American Staffordshire Terrier

Some varieties of the extinct bull-and-terrier dog from the British Isles began to find their way into America The AKC closed and opened the AmStaff Stud Book to UKC registered American Pit Bull Terrier dogs a few more times until the 1970s. Since then both sire and dam have had to be AKC registered dogs in order to register offspring as American Staffordshire Terriers. The breed selection was based entirely on conformation and established breed standards that for decades have transformed the American Staffordshire Terrier into a much different breed from the American Pit Bull Terrier. == Temperament ==

According to the American Kennel Club, these dogs are "smart, confident, good-natured companions. Their courage is proverbial. A responsibly bred, well-socialized AmStaff is a loyal, trustworthy friend to the end." == Description ==

champion According to AKC's published breed standard approved June 10, 1936, the "American Staffordshire Terrier should give the impression of great strength for his size, a well put-together dog, muscular, but agile and graceful, keenly alive to his surroundings. He should be stocky, not long-legged or racy in outline. His courage is proverbial." The head should be medium in length with a broad skull, a distinct stop, and pronounced muscles in the cheek. The ears should be set high on their head and can be cropped or uncropped, but the latter is preferred. Height and weight should be in proportion. A height of about at shoulders for the male and for the female is to be considered preferable. The nose should always be black. Many coat colors are accepted; however, dogs with liver or black-and-tan coat and dogs with more than 80% white are discouraged. == Health ==

A 2024 UK study found a life expectancy of 12.5 years compared to an average of 12.7 for purebreds and 12 for crossbreeds. The breed is predisposed to allergic skin disease and demodicosis. An American study found 20% of juvenile (under the age of two) American Staffordshire Terriers to suffer from demodicosis compared to 0.58% overall. A North American study of over 1 million hip and 250,000 elbow scans found 24.4% American Staffordshire Terriers to have hip dysplasia and 16.1% to have elbow dysplasia. Another North American study found 1.84% of American Staffordshire Terriers to have the condition, half of the overall rate of 3.52%. == Breed-specific legislation and restrictions ==

Worldwide, the American Staffordshire Terrier has often been included in breed bans that target pit bull–type dogs and/or fighting dog breeds. Such breed-specific legislation (BSL) may range from outright bans on possession to restrictions and conditions of ownership. Breed Specific Legislation has been enacted in various countries including Austria, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Israel, Norway, Turkey, and the United States. ==Popularity==

In 2017, the breed was the eighth most popular dog according to the Australian National Kennel Council. According to Société Centrale Canine, it is the sixth most popular dog in France. According to the American Kennel Club, it was the 85th most popular dog in 2020. ==See also==