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    American Staffordshire Terrier Breed

    Dog



    The American Staffordshire Terrier also known as Amstaff is a medium-sized, short-coated American dog breed. It is one of several breeds commonly known as pit bulls.

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    In the early part of the twentieth century the breed gained social stature and was accepted by the American Kennel Club as the American Staffordshire Terrier in 1936. The name was changed to reflect difference from the Staffordshire Bull Terrier of England.
    Despite its name, the Staffordshire Terrier was first bred in the nineteenth century in Birmingham, West Midlands, rather than in the English county of Staffordshire where it was then later bred.

    The early ancestors of this breed came from England, where until the first part of the 19th century, the Bulldog was bred in England. Bulldogs pictured as late as 1870 resemble contemporary American Staffordshire Terriers to a greater degree than present-day Bulldogs. Some writers contend it was the White English Terrier, Fox Terrier, or the Black and Tan Terrier that was crossed with the Bulldog to develop the Staffordshire Terrier; all three breeds shared many traits, the greatest differences being in color, and spirit. The cross of Bulldog and Terrier was called by several names, including Bull-and-Terrier Dog, Pit Bull, or Half and Half. Later, it assumed the name of Staffordshire Bull Terrier in England. These dogs began to find their way into America as early as 1870.

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    21 Comments

    1. Karter Hunt on

      This is false… The American Staffordshire Terrier originated from American Pit Bull Terriers, which was bred for the purpose of dog on dog combat. In 1936, AKC finally decided to recognize the APBT but under a different name to distance themselves from the breed's history of dog fighting. The first APBT registered as Am Staff was Colby's Primo, from which the Amstaffs breed standard was based after. Since 1936, then the Am Staff has been bred more for companionship and conformation, and less dog aggression. Thus, they make good family pets.

    2. Swell Character on

      This was a swell video with some good information, but the history aspect is not as reliable. There are some things that I would like to point out about the history. Some of this American Stafford history is confused with the breed known as the American Pit bulldog. While some folks consider them the same breed, they are considered separate by many dedicated breeders and fanciers within both breeds and have been bred along different lines with different goals in mind for many years. The American Pit bulldog kept its integrity and functions as a working dog with the utmost importance in the breed being working ability and traits such as gameness. The American Stafford was a dog that definitely was seen more as a show/conformation dog that was bred away from a lot of the work/purposes that the game bulldogs did–especially the blood sports such as bull baiting, bear baiting, and dog fighting–and also was had much less importance (or need) for gameness. Speaking of bulldogs, the creation of the dogs and what they are is off. These dogs (the American Pit bulldog and the American Stafford) are not bulldog and terrier mixes like the Bull terrier is. They are bulldogs. The American Pit bulldog is said to be the original bulldog. Since American Staffords came into existence by being selectively breed from American Pit bulldog stock for traits such as conformation and showing, they are also bulldogs too with no blood of other dogs added in.

    3. Swell Character on

      While this is still a fine video, there is a misconception (a common one but still a misconception) that the American Pit bulldog (also known as Pit Bull) and the American Stafford are terriers or that they are bulldog-and-terrier mixes created from the blood of old-time bulldogs and terriers. This is most likely not the case given the information that bulldog experts and historians such as Diane Jessup provide in information about the American Pit bulldog. They are bulldogs. There is a mighty fine video called "ALL ABOUT THE AMERICAN PIT BULL TERRIER WITH RICHARD F. STRATTON" with information about the American Pit bulldog breed in an interview with none other than Richard F. Stratton, and I can think of very few people that are more informed about these dogs than he.

    7. Timeless Vick on

      They were a cross from the American pit bull terriers not bull dogs n working terriers this is miss leading and completely false. And pettie from the little rascles was not an amstaff he was a Colby bred American pit bull terrier. Get that straight!

    8. johan bauwens on

      The 'fighting tendencies have been eradicated'. That's not the case and some people might be surprised what they got into their homes if they just take a dog for its looks

    9. Fractal Universe on

      Not at all responsible to say the fighting has been bred out, it is in them still even as a show dog. Socializing and keeping positive encounters with other dogs will help but is not a cure all. This is not a breed to take to a dog park or let lose wherever. They have the background and a high prey drive. Giving them an outlet for that prey drive can also keep unwanted behaviors to a minimum. Any bull breed owner should also always carry a break stick and know how to use it, that could really go for any breed and owner also in the case of a run in with a dog that wants to fight.

    15. edwardsdeacon on

      This video is full of misinformation. The dog “Peeti” from the Little Rascals television show was not an American Staffordshire Terrier but rather one of the first Pit Bulls chosen to develope the American Staffordshire Terrier breed.
      The American Staffordshire Terrier was developed in Ireland and England from old world type bulldogs and Terrier crosses. The American Staffordshire Terrier is a offshoot of the American Pit Bull Terrier but was cosmetically refined into a show dog but may still show animal aggression. American Staffordshire Terriers are part of the Pit Bull phenotype which includes the following breeds of dogs American Staffordshire Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier, English Bull Terrier, Miniature English Bull Terrier, English Staffordshire Terrier, the English Staffordshire Bull Terrier and the Scotts ( performance /working type) American Bulldog as well as any cross of these breeds.
      The American Staffordshire Terrier is a loyal and protective dog but it is not a natural guardian such as this video will mislead you to believe. They may intercept a dangerous person or animal to protect their owner but this doesn’t make a guard dog. Only proper professional training from a certified dog trainer should be used to properly train your dog of any breed to become a personal perfection dog or guard dog.
      These are very good family pets and should be given only quality dog food such a the B.A.R.F. Diet ( Biologically Accurate Raw Foods diet ) or a kibble that’s high in protein, doesn’t have any grains in it and the first two ingredients are a meat source.
      These dogs should be exercised daily or at the very least have a large yard to run it and a long walk every other day. These are considered an intelligent dog breed and should be given mental stimulation to keep them from becoming destructive to their owners property.
      If a person cannot meet the bare minimum of this or any dogs specific breed needs then they should consider another type pet. Theses are good dogs and they deserve nothing less than a owner who will properly care for them.

    16. dom Damarko on

      Excuse me sorry the Stafford shire terrier was never used to fight bears you got your dogs all mixed up the only dog that could with stand a beat a bear is the stafford shire bull terrier . The stafford shire terrier is s working show dog. Pulling protection not engineered for pit fighting and most of all bears.

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