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American Staffordshire Terrier: A Comprehensive Guide to the Breed’s Characteristics, Temperament and Care
The American Staffordshire Terrier, affectionately known as an AmStaff, is a loving, loyal and courageous breed of dog that makes a wonderful companion and is highly-suited to family life. Here we provide a comprehensive guide to the breed’s characteristics, temperament and care.
Breed Characteristics
American Staffordshire Terriers are medium-sized dogs, with a large head, muscular neck, and a broad chest which can often make them appear larger than they are. Other breed characteristics include:
- Size: Males 18-19 inches, Females 17-18 inches
- Weight: Males 40-55 lbs, Females 37-44 lbs
- Coat: Short, dense, sleek and easy to maintain
- Colors: Fawn, Brindle, White, Black, Red and Blue
- Lifespan: 8 – 10 years
Temperament
The AmStaff has made a name for itself with its strong, courageous, and protective nature. They are intelligent, loyal, and can make great family dogs when properly cared for and socialized from a young age. Despite this, they will quickly become defensive if their family is threatened and they should be handled firmly. For these reasons they should be exposed to various types of people and situations as puppies to help them become well-accustomed to a variety of social interactions.
Care
It is essential you provide the American Staffordshire Terrier with plenty of exercise, socialization, and nutrition. Here is a helpful overview of the care they need:
- Exercise: This active breed requires daily exercise to stay healthy, happy, and obedient.
- Training: Training is also important for this breed as it helps instil loyalty and obedience. AmStaffs respond well to positive reinforcement.
- Grooming: The short coat of the AmStaff is easy to groom and brush regularly for flea control and to keep it free of dirt and debris.
- Nutrition: Quality, high-protein kibble should be fed and remember to check the product’s calorie content as overeating can cause problems for the breed.
Overall, the American Staffordshire Terrier is an affectionate, alert, and fearless breed with a very devoted temperament. If you are considering one of these wonderful creatures as a pet, then remember they require a lot of attention, exercise, training, and nutrition to remain happy and healthy.