| Our dogs are very important to us and for | | | | family. Despite the fighting mentality that |
| those who have never owned a dog there is a | | | | has been trained in them in the past the |
| lot to consider before you make the choice to | | | | American Staffordshire Terrier breed is |
| add a member of a family. In some lines of | | | | actually a great dog for smaller children, |
| thought it can be like adding a baby to the | | | | all though you should not leave them |
| family because dogs need care, love, | | | | unsupervised. You will also find that they |
| exercise, and a friend. The American | | | | are rather active and muscular. This dog |
| Staffordshire Terrier is one of the many dog | | | | breed does well for a one pet household. You |
| breeds you can choose from when considering | | | | should not introduce them to the family if |
| adding a new member to the family. You will | | | | you have other pets or dogs. |
| need to know the proper care, training, and | | | | |
| the temperament of the dog breed before you | | | | Training for the dog should include high |
| add them to your family. | | | | energy activities that will keep them |
| | | | interested. They can get bored or stubborn if |
| First you will find the American | | | | they don't like the activity. You should |
| Staffordshire Terrier to be a small to medium | | | | start training as early as possible, |
| sized dog. They reach 57 to 67 pounds, with | | | | especially with obedience. A firm, but gentle |
| the males being 18-19 inches in height and | | | | hand is required to train this dog breed. You |
| the females about an inch smaller. You will | | | | will also want to be consistent and form a |
| find they have a shorter snout than most dogs | | | | knowledge base with you as the master or |
| with pointed ears. The American Staffordshire | | | | dominant part of the equation. Exercise is |
| has a boxer like face in the smaller snout | | | | extremely important. You will need a |
| and the jowls, all though you can definitely | | | | backyard, and should avoid apartment living |
| tell the two breeds apart. They are usually a | | | | with this breed. They can be destructive when |
| solid color or partial. You will find white, | | | | left alone for long periods of time or when |
| black, and tan are the colors they display. | | | | they become bored. Two hours a day spent on |
| Their hair is coarse and short. This means | | | | exercising and training will be required to |
| that grooming, which we will discuss in more | | | | keep them happy. |
| detail later, is a little easier. They are | | | | |
| not a cuddly dog, when you contemplate their | | | | The care for the American Staffordshire |
| hair, but they are also not great shedders | | | | Terrier is relatively simple. The short hair |
| which can be nice. | | | | does not require much grooming, just a |
| | | | brushing once a week. In a warmer climate you |
| You should also not that the American | | | | will find they tend to shed a little more, so |
| Staffordshire Terrier is the American Pit | | | | they will need a little more grooming. You |
| Bull Terrier. Pit Bulls or the Terrier are | | | | can use a dry towel rather than a brush if |
| often thought of as sport dogs because they | | | | you desire. You will also need to bath them |
| have been used in the past for fighting dogs. | | | | perhaps once every six months or less. It |
| This makes the dog an excellent guard or | | | | should always be done with a dry shampoo as |
| watchdog for your family. You will also find | | | | they can develop skin irritation from too |
| despite their use in history as fighting dogs | | | | much bathing or water. |
| they can be very gentle and devoted to their | | | | |