25 Jan Interesting Facts about the American Staffordshire Terrier Dog Breed

If you are a pet lover, especially dogs, and you are interested in keeping them in your home environment, you should know that there are different types of dog breeds, each of which has different origins. However, due to the expansion and development of means of communication and transportation, all these races exist and have spread to different countries of the world. An example of them is called American Staffordshire terrier dog breed. They are intelligent, well-mannered and self-confident companions. If this responsible breed is raised and well-socialized, he will be a faithful and reliable friend until the end of his life. Stay tuned to this article to learn more about this breed.

American Staffordshire Terrier description

American Staffordshire terriers are stout and muscular bull-type terriers that stand between 43 and 48 cm tall at the shoulder. The head is broad, the jaws are well-defined, the cheekbones are prominent, and the dark, round eyes of this breed are widely spaced. The movement of the American Staffordshire Terrier is agile and graceful, with a springy gait that exudes the breed’s inherent confidence. The coat of this breed is hard and shiny and can be seen in many colours and patterns. These dogs are completely enthusiastic about their surroundings, play with anything and have a lovely personality. American Staffordshire Terriers love mental and physical challenges. They are very trainable too.

American Staffordshire Terrier’s general appearance

The American Staffordshire Terrier should convey a sense of great power due to its size. This breed is a full-bodied, muscular, agile and graceful dog that shows great passion for his surroundings. His body should be square and strong and his legs shouldn’t be long. The courage of this breed is proverbial.

American Staffordshire Terrier nutrition

American Staffordshire Terriers should be fed high-quality dog food, either commercially or prepared at home, under the supervision and approval of your veterinarian. Each diet should be appropriate for the dog’s age (puppy, adult or senior). Some dogs are prone to being overweight, so keep an eye on your dog’s calorie intake and weight. The use of treats can be an essential aid in training, but giving too many of them can cause obesity. Learn more about which human foods are safe for dogs and which are harmful. Consult your veterinarian if you have concerns about your dog’s weight or diet. Clean and fresh water should always be available to your dog.

American Staffordshire Terrier grooming

The American Staffordshire Terrier’s short, hard coat is straightforward to care for.

Hair care

The American Staffordshire Terrier has a short, smooth coat that lies very close to the skin. Stafford sheds once a year and sheds little throughout the year. Dirt and garbage can be easily removed from the body using a brush, and the skin dries quickly after bathing. Brush him weekly to remove dead hair. A bathroom is also needed. This breed doesn’t smell too much, so he doesn’t need to be bathed regularly.

Oral hygiene

Brush your dog’s teeth 2 to 3 times a week to prevent the accumulation of plaque and bacteria in the mouth. Daily brushing is better to prevent gum disease and bad breath.

Nail care

If you hear your dog’s nails dragging on the floor, they are too long. Trim his nails once or twice a month. A dog’s toenails are connected to blood vessels, and if you trim too much, it may bleed and the dog may not cooperate the next time he sees a nail clipper. So if you don’t have the experience to do this, get help from a groomer.

Ear cleaning

You should check his ears every week for redness or bad smell, which are signs of infection. Clean the ear with a gently moistened cotton ball with a balanced pH. Don’t insert anything into the ear canal; Clean only the outer ear. As you clean him, check his body for wounds, itching, and signs of infection such as redness, sensitivity to touch or inflammation on the skin. Check the ears, nose, mouth and eyes, the eyes should be clear and not have any redness or discharge.

Activity

An athletic and energetic dog like the American Staffordshire Terrier needs a lot of exercises. Leaving the dog in the yard all day is not the right way; He can run, but the American Staffordshire Terrier is a social dog that thrives when he’s part of the family. Long play sessions with his owner develop his physical and mental health. Additionally, many American Staffordshire Terriers enjoy participating in canine sports such as obedience, agility, and dock diving. This breed is even trained in search and rescue and can become proficient in them.

American Staffordshire Terrier training

Early socialization classes and puppy training are recommended for all breeds. Due to the strong will, physical strength and tenacity of the American Staffordshire Terrier, this training is a necessity for this breed. The intelligence and enthusiasm of this breed make training an easy and fun process for him. Even so, some of his behaviours, such as chewing and digging, may be difficult to resolve. It should be noted that aggression towards dogs is present even in the fully socialized American Staffordshire Terrier. He should never be left alone with other dogs under any circumstances.

Health

The American Staffordshire Terrier is a strong and healthy breed. But you should screen them for health problems such as canine hip dysplasia, heart disease, and skin and coat allergies. Health tests recommended by the national club of this breed:

• Pelvic assessment
• Cardiac examination
• Thyroid evaluation
• NCL DNA test
• Ophthalmological evaluation

Common problems and diseases

Like all breeds, the American Staffordshire Terrier is susceptible to genetic and environmental diseases. No dog is perfect, but that doesn’t mean all Staffords are affected by illness and pain. Therefore, it’s necessary to research to have a healthy dog both physically and mentally. Below are some of the health problems that the Staffordshire Bull Terrier may suffer from.

Hip dysplasia

This disease is hereditary in which the femur doesn’t connect well to the hip joint. Some dogs with this disease may experience pain in the pelvis, and one or both hind legs. But at the same time, you may not notice any discomfort in a dog with hip dysplasia. Depending on the dog’s age, he may suffer from arthritis. Hip dysplasia is a hereditary disease, but it may also be caused by environmental factors such as a high-calorie diet or injuries caused by jumping and falling on surfaces.

Elbow dysplasia

It’s a hereditary disease and varies according to the growth rate in the three bones that make up the elbow. This disease causes joint weakness. Elbow dysplasia leads to painful arthritis or causes lameness in the dog. Depending on the severity of the problem, the vet may recommend surgery, weight control, or medication to control the pain.

Dislocation of the patella

This is a common problem in small dogs that occurs when the kneecap, which consists of three parts, the femur, kneecap, and leg, isn’t properly adjusted. It causes the dog to limp a leg or walk abnormally. Dislocation of the patella occurs at birth. Wear and tear caused by patella dislocation can cause arthritis, which is a degenerative joint disease. This disease has 4 different degrees, which in the first degree may cause the dog to limp now and then, and in high degrees, it can lead to surgery.

Hereditary cataract

This disease causes blurred vision in dogs at a young age. Unfortunately, this condition progresses rapidly and may cause the dog to become blind at the age of 3 years. Sometimes surgery can restore a dog’s vision to some extent. To prevent this disease, DNA testing can help detect defective genes.

Skin allergy

Also known as atopic dermatitis, this itchy condition is sometimes seen specifically in Staffords. Affected dogs may suffer from hair loss or skin lesions. This problem is often associated with a bacterial infection. To prevent this disease, you must control flea infestation and use a diet containing omega-3 fatty acids such as fish oil.

Scabies disease

Almost all dogs carry demodex worms. These worms live in the hair follicle and usually don’t cause any problems, but dogs with weakened or damaged immune systems may develop it. This disease is also called Demodicosis. Scabies may affect some areas or affect the whole body. In the local type, red spots, peeling skin and hair loss can be seen on the head, neck and front legs. This problem mostly affects puppies and often clears up on its own. In the general type, these worms cover the whole body and are mostly seen in older puppies and young adult dogs. Damaged skin, bald spots and pus infection cover the whole body. Fortunately, this disease doesn’t spread to humans and other dogs.

To wrap up

The American Staffordshire Terrier is a dog that lives well in any kind of home, as long as he has regular and appropriate daily activities. To have a healthy and lively dog, you need to pay attention to nutrition, activity, health, grooming, etc. You can prevent the disease and have a healthy dog in this case. In all these steps, you can count on the specialized team of MishkaGrooming. Our experienced and precise groomers have carefully and accurately groomed your dogs, so they count the moments before the next session.