Blue Staffordshire Terrier: how does it look and how to care for it?

Large breed dogs are highly sought after as service dogs and four-legged companions. Among the available number of large animals, it is worth highlighting the Staffordshire terrier of blue color, which attracts attention with its unique exterior and character features.

The breed, which is now referred to as the Staffordshire Terrier or Amstaff, appeared in the 19th century. A dog with the exterior of a modern amstaff was the result of a cross between two breeds of no less famous at that time - bulldogs and game terriers. Initially, the American Staffordshire Terrier was called a little differently. Animals were called bull terriers or pit bull terriers, and only in 1972 one name was assigned to dogs, which is still used today.

Work on consolidating the characteristics of amstaffs made it possible by 1835 to obtain an animal with a powerful head, a light rear part of the torso and innate activity. Dogs were originally used exclusively for participation in battles, however, acquaintance with the pet allowed to highlight good hunting inclinations in it, developed intelligence. So Staffordshire terriers began to be used by humans to perform various farming tasks, animals were allowed to protect homes and other households.

The Blue Staffordshire Terrier, as well as other color variations of the animals of this breed, are the result of the painstaking work of dog handlers who set themselves the main task - breeding a dog whose aggressive character traits inherited from their ancestors will be minimized.The modern representatives of the breed by their nature only remotely resemble their fighting ancestors.

According to the description, the American Staffordshire Terrier is an animal with a pronounced muscular corset, slightly stocky, but at the same time quite maneuverable and elegant. The limbs of the dog are not distinguished by their size, in light of which they harmoniously combine with the body.

The dog has a wide and deep skull, muscular muzzle with a pronounced transition from the forehead, the forehead is round. The jaws are strong, the bottom provides a secure grip. The lips are tight, tightened, the nose is painted gray.

The auricles of purebred dogs are located in a standing position, it is allowed to stop their length depending on the personal preferences of the breeder. The eyes are large, set deep, have the shape of a circle. The color of the pupils, according to standards, should not be lighter than the shade of the woolen color of amstaff.

The neck is powerful, closer to the shoulder joint, it can narrow slightly, a slight bend is observed on it. The back is not too long, has a bevel from the shoulder to the body and to the base of the tail. The dog’s abdomen is taut, the ribs are convex, and the chest is deep.

The limbs are wide, straight, on the hind legs muscles are clearly visualized. The coat is short and stiff; the undercoat is minimally developed.

Acceptable color of a dog is considered to be all gray options - from dark to light. The coat of the animal may have a blue or blue tint, there is a variation of the blue-fawn color of the animal. Color may not be uniform everywhere, you can see the blue Staffordshire terriers with light and even white spots located on the muzzle, limbs or chest and stomach.

Pets of the American breed after careful breeding work are significantly different in liking from their ancestors. Dogs are very kind, distinguished by developed intellect, quite restrained. They are not inherent in sharp jumps in mood and unmotivated aggression. Among the fundamental character traits of the blue Staffordshire terriers are the following.

• Animals of this breed demonstrate ease and obedience in terms of training and training. Since amstaffs are very smart, even with puppies they quickly grasp the main commands, and also learn what actions the owner will consider as positive or negative.
• Amstaff is a cheerful and active animal that willingly takes part in various funs, prefers long walks in the fresh air. With him you can go in for sports, jogging.
• Dogs are good-natured and outgoing in character. This feature is manifested in relation to adult family members, as well as to children. Some animals will be willing to play even with a stranger.
• The Blue Staffordshire Terrier has not lost its innate instincts, so it always protects its owner.
• Dogs very subtly feel the mood of the breeder. Therefore, they will not bother, but may just be there if the person is not in the mood.
• Amstaffs are collective pets, with early socialization they can get along with other dogs in the house. Some pets that grew up with cats do not have congenital aggression against feline representatives.

Despite the fact that the animal is quite large, it can easily be kept not only in a private house, but also in a city apartment. Dogs are not distinguished by any specific nuances of content, however, the sufficient activity of a four-legged family member will always be an important point.

Therefore, long daily walks with the pet will become the basis for the content of blue stuff. In the warm season, in the presence of a reservoir, bathing an animal, playing in the water are welcome. As a rule, the average duration of walks is 1 hour. Amstaff can take part in agility or accompany the owner on a bike ride, jogging.

A feature of the breed is a short coat, which requires minimal care from the breeder. The dog will need to be combed from time to time with a metal brush. The pet does not need frequent bathing; water hygiene procedures can be replaced rubbing the body of the animal with a damp cloth, towel. Such measures will help to remove dead small pile and epidermis. Some blue Staffordshire terriers prefer cleaning with a soft-brush household vacuum cleaner.

Eyes and ears are cleaned as they become contaminated; for these purposes, you can use a regular cotton swab dipped in water. The dog in the home should have its own place with a comfortable bed, it must be kept clean.

Training a dog of this breed will not require the involvement of a professional dog handler, pets remember teams very quickly, do not show stubbornness and aggression during training. However, food incentives, as well as the absence of physical punishment will come in handy.

There are two food options for the Blue Staffordshire Terrier:

• finished industrial feed;
• natural diet.

Each breeder selects the most suitable option for himself, based on personal preferences and financial capabilities. If the dog eats finished products, then the recommended class of food for a large pet will be premium. A similar requirement is due to the composition of such feeds, which takes into account all the needs for vitamins and minerals of an active four-legged friend.

Natural nutrition is also a good option for amstaff. However, in this case, the owner will have to independently plan the diet of the animal so that it contains important products. These include:

• meat products - beef, pork, poultry fillet, offal;
• large bones;
• eggs
• boiled greens and vegetables;
• fruits;
• cereals;
• dairy and dairy products.

Bones are important for oral care, therefore you can sometimes offer your pet such a “treat”. But the tubular bones are in the category of forbidden options, because with their fragments the dog can seriously damage internal organs.

It is recommended to combine a meat diet with boiled cereals. The priority is the alternation of pearl barley, rice and oatmeal. From offal, it is worth focusing on the kidneys, heart, udder, spleen. It is better to give meat raw, and pre-boil vegetable food in the form of vegetables, remove the peel.

It is extremely important to monitor the diet of a young dog in the first months of life, since it is during this period that the animal will build up physique, develop organs of vision, and scent. The diet should be designed so that the dog ate during strictly defined hours. Such a schedule will make it possible to avoid digestive problems, and also teach the dog to discipline.

The following products will be prohibited by the Blue Staffordshire Terrier:

• bakery products;
• pickles;
• smoked meats;
• confectionery;
• various nutritional supplements and flavor enhancers.

About the features of the breed, see the next video.