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