American Staffordshire Terrier

Template:Distinguish Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox dog breed The American Staffordshire Terrier, also known as the AmStaff, is a medium-sized, short-coated American dog breed<ref name="ReferenceA">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name= "Campbell">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> recognized by the American Kennel Club, but not the United Kennel Club, which instead allows American Staffordshire Terriers to be registered under the American Pit Bull Terrier breed.<ref>Template:Citation</ref>

The American Staffordshire Terrier stands Template:Cvt tall and weighs between Template:Cvt.<ref name= "ReferenceA" /> The American Kennel Club (AKC) describes the breed as "confident, smart and good-natured". American Staffordshire Terriers are not to be confused with American Pit Bull Terriers; though the American Pit Bull Terrier has similar ancestry they are two distinct breeds. It also should not be confused with the "Staffy" Staffordshire Bull Terrier of the United Kingdom.<ref name="ReferenceA" />

History

One of the earliest AKC AmStaff dog show champions.

Some varieties of the extinct bull-and-terrier dog from the British Isles began to find their way into America<ref name="ReferenceA" /> as early as 1850. These varieties became a breed recognized by the United Kennel Club as American Pit Bull Terrier in 1898. In 1936 the American Kennel Club recognized the breed with a different name and registered some individuals in the stud book. The name Staffordshire Terrier was approved because the ancestors of the breed were claimed to originally come from Staffordshire, England, a theory inspired by the recognition in 1935 of the related Staffordshire Bull Terrier by the British Kennel Club. The name of the AKC registered breed was revised on January 1st 1969 to American Staffordshire Terrier to distinguish it from the British Staffordshire Bull Terrier.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref name=":1">Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=":2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The AKC closed and opened the AmStaff Stud Book to UKC registered American Pit Bull Terrier dogs a few more times until the 1970s. Since then both sire and dam have had to be AKC registered dogs in order to register offspring as American Staffordshire Terriers. The breed selection was based entirely on conformation and established breed standards that for decades have transformed the American Staffordshire Terrier into a much different breed from the American Pit Bull Terrier.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />

Temperament

According to the American Kennel Club, these dogs are "smart, confident, good-natured companions. Their courage is proverbial. A responsibly bred, well-socialized AmStaff is a loyal, trustworthy friend to the end."<ref name= "ReferenceA" />

The official breed club of America points out that dog aggression can occur even if the dogs have been well-socialized and that therefore they should not be left alone with other dogs.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Description

A 1990s conformation champion

Male White and Brindle American Staffordshire Terrier

According to AKC's published breed standard approved June 10, 1936, the "American Staffordshire Terrier should give the impression of great strength for his size, a well put-together dog, muscular, but agile and graceful, keenly alive to his surroundings. He should be stocky, not long-legged or racy in outline. His courage is proverbial." The head should be medium in length with a broad skull, a distinct stop, and pronounced muscles in the cheek. The ears should be set high on their head and can be cropped or uncropped, but the latter is preferred. Height and weight should be in proportion. A height of about Template:Convert at shoulders for the male and Template:Convert for the female is to be considered preferable. The nose should always be black. Many coat colors are accepted; however, dogs with liver or black-and-tan coat and dogs with more than 80% white are discouraged.<ref name=":4">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="ReferenceA" />

Health

Female blue brindle American Staffordshire Terrier

A 2024 UK study found a life expectancy of 12.5 years compared to an average of 12.7 for purebreds and 12 for crossbreeds.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

The breed is predisposed to allergic skin disease and demodicosis.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> An American study found 20% of juvenile (under the age of two) American Staffordshire Terriers to suffer from demodicosis compared to 0.58% overall.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

A North American study of over 1 million hip and 250,000 elbow scans found 24.4% American Staffordshire Terriers to have hip dysplasia and 16.1% to have elbow dysplasia.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Another North American study found 1.84% of American Staffordshire Terriers to have the condition, half of the overall rate of 3.52%.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

Breed-specific legislation and restrictions

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} Worldwide, the American Staffordshire Terrier has often been included in breed bans that target pit bull–type dogs and/or fighting dog breeds. Such breed-specific legislation (BSL) may range from outright bans on possession to restrictions and conditions of ownership. Breed Specific Legislation has been enacted in various countries including Austria,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Canada,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Denmark,<ref>Template:Citation</ref> France,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Germany,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> India,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Ireland,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Israel,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Norway,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Turkey,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and the United States.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Popularity

In 2017, the breed was the eighth most popular dog according to the Australian National Kennel Council.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> According to Société Centrale Canine, it is the sixth most popular dog in France.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> According to the American Kennel Club, it was the 85th most popular dog in 2020.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

See also

• Dogs portal
• List of dog breeds
• Bull Terrier
• Miniature Bull Terrier
• Pit bull
• Luke the Dog

Further reading

Listed by year of publication

• Fraser, Jacqueline. The American Staffordshire Terrier, 1990
• Ormsby, Clifford & Alberta. The American Staffordshire Terrier, 1956
• Nicholas, Anna Katherine. Staffordshire Terriers: American Staffordshire Terrier and Staffordshire Bull Terrier, 1991, 256 pages; Template:ISBN
• Foster, Sarah. The American Staffordshire Terrier: Gamester and Guardian, 1998, 139 pages; Template:ISBN
• Linzy, Jan. American Staffordshire Terrier Champions, 1988–1995, 1998, 84 pages; Template:ISBN
• Linzy, Jan. American Staffordshire Terrier Champions, 1996–2001, 2002, 84 pages; Template:ISBN
• Janish, Joseph. American Staffordshire Terrier, 2003, 155 pages; Template:ISBN
• Off the Chain, 2005, Bobby J. Brown; IMDb 0472478.
• Beyond the Myth: A Film About Pit Bulls and Breed Discrimination, 2010, Libby Sherrill; IMDb 1993286

External links

• Staffordshire Terrier Club of America
• American Staffordshire Terrier at Curlie