| The American Staffordshire Terrier has great stocky | | | | with proper nutrition, exercise and health care. |
| muscular strength, full of courage, agile and keenly | | | | *History. The ancestors of the American |
| aware of her surroundings. Her general appearance | | | | Staffordshire Terrier came from England. This breed |
| will help deter strangers. She must be trained and | | | | was developed in early America by crossing game |
| socialized with people and pets early as because she | | | | terriers and bulldogs. They were used by early |
| has a dominant personality. She will fight other dogs | | | | settlers to help hunt large game, protect homesteads |
| so she must be walked on a regular leash. She will do | | | | and companionship. The American Kennel Association |
| best at a farm or a home with a properly fenced | | | | recognized this breed in 1936. The most famous of |
| enclosure so she can exercise. She makes a fine | | | | its kind was perhaps Lucenays Peter, pooch star of |
| watchdog and is considered loving to her family and | | | | Our Gang. He was, incidentally, believed to have been |
| good with kids. | | | | poisoned by a jealous trainer who supplied other |
| She can be good with children, especially if she is | | | | animals to the Our Gang show other than Peter. This |
| raised with them as a puppy. Her great strength | | | | dog was used for fighting early in his history and is |
| should be considered if she is around very young | | | | still feared as a fighting dog and may be labeled and |
| children. No young child should ever be left along with | | | | legally named and outlawed as one of the pit bull |
| a dog unsupervised for any length of time. | | | | family. |
| *Approximate Adult Size. The male is 18 to 19 inches | | | | *Registries: AKC, UCA, ANKC, CKC, FCI, KC, UKC |
| high to the withers (highest point of the shoulder) | | | | *Category: Terrier, Mastiff |
| and the female is 17 to 18 inches to the withers. Male | | | | *SPECIAL GOOD POINTS |
| and females can range from 56-67 pounds. | | | | Desire to please his owner. |
| *Special Health Considerations. Like many dogs, the | | | | Good watchdog. |
| American Staffordshire Terrier is prone to American | | | | Loving and devoted to their human family. |
| Staffordshire Terrier (hip joint was a malformed ball | | | | Considered good with children. |
| and socket), possible cataracts (cloudy eyes) and | | | | High pain tolerance. |
| congenital heart disease. Can develop hives and | | | | *SPECIAL BAD POINTS |
| allergies to insect bites. | | | | Will fight other dogs. |
| *Grooming. She has a short, stiff glossy coat and is | | | | Aggressive and dominant tendencies. |
| an average shedder. She will benefit from daily | | | | Difficult to house train. |
| brushing and bi-weekly nail clipping. The coat can be | | | | Do poorly in cold climates due to short coat. |
| rubbed with a cloth after brushing to bring out a | | | | May consider cats and other small animals prey. |
| healthy gloss. She should also have her teeth brushed | | | | Needs firm training. |
| once a week. | | | | High pain tolerance. |
| *Life Span. She will live from ten to twelve years | | | | |