Physical Appearance
Standing with a strong, muscular body, the American Staffordshire Terrier is of a small to medium size. Nicknamed the Amstaff, they stand 14 to 16 inches at the shoulder and weigh 24 to 38 pounds. It has a short, broad head and a muscular body. It has a short, easy to care for coat. The coat comes in red, fawn, white, black or blue. Any of these colors can be combined with white as well as brindle or brindle with white.
Personality
Strictly an inside dog, the American Staffordshire Terrier loves to be around his family. An energetic breed, they need to be walked and played with vigorously every day. However, they are also creatures of comfort who will enjoy joining you on the bed or sofa if you let them. When they are puppies, they tend to bark and whine a lot. Be sure to watch them carefully as puppies as they can be quite destructive. They are said to not handle heat very well and need to be monitored to make sure they do not overheat. They have a strong prey drive and may go after cats and other critters in your neighborhood. Although they are protective of their owners, they are too friendly to make good watchdogs for your property.
Fun Facts
- This breed has very little odor and doesn’t require frequent bathing.
- Don’t walk him off leash as he may be aggressive to dogs he doesn’t know.
- They love to chew, especially when they are puppies. Provide them plenty of tough, durable chew toys.
- This breed loves to dig.
- Staffords have been nicknamed “the nanny dog” because of how good they are with children.