American Staffordshire Terrier

Characteristics

Health & Longevity

Average Life Span: 10-14 years
American Staffordshire Terrier is a healthy breed that does not have a lot of medical conditions or diseases that affect it. It is important for you to work with a reputable breeder to ensure that your puppy is healthy. Irresponsible breeders often do not screen the parent pups and will allow them to breed even when an underlying genetic condition exists.

Some of the conditions you need to keep an eye out for include cataracts, hip dysplasia, ataxia, and patellar luxation.

Cataracts affect the vision in your pup’s eyes and can lead to partial or complete blindness. Your puppy can be born with cataracts, but this is not as common. Typically, your American Staffordshire Terrier will develop them over time in one or both eyes.

Hip dysplasia is a serious condition that can lead to crippling pain and arthritis for your pup. This condition occurs when the hip socket or joint is deformed. The condition can result in lameness in your pup’s back limbs.

Ataxia may scare you and your pup at the same time. This condition occurs when your pup begins to shake and may collapse or lose their balance or coordination. There are three different types of ataxia, which include sensory, vestibular, and cerebellar.

Patellar luxation is a knee dislocation in your pup that can lead to trouble walking and running. In fact, if your pup has this condition, he or she may become lethargic and want to avoid outside activity.

The American Staffordshire Terrier has a life expectancy of 10 to 14 years

Temperament & Train-ability

The American Staffordshire Terrier is an easy going pup that is friendly and gentle. This pup knows his or her limits and does not push them. While he or she may be playful and energetic, your pup is also affectionate and will wind down to receive from love from you.

Your American Staffordshire Terrier is considered to be good with children, but children in the home should be older, as this pup can be uncontrollable at times and may jump or become too rowdy.

Your American Staffordshire Terrier has the ability to be fearless and will be independent most of the time. You will need to keep your eye on your pup though, because he or she is not afraid to fight with other animals or people that your pup thinks may harm you or someone in the family.

Your American Staffordshire Terrier can be aggressive with other animals and dogs, so socialization is necessary to prevent this behavior.

When it comes to training, your pup is smart, but will be harder to train due to their stubborn behavior and temperament. As your pup’s owner, you need to remain consistent and spend time every day training your puppy.

You should assert yourself as the pack leader and avoid allowing your pup to become the dominant pack leader as this will only lead to trouble when you try to train him or her.

Your American Staffordshire Terrier needs to be in a home with a yard; it will not make a good apartment pup. You will find this breed likes to go outside and play, run, and roam. You should walk your pup twice per day for at least 30 minutes each walk.

Grooming

The American Staffordshire Terrier is quite easy to groom because it does not have a ton of requirements. You only need to brush your pup once or twice per week to maintain his or her coat.

You will notice that your puppy does not shed a lot, so this breed is ideal for those who do not want to pick up hair all of the time.

When it comes to bathing your American Staffordshire Terrier, you do not have to follow any specific routine. Instead, you need to bathe him or her as needed, for example if your pup is really dirty or does not smell good.

You should clean your pup’s ears at least once per week and trim his or her nails at least once per month to prevent overgrowth.

Diet

Your American Staffordshire Terrier will consume about 2.5 cups to 3 cups of food per day. This amount should be divided up into two meals throughout the day and not fed to your pup all at once.

When you choose a food for your new puppy, you want to choose a brand that is reputable. High-quality foods are ones that are high in protein and contain whole foods such as rice, vegetables, fruits, and meats. You should avoid food that has chemicals and by-products, as this does not provide any nutrients to your pup.

If you are unsure of a good brand of dog food, talk to your veterinarian to find out what he or she recommends.
 

Find An American Staffordshire Terrier Breeder

American Staffordshire Terrier Puppies For Sale

Adopt An American Staffordshire Terrier

Cost

An American Staffordshire Terrier puppy will cost you about $850. This amount may change depending on the breeder you choose and also the demand for the breed. It may be possible for you to find this breed in a shelter and if you do, you can expect to pay about $200 to adopt him or her.

Paws ‘N’ Pups Ranking

Paws ‘N’ Pups ranks every breed out of 4 with 1 being easiest to integrate into your life and 4 being the toughest – The lower the ranking the better.

Ranking takes into account a few basic factors including cost, skill level needed, high vs low maintenance and how critical regular training is to success. The American Staffordshire Terrier is a great choice for strong leaders who have the time required to train this puppy properly. This breed can be aggressive and attack other people or animals when he or she feels like his or her family is in danger. It is important to socialize this breed early on to weed out any bad behavior. This breed ranks a 3.

 

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