American Staffordshire Terrier (Pit Bull) Photo

American Staffordshire Terrier (Pit Bull) Dog Breed Info & Pictures

A good dog with a bad rap, the courageous American Staffordshire Terrier (Pit Bull) is a lovable pet for responsible, caring owners. There is a lot of breed name confusion and bad press surrounding this amazing dog. Also known as the Amstaff, the American Staffordshire Terrier should not be confused with the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, a slightly smaller breed, or the American Pit Bull Terrier.

The American Pit Bull Terrier was the origin of the American Staffordshire Terrier, but the American Staffordshire Terrier was bred for different purposes starting in the 1930s, so they’ve had time to develop different traits and are recognized by the AKC as a different breed. Confused? Whew! Imagine how they must feel!

You won’t find a braver companion than the American Staffordshire Terrier. They have a distinct, wedge-shaped head and strong jaws, neck, chest, and shoulders. They have small ears and dark, deep brown eyes that hold a knowing expression. Muscles abound on this powerful animal, and their back slopes downward a bit toward their rear legs. Their glossy coat is short, and they can be any solid or partial color.

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American Staffordshire Terrier (Pit Bull) Fast Facts

Terrier
12 - 14 years
United States
19th century
57 - 67 lb
57 - 67 lb
18 - 19"
17 - 18"
Pitbull, American Stafordshire Terrier, American Stafordshir Tarrier, or American Stafferdshire Terriar.
American Pit Bull Terrier

Photos

Temperament

American Staffordshire Terriers make loving pets in the care of loving owners....

Sadly, stories about the viciousness of Pit Bulls abound, and all three of the previously mentioned breeds get equal blame, despite having different personalities and characteristics.

Its a sad fact that the original Pit Bulls were bred to fight, and some mind-bogglingly irresponsible owners treated these animals with unspeakable cruelty. Pit Bulls have a strong desire to please their owners. It is that trait their overwhelming desire to make their owner happy that opened the door for some people to instill aggression into them.

The American Staffordshire Terriers natural personality is actually very friendly, even toward complete strangers. These dogs are also quite intelligent. They can be aggressive around other pets, but that can change with proper training and socializing American Staffordshire Terrier puppies with other dogs early and often.

In the hands of a responsible owner, their drive to please their human can translate into a docile, loyal, courageous house pet through proper training and socialization.

Caring For a American Staffordshire Terrier (Pit Bull)

Lots of exercise is needed to maintain that bodybuilder physique!...

The American Staffordshire Terrier is easy to train due in part to how smart they are, but extra special attention must be given to this dog during puppyhood to ensure they dont become aggressive. Lots of early exposure to other dogs and opportunities to socialize are vital.

American Staffordshire Terriers are tough by nature and can live outside in a temperate environment, but they are much, much happier inside where they can be part of the family. They have a strong desire to make their owner happy, and they cant feed that need when they are outside by themselves. They need an occasional brushing down, but for the most part, their coats border on maintenance-free. A lot of people have strong opinions on these kinds of dogs, so it might help if you introduce your happy, friendly, docile American Staffordshire Terrier to your neighbors so they can see this amazing breed in their natural state.

American Staffordshire Terrier (Pit Bull) History

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.

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