American Staffordshire Terrier
The American Staffordshire Terrier is a kind of dog breed that is closely related to the American Pit Bull Terrier, both having come from the same lineage. American Staffordshire Terriers were brought by the British to the United States and bred to serve as farm dogs, guard dogs, or family dogs.
The American Staffordshire Terrier and the American Pit Bull Terrier are so similar in many respects that in certain areas, specially those areas that have undergone the breed specific legislation which ban or limit the ownership of Pit Bulls or dogs that are classified as Pit Bull type, American Staffordshire Terriers are also not permitted. However, despite their sharing the same ancestry, some Pit Bulls are found to be larger in size than most American Staffordshire Terriers.
Generally, American Staffordshire Terriers, which gained recognition in 1936 by the American Kennel Club, are short in stature, and they are sturdy. They are medium-sized, ranging from 16 to 19 inches, or 40 to 50 cm, at the withers, and their approximate weight is between 57 to 67 pounds, or 26 to 30 kg.
They are short-legged and square-built, with a deep, but not too wide chest. They have a larger bone structure and the size of the head is large as well. They also have a characteristically strong neck that is well-bent. Just looking at their physical attributes makes one think that American Staffordshire Terriers are strong. However, in spite of their being so, they are able to move with such grace and speed. American Staffordshire Terriers are protected by a glossy coat that is short. The coat may be of any color, except white, black, tan, or liver.
American Staffordshire Terriers can be both fierce and brave; but they can also be extremely loyal and friendly. They are even described as very loyal companions. In fact, they are specifically bred to be exactly that — loyal and friendly to human beings. They can give their full attention to their masters and they can also be very committed to them. Their nature of being fierce and brave makes them excellent guard dogs.
Normally, American Staffordshire Terriers do not behave in an aggressive manner. If they do, that is not a good sign of any American Staffordshire Terrier. American Staffordshire Terriers are also not known to be too protective of their masters. They know their limits when it comes to how much protection they must give to their masters. They can get along pretty well with both humans and pets alike, especially if they have come to know them early on in their life.
American Staffordshire Terriers may be viewed as intelligent dogs. They can easily be trained, and they can easily learn from examples shown them. They are able to pick up even the most restrained human behavior. Moreover, they can also learn a lot from whatever good habits they see in humans. However, they can pick up the bad habits just as easily, as well. So, dog owners of this kind of breed are advised to apply extreme caution when his American Staffordshire Terrier is around.
American Staffordshire Terriers came to be developed for a variety of reasons. Most notable of these reasons include hunting, guarding, and farm work. American Staffordshire Terriers may have also developed to serve as companions to humans. Some breeders and owners train American Staffordshire Terriers to perform community service, such as engaging in pet therapies and search and rescue operations.
Examples of American Staffordshire Terriers may be found in several films. Our Gang featured an American Staffordshire Terrier through Pete the Pup, or Petey, for short. Buzzin Around, a film in 1933 directed by Alfred J. Goulding also presented an American Staffordshire Terrier. A recent film in 2001 directed by Blair Hayes, entitled Bubble Boy, and Cabin Fever also included American Staffordshire Terriers in the film.
