American Staffordshire Terrier

The American Staffordshire Terrier originated from the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, which was bred in Britain in the 19th century to be a fast and small fighting dog. They made their way to America in the late 19th century, coinciding with the rise in popularity of dogfighting. However, Americans preferred slightly larger dogs than the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, which led to the development of the American Staffordshire Terrier. This powerful breed’s ability to be easily managed became a valued characteristic. Thankfully, this characteristic evolved into a sweet and trusting disposition around people. Eventually, the American Staffordshire was recognized by the AKC in 1936.

Today, this breed is a playful and people-oriented dog. This is a stocky and muscular breed, possessing great strength, but it also portrays grace and elegance. The American Staffordshire has a short coat, requiring only weekly brushing, that appears either solid or with patches. These dogs are generally playful and friendly, showing affection to new people in the presence of their owner. On the other hand, American Staffordshire’s can be aggressive towards strange dogs. Their protective nature may lead to aggression if they feel they, or their family, are being threatened.

The American Staffordshire is an intelligent breed that can pick up training without much difficulty; however, they can be stubborn, so be sure to use a lot of positive reinforcement for good behavior. This lively breed currently ranks as the 77th most popular in the United States.

• Hyperuricosuria and Hyperuricemia or Urolithiasis, HUU SLC2A9
  Kidney and Bladder
• L-2-Hydroxyglutaricaciduria, L2HGA L2HGDH, Staffordshire Bull Terrier Variant
  Brain and Spinal Cord
• Progressive Retinal Atrophy, crd1 PDE6B, American Staffordshire Terrier Variant
  Eyes
• Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis, Cerebellar Ataxia, NCL4A ARSG Exon 2, American Staffordshire Terrier Variant
  Multisystem