If the UK have the Staffordshire Bull Terrier (Staffie), the US have its American counterpart, the American Staffordshire Terrier. The US version, also called Amstaff, is of terrier and molosser bloodline and its ancestry links back to the bull-baiting history of the 1800s England. It is a second cousin to the American Pit Bull Terrier (APBT), a breed that has a notorious bull-baiting reputation.

The bull-baiting breeds came to the US when bull baiting was illegalized in Britain and Ireland. It was the English and Irish immigrants who brought them here in the hopes of continuing their fighting legacy but this time in the forms of dog to dog fighting. When they arrived in the US, however, the fights weren’t as fancied as in the UK and so they continued to breed these dogs as a form of companion dogs.

Together with the immigrants, the Amstaff worked in newly established communities, farms and ranches. They became farm helps, pigs and bear hunters, guard dogs and companion dogs. Presently though, the Amstaff is more of a companion dog and competitor of various dog sport competitions.

The Amstaffs are hardworking, agile, docile and quick learners. They can learn tricks quite easily and are sensitive to the master’s orders therefore they excel at competitions. Most times, you will see Amstaffs joining obedience and agility competitions and tracking and conformation games.

At home, Amstaffs make incredible companion dogs as they are obedient and sensitive to the orders of their masters. They can pick up all forms of behaviors and tends to emulate them. This is good and bad in a sense that if the master show good actions, the Amstaff will tend to be good but if a negative behavior is displayed, the Amstaff will tend to act unfavorably, too.

The stance of this breed is an obvious demonstration of great power, high endurance and regality that they tend to appear unapproachable. On the inside, the Amstaffs are courageous, intelligent, and determined at the same time friendly, loyal and intensely devoted. This breed makes an outstanding watchdog and guard dog, too, since they are sensitive to the slightest kind of noise.

The Amstaff’s body is short and stocky and it possesses a powerful, strong head. The coat is short, tightly wraps its body, glossy and rough to the touch. Its colors may appear in any solid, patched or parti shade except all white, black, tan and liver which are not well- encouraged.

Some people are still confused as whether the American Pit Bull Terrier (APBT) and American Staffordshire Terrier are the same. In truth, they are two differing breeds and they have different body build and they’re bloodlines have been separated by various breeding. However, the AKC allows double registration of the breeds therefore the Amstaff can be APBT and Amstaff at the same time, and vice versa.