The
American Staffordshire Terrier (Am Staff) had its origins in England in the
early 19th
century, through the crossing of the Terrier of the era and the Bulldog. The desire was to combine the strength
of the Bulldog and the tenacity and agility of the Terrier. They were,
unfortunately, created by man for his barbaric enjoyment of blood sports, which
were subsequently outlawed in England in the 1800’s.
When these dogs (ancestors of the
present day Am Staff) were first introduced into the USA in the 1870’s, they
accompanied pioneer families and served as their pets and as guardians of the
family and their property. At that
time, they were referred to as the American Terrier, also the Yankee Terrier.
Although
the ‘Bull Breeds’ have one basic origin, they are now very much separate
breeds. In 1936, the American
Kennel Council (A.K.C) recognised the Staffordshire Terrier, whose name was
changed in 1972 to American Staffordshire
Terrier. The A.K.C. to this day do
not, however, recognise the Pit Bull Terrier. The two dogs are separate breeds.
The American
Staffordshire Terrier was officially recognised in Australia on January 1st
1987. By October 1990, there were 23 Am
Staffs in Australia. Now 11 years
later, they can be numbered in their hundreds.
In appearance, the
Am Staff should have a well muscled, athletic body that is sound and
agile. The dog should be well put
together, balanced and properly proportioned, giving the appearance of great
strength unusual for its size. The body
should be stocky and not racy, and have a graceful, springy gait.
A proper Am Staff
personality and temperament is one of a loving and loyal family pet. They make an excellent guardian of property
and family, and possess the ability to discriminate between strangers who mean
harm and those who do not. They do
indeed have the Terrier personality of tenacity and a wonderful sense of humour.
The breed is also
quite intelligent and, as with such breeds, needs an owner who is knowledgeable
about animal behaviour, has a basic background in obedience training and an
understanding of their traits and personality.
They make a wonderful companion and friend, and do well in
obedience. They are not however a breed
for everyone, and are generally not a good choice for the first time dog owner
unless they dedicate their time for education.
As in any breed of
dog, there is good and not so good individuals. Unfortunately, some irresponsible dog breeders have chosen to
breed aggressive animals (for various reasons) and will cross any aggressive
dog of any breed to achieve their end. They can be blamed for causing a ‘black mark’ on both the good Pit Bull
Terrier and the American Staffordshire Terrier. For many, many years, most Am Staff breeders have worked very
hard to breed aggressiveness out and have striven to create a gentle, loving
companion. To do so, they bred to a
written show standard, which was established in 1936. Today the American Staffordshire Terrier Club (USA) has a strict
code of ethics that members must adhere to.
They are family
dogs, are never happier than with the humans they love, and make excellent
house dogs. They make excellent city
dogs, where their protective instincts are put to good use. They excel as farm dogs, protecting from
predators and hold down the rat population. Problems can and will occur in the suburbs when irresponsible owners are
involved. These dogs are not suited to
be turned loose to roam at large. It is
their nature never to refuse the challenge of another dog. Responsible owners fence in their yards, or
an area for them. Amstaff’s are
excellent with children, playing for hours, never seeming to tire, then curling
up to nap with the children. Being
normally quiet and not usually senseless barkers, Amstaff’s make extremely
effective guard dogs.
One feels quite safe
in the presence of an Amstaff. Despite
their rugged and tough exterior, these dogs are babies at heart, totally
enjoying the comforts of home, petting, and lots of human companionship. They get along with other household pets,
providing the introduction is made at an early age.
