American Staffordshire terrier

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American Staffordshire Terrier

Red-and-white American Staffordshire Terrier with natural ears.
Nicknames	AmStaff
Country of origin	United States
Traits
Classification & standards FCI Group 3 Section 3 #286 standard AKC Terriers standard ANKC Group 2 - (Terriers) standard CKC Group 4 - Terrier standard NZKC Terrier standard

The American Staffordshire terrier is a breed of dog. The breed is a second cousin of the American pit bull terrier. Early bulldog–terrier crosses were brought to the US by British and Irish settlers, especially after the American Civil War, where they were mainly used as fighting dogs, but also as hunting dogs, farm dogs, and guard dogs.

In the early 1830s, after the Human Ethics Act passed, animal fights, especially the formerly extremely-popular bull-baiting and bear-baiting, became illegal in Britain and Ireland. From then on, the people began to organize rat-fights and dog-fights, because they were much easier to hide from law enforcement officials than fights involving larger animals like bulls. At first, smallish terriers were used in the rat- and dog-fights, such as the old English white terrier and its black-and-tan cousin, today known as the Manchester terrier, which were known for their extreme prey drive and gameness. Some of these dogs were crossed with bulldogs to create a breed that retained the abilities of the terriers and added the strength and jaw-grip of the bulldogs.

American Staffordshire terriers were first recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1936^[1]. They belong to the terrier and molosser groups.

Contents 1 Characteristics 1.1 Appearance 2 Similarities to the American Pit Bull Terrier 3 Breed-specific legislation 4 Famous American Staffordshire Terriers on Film 5 Law 6 Books 7 See also 8 External links 9 References

Characteristics

Appearance

The American Staffordshire Terrier is a medium-sized dog that ranges from a height of about 18 to 19 inches (45.7 cm-48.3 cm) at shoulders for the male and 17 to 18 inches (43.2 cm- 45.7 cm) for the female, and weighs from 44- 77 lbs (22 to 40 kg). (http://www.akc.org/breeds/american_staffordshire_terrier/.)

The dog is of muscular, square build, solid black nose, and gives the impression of great strength, agility, and grace for their size. The chest is deep and broad. The neck is strong, and well arched.

The coat is short and glossy.

These dogs are generally courageous, tenacious, friendly, extremely attentive, and extraordinarily devoted.

Amstaffs learn quickly from the subtlest of our behaviors. They are thus not only highly responsive during training but also pick up good habits, such as house training. This can become a problem when an owner unknowingly allows the dog to pick up bad behaviors. A typical training regimen should begin at 8 to 10 weeks of age. It has been proven that Positive Reinforcement Training works very well with this breed^[2].

The American Staffordshire Terrier is a companion dog. They require a very large amount of time for rough, or hard working play. They enjoy weight pulling and agility training.They are an incredibly alert breed, which respond to any sound they hear. That along with their aggressive appearance makes them a keen home theft deterrent.

Similarities to the American Pit Bull Terrier

The American Staffordshire Terrier and the American Pit Bull Terrier are cousins, who derived from the same stock in Britain. Frequent questions arise regarding the two breeds, "Are they the same?" "How are they different?" In the eyes of the UKC, they are the same breed, but many disagree. Some AKC-registered Amstaff are dual-registered as APBT with the UKC; however, this draws criticism from many, who point out that the bloodlines have been separate for too long for these two breeds to be considered the same. The AKC does not allow a UKC-registered APBT to be registered as an Amstaff. To be dual-registered, the dog must first be an AKC-registered American Staffordshire Terrier and then it can be registered with the UKC as an APBT but not vice versa.

Despite their similarities there are some distinct differences between the two breeds, they have different builds. The Amstaff has a different bone structure particularly in regards to the shape of its robust head and more prominent fore legs. The Amstaff also has a more solid build and is slightly lower to the ground. The APBT generally speaking is lighter, leaner, and has more emphasis on the hind legs. Sometimes distinguishing the difference between the two breeds can be confusing, especially with crosses and hybrids that are advertised as Pit Bulls.

Breed-specific legislation

Areas that have passed breed specific legislation banning or restricting the ownership of Pit Bulls and "pit bull type" dogs most often also ban the Amstaff, as the Amstaff is without a doubt similar to the American Bulldog. Most often, dogs are judged solely on their looks. Current practice for Pet Rescue facilities dictates that these most maligned animals go to very stable homes with solid family values. A very deep application process is normally involved with adoption to ensure that the AmStaff or typical breed dog goes where it will be properly trained and cared for in a permanent family environment.

Famous American Staffordshire Terriers on Film

• Pete the Pup in several Our Gang films. Also known as Petey^[3]
• Buzzin' Around (1933) Directed by Alfred J. Goulding
• Bubble Boy (2001) Directed by Blair Hayes
• 'Jake', a dog, featured in an "easter egg"; hidden in DVD format for the horror film Cabin Fever.

Law

It is illegal in Miami-Dade County, Florida to own or keep Pit Bull Dogs, American Staffordshire Terriers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, or any other dog that substantially conforms to any of these breeds’ characteristics. ^[4]

Books

• American Staffordshire Terrier by Joseph Janish, 2003, 155 pages; ISBN 1593782489
• American Staffordshire Terrier Champions, 1988-1995 by Jan Linzy, 1998, 84 pages; ISBN 155893054X
• American Staffordshire Terrier Champions, 1996-2001 by Jan Linzy, 2002, 84 pages; ISBN 1558931023
• Staffordshire Terriers: American Staffordshire Terrier and Staffordshire Bull Terrier by Anna Katherine Nicholas, 1991, 256 pages; ISBN 0866226370
• The American Staffordshire Terrier: Gamester and Guardian by Sarah Foster, 1998, 139 pages; ISBN 0876050038

See also

• Staffordshire Bull Terrier
• American Pit Bull Terrier
• Pit Bull
• Breed-specific legislation

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: American Staffordshire Terrier

• American Kennel Club - American Staffordshire Terrier information

References

1. ^ "American Kennel Club - American Staffordshire Terrier". Akc.org. 1936-06-10. http://www.akc.org/breeds/american_staffordshire_terrier/index.cfm. Retrieved on 2009-02-07. 
2. ^ [1]^{[dead link]}
3. ^ "Breed Information: American Staffordshire Terrier". The Westminster Kennel Club. http://www.westminsterkennelclub.org/breedinformation/terrier/amstaff.html. Retrieved on 2009-02-07. 
4. ^ "Miami-Dade County Animal Services". 2009. http://www.miamidade.gov/animals/pit_bull_law.asp. 

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