Pet Health And Care >> Dog Breed >> American Staffordshire Terrier

American Staffordshire Terrier - Information on Puppies, Breeders, Kennels, Temperament and Training

The American Staffordshire is a medium sized terrier whose roots can be traced back to England.

Known for its aggressive behavior and fighting spirit, it has been developed by cross breeding the bull terrier with other terriers. The current breed of American Staffordshire is muscular, with sturdy jaws and a short coat of thick shiny hair. It has unusual strength and a rather large head. Despite its strength and agility, the American Staffordshire terrier is extremely gentle with children and very protective of its family.

The American Staffordshire is a clever and loving dog, which keeps him confident and happy.

He has a gentle and loving nature and gets along well with adults as well as children. It is extremely courageous and active by nature, and fiercely loyal and protective of its owner. With all these attributes it makes for an ideal guard dog. The desire to keep his master constantly happy is what ensures that he is ever alert to his master’s moods and wants. Because the dog is courageous, it is known to protect its owner’s property, and it becomes aggressive when it senses that its master or his property is threatened. The American Staffordshire terrier temperament ensures that it quickly becomes a part of the family.

Even American Staffordshire terrier puppies seem to understand that whatever sacrifice they undertake is as part of family duties just as any other member of the family. These dogs are not concerned with self appeasement and willingly endure hardship if necessary.

Training

This dog breed should be trained at a young age, so that any tendency towards aggressive behavior can be gently negated. Negative traits noticed in a dog under training should be eroded slowly over a period of time, not suppressed or stamped out. They tend to be a little possessive of their toys and so if a toy needs to be discarded, it is best that a replacement toy is provided.

Health Issues

The American Staffordshire terrier can be affected by various disorders, some of which are inherited. Some disorders are due to dysfunction of the thyroid, skin allergies, hip dysplasia, and congenital heart disease. These are all disorders that call for diagnosis and treatment by a vet. Regular check-ups are a must in order to ensure early diagnosis and successful treatment.

Living Conditions

The American Staffordshire dog is one of the very few dogs that does not require a vast ground for its daily exercise. Exercising is very important in their daily life, so they need to be taken for daily walks, which will be beneficial to them. A bit of exercise indoors is also recommended for these dogs to remain fit and healthy. These dogs have a preference for warmer climates, and dislike going outdoors in winter. They are fond of playing and a variety of games will prevent boredom.

Buying an American Staffordshire Terrier

It is important that you only contact American Staffordshire terrier breeders if you are interested in purchasing a pup. Most breeders and American Staffordshire terrier kennels take care of early vaccinations and can give you a detailed medical history of each pup. You could also contact your vet to find out about American Staffordshire terrier puppies for sale. Rescue centers are also a good option as you will be able to adopt an animal that has been deprived of his home. There are even specific American Staffordshire terrier rescue centers and so you will be able to meet various dogs of this breed before you make a choice. Most of these dogs have already been trained and so that should not be an issue. However, it would be wise to find out more about American Staffordshire terrier training by buying books on this subject or by discussing it worth certified trainers so that you can ensure that your dog does not forget his training. An American Staffordshire terrier is considered by many to be the epitome of the ‘man’s best friend’ adage.

Submitted on September 16, 2011