Advantages and disadvantages of the American Staffordshire Terrier Breed

Breed advantages

The American Staffordshire Terrier is one of the ten most popular breeds in Ukraine. These dogs are bred as a partner, pet, companion, and not just for personal protection or home protection.

So, what are the advantages of these dogs?

☀ Amstaffs are endowed with a high level of intelligence, they know how to think, and can make independent decisions
☀ Well trainable, smart and quick-witted
☀ Very devoted to the owner and his family members
☀ Courage and bravery of Staffordshire Terriers are legendary
☀ Stafford reads the mood of the owner very well and knows what the owner wants
☀ These are sociable, friendly, inquisitive dogs
☀ Get along well with children, very tolerant of all children's pranks
☀ The average size of the amstaff terrier makes it comfortable to keep him in the apartment
☀ Stafford care is simple, the dog is clean, unpretentious
☀ Very healthy dog
☀ The Staffordshire Terrier sheds 2 times a year and not much, 5 minutes of combing during a walk solves this issue
☀ There is a wide variety of colors and types in the breed - everyone will find their own
☀ Staffordshire Terriers have a stable psyche, it is difficult to anger them
☀ Hardy, efficient, active, can easily do any dog ​​sport
☀ They will always keep the owner company for long runs or walks, but they also like to lie on the couch - as long as everything is next to the owner
☀ They like to be in the circle of household members, calmly resting in their place nearby, not intrusive
☀ Rarely give voice
☀ They have good protective qualities - purposeful training will develop and strengthen this. Never teach an amstaff to bite people

✔ Important! All these advantages are inherent only in pedigree dogs that have a document of origin. Any other dogs will only be phenotypically similar to Amstaffs, but they will not have predictable behavioral responses.

Disadvantages of the breed

Staffordshire Terriers are dogs that will be difficult for people with a sedentary lifestyle, compliant and weak to handle. People 60+ can also find it difficult. And of course, this dog is not for small children - only for their parents.

So, what are the disadvantages of amstaff?

▼ The Staffordshire Terrier is an active dog that needs exercise
▼ With insufficient activity, he starts to gnaw something, spoil things, furniture
▼ Strives for leadership
▼ Only a strong-willed person is able to establish leadership and subjugate an animal
▼ Disobedience and stubbornness are inherent if the owner shows gentleness and compliance
▼ You need to work with a trainer to get a dog that is comfortable for life - they are not born well-bred
▼ Zooaggression is possible in some individuals
▼ In the event of a fight, will never flee, but will go to the end
▼ It is almost impossible to tear yourself away from the victim, you need to react quickly and stock up on your own ways to end the fight
▼ Stafford is a fairly large and strong dog, and therefore you should not leave small children alone with him
▼ Does not tolerate cold, cannot live outdoors
▼ You need to walk in the city on a leash, and go to public places, ride public transport and also wear a muzzle
▼ The owner always needs to be prepared that not everyone around him will like his amstaff, and they can express their dissatisfaction very loudly 😀
▼ Also, in any fight, the amstaff will always be blamed, although, as a rule, everything happened exactly the opposite

But those who are closely familiar with the breed know that the shortcomings of this breed are more than offset by numerous advantages.

Those who are intimately familiar with the breed know that the American Staffordshire Terrier is a smart, kind and affectionate dog at home. Cheerful and restless companion on walks. Sportsman. Swimmer. Player. Ready for anything that the owner will offer, if only not to get bored, if only next to the adored owner. That's why we love them! 💕

© Tatyana Lazko, co-owner of the American Staffordshire Terrier kennel "Strider in Diversity"