Additional information (Wiki): The American Staffordshire terrier is a breed of dog. The breed is a second cousin of the American pit bull terrier. Early bulldog–terrier crosses were brought to the US by British and Irish settlers, especially after the American Civil War, where they were mainly used as fighting dogs, but also as hunting dogs, farm dogs, and guard dogs.

The dog is of muscular, square build, solid black nose, and gives the impression of great strength, agility, and grace for their size. The chest is deep and broad. The neck is strong, and well arched.

The coat is short and glossy.
An Amstaff with cropped ears

These dogs are generally courageous, tenacious, friendly, extremely attentive, and extraordinarily devoted.

Amstaffs learn quickly from the subtlest of our behaviors. They are thus not only highly responsive during training but also pick up good habits, such as house training. This can become a problem when an owner unknowingly allows the dog to pick up bad behaviors. A typical training regimen should begin at 8 to 10 weeks of age. It has been proven that Positive Reinforcement Training works very well with this breed.

The American Staffordshire Terrier is a companion dog. They require a very large amount of time for rough, or hard working play. They enjoy weight pulling and agility training.They are an incredibly alert breed, which respond to any sound they hear. That along with their aggressive appearance makes them a keen home theft deterrent.