The Breed...
The American Staffordshire Terrier, also known as an Amstaff, are smart, confident, good-natured companions. Their courage is proverbial. A responsibly bred, well-socialized Amstaff is a loyal, trustworthy friend to the end. They are definitely a people breed and strive in a home where they are part of the family and loved.
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Each AKC Breed has what you call a "Parent Club". For the American Staffordshire Terrier the parent Club is called the Staffordshire Terrier Club of America. Although our Breed is the American Staffordshire Terrier (name changed in the 1970s), the club remained the same original name "Staffordshire Terrier" and is call the Staffordshire Terrier Club of America".
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History...
The American Staffordshire Terrier is not a new breed. Although it gained American Kennel Club registration and recognition in 1936, it has been developed since the early 1800’s as a result of crosses between the bulldogs of that time and game terriers. One of the early and very famous AKC registered Staffs was Pete the Pup, (real name Lucenay’s Peter), dog star of the original Our Gang comedies of the 1930’s. Pete The Pup was one of the first to be registered in the 1970s as an American Staffordshire Terrier. Although the early ancestors of this breed came from England, the development of the American Staffordshire Terrier is the story of a truly American breed. This type of dog was instrumental in the success of farmers and settlers who developed this country. They were used for general farm work, hunting wild pigs, bears, and other large game, guarding the homestead, and general companionship. A number of the early ancestors were also developed for the “sport” of dog fighting. The extraordinary vitality of this breed is a direct result of breeding for successful fighting dogs. This now illegal activity is, unfortunately, more often cited as the early purpose of the dogs rather than the general farm work. Although ancestors of the American Staffordshire were fighting dogs, the selective breeding since the 1930’s has been away from the fighting heritage. The American Staffordshire Terrier of today is a companion and show dog, rather than a gladiator. Although more rarely used on the farm now, the talents that made him a good all purpose dog are still to be found in the breed.
Sgt. Stubby...
Sergeant Stubby (1916 – March 16, 1926) was an Amstaff mix and the official mascot of the 102nd Infantry Regiment (United States) and was assigned to the 26th (Yankee) Division in World War I. He served for 18 months and participated in 17 battles on the Western Front. He saved his regiment from surprise mustard gas attacks, found and comforted the wounded, and allegedly once caught a German soldier by the seat of his pants, holding him there until American soldiers found him. His actions were well documented in contemporary American newspapers.
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Stubby has been called the most decorated war dog of WWI, and the only dog to be nominated for rank and then promoted to sergeant through combat. Stubby's remains are in the Smithsonian Institution. There is an animated movie of him that came out in 2018 that was a hit especially with children. AKC also has a Sculpture e of Stubby in their AKC Museum of The Dog.
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American Staffordshire Terrier
AKC Standard
Did You Know?
The First Registered was a UKC American Pit Bull Terrier in the late 1800s.
The First to be registered in the United States in 1898 was the President of the United Kennel Club (UKC) Mr. Cobly's own dog, an American Pit Bull Terrier. To follow the American Dog Breeder's Association came about mostly concentrating on dogs for the "pit" for fighting and registered them also as an American Pit Bull Terrier. AKC Registered in 1936 as a Staffordshire Terrier.
NO We are Not Pits, Pitbulls, or Pitties...
Please don't refer the breed as a Pit, Pitbull, Pittie, etc. this was a made up media name due to the Media when they first aired an Animal Control Officer in the late 1980s getting attacked by a dog that looked like an American Pit Bull Terrier. The media created fear in people across the USA and the world. Our once loved and adored all american family dog was labeled as a "killer". Anything that resembled an American Pit Bull Terrier was called a Pitbull and lumped into a category due to the media. People began to bring their dogs to the shelter at an alarming rate and anything that resembled an American Pit Bull Terrier was put to sleep. Even in Germany, because of ignorance and the media, they were murdered by the thousands. They are still banned in some areas of the United States and in some countries. Some Insurance companies also won't insure you if you own this breed. The struggle was real for many years and we had lost friends over owning this magnificent breed. People began to breed the UKC and ADBA version at an alarming rate and soon everyone was owning them and getting rid of them. Everyone wanted a "Pit" but not necessarily as a good thing. Sadly, people still illegally fight them.
We DO NOT CONDONE DOG FIGHTING.
Here are some of the dogs that are related to the Amstaff
(Registry next to the breed)
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American Staffordshire Terrier AKC
American Pit Bull Terrier UKC
American Pit Bull Terrier ADBA (pit fighting lines)
Staffordshire Bull Terrier AKC (cousin of the Amstaff shorter natural ears)
Bull Terrier Colored AKC (cousin of the Amstaff longer pointy nose)
Bull Terrier White AKC (cousin of the Amstaff longer pointy nose)
Mini Bull Terrier AKC (cousin of the Amstaff mini version of the Bull Terrier)
American Bully ABKC
(we do NOT condone the Amercian Bully breed nor do we recommend them... they have dwarfed and distorted the body of the American Bully and categorize them by size, etc.)
There is also no such thing as a "blue nose" line of American Pit Bull Terrier or American Staffordshire Terrier. All Blue Dogs will have a blue nose varying in pigmentation. Most of these name were created as a marketing ploy to sell puppies.
We have worked long and hard to represent the breed in a positive way to dispel the myths. We have dedicated our life to the breed. So don't get offended if we give you a lecture when you refer to them as a Pitbull or Pit or Pittie
Breed History Brochure click below
Breed History Brochure click below
