history
One of the worlds best known American Staffordshire Terriers was “Pete” of the popular 1930’s TV program The Little Rascals. Pete was one of the first American Kennel Club registered Amstaffs. The Amstaff was also used as a USA poster dog during World War I with the caption “I’m Neutral BUT Not Afraid of any of them”. Certainly the Amstaff is a very courageous dog, and was well chosen to represent and motivate the American soldiers.
While the ancestry of the American Staffordshire Terrier dates back to the beginning of the 19th century, they were not officially recognised until the mid 1930s. During their long and sometimes confusing evolution, this breed has been known by many names including American Bull Terrier, Yankee Terrier, Staffordshire Terrier, Half & Half, Bull & Terrier and others.
The Bull & Terrier is one of the earliest descendants, bred in Britain from a combination of the Bulldog of the time and either the Black & Tan Terrier or the larger English Terrier. It has even been suggested that the Fox Terrier may have been introduced. This combination produced a powerful and extremely game dog, who because of these traits, was unfortunately exploited as a fighting dog for much of his early history. These dogs became very popular with coal miners in the Staffordshire area of England, which eventually led to them being known as Staffordshire Bull Terriers, but this was much later.
After the Civil War ended in 1865, many British workers immigrated to America due to financial difficulties. They took their Bull & Terrier dogs with them, and in a very short period of time, were firmly established as a popular breed for postcolonial American citizens. The Bull & Terrier continued to be bred in America, though over time the style of the dog changed, as did his name.
In 1936 The Staffordshire Terrier Club of America was founded and the American Kennel Club officially recognised the Staffordshire Terrier. As years went by the differences between the American version of the Staffordshire Terrier and the British version became very distinct, so in 1972, the American Kennel Club renamed the Staffordshire Terrier to American Staffordshire Terrier and the Staffordshire Bull Terrier with a standard of its own was admitted to the AKC Stud Book.
PURPOSE OF THE BREED
Although the ancestors of the American Staffordshire Terrier were fighting dogs, the selective breeding done since the 1930's has always been away from their fighting heritage. Such were the efforts of Amstaff fanciers to move away from dog fighting that by the 1950’s the Staffordshire Terrier Club of America expelled any member that was breeding fighting dogs. Unfortunately, this now illegal activity is more often cited as the early purpose of the dogs rather than the general family and farm dog they were bred to be.
Early on, they were used for general farm work, hunting wild pigs, bears, and other large game as well as guarding the homestead. They have also always been bred as a companion and family dog. Although more rarely used on the farm now, the talents that made them a good all purpose dog are still to be found in the breed today.
The modern American Staffordshire Terrier is a companion and show dog, rather than a gladiator. They are highly desired for their love, devotion and reliability, especially with children.
While the ancestry of the American Staffordshire Terrier dates back to the beginning of the 19th century, they were not officially recognised until the mid 1930s. During their long and sometimes confusing evolution, this breed has been known by many names including American Bull Terrier, Yankee Terrier, Staffordshire Terrier, Half & Half, Bull & Terrier and others.
The Bull & Terrier is one of the earliest descendants, bred in Britain from a combination of the Bulldog of the time and either the Black & Tan Terrier or the larger English Terrier. It has even been suggested that the Fox Terrier may have been introduced. This combination produced a powerful and extremely game dog, who because of these traits, was unfortunately exploited as a fighting dog for much of his early history. These dogs became very popular with coal miners in the Staffordshire area of England, which eventually led to them being known as Staffordshire Bull Terriers, but this was much later.
After the Civil War ended in 1865, many British workers immigrated to America due to financial difficulties. They took their Bull & Terrier dogs with them, and in a very short period of time, were firmly established as a popular breed for postcolonial American citizens. The Bull & Terrier continued to be bred in America, though over time the style of the dog changed, as did his name.
In 1936 The Staffordshire Terrier Club of America was founded and the American Kennel Club officially recognised the Staffordshire Terrier. As years went by the differences between the American version of the Staffordshire Terrier and the British version became very distinct, so in 1972, the American Kennel Club renamed the Staffordshire Terrier to American Staffordshire Terrier and the Staffordshire Bull Terrier with a standard of its own was admitted to the AKC Stud Book.
PURPOSE OF THE BREED
Although the ancestors of the American Staffordshire Terrier were fighting dogs, the selective breeding done since the 1930's has always been away from their fighting heritage. Such were the efforts of Amstaff fanciers to move away from dog fighting that by the 1950’s the Staffordshire Terrier Club of America expelled any member that was breeding fighting dogs. Unfortunately, this now illegal activity is more often cited as the early purpose of the dogs rather than the general family and farm dog they were bred to be.
Early on, they were used for general farm work, hunting wild pigs, bears, and other large game as well as guarding the homestead. They have also always been bred as a companion and family dog. Although more rarely used on the farm now, the talents that made them a good all purpose dog are still to be found in the breed today.
The modern American Staffordshire Terrier is a companion and show dog, rather than a gladiator. They are highly desired for their love, devotion and reliability, especially with children.