American Staffordshire Terrier: breed features and breeding

The American Staffordshire Terrier is a popular fighting breed of dog, widespread in the USA, England and Russia. These dogs have a strong body, excellent guard qualities, as well as extremely aggressive temperament in inexperienced hands. This article will discuss American staffs, the characteristics of this breed, the intricacies of its content and cultivation.

The history of the American Staffordshire Terrier stretches deep blood trail from the Middle Ages. At that time, gladiatorial fights were extremely popular, where in the arenas in front of tens of thousands of spectators, it was originally people who performed. Over time, the public turned into an increasingly sophisticated "gourmet", which led to the creation of battles between people and between animals.

Initially, only wild animals were used for such competitions: wild boars, bears, even bulls. Extremely powerful breeds of dogs (bulldogs and mastiffs) were chosen as the opposing side.

Unfortunately, these dogs, besides their enormous strength, did not possess either the dexterity or the agility of a wild beast, which was the motive for creating more enduring, fast and equally strong breeds of dogs.

No matter how strange but these dogs are known today precisely because of their bloody past. In the pedigree of each of the modern staffs, there are ancestors who, in antiquity, were bred solely as fighting dogs for such arenas. In addition, terriers were considered incredibly intelligent, which should have given the new breed strategic and tactical talents to overcome more powerful rivals.

Breeding experiments soon led to the creation of an absolutely new breed of dogs, which was called the "Bull Terrier". These dogs were more enduring, incredibly agile and as strong as bulldogs. The turning point in the development of the breed was the adoption of the law in England in 1835, which prohibited fighting with the bulls. Because of this, events gradually began to form exclusively dog ​​arenas, where bull terriers showed themselves to be Great fighting dogs.

Already at that time there were two names of these dogs - some called them Staffordshire terriers (after the name of the breeding ground of the fighting breed in England), while others called pit bull terriers. Over time, these two names merged into one, which was firmly established among the breeders of that time - the Staffordshire Bull Terrier.

After the so-called War of the North and the South (large-scale American Civil War, which lasted from 1861 to 1865), people began to migrate from England to America more often. Migrants brought with them not only their culture, but also their pets, among whom were bright representatives of the staffs. If on the territory of modern England dog fighting was already banned at that time, then on the territory of a still quite young America they got simply wild popularity among the population.

Such popularity of fighting breeds gave another powerful impetus to the development of Amstaffs.Breeding experiments lasted until the end of the 19th century, and even then exclusively purebred individuals with perfect fighting qualities were used to breed dogs.

At the end of the 19th century, the first American canine club was created in Michigan, the main focus of which was exactly the breeding and development of pit bull terriers. Successful improvement of the breed led to the fact that these individuals became not only participate in fighting competitions, but also showed excellent performance in their work. These individuals began to buy ordinary farmers, hunters and traders.

Around the beginning of the twentieth century, a wave of indignation swept across America related to the ban on conducting dogfights. With the closure of the fighting pits, the staffs would become practically useless, because they were created just for the battle. So that the breed does not completely disappear, American dog experts decided to improve the exterior of these dogs, preferring qualities that are valued specifically in exhibition activities.

The result of this work was the creation of a less muscular, but more graceful and hardy breed of dogs, which was called the Staffordshire Terrier. It was under this name that dogs of this breed were recognized by the American Dog Club in 1936. As for the International Cynological Federation, she officially recognized this breed of dogs only in 1971, but the name of the breed changed to "American Staffordshire Terrier".

On the territory of modern Russia, these dogs got only in the 80s of the twentieth century. Amstaff almost immediately gained popularity due to its fierce and strong exterior. Many Russian breeders and private owners, who previously had no idea about fighting breeds, began to train these individuals according to the already established scheme, but suffered a crushing defeat.

Increasingly, there were cases when amstaffs were responsible for fatal accidents. Because of these events, the glory of bloodthirsty and ferocious dogs, which has been preserved to this day, has been fixed to them.

In relation to the American Staffordshire Terriers, the standard is very stable and firm - all because of the rich historical past of the breed, which has been formed for more than one hundred years.

If the majority of dogs live no longer than 12-13 years, then the individuals of Amstaff, due to their good health and excellent protective qualities, can live to be 15-17 years old. Males slightly harder bitches, they weigh from 25 to 30 kg, but adult bitches are rarely heavier than 25 kg. As for growth, it is almost the same in males and bitches - from 43 to 48 centimeters at the withers.

All varieties of the Staffordshire Terrier have a surprisingly powerful, muscular and massive physique. The main muscle groups are located on the hips, chest, shoulders, back and limbs. In a state of excitement, these individuals turn into a living lump of muscles, covered with thick skin with shiny hair.

The body of these dogs is very compact, although at the expense of the powerful head it seems slightly elongated. The back is short and muscular. The rounded croup is noticeably pronounced, which makes it seem as if the dog is ready to leave the place at any moment. The shoulder blades are exceptionally long and tightly pressed to the back.

The head can not be called long, but it is very wide and massive. The skull itself has a flat shape, expanding between the ears. The back of the head is weakly expressed, almost imperceptible under the hair and muscles. Stop, or the transition from the muzzle to the forehead, smooth, but clearly visible.The amstaff face is not particularly long, almost the same length as the skull.

Jaws and teeth are extremely powerful, wide and long. The teeth (white or yellowish) are placed close together - in one line on the lower jaw. Scissor bite.

The nose is large and wide, nostrils are remarkably developed (this fighting breed of dogs, individuals of which must constantly have access to oxygen to fight). The ear itself is always dark (dark gray or black).

American Staffordshire Terriers have two options for ear placement. The first option involves uncropped ears with small shells and a firm position on the cartilage. The second option is shortly cropped ears with thin sharp tips.

The eyes are set low and fairly wide, their shape is extremely rounded. The iris should be black, although brown and nutty shades are allowed. Eyelids tight to the eyeball, also pigmented.

The neck is not very long; however, it is extremely strong and muscular; it smoothly passes into the withers. Unlike the folds on the face and forehead, there are no folds on the neck, the skin fits tightly.

The withers stand out significantly against the back due to the developed muscles. The transition from the withers to the back is smooth. The chest is wide, deep and muscular. The ribs are predominantly round. Belly tucked up.

Some owners prefer to stop the dogs' tail, but for this dog it serves as a rudder, which regulates the movement direction. The tail of the Staffords is powerful, narrowing to the tip. Covered with a thin layer of wool.

The front legs are parallel and straight, the backbone is powerful, well-developed muscles are clearly visible under the skin. The elbows should fit snugly against the chest and look back. The hind legs are much longer than the front, also stand parallel. The musculature on hips and knees is well developed. Paws of amstaffs are small, rounded type, fingers tightly assembled.

All Staffordshire terriers have extremely short and dense wool. The structure is rigid and straight. The entire body, except for the chest, withers and abdomen, is covered with approximately the same layer of wool. Depending on the color can shine in the sun. It has a protective fat layer, due to which these dogs almost always remain clean.

The standard is not particularly selective with respect to the color of American Staffords. Today, more than 15 color options are known, including the following:

• plain colors (blue, cream, black, red, fawn or gray);
• two-color and multicolor (black with burns on the muzzle, neck and paws, brindle, bluish-fawn, “boar”).

It is unlikely that there is at least one more breed of dogs in the world with such an unstable and changeable character as that of Staffordshire terriers. These dogs can at one moment be cute and affectionate, obedient, and in the other they become protective and ready to tear apart everyone who gets in their way.

It is worth noting that Experienced breeders rate this breed of dogs as exceptionally kind, fun and balanced, while critics attribute to these dogs the most bloodthirsty traits that any predator would envy.

There is no dog better than staffs to protect the territory or children. These dogs are extremely responsible attitude to the work entrusted to them. With all the rage, anger and devotion, they will protect not only the members of their family, but also the home where they are fed and valued.Amstaffs simply have a unique intuition that allows them to fully appreciate a person in seconds. No wonder these animals are taken to the borders of countries or airports to check baggage and hand luggage - they perfectly feel fear, anger and bitterness.

If Amstaff feels threatened against himself or his family members, he rushes to the attack without the slightest warning. These dogs will not bark or growl warningly, grinning, they will simply rush at the offender and in a fit of anger can easily bite through the arteries on the hands and neck of a person. If these qualities of a dog are useful on the street, then within the walls of an apartment they can bring many problems. This problem is particularly acute. in families with kidswhere a game that went abroad with an animal instantly turns into a brawl and can result in serious injuries.

The power that nature has bestowed on these dogs needs a regular outlet. These are not the dogs that a normal walk on the street will suit without adventures and catch-ups. These dogs need long workouts and physical exertion, only so the staffs feel cheerful and happy. If energy does not spill out on the street, these dogs will find a way to direct it against their owner or the apartment where he lives.

In communicating with small children, amstaffs (especially bitches) act as real nannies who will not only support all their pranks, but will also protect children from other animals, protect their sleep and safety. Such an attitude towards children is possible only with proper upbringing. With improper upbringing it can happen that the child will play with the pet and will not notice when the game goes beyond the scope of entertainment and turns into a serious fight.

Staffs have their own position relative to all strangers. American Stafford will not stand aside until its owner talks with a stranger - he will closely follow the course of the conversation and evaluate each gesture and look of the interlocutor. Do not try to strike a relationship with the staff during the very first meeting - he will not allow to stroke himself to a stranger and will not accept from him any delicacy. The trust of these dogs must be won, but not bought.

American stafford loyal to other pets, especially if they grew up together. Many breeders point out that These pets are very kind to little kittens (just females) - they feel in them their puppies, which are constantly looked after and looked after. If another pet constantly violates the personal boundaries of the staff or teases him (for example, a parrot), then these actions will not go unpunished.

If you want to buy purebred and healthy Amstaff, then immediately give up the options of buying a puppy on the Internet or on a regular market with hands. The choice of puppies of this breed should be treated very carefully, otherwise you risk big regret about buying in the future.

You have two options when buying an American Staffordshire Terrier:

• buying a puppy in a specialized kennel;
• purchase from private hands.

Decide on the appointment of your puppy in the future. If you are going to buy an exhibition individual, then the puppies' compliance with the standard should be as accurate as possible, if you want to acquire a fighting individual for your own purposes, pay attention to the correctness of the structure of the backbone and muscles, as well as to the corresponding experience of the pet's parents.

If you choose an individual exclusively for a family, then pay attention to its behavior, the aggressiveness of its ancestors. In this case, you can buy even mestiz amstaffs - they will cost much less, while having almost the same exterior (although they will not be suitable for exhibition activities).

If you choose show puppies, it is recommended to monitor the conditions of their maintenance and development right from birth. At about the age of one month, small Amstaffs completely form the key features of the exterior, which allows buyers to more clearly understand what their pet will look like in the future. Do not believe the seller’s stories that in the future the appearance of animals can still be corrected with the help of therapeutic massages and exercises - all of these are unproven theories.

Be sure to follow the conditions of the pet, for thoroughness and regular feeding. Also check with the breeder for the number of individuals in the puppy's mother litter. If there are no more than 6 individuals, then the chance that they received full feeding in the first days after birth is higher.

The conclusion of the purchase agreement is not the only document that you should receive from the seller of a puppy or kennel. In addition, you must provide a veterinary passport, pedigree and metric. It does not hurt to look at the passport of parents to learn about hereditary diseases and predispositions.

Consider that, depending on the age, the color of American Stafford may change significantly. For example, if newborn puppies in the color will have white spots, and the nose, eyelids or lips will also be pigmented with white, then by the year much of these spots may darken or become brown or red.

remember, that partial pigmentation or coloring of these parts of the body must be present necessarily. Also pay attention to the color of the iris in puppies - finally it is formed only by the age of one.

Pay close attention to the inspection of the dog's fur. It must be smooth and short (this type of wool is sometimes called velor) without bald areas and bald areas. The puppy's skin should also be closely examined - in unscrupulous conditions of detention, the skin of these dogs is covered with ulcers, ulcers and black spots. As for wool, it should be primarily dry - if it is wet in the genitals or around the anus, most often this means intestinal problems in the dog.

Eyes should be clear and not clouded, without tear paths and mucous lumps in the corners of the eyes. At about a month of age, staffs should weigh between 3 and 5 kg. A puppy should not look exhausted, or, conversely, overfed. Protruding ribs and bones of the pelvis speak of malnutrition.

Unfortunately, you can not buy an American Staffordshire Terrier immediately after birth, or even at the age of 1 month. These puppies are allowed to sell only when they reach 45 days, subject to branding, vaccination and peer review in nurseries.

If you can not treat carelessly these dogs carelessly, then with maintenance and care they definitely will not make you sweat. Regarding these two positions, these are practically ordinary dogs, whose good health protects them from most problems.

Since the appearance of the puppy in the walls of your apartment Do not forget to conduct regular procedures to combat fleas, lice and worms. Special shampoos, lotions and combs will work for lice and flea control, and special solutions or tablets prescribed by a veterinarian are usually used to get rid of worms.

Regular vaccination is another important point in prevention. If you bought a puppy in the nursery, then the first vaccination should have been held there, it should be repeated at least once a year.

Due to the short coat, these dogs practically do not need a close care of the coat. They also practically do not fade, which allows you to successfully keep them within the walls of a city apartment. To remove dead hair, we recommend regular combing with a soft comb or brush - This will be an additional good massage for the dog's skin.

Psam needs regular care for the ears, claws, teeth and genitals of the animal. To clean your ears, you will need cotton swabs or cotton pads moistened with lotion or water, get claws for claws (for large breeds of dogs), only specialized toothpastes and brushes for large dogs (not human) will do for teeth. Genital organs can either be wiped with moist hypoallergenic wipes, or washed under running water after each walk.

Amstaffs should be thoroughly cleaned no more than several times a year. They have short hair, which is not very dirty, except for this, these dogs are clean and do not like to walk in puddles or wallow in the water. To wash the wool is to choose Only hypoallergenic soft formula shampoos.

Walking with these dogs is worth every day, while trying to maximize the load of a pet. You should walk before eating, be sure to wear a muzzle on your pet (even a young individual).

American Staffordshire terriers are very social animals that require from their owners not only care, but also regular communication and entertainment. With a lack of attention, they tend to experience aggression, or, conversely, fall into deep apathy.

Despite the remarkable guarding qualities and powerful exterior, these animals are not recommended to be kept outside or in the aviary. If their wool can withstand a relatively low temperature, then it will not save the dog from sudden drops. Some owners, when walking these dogs in winter, prefer to dress their pets in blankets so that they do not freeze.

Another important point in the maintenance of amstaff is regular and good nutrition. Breeders follow two methods of feeding these dogs: natural or dry food.

If we are talking about ready-made feed, it is recommended to stay on Good quality hypoallergenic feeds - premium or super premium. Such feeds have all the necessary vitamins and trace elements, they are stored longer and do not need to be balanced.

As for feeding with natural products, here it is worth adhering to the following tips.

• The basis of nutrition of this breed must be protein of animal origin. It is raw or boiled meat, offal or fish. Meat is best suited chicken, beef or veal. Pork and lamb should be given extremely rarely - there is a high percentage of fat in it.
• Dairy products - cheeses, cottage cheese, yogurt, kefir.
• Cereals. Amstaffs body constantly needs herbal supplements and fiber. Here are great rice, buckwheat, oatmeal, corn. Such porridges should not be served dry, they should be made on water with the addition of meat and vegetables.
• Offal They are an excellent substitute for meat, especially since the Amstaffs simply adore them. This applies to giblets, tongues, ventricles and hearts. Of course, all this needs to be boiled beforehand.
• A fish Replaces meat well, contains healthy phosphorus and strengthens the backbone of the dog. It is recommended sea boiled fish with a minimum amount of bones.
• At a young age puppies need enhanced vitamin nutrition.besides, they actively cut their teeth - in this case it is recommended to give them special vertebral bones. Ordinary bones should not be given to these dogs - they spoil their teeth and lead to constipation.
• Eliminate sweets (candy, chocolate), pastries, human food from the table (including salted, smoked, spicy and fatty foods). Sausages and sausages should also be abandoned.

Avoid overfeeding your stuff to avoid obesity. For this dog, this is a very dangerous disease, especially in the winter season, when walks are not so long and there is no opportunity to physically load the pet. Carry out feeding after walks - then the pet is more likely to want even not particularly tasty, in his opinion, food.

Provide round-the-clock access to a source of clean and fresh water, especially if you choose a method of feeding dry ready-made feeds.

American stuff is exactly the breed of dogs that you need to work on, starting from early childhood. You need to understand that these dogs will try to designate their position from the very first day of appearance in the apartment.

The most important thing you need is to establish your credibility. Staff must understand that it is you who control all situations, that you decide what is possible and what is not. To achieve this, you should act as follows:

• Teach your dog to always walk near you;
• go into the room first, and then let your pet;
• sit at the table before giving food to the pet.

Remember: your word is a law that cannot be violated under any circumstances. If you once allow an American Stafford to cross the borders allowed, it will be extremely difficult to wean him from it. Always stand your ground, from the very first day, mark those areas in the apartment, where the entrance to the pet is prohibited.

When raising an American Staffordshire Terrier, try to avoid scenes of open aggression. If this is a family conflict with beatings, voices and shouts, amstaff may not respond because of the lack of knowledge of who to protect. If this is a conflict on the street, even if the situation reaches the heat, try to observe a uniform and calm tone.

Try to end every acquaintance with a new person or a new pet on a good note. If the staff remembers him in a negative way, it is very possible that towards all future animals or people with the same signs he will unconsciously experience the same aggression.

Regularly load your pet with physical exertion, take him to the dog grounds, make him perform light exercises first, then more and more difficult exercises. Always reward the dog with a delicacy or tender intonation for performing commands.

From the success of the chosen nickname, as experienced breeders say, depends not only on the success of animals, but also on the character and mood of the future pet. The most common are the following nicknames for dogs of this breed:

• for boys: Archie, Aaron, Bruno, Vegas, Hector, Gray, Zeus, Lord, Lucius, Max, Nike, Richard, Steve, Phobos, Hardy, Caesar;
• for girls: Adele, Berta, Viva, Jolie, Dora, Eve, Zlata, Luna, Margot, Mira, Nest, Tessa, Tiffany, Feona, Holly, Alice.

Reviews about this dog can not be called unambiguous - the opinions of people about the breed are divided into two camps.

The owners of dogs from the first camp notice that this is an unusually complex, aggressive, capricious and even vicious breed of dogs, individuals of which will not lose any opportunity to eat someone's flesh.

Representatives of the second camp agree with the thesis that this breed is really difficult to maintain and is not suitable for every host. However, in their opinion, in solid hands, these dogs are incredibly docile, intelligent, perspicacious and very sweet towards their entire family.

The bloody trail that has been reaching for American Staffords since the beginning of the 19th century still gives rise to more and more new stereotypes regarding the bloodthirstiness of this breed.

The story about the breed, see the following video.