approach of the owners.

If the pets are identical in age, it will be more difficult for them to establish contact. When a younger individual, be it a hamster or a parrot, moves into a house with an Amstaff, the dog shows noticeable friendliness and is playful, provided there is no aggression on the part of the “new friend.” Amstaff and a cat are a controversial friendly alliance, since staffs have a threatening appearance, which is regarded accordingly by the cat.

How to choose a puppy

The algorithm for choosing an Amstaff depends on why the owner needs a Stafford dog. How to choose a puppy - the future guard? The basic principle is to assess the poise of the Staffordshire Terrier. Before this, it is worth determining the age of the individual. If you have to deal with an aggressive two-month-old Stafford, it is impossible to turn him into a friendly dog ​​that will not leave the enclosure. A balanced Staffordshire Terrier at the age of 2 months will be an excellent bodyguard. However, the character of the Staffordshire Terrier may change if the dog is kept outside and communication with it is limited.

If the owner intends to attend exhibitions with the dog or breed puppies, he will not only have to determine the age of the proposed Staffordshire Terrier and evaluate its temperament, but also pay attention to whether the Amstaff puppy has the following disadvantages:

• liver and black-fawn color;
• snack;
• light eye color;
• beige lobe;
• jaw distortion;
• lack of hearing;
• long or docked tail;
• amble.

Is it possible to buy a dog with a deficiency? Yes, but the road to exhibitions with such a staff representative is closed.

Staffordshire Terrier and Pitbull differences

These breeds have many similarities. Both were bred for fighting, so they have a similar temperament. But there are points in which they are different.

Two dog breeds - Staffordshire Terrier and Pitbull - have the following differences:

1. External data . Amstaffs are larger. Pit bulls can have any color, unlike the first ones. The Stafford has a wider and larger chest.
2. Character . Both breeds are trainable, but Staffords are considered to be more intelligent. Pit bulls can be uncontrollable; it is better to walk with them on a leash. Amstaffs are more obedient.

The American Staffordshire Terrier is a brave dog that is ready to obey any command from its owner. She will always strive to please her loved ones and will become a loyal companion and affectionate member of the family.

Features of maintenance and care

Keeping and caring for the Staffordshire Terrier is quite difficult. However, as evidenced by reviews from dog owners, Staffordshires are very tolerant: they are easy to scratch and wash. Amstaffs are unpretentious in food. How to care for the Staffordshire Terrier and how to maintain it will be discussed further.

Combing/grooming

Amstaff grooming includes:

• coat care. Even in an apartment, this is not difficult to do - just brush the dog once a day with a special brush;
• Caring for the ears and eyes of an Amstaff puppy. The Staffordshire Terrier's eyesight should be wiped with cotton wool daily. Ears – clean 2 times every 7 days with ear sticks;
• nail care. Amstaff's nails need to be cut as they grow. Once every 30 days is usually enough.

Bathing

Stafford dogs love to swim. Water procedures should be performed no more than once every 8-10 weeks. It is worth using special products for short-haired dogs. Before starting the procedure, it is necessary to check the Amstaff's body for scratches, wounds and other damage.

Walk

Staffordshires are active representatives, so you need to walk them daily. Usually 2 walks of 1.5 hours are enough. You should work out with amstaff in a separate place.

Feeding

It is impossible to know everything about the breed without knowing how to feed the dog. 70% of the amstaff's daily diet should be raw meat. The Staffordshire Terrier breed needs a high-quality source of protein, which for the animal will be finely chopped lean meat. Other foods that Amstaff dogs can eat include:

• fresh fermented milk products;
• animal entrails, previously well boiled;
• chicken eggs (it’s better to make an omelet);
• fresh vegetables with vegetable oil (beets, spinach, pumpkin, etc.).

Staffords should not eat boiled potatoes, porridge, peas, beans, or pork dishes. Staffordshire Terrier puppies cannot chew bones until they are 7 months old.

American Staffordshire Terrier: care

• Care. American Staffordshire Terriers are known to have bad breath, so their teeth should be brushed at least weekly, preferably more often, to prevent the growth of germs that cause bad breath.
• Their nails will need to , which can be difficult since American Staffordshire Terriers generally don't like having their paws touched. Get them used to this procedure as early as possible so that the dog feels comfortable being touched.

Care is important

• It is important to check your ears for wax and debris build-up weekly, and clean as needed to avoid ear infections or pest infestations. Keep regular veterinary checkups and follow your veterinarian's advice for additional at-home care.
• The short, smooth coat of the American Staffordshire Terrier does not require complex grooming, and the breed does not have a “dog smell”, which will allow you to wash it only when necessary to remove dirt. However, it does require weekly brushing. And given the fact that he is prone to shedding, brushing will help reduce the amount of fur in your home.

Health

The Stafford dog breed has a strong immune system and rarely gets sick. However, it is impossible to say that Staffordshire dogs are insured against diseases.

Diseases

Among the probable hereditary pathologies:

• Lameness. The cause of the pathology is improper formation of the hip joint. More often observed in fighting Amstaffs.
• Deafness. This type of minor deafness is not dangerous for a dog: the animal gets used to it and lives a normal life. Individuals with complete deafness cannot be trained. Diagnosis of the disease becomes fatal for the Staffordshire Terrier.
• Licked granuloma. It is a wound on the skin that appears in response to constant exposure. How to determine pathology? If the Amstaff frequently licks and bites one area of ​​the skin, it is worth checking for a wound. The disease is treated by superficial treatment.
• Turn of the century. The dog needs surgery.

Vaccinations

Vaccinations for Amstaff puppies begin at the age of 6-8 weeks. Before the procedure, the animal needs to be dewormed. The same vaccination is repeated after a month. Staffordshire dogs are vaccinated against rabies at 12 weeks (the procedure can be carried out at 9 months or a year).

The full list of vaccinations given to Amstaff dogs depends on the dog’s living conditions. If he is susceptible to ticks, he may want to consider getting a Lyme vaccine.

A Staffordshire Terrier usually tolerates all vaccinations well if he was previously healthy. After vaccination, the dog should not be bathed; it is recommended to limit contact with other animals.

History of the origin of the breed

The breed appeared in the 70s of the 19th century as a result of crossing bulldogs and game terriers .

Initially, such dogs were called bull terriers, pit bull terriers. They were used to protect housing and livestock on farms. Then bull terriers began to participate in dog fights. In England they were called Staffordshire Bull Terriers. In 1972, the name of the breed was officially adopted - American Staffordshire Terrier.

Yuri Nikulin constantly defended these terriers from unfair accusations of cruelty, and thanks to him this breed was not reduced to nothing in Russia.

Breeding

Mating is a very delicate process for this representative. Many male dogs have a calm temperament and need time to get used to the female. For these purposes, animals should be introduced even before the female starts estrus. Other types of males (usually belonging to the first type of physique) are capable of mating even at the time of the first meeting.

Pregnancy, even in the case of successful contact, may not occur immediately due to the female’s tension. Is it possible to bring individuals together again in this case? Experts give a positive answer to this question.

How much do puppies cost?

It's time to find out how much amstaff costs. In Russia, the price of purebred puppies varies significantly and depends on the color and class of the dog:

• amstaff with veterinary documents - from 50 thousand rubles;
• show-class animal (with documents from the veterinary hospital, pedigree and passport) - from 80 thousand rubles;
• Amstaff without documents and pedigree - up to 32 thousand rubles.

How much does a brindle puppy cost? The price of such representatives starts from 5 thousand rubles. If we are talking about red Amstaffs, they will cost 5 times more. Black and white dogs cost about 6 thousand rubles.

Nurseries

You can purchase a purebred individual in one of the country’s nurseries, for example, here:

• Imperial Giant Chance - https://imperial-gigant.ru
• Wulf - https://staffstyle.ru/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1208062704.

You can also purchase a pet from dog handlers. It is worth buying an Amstaff from nurseries and dog breeders if the owner intends to purchase an animal with a pedigree and a passport. If we are talking about staffs who in the future become faithful pets, they can be found in pet markets or by advertisement.
Characteristics of the Staffordshire Terrier breed: height, weight, color, temperament, combined with the dog’s devotion, tolerance and activity, paints a rather attractive portrait. However, this dog is not suitable for everyone: keeping an Amstaff and caring for the animal require time and attention. If the future owner is not ready for the painstaking work of raising a pet, it is not worth purchasing an American fighting dog.

The character of doggies and their upbringing

The Amstaff puppy looks like a chubby round puppy with a bare belly.

He is very active, enjoys chewing on slippers and loves to misbehave in the house in every possible way.

For this reason, from the first days of acquaintance, you need to educate him and accustom him to order.

To prevent your dog from dragging your socks, T-shirts and other items around the room, make sure you have a sufficient arsenal of toys. They should be made of a variety of materials.

There are whole myths and legends about the aggressive character traits of Staffordshire Terriers. It depends only on the owners how this pet will grow up.

If you abandon your dog and do not pay enough attention to its upbringing, the older dog may become angry and show aggression.

To achieve obedience and correct behavior from a four-legged animal, follow some rules.

Namely:

The educational process should begin at the age of no later than 1.5-6 months. Even as a baby, a terrier must understand what behavior is acceptable and what is not.

Then you won’t have any difficulties when the dog grows up and his character develops.

Introduce your four-legged friend to the environment from the very first days, always praise for correctly executed commands and punish for misbehavior and incorrect behavior.

But you cannot punish a dog by shouting or using physical force.

Provide your pet with a well-chosen and balanced menu. You can consult your veterinarian on this issue.

The diet must contain water, dietary supplements, minerals and vitamins of groups A, B, C, D, E, K.

Staffordshire Bull Terrier puppies are smaller than American Staffordshire Terriers, but both breeds have bold personality traits.

Such dogs are good protectors and loyal friends for the whole family. With the right approach to education, a terrier is distinguished by its intellectual abilities and the ability to restrain emotions even under the most unexpected circumstances.