Character of the American Staffordshire Terrier: who is better to take a bitch or a dog?

A predatory look, a muscular, powerful body and myths about their fighting past make Stafford dogs monsters among the representatives of the dog world. In fact, dog fighting is just a sick hobby of people who decide to make the dog a participant in fights for money. Stafford can be an affectionate and kind pet. Especially the blue Staffordshire Terrier.

The blue Stafford can be an affectionate and devoted pet.

Origin of the breed

The Stafford breed, or Amstaff, as they are also called, begins its history in the 19th century. Modern Staffords acquired their name relatively recently - in 1972. They used to be called pit bulls or bull terriers. Although many still call them that today. The exterior of Amstaffs is the result of crossing Game Terriers with Bulldogs.

Work on the characteristics of this breed made it possible to obtain a dog with innate activity that has no equal. Its original purpose was as a participant in dog fighting. But upon long-term observation, it turned out that the dogs have excellent hunter abilities, and also have extraordinary intelligence. Thus, Amstaffs appeared in human domains as guards of houses, farmlands, and even participated in herding cattle. And a little later they became friends and companions for the person.

Representatives of the blue color of the breed, like other colors, were bred through the painstaking work of specialists. Their task was to remove aggression from the dog’s character, which had been genetically embedded in the animal’s blood for many years.

Note! Modern Staffords are only superficially similar to their formidable, aggressive fighting ancestors.

Today, Staffords are only superficially similar to their fighting ancestors.

Diet of American Staffordshire Terriers

Amstaphs are strong dogs that need nutrition to support their muscles. A strong skeleton requires a large amount of calcium, so be sure to include special vitamins and supplements in your diet that will prevent your dog from getting sick.

American Staffordshire Terriers have a complex digestive system, which is why food is digested very quickly (because of this, Amstaffs should be walked as often as possible to avoid intestinal problems).

If other breeds of dogs have a diet that can be both food and homemade, then in no case should you stop only at ready-made food if you are getting an amstaf. Amstaffs need to be given a lot of meat with high energy value. At the same time, amstaphs willingly eat everything and digest almost any food well. For example, sometimes they can be given table scraps, although many breeders strictly prohibit this.

Meat can be given both raw and boiled. It is worth excluding fatty meats such as pork or aged beef from your diet. Amstafs eat everything from cereals - the main thing is to choose the right amount for the dog’s activity limit. If the dog participates in competitions that require physical activity, then you can give him millet and rice. Preferable cereals are buckwheat and oats.

Amstafs eat soups with vegetables and chicken well - they promote normal digestion. Twice a week you can give a whole boiled egg along with the shell - it is rich in calcium. As a calcium supplement, you can add crushed bones to food, and also treat your pet with non-tubular bones, which he will chew.

Interesting fact: Amstafs love cottage cheese and milk, and willingly eat vegetables - cabbage, zucchini, greens. It is worth excluding salty, sweet and smoked foods.

Description and requirements for the breed standard

The Blue Stafford, like his breed brothers of other colors, is an athletic, hardy, courageous and very loyal animal to humans. The dog has excellent qualities as a guard and hunter, but at the same time can be a loyal friend and companion. He treats well not only adults, but also children.

Breed standard

Breed standards define the following parameters:

The height of males varies from 45 to 48 cm, while that of females does not exceed 46 cm.
Weight up to 30 kg for males, up to 27 kg for girls.
Lack of weight, like excess weight, is considered a gross vice.
The head is powerful with well-defined cheekbones and a noticeable transition between the forehead and muzzle.
The eyes are deep-set, mostly dark, and small. Representatives of the blue color have gray or blue shades of the cornea of the eye.
The ears are cropped, but you can do without this procedure; they are slightly curved downwards at the tips.
Jaws are well developed and powerful
The nose is black.
The neck is wide and strong.
The coat is short, thick, shiny.
Springy gait on widely spaced strong paws of medium size.

There are many shades of coat. The gray and blue Stafford has a coat with a silver coating and a nose with a grayish tint in the light.

The breed standard was officially adopted in 1972

Important! According to the breed standard adopted in 1972, Amstaffs can be of any tone and shade. White color should not go beyond 80% of the animal's total coat color.

Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages of the breed:

quick learner and well-developed intelligence;
loyalty and devotion to the owner;
reliable protection and security of the owner;
good nature towards other animals;
unquestioning execution of commands with good training.

Despite its advantages, Staffords have some disadvantages:

the risk of developing aggression in character in the absence of proper education;
intolerance of loneliness and long separation from the owner.

Character

For a long time, the American Staffordshire Terrier was considered an aggressive dog. Breeders have dispelled these myths by the very behavior of the animal in relation to humans and other animals. Dogs are infinitely devoted to the entire family of their owner. They have a soft, good-natured character, are cheerful and active.

The dog understands the difference between adults and children. He treats children with reverence and tenderness. When playing with children, she is always careful and does not allow any sudden movements or threatening sounds on her part. She will be a caring nanny and a good protector for the children. It attacks people as a last resort if it sees a direct threat to the life of the owner.

Unmotivated cases of aggressive behavior are excluded to the maximum extent possible in the breed standard. Proper upbringing of the Amstaff results in a reserved but courageous pet, ready to defend the owner to the last, but only on command.

Despite its menacing appearance, the Blue Stafford has a good-natured and friendly character.

Important! A blue Amstaff needs a competent, adequate owner who will not give commands to the dog that are contrary to logic and pose a threat to others.

Pros and cons of American Staffordshire Terriers

Amstafs have both many advantages and many disadvantages. These are smart, but complex dogs that require a special approach from a competent owner.

The undoubted advantages include the following aspects:

They respond well to training. It doesn't cost these dogs anything to learn a few tricks or simple commands;
They are very brave, so they are suitable for protection;
They have good health and good immunity;
Dogs are incredibly smart, they can develop their own trajectories, and act flexibly according to the situation;
Unpretentious in care and nutrition;
They can be kept in an apartment - Amstafas are not very large dogs;
Amstaffs do not smell like many purebred dogs smell;
They are very calm and reserved, which is why they rarely bark and make minimal noise. If the dog gives a voice, then this is a reason to be wary;
They are excellent at searching for objects and have an excellent sense of smell.

The disadvantages of the breed include:

Not suitable for people who rarely run or walk outside a little. Amstaffs require high activity;
Unbalanced people should not be married - they may harbor a grudge and stop obeying the owner;
Amstaffs need competent training and proper upbringing, so they are not suitable for gentle people and inexperienced breeders. It is better to use the services of trainers;
Amstaffs can be irritable if they don't get what they need for a long time. Therefore, you should pay attention to them, walk them regularly and in no case forget to feed them;
Amstaffs can be stubborn, especially with people, in relationships with whom dogs feel stronger;
Serious physical activity is required, otherwise amstaf may get sick.

Training and education

The dog is adapted to 3 types of motivations: social, food and playful. When training and raising a Staffordshire Terrier, you should not allow weakness. The owner must show his dominance over the animal from the very first days. Commands are practiced until they become automatic.

The main rule in training is to avoid breaks and relaxation. Training should be daily and targeted. But within reason. The dog should not be overworked. If you do not have enough training skills, it is better to train for some time with specialists or under their supervision.

It is unacceptable to show weakness in training and raising a Staffordshire Terrier.

Interesting facts about American Staffordshire Terriers

The history of this breed goes back more than two centuries, and Staffordshire Terriers do not lose their popularity among different segments of the population. They were in demand from the very beginning as fighting dogs, and are still in demand today as companion dogs for active people.

Staffordshire Terriers serve in various government rescue services. For example, it was Amstaff who was able to determine where the terrorists’ explosives were located after the terrorist attack at the Theater Center on Dubrovka. These dogs have a hard work ethic, an excellent sense of smell and excellent intelligence.

Although Amstafs are active dogs, they never miss an opportunity to spend time with their owner. For example, they can sleep with a person for a long time, while moving very carefully so as not to wake the owner. The Ukrainian clothing brand Staff was named after the American Staffordshire Terriers.

Puppies of all breeds love to misbehave and chew furniture, and Amstaff puppies are some of the most active dogs in the world. When purchasing a puppy of this breed, you should understand that there is a high probability that he will chew furniture and shoes that he can reach. Therefore, you should stock up on special toys that the puppy can chew. This also applies to adult amstafs, although they can already control their desires.

The ancestors of Amstaffs are English terriers, used for hunting small animals. Some instincts and skills have been preserved in Amstaffs to this day. For example, these dogs are excellent at catching rats and do it with great interest. Amstaff owners note that dogs react violently even to squirrels or other small wild animals.

Maintenance and care

Taking good care of your pet will not only benefit the animal's health, but will also help strengthen good friendships.

Hygiene

Staff care activities involve some procedures:

Grooming. It needs to be brushed regularly and washed as needed.
Examination of eyes and ears. Conducted daily. If there is contamination, eyes and ears are wiped with boiled water.
Caring for the anal glands. Occurs according to indications in the veterinarian's office.
The oral cavity and teeth should be cleaned with special preparations intended for dogs.

Caring for American Staffordshire Terriers

The first thing to do when getting an Amstaff puppy is to provide him with a place where the dog will rest. The point is that you should not accustom your puppy to the bed and sofa - he will quickly grow up, which will cause discomfort to the owners. In addition, the dog should have its own exclusive place in the house.

Interesting fact: Even as a child, the amstaf must undergo all vaccination procedures, including against distemper and rabies. Vaccinations must be given annually in a fixed month.

When purchasing an Amstaff puppy, you need to stock up on the necessary grooming tools. For example, to care for fur, you should take a stiff brush made of natural bristles. The Amstaff's coat is short and does not require much grooming, so one brush will be enough. The breeders from whom you are buying a puppy can also voice the nuances of care. The brush not only removes dead hair, but also provides a massage that increases blood circulation.

The wool should be periodically cleaned with damp wipes or dampened towels, carefully removing hair that has bunched up. You should not bathe Amstaf too often - this can lead to skin irritation or dermatitis. It is important to use special shampoos that do not cause irritation and allergies.

Monthly nail trimming is also an important procedure and requires the use of a special tool. It is also important to brush the dog’s teeth with a special brush and clean the ears from time to time so that the dog does not get an infection.

You should carefully take care of your amstaf's health. It is necessary to exclude the possibility of parasites in the dog: for this, amstaphas must undergo regular treatment throughout their life. This treatment also includes flea and tick prevention.

At three months the puppy is checked for pathologies and serious diseases. The dog must have a veterinary passport, which can be used to easily track vaccinations and emerging diseases of dogs.

Walk

Walks with the Staffordshire Terrier should be long and active, at least an hour. In the warm season, water games in a river or lake are desirable. The animal's participation in jogging or cycling training is encouraged.

Important! If a gray Stafford with blue eyes is deprived of time for walks, he will get bored at home and start digging holes in the yard or damaging property.

In the warm season, Staffords prefer walks with water games.

Feeding ration

The diet of the Staffordshire Gray Terrier with blue eyes is no different from that of representatives of other coat shades. The main recommendation in feeding is the regimen. Feeding the dog should be done at a precise time and depending on the age. Puppies eat frequently; an adult animal only needs one meal, preferably in the evening.

Meat and offal should predominate in feeding. A quarter of the diet consists of cereals and vegetables. When feeding dry foods, you should follow the instructions for their use. It is forbidden to feed the dog sweets, smoked meats and pickles.

Breeding American Staffordshire Terriers

Amstaffs reach sexual maturity at the age of approximately nine months, but dogs are not yet allowed to breed. Dogs must be fully physically formed, their psyche must become stable - that is, the dog must grow up. Therefore, males are bred from the age of one year, and females - from about 15 months. In each country, the number of matings is regulated by canine organizations.

Amstafs are mated in two ways. If the male is already experienced and the female shows interest in him, then you can use the freestyle mating method. Everything happens naturally, but under the supervision of the owners. There is also hand-breeding, which requires the presence of specialists, veterinarians or trainers. They help dogs in mating. Often, bitches need a muzzle, and the dog needs to be held by the collar during boarding.

In the first three weeks of pregnancy, the bitch becomes significantly fatter; you can gradually change the conditions of her keeping. Walks become less frequent, nutrition becomes more intense, it is worth giving her special nutritional supplements. The dog should not be allowed to come into contact with chemicals - this can affect the health of the puppies. The dog is also prohibited from being near other sick animals.

Care should be taken to ensure that the bitch does not gain excess weight - this is also a big burden on the heart. It is better to minimize grains in her diet. Towards the end of pregnancy, the bitch becomes affectionate, lazy and motionless, which indicates that labor is approaching.

Usually bitches give birth on their own and do not need help. The pelvic floor bones of this breed are quite well developed, which allows Amstafs to give birth quickly and without complications. However, it's worth keeping your veterinarian's phone number handy in case something goes wrong.

Interesting Facts

Stafford with blue eyes, according to his owners, is endowed with a sixth sense. And some call him the psychic of the dog world. They say he can foresee danger to his owners several days in advance. Whether this is related to the blue color, there is no exact data. But you shouldn’t ignore the dog’s behavior.

From the above, we can conclude that with the acquisition of a Staffordshire Terrier, a loyal, reasonable and balanced friend appears in a person’s life, who will bring joy and love to the home.