GROUP 2 - TERRIERS

Brief History
The American Staffordshire Terrier can be traced back to the 18th century England as a blend of White English Terriers and Old English Bulldogs. The first Staffordshire Terriers came to America in the early 1850, where they evolved into two separate breeds, the American Pit Bull Terrier and the American Staffordshire Terrier. The Am Staff did spring directly from American Pit Bull Terrier roots, but since its acceptance into the AKC the breed has been bred along completely different lines. The Am Staff can be affectionate and reliable with people. It has been bred as a family dog, child's guardian, show dog and obedience competitor. Some Am Staffs retain pugnacity towards other animals, and owners must be capable of maintaining control. The power and determination of an Am Staff should not be underestimated.

Average Life Span
When considering a dog, please realise that you are taking it on for its lifetime. The average life span is 12 to 14 years.

Temperament
Confident, outgoing, courageous

A well trained Am Staff is great for the family that includes their pets in daily activities. The breed is energetic and needs regular exercise. Although intimidating in appearance, most lines are friendly and good in a family setting. A loyal and persistent breed. They don’t always get along with other dogs and results of an altercation can be dire. They should appear supremely confident in all situations.

General Breed Description
The American Staffordshire Terrier should give the impression of great strength for his medium size, He is well put-together dog, muscular, but agile and graceful. He should be stocky, not long-legged or racy in outline. He has a particularly strong head and jaw. The Am Staffs smooth coat can be any colour but preferably not more than 80% white, or black and tan, or liver

Coat and Care Requirements
Taking care of the short, smooth, stiff coat is remarkably easy. Brief grooming is suggested at bi-weekly intervals to clean ears, clip nails and make sure the coat and skin are in healthy condition. This dog demands and thrives on a great deal of attention and will benefit greatly from obedience training. Due to his inquisitive intelligence and great strength for his size, this breed may require a more secure environment than other breeds.  Other small pets will need to be well fenced.

Size
Height: Males approximately 46-48cms (18 to 19ins). Females 43-46cms (17 to 18ins).

Health
All breeds have individual health issues. When speaking to breeders it is recommended you enquire about breed health and what health testing the breeder does. It would be recommended that at a minimum a breeder is testing parent’s hips, elbows, heart and for cerebellar ataxia.

Suitability
This breed will make a great companion for an owner who plans to spend a lot of time with his dog and is not a good choice for a pet that will receive little attention. He is a strong, determined and intelligent animal. If left to his own amusement, an untrained, bored Amstaff can do great damage and can be hard to keep fenced. He should not be allowed to walk off lead as he may get into trouble. Be sure that you are ready to devote the time and energy that this dog requires.

In Conclusion
Now you know a little more about this breed. If you have decided this is the dog for you and wish to investigate further, please contact the Breed Club or Dogs Victoria. They will be able to give you information about available puppies and also suggest dog events where you can see the breed and speak to breeders. In this way you will gain a better perspective of the breed and its needs. With any breed of dog, it is important to research and determine suitability for your lifestyle before committing to a puppy which will be a part of your family for many years to come.

Whilst many breeds are recommended for families, it is imperative that when children are with dogs they are supervised at all times. Basic obedience training is a vital part of dog ownership.

Dogs Victoria is about the responsible ownership of all dogs and in particular the preservation of pure breeds.

Link to Dogs Australia Breed Standard: https://dogsaustralia.org.au/breed/detail/36