Breed History
The brave American Staffordshire Terrier has a tough history....
The American Staffordshire Terriers story began in the 19th century. The Staffordshire Bull Terrier, bred in England for fighting, was bred in America to be larger, leading to the Staffordshire Terrier. They were removed from the fighting pits in the 1930s and rapidly evolved as a different breed, finding plenty of other opportunities as a general-purpose work dog on farms. The breed was recognized by the AKC in 1936.
In 1972, the word American was attached to the name to avoid confusion with their English cousins. The Staffordshire never escaped their legacy as a canine pit fighter, despite having been bred for different purposes and characteristics for many years. However, despite having a bad rep, they enjoy a happy life in many homes as one of Americas most popular dog breeds.
Want to own a happy Pit Bull of your own? Work with a reputable, ethical breeder from our American Staffordshire Terrier breeder directory.