The American Pit Bull Terrier and The American Staffordshire Terrier

Welcome to Purebred Star, the weekly blog exploring the wide diversity of dogs out there!

This week: The American Pit Bull Terrier AND the American Staffordshire Terrier!

That's right! There are two "Purebred Stars" this week! The American Staffordshire Terrier comes from the same line as the American Pit Bull Terrier and I just felt they were too similar to discuss one without the other

I hope you'll enjoy this blog showcasing two of the most common and misunderstood breeds in the United States. (Also check out this blog about the McDonald's commercial that was recently pulled because of all the Pit Bull owners it offended!)

My Training Experience:  Despite their reputation, the Pit and Staffordshire Terriers are two of the nicest breeds that I have met  - and I've had many opportunities to work with them!  For one, they are very smart and eager to please, so training is always fun and they catch on quickly to new things. The APBTs and AmStaffs I have had the pleasure of working have a  sweet, gentle spirit about them.

Although I have worked with some dog to dog issues in these breeds, I work with many other breeds that have a hard time being around other dogs. Though it is true that  “Terrier” type breeds do have this tendency, it is not just the APBT or AmStaff and nine out of ten times, it is due to owner’s negligence - a lack of early proper socialization and training on their part.

Originates From: Dating back to the 18th century, the American Pit Bull Terrier (APBT) and the American Staffordshire (AmStaff) Terrier’s originated from three different countries - England, Ireland and Scotland - as the result of crossbreeding bulldogs and terriers. The APBT breed came to the United States with immigrants in the late 19th to early 20th century thought the AmStaff was not recognized independently by the AKC until just 60 years ago resulting in the name change to the AmStaff. Since then the AmStaff's have been bred separately from the APBT.

Interesting Fact!  The APBT is the only dog to be featured on the front cover of the Life Magazine three times!  Cover stars include "Pete the Pup" from the Little Rascals as well as the most decorated US military dog in history, saving his fellow soldiers from a gas attack in World War I "Sergeant Stubby."

Bred For:  The APBT was originally bred to be a guard-dog, cattle-catcher, livestock driver and companion.  The AmStaff was bred as a guard and companion for families.  Despite the common misconception, NEITHER was originally bred for dog-fighting. It was far after the breed originally came about that they were unfortunately used for that purpose.

After betting "sports" like bull-baiting and bear fighting were outlawed the wonderful strength, energy and courageous nature of the breed, was twisted against them and many were subjected to a violent and painful death for the soul purpose of human entertainment. It's seems a cruel joke that these magnificent animals should be named for torture they were so unjustly subjected to. Pit Bull was used in “pits” (a fighting ring to contain the Pit Bull dog, rats and bears to fight in) as well as bull-baiting.

Today, dog-fighting is of course, itself an illegal "sport", but sadly some APBT and AmStaff are still being used illegally in this way.

Build: The APBT  averages from 18 to 22 inches in height and about 35 to 60 pounds in weight. The AmStaff is a little shorter and stockier. They range from 17 to 19 inches in height and about 40 to 79 pounds on average.  They both are a stocky and muscular medium-sized breed.

Appearance: Both terriers have a well-defined muscular frame to their body.  Their eyes are almond-shaped or round.  The ears are naturally medium in length, however some people have the ears cropped (by a professional vet only) for appearances sake. Their tail is long and thick with a point at the tip.  Their coat is smooth, short and glossy and with the exception of merle, can be of any color!

Personality: These terriers were known as the "Nanny Dog" for many years in the 1800’s and 1900’s.  They love kids! Due to their wonderful disposition with children of all ages and their gentle spirit, these breeds were the favorite and most popular breed during World War I and prior.

While the APBT is naturally quite friendly and comfortable around new people, the AmStaffs tend to be more reserved and wary around strangers. Early socialization with strangers is crucial for both breeds, but especially AmStaffs. With proper training, both breeds make wonderful Therapy Dogs especially for children, but also with the elderly and everyone else in-between!  They enjoy the one-on-one interaction of a human and they tend to like to be the main focus of attention!

Trainer Tips: While the breed are great with children, as you would with any dog, monitoring is a must. Teaching your children how to properly play with their pet dog -  being gentle and kind - is of utmost importance.

The AmStaff is known to have aggressive issues with dogs of the same sex.  Special care will need to be taken around other dogs if you own an AmStaff.  Early spaying and neutering will help substantially.

Activity Level: The activity level of both breeds - like all terriers - is high and you'll need a lot of your own energy to keep up!  They will require one to two walks of about 30-45 minutes every day or a good jogging partner for 45 minutes once a day.  If they do not have a way to release their energy in a physical and mental way throughout the day, they can become frustrated and bored and may either complain with excessive barking or find their own way to entertain themselves digging through your trash, ripping up furniture and through other less than desirable behaviors.

The APBT would make an excellent agility and working dog!  Due to their intelligence, high-activity level and strong work drive, they will do very well:

• weight pulling
• dock diving
• flyball
• dog agility
• lure racing/coursing
• advanced obedience competition
• search and rescue
• police dog participating in explosive and narcotics search
• border patrol
• service dogs in many capacities for the disabled

Unfortunately, the AmStaff is not a good candidate due to their tendency for same-sex dog aggression.

These two breeds are also not good candidates for apartment or condo living. They do best with a good, fenced-in yard to run and play in.

Health Concerns: Typical life spans for the terriers are 12-14 years.  Both terriers have a higher rate of suffering from hip dysplasia and demodex mange (a skin mite that can be extremely difficult to treat). They can also have issues with allergies, cataracts, luxating patella’s, elbow dysplasia, thyroid problems as well as congenital heart disease. As with any breed, avoiding some of the nasty dog food out there and selecting a high-quality food instead, should elongated their life and decrease their chances of developing these problems!

Rescue First

Want a sweet dog that wants nothing more than to  play frisbee in the yard?  Does a sturdy, high energy dog that's ready for anything appeal? The APBT is exactly what you are looking for!  They're a devoted family dog and ready to go in a moment’s notice, excited to share your next adventure with you.

Looking for a furry jogging partner? Does the child-loving, "nanny dog" sound like a perfect fit for your family? With a bold personality and loving demeanor the AmStaff  WANTS to live with kids. If you live an active lifestyle with have a kid or two in tow, the AmStaff may just be the perfect dog for you!

As you begin looking for your APBT or AmStaff, please check with rescue organizations first. Because of the stigma surrounding these breeds, many people are hesitant to adopt them. This means many APBT and AmStaffs that could have been loving, devoted family pets are instead being put to sleep. Every year there are millions of dogs being euthanized, not because they are bad dogs, but because there is no home for them and insufficient resources to feed them at the rescues. By adopting a dog, you are truly saving a life.

At the very least, NEVER purchase any dog from a pet store. Unfortunately, those puppies almost always come from puppy mills. Instead, look for a reputable breeder to work with.

And as a final note, it is important to spay and neuter your puppy by 6 months old to have a healthy and happy pet for many years to come!

Photo Credit: Gabriel Lopes Monteiro, Bully Moments Photography, kadima, outlier*, daniel john buchanan, snakedriver, MickiTakesPictures, robswatski, russteaches, Everyday @dventures

Resources:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Staffordshire_Terrier

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Pit_Bull_Terrier

Dog Bible, Edited by Kristin Mehus-Roe, 2005

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