Among the great variety of breeds, the Staffordshire Terrier is striking in its combination of a serious, even threatening appearance and a balanced, non-aggressive character.
Description
The breed was bred relatively recently, in the second half of the XIX century. At that time, bulldogs originally from the county of Staffordshire were brought to the United States from the United Kingdom.
Strong dogs helped farmers - guarded the house, protected from predators.
Then, fighting between dogs was widespread. Bets were made, and the owner of the winner could pick up a rather impressive amount.
Breeders and owners have a goal - to bring out a breed that could withstand many fights and win in them. To do this, a militant, but heavy bulldog was crossed with a light, nimble terrier. The experience was more than successful - the offspring inherited the best parental qualities.
The dogs of the new variety turned out to be absolutely fearless, with a dead grip, nimble, nimble. They fought stubbornly, often fatally, ignoring severe wounds.
Gradually, this cruel entertainment became a thing of the past, fighting dogs ceased to be in great demand. Instead, they began to be used as bodyguards.
The name of the breed has changed over time. At first in 1898 she was named the Pit Bull Terrier. Then, in 1936, the Staffordshire Terrier commemorated the ancestors of the Staffordshire Bulldogs and Terriers, and in 1972 they added the word American or Amstaff.
The color of this breed can be different - white, blue, fawn, brindle, red. The breed belongs to the shorthair.
The Black Staffordshire Terrier, as the name implies, is a dog whose coat color is plain, black.
Another name is Black Boston. The coat of such individuals is saturated black, nowhere is there the slightest shade, or even overflows. The tip of the nose, paw pads, eyes are also black. Very rarely there are small blotches of white on the face, head or back.
Amstaffs are reliable defenders and loyal friends. But for an adult dog to fully demonstrate all its positive qualities, a puppy must receive a balanced diet, timely vaccinations and proper training.
Character
The character traits of the Staffordshire Terrier are due to its original purpose - to attack the enemy and withstand the duel to the victorious end, despite the damage.
At the slightest danger, real or imaginary, the dog rushes at the enemy with lightning speed and does not calm down until it is completely neutralized.
Staffs are devoted to their master, vigilantly guard family members and property of the owner. They value care, love and affection, but do not tolerate "calf tenderness."
They are very sociable, tireless, prefer outdoor games and running.
Children (of their family) are treated kindly. Calmly transfer the presence of other pets in the house or on the site.
However, one must remember that this is a fighting breed. Aggressiveness is embedded in it at a subconscious level.
Do not leave the animal alone with young children without adult supervision.
Staffordshire Terrier is a subject with a tough, strong character and a pronounced desire for leadership.
In dealing with it, it is very important to combine love and severity.
Content Features
The breed is considered unpretentious and does not require any special conditions of detention.
He does not need frequent bathing, enough twice a year. The rest of the time, especially after walking, the animal is simply wiped with a damp terry towel, you can comb it with a brush with a hard pile.
Thick short hair does not fall off, and always looks neat.
Every year you need to visit a veterinary clinic for a routine examination and vaccination.
The first vaccination of the puppy must be done at the age of two to three months, 7 days before this they give drugs for worms.
After an injection of week 2, you can not bathe, it is also desirable to limit physical activity and contacts with relatives.
Staffs should walk as much as possible. And not just walk on a leash, but actively move, play, run, execute commands.
In no case should you keep such a dog locked up, as this can lead to outbreaks of aggression and uncontrolled behavior.
A very important point in caring for these animals is to ensure proper nutrition, as they have a tendency to digestion.
What to feed?
There are two answers to this question - ready-made dry food or fresh products.
Here, each owner chooses himself based on his own situation. In both cases there are pros and cons.
Dry feeds are easier to use, but their price is quite high, and you can not always be sure of their composition. Moreover, the first one that is not suitable for this breed.
On the other hand, natural products are cheaper, their condition is immediately visible. But you have to take some time to cook.
The diet should be balanced and contain all the components necessary for growth, development and maintenance of good physical shape.
If the choice is made in favor of natural feeding, a number of obligatory products are included in the pet's menu.
- Raw meat - Better beef is low in fat. This is the basis of nutrition. To protect against possible parasites, it is frozen. You can also briefly hold in boiling water.
- Liver, lung, heart - raw or boiled.
- Fish - only sea.
- Kefir or yogurt. Yogurt is not recommended, as it contains flavoring and sugar.
- Raw eggsYou can scrambled eggs.
- Porridge - rice, buckwheat, oatmeal.
- Greens (finely chop and mix with porridge, egg).
- Some vegetable oil (better than unrefined).
It is necessary to immediately accustom the dog to the regime, and to strictly observe it in the future.
Feed at certain hours, remove leftover food. In a separate bowl, fresh water should always be poured.
In no case should you overfeed - this can lead to health problems.
Parenting and training
As already mentioned, the American Staffordshire Terrier is a serious breed. The training of such a pet must be approached with all responsibility. Parenting begins at an early age.
The owner should immediately, literally from the first days, explain to the dog the "rules of the game" and show who is in charge. If this is not done, the dog will strive to take the place of "pack leader."
But you should not "go too far" and punish the puppy for the slightest disobedience, on the contrary, praise even the smallest successes. The pet will feel love and kindness, and will try to earn praise. At the same time, teams should be pronounced confidently, clearly, clearly.
To achieve good results, it is important to deal with the dog daily for 2-3 hours.
On the issues of upbringing, communication, and training, you can consult with specialists of the cynological service.
Staffs are very intelligent and intellectually developed animals.. Representatives of the breed serve in the police and the armed forces. They can even be trainers, train their relatives.
With proper upbringing, this dog is able to become the best friend. Moreover, the diet, communication, training are absolutely independent of the color of the pet’s coat.
About how the training of puppies of American Staffordshire Terriers goes, see further.
