The American Staffordshire Terrier is a race that leaves no one indifferent. Those who live with one of them worship these dogs, while others cross sidewalk when they see him pass.
Weight: 25 to 30 kilos
Hair type: Very short and smooth
Character: balanced and sociable
Health: Good, with a tendency to various genetic diseases
Life expectancy: between 12 and 14 years
Origins
Although the American Staffordshire Terrier is a race that it was created in the United States, the truth is that Its origin is very far, specifically in England.
In this country some "sports" were very popular that consisted of harassing bulls and bears. In 1835 they are prohibited, but dog fights continue to be allowed, so the type of dog must change.
Larger animals are sought, so crossing the English bulldog Old (which has nothing to do with the current one) and the old English terrier arises the Bull and Terrier. This breed is extinct and you don't have to confuse it with the Bull Terrier We have now.
This Bull and Terrier arrives in the United States in that same nineteenth century and there followed its selection. This was destined for the specimens to be larger and the result was the birth of American Pit Bull Terrier.
The race was already recognized in 1898 by United Kennel Club, gaining great popularity in a very short time.
Although it was selected for fights, the truth is that he soon dedicated houses, cattle, etc., and in the American Kennel Club they think of putting Staffordshire Terrier to some strains of the race.
It seems that the idea was to honor the province where this dog originated, selecting copies of the Colby and Corvino lineages, which were the best in the American Pitbull Terrier.
In this way the American Staffordshire Terrier arises, selecting the most representative pitbulls specimens.
From there, the breed furrows a huge journey that ends In 1972, when the international cynological federation admits it.
Main characteristics of the American Staffordshire Terrier
The American Staffordshire Terrier is recognized immediately, although we do not know of dogs, since it has a grid and very muscular body. That does not subtract agility, because it can run and move like an athlete.
The head is very wide and denotes strength. The same happens to the jaw, something to which their cheeks contribute, since they are bulky and seem muscular.
To complete their particular expression, the eyes are low and very separate, which makes your face unrepeatable and express goodness, although we see that it is a very strong dog.
The ears are placed high and usually have a rose shape. Years ago they cut, which gave the dog a more aggressive appearance when he lifted them. Today that is prohibited.
The muscles stand out in the body, with a very short back. The chest is wide, with a musculature that is usually quite marked.
Its tail is thick at the base and becomes thinner. As with the ears, it is no longer cut in any case.
If we look at the hair we will see that it is lustrous, that it shines. It is very short and rigid, admitting any color or combination of them.
They weigh between 25 and 30 kilos, being their height to the cross between 43 and 48 cm, with very similar males and females in this aspect.
American Staffordshire character
This is where the controversy enters, since there are many opinions. Despite this, the truth is that the American Staffordshire Terrier is a curious, friendly and cheerful dog, confident with everyone.
Is outgoing and sociable, which can bring us more than one problem if we are the owners of one. Due to the bad press it possesses, most people are afraid of him and that will make them alert if they see our dog approach.
Inside the house it is very quiet and creates a strong link with the members of your family, especially with the young children to which Idollatra.
Outside is more active, which often does not interpret well. He only seeks to have fun, but only people who have been able to enjoy the race know.
Educating it well is essential
A dog behaves as they have taught him since he is little. Hence the importance of educating American Staffordshire Terrier, since we are facing a very strong animal and with a powerful jaw.
You have to leave aggressiveness aside, because with this dog it doesn't work. Therefore, we are going to use the positive reinforcement when educating him, starting when he has the vaccines and can already go out.
It must socialize with other dogs and people. With the former he has to learn to play, understanding that he cannot bite whenever he wants and that when he plays he should not harm.
Then we will have basic obedience, which will help us keep it safe at all times. This type of obedience must be repeated until it is assimilated, reviewing the orders weekly.
Because of the predisposition you have to learn it will not take long to do what we ask. In fact, we will even be able to teach some tricks.
Care
Starting with the hair, in this aspect the American Staffordshire Terrier will give us little work. Being smooth and very short, all you have to do is Brush it once or twice a week.
We will choose for this task a brush with the soft tips, have some protection. Otherwise, we will end up making the skin wounds, so that the best idea is to comb it with a rubber mud.
It does not accumulate much dirt, so we can space the bathrooms, although it will not make it complicated in this aspect, since it dries immediately even in winter.
Its character makes it bore a lot, so if it is too long, it is not unusual for the well -known separation anxiety to appear. We can avoid it by leaving a few varied toys.
Among them, one of the best is the Kong. He will not break it and if we fill it with food, he will have a good time trying to get it.
Yes, it is more demanding with exercise. He needs it both to maintain his physique and when having good mental health, although he is not a dog that must pass all day running.
It will settle for three half -hour walks each, better if there are dogs with which you can play.
Thus, although because of its size it is not a good candidate to live in a small floor, you can do it without problems.
American Staffordshire Terrier
Food is very important in all races, but it is even more in the American Staffordshire Terrier, since if we want it to maintain such spectacular muscles, it will need “fuel” to feed it.
As with the people who make muscles, For muscles to grow and maintain protein. This is not cheap if it is of quality.
What does that mean? That he needs the best I think we can buy him, since with those of supermarket he will fatten and lose muscle mass.
The ingredients are what mark the quality of a feed
If we acquire a sack of feed of a supermarket, the typical one we find on the offer when we are going to make the weekly purchase, and read the label, we will realize why it is so cheap.
Among its first ingredients we find wheat or corn, and then chicken meat in the form of by -products. That means that there put the peaks, legs and feathers, something that is not good at eating.
On the contrary, in a I think quality dog, the first thing we are going to see is chicken meat, veal, lamb, etc., of human consumption and high availability. In other words, the American Staffordshire Terrier will be able to obtain the quality proteins it needs.
There are quite a few brands in the market, but you always have to take that into account so as not to be wrong when choosing, limiting the purchase to quality food. Within this we can test different compositions or brands.
In the end, the one who chooses the feed is the dog itself, since that sack of such a great brand, that makes the neighbor's dog have spectacular hair, can make our dog vomit.
Health
This breed has a very strong health, but there are some diseases that can occur with some frequency. Therefore, it is recommended to visit the veterinarian every six months.
Demodicosis
Under this strange name hides A skin disease that usually affects the race, and that in fact it is quite frequent.
It is characterized by skin problems such as scales, itching, the appearance of baldness or pustules, all of which generates parasites, so we talk about an infectious disease.
The treatment can combine bathrooms, with injections and other medications. It is a bit heavy, but quite effective.
Hip dysplasia
Due to its size, the American Staffordshire Terrier is at risk of dysplasia. Hip dysplasia is a disease that affects the hip and hip legs, when the bones of these do not "settle" well in the accommodation they have in both hips.
It is genetic, so that The best way to prevent it is to buy a dog from a responsible breeder, which can demonstrate with radiographs that their animals are free of dysplasia.
If the dog develops it, it can suffer in different degrees, from a slight to the most serious, in which case the only solution is to pass through the operating room.
Eye conditions
With your eyes you also have to take some care. The first problem is the cataracts, which will appear when the dog becomes greater and that they are noticed because the eye is as covered, gray.
Another is the progressive retinal atrophy and is more serious because it has no cure. Therefore, the reviews are very important, because thanks to them this disease is detected and the evolution is delayed as much as possible.
Through the intake of antioxidants and vitamins, their progress is stopped, but we have to get the idea that blindness cannot be avoided. In addition, sometimes it causes problems such as the dislocation of the lens or glaucoma, so the dog must go through the operating room.
Sexual development disorders
Sometimes, the breed suffers from these types of problems that are usually manifested with excessive sexual attitudes, which is not pleasant with an animal of this strength and size.
Here the treatment is simple and economical, because it will be enough to sterilize the dog as soon as the veterinarian gives us the approval.
Other medium dog breeds you should know:
French bulldog
Bull Terrier
American Bully
Belgian shepherd
Golden Retriever
Border Collie
American bulldog
Harrier
Boxer
Cocker Spaniel English
Schnauzer
Beagle