The earliest Staffordshire Terriers were brought to the United States from England, where the breed was developed.  The English Staffordshire Terrier was developed by cross breeding a bulldog with an English White Terrier and the Black and Tan Terrier. The goal was to create a dog with excellent hunting skills that also had the lively personality of the terrier. Early Staffordshire Terriers were used as fighting dogs, who would be put in pits with other dogs or rats for the amusement and betting of onlookers.

The first Staffordshire Terriers arrived in The United States in 1870. Over the years, the dog has developed into its own unique breed, and has been recognised by the American Kennel Club as a separate breed from the English Staffordshire Terrier. In America the Staffy was a popular dog whose strength made it an excellent farm dog and an affectionate personality made it a great companion.

The popularity of the Staffy grew steadily as the years progressed. They are a popular choice for dogs for families living in urban areas, as well as on farms. While originally the Stafforshire Terrier was bred for fighting, since the 1930s there has been a definite move to use selective breeding to eliminate this trait. Unlike its close cousin, the Pit Bull, very few Staffordshire Terriers have aggressive streaks.

Appearance

The Staffordshire Terrier is a medium size dog with a stocky build. It has a muscular appearance, with a broad chest. It has great strength for its size. Their head is broad and flat and the ears are medium set. They stand between 17 and 19 inches high and at adulthood will weigh between 18 and 35 kilograms. The tail is quite short and usually ends in a fine point. The coat is short and quite coarse to the touch. The breed standard allows any colour of coat, but common variations include brindle, black, white, tan and liver.

Temperament

The American Staffordshire Terrier is intelligent and courageous, strong and still agile. They do well with children and other pets, especially when they grow up with them from a young age. Their hunting instinct is still strong, and there is a possibility that they will recognise other small animals as prey and attack them. It is best not to leave them unsupervised with animals such as rabbits.

As with all intelligent breeds of dogs, socialisation is recommended not just as puppies but throughout their lives. Rather than just rely on instinct, the staffy will make decisions based on previous experiences, so the more exposure they have to other dogs and people, the better their behaviour will be.

Working and Tasks

While historically American Staffordshire Terriers were used as farm dogs who would guard livestock and crops, these days that are mostly kept as family dogs. Their affectionate nature makes them excellent companions.

Health

Many American Staffordshire Terriers suffer from congenital heart problems, regular check up with vets are recommended, especially with older dogs. They also have an occurrence of hip dysplasia. Elbow dysplasia and a luxating patella can also occur. These problems can often be eliminated by investigating the health of the parents when selecting a puppy.