American Staffordshire Terrier

About the breed

The American Staffordshire Terrier, known as the AmStaff, is a muscular, compact and exceptionally powerful medium-sized terrier breed from the United States. Its look - a broad skull, pronounced cheek muscles and a stocky build - radiates strength, yet the official AKC breed standard describes it as a confident, smart and good-natured dog whose courage is 'proverbial'. Because of its historical ties to dog fighting and its resemblance to other 'pit bull' type breeds, the AmStaff often carries a reputation that responsibly bred, well-socialized individuals rarely live up to in practice. It is one of those breeds where the gap between public image and an individual dog's actual nature deserves particularly careful attention.

Origin and history

The breed originated in 19th-century England, where after bull- and bear-baiting were outlawed in 1835, breeders crossed bulldogs with terriers to create so-called 'bull-and-terrier' dogs for illegal dog fighting. Immigrants brought these dogs to the United States in the second half of the 19th century, where, besides fighting, they were also used for hog-catching, guarding property and farm work. In 1936 the American Kennel Club first registered the breed as the 'Staffordshire Terrier', inspired by the British Kennel Club's recognition of the related Staffordshire Bull Terrier the year before. As American breeders developed a larger, distinctly different dog over the following decades, the AKC changed the name to 'American Staffordshire Terrier' in 1972 to clearly separate the two breeds.

AmStaff, Staffordshire Bull Terrier and 'pit bull'

The name is a frequent source of confusion: the Staffordshire Bull Terrier is a smaller, separate British breed (recognized in the UK in 1935), while the American Pit Bull Terrier is yet another, independent breed and registry, recognized by the American UKC but not by the AKC. All three - along with a few other similar-looking dogs - are often lumped together in everyday speech under the informal term 'pit bull', which is not itself an official breed but a loose descriptive label based on appearance. The American Staffordshire Terrier is typically stockier and heavier than its relatives, and is recognized by both the AKC and the UKC.

Temperament and character

A well-bred, well-socialized AmStaff is known as an affectionate, loyal and playful family dog that bonds closely with its people and aims to please. At the same time, it is a breed with a pronounced prey drive and a documented tendency toward same-sex dog aggression - specific, well-described traits rather than general aggression toward people. Because of its physical strength, contact with small children should always be supervised, less because of any bite risk than because the dog can accidentally knock a child over during play. Early, consistent socialization with dogs and other animals significantly reduces the risk of conflict.

Breed-specific legislation (BSL)

The AmStaff is one of the breeds that legislation in some countries and cities restricts or bans because of its resemblance to 'pit bull' type dogs - Germany and the Canadian province of Ontario, for example, name the breed explicitly. The United Kingdom's Dangerous Dogs Act bans the 'pit bull terrier' type based on appearance rather than official breed, meaning an AmStaff is not automatically included, but a dog that matches the visual type could be. Such legislation remains fairly controversial among dog professionals and veterinarians, so it's worth checking local regulations before acquiring or traveling with the breed.

Health

As with many muscular, medium-sized breeds, hip dysplasia is relatively common in the AmStaff, so breeding stock is recommended to be screened through programs such as OFA or PennHIP. The breed is also prone to skin allergies. A rare, hereditary cerebellar ataxia has been specifically described in the breed - a progressive neurodegenerative disease of the cerebellum inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern; signs (stumbling, tremor, loss of balance) typically appear between 18 months and 9 years of age, most often at 4 to 6 years, with an estimated prevalence of about 1 in 400 dogs, as researchers reported in 2004 in the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine. Because the disease is incurable and hereditary, genetic testing and careful pedigree tracking in breeding programs are key to reducing its frequency.

Care and maintenance

The short, smooth coat is low-maintenance - occasional brushing is enough. The AmStaff, however, needs a great deal of daily exercise, being an energetic and muscular breed, along with consistent, positive-reinforcement training and early socialization to help it develop a balanced temperament.

Who it suits

The AmStaff is best suited to experienced, consistent owners who can provide enough exercise, mental stimulation and socialization, ideally in a house with a securely fenced yard. With the right upbringing it can be an exceptionally affectionate family dog, but contact with children and other animals should always be supervised, and it's worth checking for any local restrictions before choosing the breed. It is less suited to complete beginners with no experience handling strong-willed breeds, or to households that cannot provide enough daily exercise.

Pros & cons