American Staffordshire Terrier: breed features and rearing

The American Staffordshire Terrier is a popular fighting dog breed, widespread in the United States, England and Russia. These dogs are distinguished by a powerful body, remarkable guard qualities, as well as an extremely aggressive character in inexperienced hands. This article will discuss American staffs, the characteristics of this breed, the intricacies of its maintenance and cultivation.

The history of the American Staffordshire Terrier stretches deep bloody trail since the Middle Ages. At that time, gladiatorial battles were extremely popular, where in the arenas in front of tens of thousands of spectators it was originally people who performed. Over time, the audience turned into an increasingly sophisticated "gourmet", which led to the creation of fights between people and between animals.

Initially, only wild animals were used for such competitions: wild boars, bears, even bulls. Exceptionally powerful dog breeds (bulldogs and mastiffs) were chosen as the opposing side.

Unfortunately, these dogs, in addition to tremendous strength, did not possess the dexterity or agility of a wild beast, which served as the motive for creating more hardy, fast and equally strong dog breeds.

Strange as it may be, but these dogs are known today precisely because of their bloody past. In the pedigree of each of the modern staffs, there are ancestors who in ancient times were bred exclusively as fighting dogs for such arenas. In addition, terriers were considered incredibly smart, which was to give the new breed strategic and tactical talents to defeat more powerful rivals.

Breeding experiments soon led to the creation of a completely new breed of dogs, which was called "bull terrier." These dogs were more resilient, incredibly agile and as strong as bulldogs. A turning point in the development of the breed was the adoption of law in England in 1835, which prohibited bullfights. Because of this event, exclusively dog ​​arenas gradually began to form, on which the bull terriers showed themselves as wonderful fighting dogs.

Already at that time there were two names of these dogs - some called them Staffordshire terriers (according to the name of the breeding ground of the fighting breed in England), and others called pit bull terriers. Over time, these two names merged into one, which was firmly entrenched among the breeders of the time - the Staffordshire Bull Terrier.

After the so-called War of the North and South (the large-scale Civil War in the United States, which lasted from 1861 to 1865), people began to migrate more often from England to America. Migrants brought with them not only their culture, but also their pets, among whom were bright representatives of staffs. If in the territory of modern England dog fighting was already forbidden at that time, then in the territory of still very young America they received simply wildly popularity among the population.

Such popularity of fighting breeds gave another powerful impetus to the development of amstaffs. Selection experiments lasted until the end of the 19th century, and even then exclusively purebred individuals with ideal fighting qualities were used for breeding dogs.

At the end of the 19th century, the first American cynological club was created in Michigan, the main focus of which was breeding and development of pit bull terriers. Successful improvement of the breed led to the fact that these individuals began not only to participate in fighting competitions, but also showed excellent performance in official activities. These individuals began to buy ordinary farmers, hunters and traders.

Around the beginning of the twentieth century, a wave of indignation swept across America related to the ban on dog fights. With the closure of the fighting pits, staffs would become almost useless, because they were created specifically for the battle. So that the breed did not disappear completely, American cynologists decided to improve the exterior of these dogs, preferring qualities that are valued precisely in exhibition activities.

The result of these works was the creation of a less muscular, but more graceful and hardy breed of dog, which was called the Staffordshire Terrier. It was under this name that the dogs of this breed were recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1936. As for the International Cynological Federation, it officially recognized this breed of dogs only in 1971, however, the name of the breed changed to "American Staffordshire Terrier."

These dogs entered the territory of modern Russia only in the 80s of the twentieth century. Amstaffs almost immediately gained popularity thanks to its ferocious and strong exterior. Many Russian breeders and private traders, who before that had no idea about fighting breeds, began to train these individuals according to the already established scheme, but suffered a crushing defeat.

Increasingly, there have been cases when amstaffs became the culprits of fatal accidents. Because of these events, the glory of bloodthirsty and ferocious dogs was entrenched to them, which has survived to this day.

In relation to the American Staffordshire Terriers, the standard is very stable and solid - all because of the rich historical past of the breed, which has been formed for more than one hundred years.

If most dogs live no longer than 12-13 years, then individuals of Amstaff, due to their good health and excellent protective qualities, can live up to 15-17 years. Dogs are a bit heavier than bitches, they weigh from 25 to 30 kg, while adult bitches are rarely heavier than 25 kg. As for growth, in males and females it is almost the same - from 43 to 48 centimeters at the withers.

All varieties of the Staffordshire Terrier have a surprisingly powerful, muscular and massive physique. The main muscle groups are on the hips, chest, shoulders, back and limbs. In a state of excitement, these individuals turn into a living lump of muscles, covered in thick skin with a shiny coat.

The body of these dogs is very compact, although due to the powerful head it seems slightly elongated. The back is short and muscular. The round croup is noticeably pronounced, which makes it seem as if the dog is ready to break loose at any moment. The shoulder blades are exceptionally long and firmly pressed to the back.

The head cannot be called long, but it is very wide and massive. The skull itself has a flat shape, expanding between the ears. The back of the head is weakly expressed, almost invisible under the coat and muscles. Stop, or the transition from the muzzle to the forehead, is smooth, but clearly visible. Amstaffs face is not particularly long, almost the same length as the skull.

Jaws and teeth are extremely powerful, wide and long. Teeth (white or yellowish) are placed closely - in one line on the lower jaw. Scissor bite.

The nose is large and wide, the nostrils are remarkably developed (this fighting breed of dogs, individuals of which must always have access to oxygen for the fight). The lobe itself is always dark (dark gray or black).

American Staffordshire Terriers have two ear placement options. The first option involves uncropped ears with small shells and a stable position on the cartilage. The second option is short-cropped ears with thin sharp tips.

Eyes set low and fairly wide; their shape is exceptionally round. The iris should be black, although hazel and hazel shades are allowed. The eyelids are tight to the eyeball, also pigmented.

The neck is not very long, but extremely strong and muscular, smoothly passes into the withers. Unlike folds on the muzzle and forehead, there are no folds on the neck, the skin fits tightly.

The withers are significantly distinguished from the back due to the developed muscles. The transition from the withers to the back is smooth. The chest is wide, deep and muscular. Ribs are predominantly rounded. Belly tightened.

Some owners prefer to stop the tail of dogs, however for this dog it serves as a rudder that regulates the direction in movement. The staffords tail is powerful, tapering towards the tip. It is covered with a thin layer of wool.

The front legs are parallel and straight, the skeleton is powerful, well-developed muscles are clearly visible under the skin. The elbows should fit snugly against the chest and look back. The hind legs are much longer than the front, they also stand in parallel. Muscles on hips and knees are well developed.The paws of the amstaffs are small, round-shaped, fingers tightly assembled.

All Staffordshire Terriers have extremely short and dense hair. The structure is rigid and straight. The entire body, except for the chest, withers, and abdomen, is covered with approximately the same coat of hair. Depending on the color, it may shine in the sun. It has a protective fat layer, thanks to which these dogs almost always remain clean.

The standard is not particularly selective regarding the color of American staffords. Today, more than 15 color options are known, including the following:

• plain tones (blue, cream, black, red, fawn or gray);
• two-tone and multicolor (black with tan marks on the face, neck and paws, brindle, bluish-fawn, "boars").

It is unlikely that there is at least one other breed of dog in the world with such an unstable and variable character as that of Staffordshire terriers. These dogs at one moment can be cute and affectionate, obedient, and at another they stand in a protective stance and are ready to tear anyone who gets in their way.

It is worth noting that Experienced breeders rate this breed of dog as exceptionally kind, cheerful and balanced, while critics attribute to these dogs the most bloodthirsty traits that any predator would envy.

There are no dogs better than staffs to guard the territory or children. These dogs are extremely responsible for the work entrusted to them. With all their fury, anger and devotion, they will protect not only their family members, but also the house where they are fed and appreciated. Amstaffs simply have a unique intuition that allows them to fully appreciate a person in a matter of seconds. It’s not for nothing that these animals are taken to the borders of countries or to airports to check luggage and hand luggage - they feel fear, anger and bitterness very well.

If the amstaff feels a threat in relation to himself or his family members - he rushes to the attack without the slightest warning. These dogs will not bark or growl warningly, gritting their teeth, they will simply rush at the offender and, in a fit of anger, can easily bite through the arteries on the man’s arms and neck. If these qualities of the dog are useful on the street, then within the walls of the apartment they can bring a lot of problems. This problem is especially acute in families with kids, where a game with an animal moment that has gone beyond the borders goes into a brawl and can result in serious injuries.

The strength that nature has endowed with these dogs needs a regular outlet. These are not the dogs that a normal walk on the street without adventures and catch-ups will suit. These dogs need long training and physical activity, only in this way the staffs feel cheerful and happy. If the energy does not spill out on the street, these dogs will find a way to direct it against their master or the apartment where he lives.

In communication with small children, amstaffs (especially bitches) act as real nannies who will not only support all their pranks, but will also protect babies from other animals, protect their sleep and safety. Such an attitude towards children is possible only with proper upbringing. With improper upbringing, it may happen that a child plays with a pet and does not notice when the game goes beyond entertainment and turns into a serious battle.

Staffs have their own stance on all strangers. American Stafford will not stand aside while his master is talking with a stranger - he will carefully monitor the course of the conversation and evaluate each gesture and look of the interlocutor. You should not try to establish a relationship with staff during the very first meeting - he will not allow stroking himself to a stranger and will not accept any goodies from him. The trust of these dogs must be won, but not bought.

American Stafford is loyal to other pets, especially if they grew up together. Many breeders note that these pets are very kind to little kittens (namely females) - they feel their puppies in them, which they constantly look after and look after. If another pet constantly violates the personal boundaries of the staff or teases him (for example, a parrot), then these actions will not go unpunished.

If you want to buy a thoroughbred and healthy amstaff, then immediately abandon the options for buying a puppy on the Internet or on the regular market with your hands. The choice of puppies of this breed should be treated with extreme caution, otherwise you run the risk of regretting a purchase in the future.

You have two options when buying an American Staffordshire Terrier:

• buying a puppy in a specialized nursery;
• private purchase.

Decide on the appointment of your puppy in the future. If you are going to buy a show individual, then the compliance of the puppies with the standard should be as accurate as possible, if you want to buy a fighting individual for your purposes, pay attention to the correct structure of the bones and muscles, as well as the relevant experience of the parents of the pet.

If you choose an individual exclusively for the family, then pay attention to its behavior, the aggressiveness of its ancestors. In this case, you can even buy mestizo amstaffs - they will cost much cheaper, while having almost the same exterior (although they will not be suitable for exhibition activities).

If you choose exhibition puppies, it is recommended to monitor the conditions of their maintenance and development from birth. By around one month of age, small amstaffs fully form the key features of the exterior, which allows customers to more clearly understand how the pet will look in the future. Do not believe the seller’s stories that in the future, the appearance of animals can still be corrected with therapeutic massages and exercises - all these are unproven theories.

Be sure to monitor the conditions of the pet, the thoroughness and regularity of feeding. Also check with the breeder the number of individuals in the litter of the puppy's mother. If there are no more than 6 individuals, then the chance that they received full feeding in the first days after birth is higher.

The conclusion of a purchase agreement is far from the only document that you should receive from a seller of a puppy or kennel. In addition, you must be provided with a veterinary passport, pedigree and metric. It does not hurt to look at the passport of the parents to find out about hereditary diseases and predispositions.

Keep in mind that depending on age, the color of American Stafford can significantly change. For example, if newborn puppies are predominantly white in color, and the nose, eyelids or lips are also pigmented in white, then by the year a significant part of these spots may darken or become brown or red.

remember, that Partial pigmentation or coloring of these parts of the body must be present. It is also worth paying attention to the color of the iris in puppies - it finally forms only by the age of one.

Pay close attention to inspecting the dog's coat. It must be smooth and short (this type of wool is sometimes called velor) without bald zones and bald spots.The puppy's skin should also be closely examined - under unfair conditions, the skin of these dogs is covered with ulcers, ulcers and black spots. As for the coat, it must be dry first of all - if it is wet in the genitals or around the anus, most often this means problems with the intestines in the dog.

The eyes should be clear and not cloudy, without tear paths and mucous lumps in the corners of the eyes. About a month old, staffs should weigh between 3 and 5 kg. The puppy should not look exhausted, or, conversely, overfed. Protruding ribs and pelvic bones speak of malnutrition.

Unfortunately, you cannot buy the American Staffordshire Terrier immediately after birth or even at the age of 1 month. These puppies are allowed to be sold only after reaching 45 days, taking into account branding, vaccination and expert evaluation in nurseries.

If the training of these dogs can not be treated through the sleeves, then with the maintenance and care they certainly will not make you sweat. Regarding these two positions, these are almost ordinary dogs, whose good health protects them from most problems.

Since the puppy appeared in the walls of your apartment Do not forget to conduct regular procedures to combat fleas, lice and worms. To combat lice and fleas, special shampoos, lotions and combs are suitable, to get rid of worms, special solutions or tablets prescribed by the veterinarian are usually used.

Regular vaccination is another important point in prevention. If you bought a puppy in a kennel, then the first vaccination should have been carried out there, it should be repeated at least once a year.

Due to the short coat, these dogs practically do not need close attention to the coat. Also, they practically do not fade, which allows you to successfully keep them in the walls of a city apartment. To remove dead hair, it is recommended that regular combing with a soft comb or brush - this will be an additional good massage for the skin of the dog.

Dogs need regular care for the ears, claws, teeth and genitals of the animal. To clean your ears you will need cotton swabs or cotton pads moistened with lotion or water, get a nail clipper for claws (for large breeds of dogs), only specialized pastes and brushes for large dogs (no human at all) are suitable for teeth. The genitals can either be wiped with wet hypoallergenic tissues, or rinsed under running water after each walk.

A thorough washing of amstaffs should be carried out no more than several times a year. They have a short coat, which is not very dirty, besides this, these dogs are clean and do not like to walk through puddles or flounder in the water. For washing wool should choose only hypoallergenic shampoos with a mild formula.

Walking with these dogs is daily, while trying to maximize the load on the pet. You should walk before eating, when you walk, always put on a pet's muzzle (even on a still young individual).

American Staffordshire Terriers are very social animals that require not only care from their owners, but also regular communication and entertainment. With a lack of attention, they tend to experience aggression, or, conversely, fall into deep apathy.

Despite the remarkable security features and powerful exterior, these animals are not recommended to be kept outdoors or in the aviary. If their hair can withstand a relatively low temperature, then it will not save the dog from sudden changes. Some owners, when walking these dogs in winter, prefer to dress their pets in blankets so that they do not freeze.

Another important point in the content of amstaff is regular and nutritious nutrition. Breeders adhere to two methods of feeding these dogs: natural or dry food.

When it comes to finished feed, it is recommended to stay on hypoallergenic feed of good quality - premium or super premium. In such feeds there are all the necessary vitamins and minerals, they are stored longer and do not need balancing.

As for feeding natural products, you should adhere to the following tips.

• The basis of nutrition of this breed must necessarily be protein of animal origin. This is raw or boiled meat, offal or fish. From meat, chicken, beef or veal is best. Pork and lamb should be given extremely rarely - it contains a high percentage of fat.
• Dairy products - cheeses, cottage cheese, yogurt, kefir.
• Cereals. The body of amstaffs constantly needs herbal supplements and fiber. Rice, buckwheat, oatmeal, and corn are perfect here. Such cereals should not be served "dry", they should be made on water with the addition of meat and vegetables.
• Offal They are an excellent substitute for meat, especially since the amstaffs simply adore them. This applies to giblets, tongues, ventricles and hearts. Of course, all this must be boiled in advance.
• Fish well replaces meat, contains beneficial phosphorus and strengthens the dog’s skeleton. It is recommended that sea boiled fish with a minimum number of bones.
• At a young age, puppies need enhanced vitamin nutritionIn addition, their teeth are actively being cut - in this case, it is recommended to give them special vertebral bones. These dogs should not be given normal bones - they damage the teeth and lead to constipation.
• Exclude sweets (sweets, chocolate), pastries, human food from the table from the diet of the dog (including salted, smoked, spicy and fatty foods). Sausages and sausages should also be discarded.

Avoid overfeeding your stuff to prevent it from becoming obese. For this dog, this is a very dangerous disease, especially in the winter season, when walks are not so long and there is no way to physically load the pet. Feed after walking - then the pet is more likely to want even not particularly tasty, in his opinion, food.

Provide round-the-clock access to a source of clean and fresh water, especially if you choose the method of feeding dry prepared feed.

The American staff is exactly that breed of dogs that needs to be worked on upbringing, starting from early childhood. You need to understand that these dogs will try to indicate their position from the very first day of appearing in the apartment.

The most important thing that is required of you is to establish your authority. Staff should understand that it is you who controls all the situations, it is you who decides what is possible and what is not. To achieve this, proceed as follows:

• Teach your dog to always walk near you;
• go into the room first, and then let the pet go;
• sit at the table before giving food to the pet itself.

Remember: your word is a law that must not be violated under any circumstances. If you once allow the American stafford to cross the boundaries of what is allowed, it will be extremely difficult to wean him from this. Always stand your ground, from the very first day, designate those areas in the apartment where the pet is not allowed.

When raising the American Staffordshire Terrier, try to avoid scenes of open aggression. If this is a family conflict with beatings, voices and screams, the amstaff may not react in any way due to ignorance of who it is to protect. If this is a conflict on the street, even if the situation comes to a hot, try to keep a uniform and calm tone.

Try to end each acquaintance with a new person or new pet on a good note. If the staff remembers it in a negative way, it is very possible that to all future animals or people with the same symptoms, he will unconsciously experience the same aggression.

Regularly load your pet with physical activity, take him to the dog grounds, make him perform light, then more and more difficult exercises. For the execution of commands always reward the dog with either a delicacy or affectionate intonation.

Experienced breeders say that not only the success of the animals, but also the character and mood of the future pet depends on the success of the chosen nickname. The most common nicknames for dogs of this breed are:

• for boys: Archie, Aron, Bruno, Vegas, Hector, Gray, Zeus, Lord, Lucius, Max, Nike, Richard, Steve, Phobos, Hardy, Caesar;
• for girls: Adele, Berta, Viva, Jolie, Dora, Eve, Zlata, Moon, Margot, Peace, Nesti, Tessa, Tiffany, Feona, Holly, Alice.

Reviews about this dog can not be called unambiguous - people's opinions about the breed are divided into two camps.

Owners of dogs from the first camp notice that this is an unusually complex, aggressive, capricious and even vicious breed of dogs, the individuals of which will not lose any opportunity to enjoy someone's flesh.

Representatives of the second camp agree with the thesis that this breed is really difficult to maintain and is not suitable for every owner. However, in their opinion, in hard hands, these dogs are incredibly complaisant, intelligent, visionary and very nice to their entire family.

The bloody trail that has been stretching for American staffords since the beginning of the 19th century still generates more and more stereotypes regarding the bloodthirstiness of this breed.

See the story about the breed in the next video.