American Staffordshire Bull Terriers
The American Staffordshire bull terrier is a descendant of the Bulldog and it’s ancestors were used in bull baiting in England before the mid 1800s. It is related to the bull terrier and the American pit bull terrier. Unlike some of its relatives, this dog is in reality not well suited to be a guard or attack dog. It recently ranked in the top ten dogs for families in a recent study. It has many different characteristics but it does make a good “all-purpose” dog.
With the bad reputation and attitude of the American pit bull terrier, the American Staffordshire Bull Terrier has been unfairly placed in the same category because of the similarity in looks. Due to new laws making it illegal to own pit bull terriers in some countries, there have been incidents where pit bulls were “renamed” as Staffordshires and therefore tainting the breed’s reputation. The Staffordshire is actually an extremely well-mannered dog and gets along very well with children and its owners family and friends, though you should always make sure to watch any dog breed around small children to prevent any negative interactions. Any aggression that occurs in a Staffordshire, not a “renamed” pit bull, is usually the result of owners mistreating or training the dog so that it will show aggression.
The breed is characterized by a broad head with small ears and a wide mouth, though the American Staffordshire Bull Terrier rarely drools. The dog comes in all colors, but dogs that are predominately white, liver, or black and tan are less desirable within the competition circle. They are usually 14 to 16 inches tall and weigh around 30 pounds.
These dogs are easy to house train, which is a desirable trait in any dog that will be living indoors, and are highly intelligent. They also display a good amount of courage and backbone and are usually eager to please their owners. They have been described by their owners as trustworthy. If you are considering buying an American Staffordshire Bull Terrier just remember that they have been given a bad reputation due to their relation to pit bulls. This breed hasn’t shown any signs of being dangerous to own and you should judge them based on their characteristics, not another breeds.
