The desire to witness violent and bloody scenes has been observed by a person since time immemorial. Medieval Englishmen were no exception, who loved to have fun, arranging dog fights with bulls, bears and wild boars. Most often, bulldogs and mastiffs were used for these purposes. The problem was that the dogs of these breeds were very large and not agile enough, which is why they often died from hooves or horns of enraged opponents.
The desire to "modernize" the fighting qualities of dogs forced the owners to engage in breeding work. Terriers turned out to be the best candidate for crossing with bulldogs: dogs are active, mobile and, importantly, very smart. So, at the very beginning of the XIX century, bull terriers appeared, which perfectly combined the best features of the predecessor breeds. After the ban on bullfights, which the English Parliament adopted in 1835, dog fights became fashionable, and the justified "terrierization" of the breed allowed to obtain a phenotype that was the best suited for this purpose. Variants of the breed name - Staffordshire Terrier, Pit Bull Terrier - gradually transformed and consolidated into a single name of the English branch "Staffordshire Bull Terrier".
English migrants who rushed to America after the victory of the North over the South in the Civil War brought a large number of animals to the continent. Brutal dogfights, by this time already banned on the islands of Foggy Albion, have gained special popularity in the New World. The main direction of breeding work remained the development and consolidation of fighting qualities of dogs. The United Kennel Club, established at the very end of the XIX century in the state of Michigan, chose the development and improvement of the Pit Bull terrier breed as the main direction of its activity. The dogs bred here not only took part in battles, but were also successfully used to protect houses, farms, and in hunting wolves.
At the same time, the voices of those animal lovers who did not share a passion for dog fighting and paid more attention to exhibition work were heard louder and louder. They started developing a standard and improving the exterior of the pit bull. As a result, a dog was obtained that looks very similar to a pit bull terrier, but is quite suitable for "peaceful life". They called her the Staffordshire Terrier, and it was under this name that the breed was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1936. This led to the division of breeders into two camps. Some registered their pets exclusively as fighting American pit bulls, others preferred Staffordshire terriers and did not recognize Pit bull terriers at all.
In May 1971, the FCI officially registered Amstaffs in its register under No. 286. The following year, the American Kennel Club changed the name of the breed to the "American Staffordshire Terrier", thereby emphasizing that the branches have certain differences – the "American" is on average 8 cm higher at the withers and 5 kg heavier than the "Englishman".
The first amstaffs came to Russia in the 80s of the last century and quickly gained popularity. The high demand led to the fact that unscrupulous breeders did not bother to control either the appearance of the received dogs or their mental stability. This is the reason that Staffordshire Terriers began to be considered "killer dogs". Such notoriety lies entirely on the conscience of the owners, who either stupidly and incompetently, or consciously brought up aggressive and ferocious dogs. Today the trend has changed, Staffords confidently occupy the niche of companion dogs.
American Staffordshire Terrier with uncooped ears
The American Staffordshire Terrier is a strong dog with a well-developed backbone and pronounced athletic musculature.
The height of males at the withers is 46-48 cm, females - 43-46 cm. Body weight - 25-30 kg and 22-25 kg, respectively.
If we talk about the character of Amstaff, then there is hardly another breed of dog whose character would be described by such diverse, and sometimes completely opposite epithets.
Reliable, intelligent, loyal, endowed with a considerable share of fun and even some mischief, balanced and seasoned - that's what fans of the breed say about Staffordshire. Aggressive and vicious – this is the assessment given by critics of the breed. But the last character traits are associated in almost all cases either with inept or with education aimed at the formation of negative qualities.
Anyone who wants to get such an animal should firmly understand that the American Staffordshire Terrier is a very powerful dog with pronounced guard and fighting qualities. She will fully protect not only the members of the family in which she lives, but also the integrity of the territory entrusted to her from any encroachments. With such inclinations, a properly educated Amstaff will show aggression only if he feels threatened from the outside. The dog's intuition is so strong that sometimes it seems that it reads the thoughts of your detractor. The Staffordshire Terrier attacks very often without a "declaration of war". Barking and growling are for weaklings. The dog leads the fight to complete victory, it is almost impossible to stop him. In "peak" situations, this is quite acceptable, but in everyday life such behavior can bring a lot of problems, so proper upbringing and skillful socialization of the dog are very important. Having made it clear to the puppy that all members of your family are his friends, you will eventually get a loving, attentive and devoted friend.
Initially, one of the tasks in breeding the Staffordshire Terrier breed was to get a dog that was best suited to perform the function of a defender of the family. People of all ages will easily find a common language with Amstaff. For children, the dog will become a gentle attentive nanny who will patiently endure all the pranks of the kids. But leaving a dog alone with very young children is still not worth it.
The American Staffordshire Terrier in a quiet home environment can be the sweetest creature, striving in every possible way to cheer and please its owner. But the authority of the latter should be indisputable, and only a sufficiently experienced owner can cope with such a strong spirit and body of a dog. In order to control Amstaff and control his natural instincts, desire alone is not enough – you can't do without professional knowledge and skills.
The American Staffordshire Terrier is a dog whose upbringing and training should never be allowed to take its course. From the very first day of the appearance of a puppy in your house, you need to clearly realize all the responsibility that you have assumed by starting this particular breed.
The main thing at the first stage is to properly organize the socialization of the animal. You can start immediately after the end of the "vaccination quarantine". Pay special attention to introducing your baby to other pets. A small nuance – for this purpose it is better to choose the most good-natured and affectionate pets (you probably know such in your yard or nearby). The puppy is very curious, and it is important that he has only pleasant memories from new acquaintances, since the fright he experienced will be remembered for a long time and will eventually turn into aggression. Surprisingly, the little Amstaff can even remember the breed of his abuser. This is fraught with problems in the future.
Often the owners of Staffordshire Terriers, raising a pet, resort to two extremes. They either allow everything or forbid everything. Both are wrong. In the first case, when the dog grows up, you will look, to put it mildly, funny on walks with her. The sight of the owner vainly trying to keep the powerful Amstaff tearing off the leash (even for peaceful purposes) is simply pathetic. In the second case, you will grow up a coward. And from cowardice to malice is one step. And when your pet will make it – no one knows.
Obviously, some people consider the American Staffordshire Terrier to be an unsafe dog. You should be prepared for the fact that during walks, the reaction of passers-by may not always be adequate. Do not engage in arguments and explanations in raised tones, the dog will feel your aggression and think that your opponent is a danger. It is not difficult to predict the consequences of such an assessment of the situation. The best way out is to pass by in compliance with all the norms of peaceful coexistence.
Otherwise, the upbringing of Amstaff is not much different from the interaction with dogs of other breeds. They need to be engaged from the very first day of the baby's appearance at home. The principle is very simple. It says: "What is possible is always possible; what is impossible is impossible under any circumstances." What is good and what is bad should be explained patiently and persistently, but in no case using violence and punishment, without changing the rules of the game in the course.
Do not spoil your pet at least until you develop a stable behavioral stereotype in him.
Amstaffs are very smart and train well. The best results can be achieved by visiting special sites.
And the last thing: you don't need to raise a monster out of a dog. It won't make you cooler than a "cool Walker". Do not turn your pet into a tool for self-affirmation.
Amstaff is an unpretentious dog, and following simple rules will help to avoid many problems or at least minimize them.
Starting from the age of a puppy, you should systematically, within the established time frame, carry out preventive measures to combat parasites. Treatment of fleas, ticks, deworming is performed with the use of special preparations selected depending on the age and weight of your dog. Vaccination is another procedure that is extremely necessary and which should not be neglected in any case. Notes on all vaccinations must be included in the veterinary passport of the American Staffordshire Terrier.
Caring for the animal's fur is simple. For combing, a special brush is used, which not only removes dead hairs, but also massages the skin well. For daily hygiene procedures, you can use wet wipes (preferably without flavorings and hypoallergenic) or simply wipe your pet with a clean towel soaked in water. But it is often not recommended to bathe the American Staffordshire Terrier. This can harm both the skin and the coat of the dog. Do not forget about the need to use special gels and shampoos designed for this breed.
Trim the dog's claws monthly. Amstaffs do not really like to do "manicure", so it would be better if this manipulation is carried out by the owner. And you can't trust an outsider to clean your teeth with a special brush, either. Do not forget to monitor the cleanliness of the ears and the condition of the nose lobe. Dryness and cracks in this place indicate health problems in the dog.
The American Staffordshire Terrier is a dog by nature quite active, so be prepared to spend enough time communicating with it.
The American Staffordshire Terrier is a breed characterized by good health. These dogs are active and hardy. However, there are a number of diseases to which they have some tendency.
First of all, we can talk about hip dysplasia. The problem is typical for almost all large dogs. This does not mean at all that all Amstaffs suffer from dysplasia, since a lot depends on the diet, the intensity of physical exertion, as well as on genetic predisposition. When buying a puppy, ask the kennel about the heredity of your chosen one. Find out how often his ancestors had this disease, what was its development. No one can say for sure whether your dog will be sick or not, but some kind of approximate forecast, based on the information received, can be made.
Bloating associated with digestive disorders is another problem that occurs in American Staffords. By contacting a specialist, you will find out which foods should be excluded from the diet (or, conversely, added) in order to normalize your pet's metabolism. Proper nutrition will help to avoid the difficulties associated with obesity.
Genetically, amstaffs can also be transmitted a tendency to allergic reactions to a variety of stimuli. Most often, this is manifested by redness of the skin and severe itching. In most cases, it is possible to accurately determine the agent only in the conditions of a veterinary clinic.
Eye diseases – retinal atrophy and cataracts - can also affect American Staffordshire Terriers.
Modern veterinary medicine makes it possible to cure or at least minimize the consequences of a very large number of diseases. It is only important to detect them in time. Carefully monitor the condition of your pet: how his coat looks, whether his ears and eyes are clean, how active he is, whether he has a good appetite, whether there are any problems with the administration of natural needs. It will not require any extra effort, but it will definitely bring the desired effect.
