American Staffordshire Terrier

American Staffordshire Terrier is a breed of dog. The breed is descended from American dog fighting breeds and was intended to be a show strain of the American Pit Bull Terrier. American Staffordshire Terriers were first recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1936. They are a member of the Terrier and Molosser groups.

Appearance

The American Staffordshire Terrier is a large dog that ranges from 16 to 19 inches (40 to 50 cm) at the withers, and weighs from 57 to 67 pounds (26 to 30 kg).
The dog is long muscular and strong, and gives the impression of great strength and agility for his size. The chest is deep and broad, and the neck is heavy. The dog has a broad skull, pronounced cheek muscles, and strong jaws. The ears may be half prick, rose, or cropped.
The coat is short and glossy and can be of any color although all white, mostly white, liver, and black and tan are not encouraged. The nose must be black.

Temperament

The American Staffordshire Terrier should be courageous, tenacious, friendly, extremely attentive, and extraordinarily devoted. Originally an all-around farm dog, hunter, and family companion, American Staffordshire Terriers should be highly stable around both children and other domesticated animals (such as livestock). Their absorption into the abusive practise of dog fighting lends many a propensity toward dog/animal aggression; however, their adaptability, inherent friendliness, handler devotion, and fearlessness makes this an easy issue to correct, even in dogs that have previously been trained to fight.
American Staffordshire Terriers and other dogs commonly termed "pit bulls" are often thought to be vicious or unpredictable. Their attentiveness, courage, and devotion - beloved by fanciers, therapists, and search and rescue teams - allow criminals, "macho" people, and even families seeking protection to easily encourage dominance and hostility towards non-family members.
Exceptionally friendly, well cared for American Staffordshire Terriers are not natural watchdogs, often failing to bark at the door upon the arrival of visitors. A lack of protective and/or aggressive behaviour, accompanied by fearlessness, is generally a good sign. Such a dog is stable with children, friendly with new animals, and easily cared for by pet sitters. As an added bonus, a thorough familiarity with "normal" situations - the advent of the mailman or petsitter - will make "abnormal" or dangerous situations impeccably clear to a devoted pet. Such devotion will motivate a dog of any lineage to lay down its life to protect an owner, friend, or even a stranger in need.
The American Staffordshire Terrier temperament is not ideal for every owner or family. These dogs learn quickly from the subtlest of our behaviors. They are thus not only highly responsive during training but also apt to pick up unwanted behaviors that we subtly and unintentionally encourage. Rescuers often encounter behavior problems such as barking, submissive urination, aggression, and dominance that were directly encouraged by well-intentioned but ignorant owners.