How to Care for an American Staffordshire Terrier

Taking Care Of An American Staffordshire Terrier

1. Vaccinate your American Staffordshire Terrier when you first get her, and make sure she gets yearly booster vaccinations to maintain her immunity to disease. Also, worm your adult dog every three months and consult with your veterinarian about flea control products. 
2. Train and socialize your American Staffordshire terrier when she's young. This breed has dominant and aggressive tendencies and needs to be around people and animals to avoid negative behavior formation. Remember to use positive reinforcement when training. Exercise or run your American Staffordshire terrier daily. Be sure to keep her on leash to prevent fighting with other dogs. 
3. Feed your American Staffordshire terrier high-grade dog food. The first ingredient should be meat if you want a quality product. Crude protein should be no less than 30 percent and crude fat no less than 20 percent. The fiber content needs to be 4 percent or less. 
4. Brush your dog's coat daily with a firm-bristle brush, and buff her coat with a damp cloth to bring out the sheen. Shampoo as needed and trim nails every two to three weeks. 
5. Realize that this breed can be difficult to house-train and will require much time and patience in this area. Puppies will probably need to relieve themselves up to six times a day. Begin by urging them to go after meals. 
6. The major health concerns of this breed are CHD and PRA. Minor health problems include allergies, cruciate ligament rupture, and hypothyroidism. Vets recommend that you have your American Staffordshire Terrier checked for potential cardiac, elbow, eye, hip, and thyroid problems. Her average life span is between 12 to 14 years. 
7. Note that male American Staffordshire terriers will grow to 17 to 19 inches and weigh between 57 and 67 lbs. Females will grow to 16 to 18 inches and also weigh between 57 and 67 lbs. 
8. Expect an American Staffordshire terrier to live 12 to 14 years.

American Staffordshire Terrier Breed Standard

American Staffordshire Terrier Standard

1. General Impression: The American Staffordshire Terrier should give the idea of great power compared to its size, well built, muscly, and at the same time agile and classy, really of its sorrounding. It must be massive, not tall on the legs nor thin in the outlines. It is strongly brave.
2. Head: middle length, deep. Large cranium, strong masseters, evident stop, ears towards high. Ears: better uncutted, but they can also be cutted. Uncutted ears must be short and brough at half-rose or erected. Pendulous ears are to be penalized. Ears: dark and rounded, low on cranium and well distanced. Eyelids never depigmented.
3. Neck: Heavy, slightly arched, tapering from shoulders to back of skull. No looseness of skin. Medium length.
4. Shoulder: strong and muscled with large and well bended blade-bones.
5. Back: Fairly short. Slight sloping from withers to rump with gentle short slope at rump to base of tail. Loins slightly tucked.
6. Body: Well-sprung ribs, deep in rear. All ribs close together. Forelegs set rather wide apart to permit chest development. Chest deep and broad.
7. Legs: The front legs should be straight, large or round bones, pastern upright. No semblance of bend in front. Hindquarters well-muscled, let down at hocks, turning neither in nor out. Feet of moderate size, well-arched and compact. Gait must be springy but without roll or pace.
8. Mantle: short, compact, hard when touched, bright.
9. Colour: may be of any homogenous tint, brindled or with two colours, one of which must be white. Pure white, white more than 80%, seadog black and liver-colour are not to be encouraged.
10. Size: Height and weight should be in proportion. A height of about 18 to 19 inches at shoulders for the male and 17 to 18 inches for the female is to be considered preferable.
11. Defects: depigmented tartufe, light or pink eyes, long or badly kept tail, prognatism and enognatism are to be penalized.

American Staffordshire Terrier’s Origins and History

American Staffordshire Terrier
Origins and History

This breed is a descendant of the English Smooth Terrier and the old Bulldog. This crossbreed was then named as the Bull and Terrier, and was later on called the Staffordshire Bull Terrier. This makes this breed and the Staffordshire Bull Terrier close cousins. The roots of the American Staffordshire Terrier traces back to the 1800s. And as her name suggests, she originally came from the United States.
This breed gained her popularity in the fighting pit. Although this is an illegal game, many people still watched and bet on dogs in the ring and among the famous fighting dogs at that time was the Bull and Terrier. This was how this breed made her way to the US. The Bull and Terrier breed was so prominent during the 19th century that three different versions of her came to be in the country; namely, the American Bull Terrier, the Pit Bull Terrier, and the Yankee Terrier.
Dog fighting enthusiasts wanted a larger version of the Bull and Terrier, that's why they crossbred these existing versions until they came up with the bigger variety and called her the Staffordshire Terrier. This breed was then recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1936. Later on -- specifically in 1972 -- the word "American" was added to her name and now she's known as the American Staffordshire Terrier.
The American Staffordshire Terrier can be registered with the AKC, FCI, CKC, APRI, ANKC, NKC, NZKC, APBR, ACR, and DRA kennel clubs. They are classified under the "Terrier" or "Mastiff" category in the kennel clubs. While registry is not important for everyone, there is added value to the dog if it is to be bred, shown, or used in competition.

Temperament: The American Staffordshire Terrier

Learn all about
American Staffordshire Terrier Temperament

The American Staffordshire Terrier is extremely loyal and protective of its human family. It bonds strongly to all its members and will defend them with its life if need be. This dog is very good with children and used to be called the nursemaid dog.
Reports of undesirable behavior have arisen in recent years, but the fault for this can be laid at the feet of irresponsible people who breed dogs irrespective of their temperament, which should be paramount.
It is best to socialize the American Staffordshire Terrier while it is young to other animals and people. Remember, this dog is much stronger than its size would indicate and should be taught to heel when at leash while young.

American Staffordshire Terrier Puppy and Dogs Names Ideas

Name Ideas:
American Staffordshire Terrier

Rogue Sabre Satan Smoky Abel Ashes Blade Brink Chaos Damien Dante Drachen Drakkar Dred Edge Gnash Gotham Grail Grendel Hamlet Jett Jinx Payne Ragnor Rave Steele Storm Stryker Talon Tempest Victor Zephyr Aaron Alexander Baruch Ben Cain Cyrus Cheran Daniel Darius Dathan Elam Javan Jesse Joash Josh Kenan Matt Nathan Noah Omar Rosh Rufus Max Buddy Jake Rocky Bailey Buster Cody Charlie Bear Jack Toby Duke Murphy Sammy Zeus Riley Oscar Winston Tucker Teddy Gizmo Samson Oliver Bandit Shelby Pepper Hunter Beau Sparky Jackson Cooper Mickey Rudy Maximus Bruno Chester Spike Simba Casey Mars Mercury Vulcan Pax Caesar Tzar Duke Prince Chloe Harley Sophie Zoe Charlie Princess Bella Angel Lady Sasha Abby Roxy Missy Brandy Coco Annie Katie Dream Ebony Echo Garnet Jezebel Kaige Lace Luna Mayze Mercy Misty Rain Sable Satin Scarlet Siouxsie Twilight Velvet Willow Zima Zurie Abby Candy Dinah Hannah Jaala Jada Kishi Lael Leah Lois Lydia Mara Olympas Persis Phoebe Reba Rebecca Zia Molly Maggie Daisy Lucy Sadie Ginger Samantha Gracie Sammy Rosie Misty Emma Sandy Heidi Lily Penny Shelby Maddy Lola Pepper Nikki Belle Precious Jasmine Holly Chelsea Amber Ruby Dakota Sassy Sheba Tasha Hannah Baby Cleo Honey Cassie Dixie Sierra Cheyenne Venisha Yamma Maya Ninna Priscilla Bobbi

Funny Dog Breeds: American Staffordshire Terrier

Funny American Staffordshire Terrier

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American Staffordshire Terrier Dogo Argentino Mix

American Staffordshire Terrier Mixed Breed Dog