Key Facts:

Size: Medium
Height: 43 - 48 cm (17 - 19 inches)
Weight: 18 - 23 kg (40 - 50 lb)
Life Span: 12 years
Grooming: Easy
Exercise: Medium
Feeding: Medium
Temperament: Fearless & dependable
Country of Origin: United States
AKC Group: Terrier

Temperament:
The American Staffordshire Terrier is bold, fearless, outgoing, confident, loyal and intelligent. The American Staffordshire Terrier loves to please its owner and thrives on praise from its family. They get along well with people of all ages, especially with children. American Staffordshire Terriers make good guard dogs and have tremendous courage. However, due to this trait some people have trained them as fight dogs, but American Staffordshire Terriers can make docile pets when properly trained.

Grooming:
American Staffordshire Terriers need minimal grooming with their short coats. A quick brush is sufficient to keep the skin and coat healthy.

Exercise:
Regular exercise is necessary on a daily basis. American Staffordshire Terriers enjoy running alongside a cycle and playing ball games.

History:
The origins are similar to the Staffordshire Bull Terrier – blendings of the Bulldog, Black and Tan Terrier and an old white English Terrier. In 1870, they came to America and quickly became invaluable to families as guard dogs. Because the breeders preferred a slightly larger specimen than the early English Staffordshire Terriers, in 1972 the American Kennel Club permitted the word American to be added to their title to differentiate them from the English Staffordshire Bull Terrier.

Physical Characteristics:

General Appearance: Broad-chested, muscular and agile.
Colour: Whole colour, parti-coloured or patched. White not to cover more than 80% of the body.
Coat: Smooth, short, dense and glossy
Tail: Moderately short and low set.
Ears: Rose-shaped and semi-erect.
Body: The heavy neck runs to a fairly short, slightly sloping back. The chest is broad and deep.

Additional Comments:

American Staffordshire Terriers are a very devoted and protective breed that can be great family pets, so long as the correct training is provided at an early age. Otherwise they can become overly boisterous as well as aggressive towards other dogs.

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