Do you ever wonder how the American Stafford Terrier dog breed is increasingly becoming popular in many of America’s homes?
The American Staffie has a muscular appearance, which most say gives them the look of a pit bull. Just like a pit bull, these dogs are fierce and never back down from a fight.
They are also loyal and affectionate to their owners. Because they are gentle, they are good around kids too.
Does The American Stafford Terrier Make Good Guard Dogs?
This dog was originally bred mainly for activities such as bearbaiting and dog fighting. This proves that this dog has an aggressive temperament.
With this, they are wary of strangers, in which they tend to bark very loudly and will often attack.
Petty much like the Alaskan Malamute, American Stafford terrier’s characteristics make them perfect guard dogs. They will do all they can to protect you. When you are not home, do not worry about your property- it is in safe hands.
Quick Facts About The American Terrier Dog Breed
- Weight: 50 to 80 pounds
- Lifespan: 11 to 12 years
- Height: 16.9 to 18.8 inches
This dog ranks as the 83rd most popular pure breed in the United States. In France, it is the 6th most popular breed and it ranks in 8th place in Australia, by the Australian National Kennel Council.
The American Stafford terrier is renowned for its dog fighting skills as well as aggressive that make it a very good guard dog.
The breed was formerly known as the American pit bull terrier, in the year of
History of the Terrier
The American Stafford Terrier can be traced all the back to the early 18th century. Its ancestors are believed to have been the bull and the terrier which were from England.
As we said earlier, these dogs were used for dog fighting. On top of that, they were very resistant to pain, which made them good fighters.
Later, varieties of the bull and terrier breeds which were located in England became popular and soon were imported into the Unites States around the mid-19th Century.
In America, it was then recognized as the American pit bull terrier by the United Kennel Club during the year 1898.
Soon after that recognition, they were seen at many dog shows and soon became very popular. It was then ranked at 83rd place of America’s most popular dogs.
Its name was then revised from American pit bull terrier to American Stafford Terrier to differentiate them from the British Staffordshire bull terrier, a breed recognized in England.
Today, these dogs are kept in many homes as guard dogs and family pets. Most of them are even used by the police for search and rescue jobs. That being said, they have a great sense of smell.
Physical Appearance
The breed is short coated and colors of the coat vary depending on its parents. However most of them have a solid color or a color that is mixed with white.
Their strong, muscular appearance gives them the look similar to that of a pit bull, which, as we said, are its ancestors.
They have an average height ranging from 16.9 inches all the way to 18.8 inches in both male and females.
In terms of their weight, the range is from 50 pound to as heavy as 80 pounds, on average which also applies to both genders of this breed.
Are American Stafford Terrier aggressive? – Temperament
As we said earlier in this article, the American Stafford was bred to be a fighter. This characteristic makes this one of the most aggressive dogs, to humans as well as other dogs.
You should consider keeping this dog in a fence at all times. If it escapes, it can get itself into a lot of trouble. This leads us to our next point.
American Stafford Terrier have a high prey drive
They have one of the highest prey drives. They will be seen chasing animals like squirrels, cats, even other dogs.
That being said, this dog should never be left alone with another dog as the “dog-fighting” trait may kick in and they can attack. This should be the only pet in your home.
American Stafford Terrier are friendly
Underneath that intimidating muscular appearance and aggressiveness, this dog has a soft heart for its family as well as other familiar faces.
It likes to be around its owners quiet a lot. If it feels like it is being ignored or left alone, it develops separation anxiety, which leads to a destructive behavior such as chewing and barking out of boredom.
They are easy to train
These dogs are naturally intelligent, which makes them an easy breed to train. Along this, they are always eager to please their owners.
During training, make sure you do not use any harsh methods as this may have an opposite effect leading to disobedience.
For best results, award your dog with a treat when you are training it. This should make the dog to be eager to training.
American Stafford Terrier are protective
The terrier has a strong love for its owners. This trait, along with the fact that they are aggressive, makes them to be very protective of their owners and their owner’s property.
You have to put this dog on the leash when you are planning to have guests at your house, otherwise your compound is very becomes dangerous to strangers.
On the bright side, these are the same characteristics that make this a very good guard dog.
Food Requirements For American Stafford Terrier Dogs
The best type of food that your dog should be given is a balanced diet.
This is because a balanced diet, as the term says, has a balanced amount of nutrients that are carefully measured.
Let’s look at the essentials
Water
As an energetic dog breed, American Stafford Terrier drinks alot of water. So, make sure that your dog has a separate water bowl and it must contain water at all times.
Also, you must clean it prior to refilling to make sure that your dog doesn’t suffer any diseases caused by drinking contaminated water.
Water will help to keep your dog hydrated throughout the day.
Calcium.
An energetic dog like American Stafford Terrier needs to have a mineral in its diet that contributes to its strength.
Calcium helps in bone development, which also leads to the development of the bone marrow. Adding calcium to your dog’s diet will benefit your dog’s health.
Vegetables
Vegetables can also be a great source of all different sorts of vitamins and minerals to your dog.
Learn about the vegetables that are safe for your dog to eat before you share this food to your dog, even before you introduce vegetables to your dog’s diet.
Speaking of, vegetables should only be about 10% of your dog’s diet.
Proteins
Proteins are essential nutrients, especially to active and versatile dogs like this Stafford terrier. Make sure that the proteins are at a proportion of 20% in your dog’s overall diet.
Exercise Requirements
The Stafford Terrier is a highly active dog. As such, it requires a lot of exercises which must be conducted on a daily basis.
Lack of exercises can result into boredom which usually leads to a very destructive behavior and disobedience.
Because of this, exercise your dog for about 1 to 2 hours every day. Take your dog for long runs around your block or play with your dog in your bark yard.
There are other occasional exercises that your dog can do such as tracking competitions or other sports like agility.
Grooming Requirements For American Stafford Terrier Dogs
The soft coat requires weekly brushing. This not only makes the dog look good, but brushing also helps to distribute oils on the skin which keeps them healthy.
Your dog can be bathed once every month, or until their coat develops some doggy odor.
Your dog may also require a bath depending on their activity and if they were in the dirt.
Just like in all breeds, the Terrier’s nails must be trimmed. This enables them to walk comfortably.
Health Concerns
Like many other dogs, this breed is susceptible to some diseases in its lifetime. Some of these diseases have decreased in terms of occurrences. Let us look at the major diseases
Allergies
Allergies can be caused by an inhalant, contact with the skin, insect bites and most commonly, when dogs ingest a food that their bodies do not tolerate.
Some of the symptoms of allergies are sneezing associated with a running nose.
If the allergies were triggered by contact with a toxic substance or by an insect bite on the skin, it leads to excessive itching which eventually leads to scratching and inflammations on the skin.
Hip Dysplasia
This is a common disease, especially in medium-sized to large dog breeds, and it mainly occurs to adult dogs or dogs that are near adulthood.
It is arthritis that develops on the dog’s hip joints and leads to lameness. When the symptoms are too severe, the dog may not be able to walk at all.
However, you can reduce the likelihood of your dog suffering from this disease in the first place- by feeding your dog joint support foods.
These are foods that contain substances like glucosamine sulfate, chondroitin sulfate, and methylsulfonylmethane.
Lifespan
The life expectancy of every dog breed is of great concern for pet owners, and the American Stafford Terrier is no different at all!
So, how long can American Stafford Terrier live? The American Stafford Terrier can live for about 11 to 12 years.
