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.