Care & Maintenance

 

The American Staffordshire Terrier is not recommended for Novice owners. I recommend a female AmStaff for people who are new to the breed, but who may have prior experience with the ownership of any breed of dog. I find female dogs less dominant, they have a softer temperament and are easier to manage, train and own.

 

The American Staffordshire Terrier is a strong, determined, intelligent breed, American Staffordshires like to dig, and are also athletic climbers and jumpers, so they need a more secure environment than some other breeds. Be sure to check with city and county authorities to see whether there are any regulations regarding ownership of this breed in your area or in your place of residence. Beware of hip dysplasia; buy only from OFA certified stock. They can do well in most climates with adequate shelter. Be aware of possible overexertion in hot weather and of chilling in cold weather.

 

Personality
Very courageous and tenacious. Loving, affectionate, and sensitive. Active and athletic. Devoted and intelligent, and wants to please his/her master/mistress, but can be willful. Requires a firm hand and an owner willing to invest time and energy in positive, patient obedience training. Responds very well to positive re-enforcement obedience training techniques. Very people-oriented, the American Staffordshire needs lots of interaction with and attention from his owner. Do not get this breed unless you want to spend lots of time with your dog. An unattended, bored AmStaff may find ways to entertain himself that the owner will not appreciate, as it may result in destruction of furniture etc...

Does best in a one-dog household - if you own more than one dog, never leave them together unsupervised. If you want to get two dogs, the best combination is one male and one female. Though some AmStaffs can be trained to get along with cats and other non-canine pets, they do have a high prey drive, so great care is advised.



The AmStaff is a discriminating, intelligent watchdog who is loyal and will protect his family. However, the AmStaff is generally friendly with friendly strangers, so though they look tough, this is one of the most often stolen breeds, and is not considered to be a particularly good property guardian.



The pit fighting ancestors of the AmStaff  from almost a century ago were specifically bred not to bite humans, so their masters could safely handle them even in the midst of a dog fight. Therefore, though American Staffordshire Terriers have a tendency to be dog-aggressive, they are not aggressive towards people. Good with children, the AmStaff has a very high tolerance of pain, which allows the dog to tolerate more inadvertently rough handling from children than some other breeds allow. (As with all breeds, children should always be supervised with dogs and should be trained how to treat them properly.)



Even though selective breeding since the 1930's has led the breed away from its fighting heritage, older pups and adult American Staffordshires can still be dog-aggressive, and may go after another dog, particularly if challenged. If this happens it does not bode well for the other dog. Socialize very thoroughly when young to combat aggressive tendencies towards other dogs and be sure to keep the dog completely under control when other dogs are present. The best way to prevent aggression problems is to socialize the dog well and keep the dog out of situations where confrontations are likely. Try never to allow the dog to get into a fight. Novice owners who are willing to learn to be in charge and to deal responsibly with dog aggression issues in the breed can succeed with the AmStaff.

 

Look for information on Breed Specific Legislation (BSL) & make sure you can legally own an AmStaff where you live.

 

Behavior :
Children: Very good with children.
Friendliness: Loves everyone.
Trainability: Moderately easy to train.
Independence: Moderately dependent on people.
Dominance: High.
Other Pets: May be aggressive w/same-sex dogs; Do not trust w/non-canine pets.
Combativeness: Tends to be fairly dog aggressive if not socialized at a young age.
Noise: Average barking.


Grooming and Physical Needs:
Grooming: Almost no grooming needed.
Trimming & Stripping: No trimming or stripping of the coat needed.
Coat: Short coat.
Shedding: Average shedder.
Docking / Cropping: The Cropping of ears & the Docking of tails is illegal in most E.U. countries, including Ireland.
Exercise: Vigorous daily exercise needed.
Jogging: A good jogging companion.
Indoors: Very active indoors.
Apartments: Will be OK in an apartment if sufficiently exercised.
Outdoor Space: A small yard is sufficient.
Climate: Does well in most climates.
Owner: Not recommended for novice owners.
Longevity: Fairly long lifespan (about 12-15 years).

Talents
Obedience, agility, watchdog, weight pulling, performing tricks, and Schutzhund.

Please do not inquire about ear cropping

 

Ear Cropping is Banned in Ireland

 

Our Amstaff was cropped in her country of origin where the procedure is LEGAL & is carried out by an experienced Veterinary Surgeon

 

It is also considered unethical & unnecessary by The Veterinary Ireland National Council

 

Dogs with cropped ears cannot be shown at national I.K.C. dog shows