Behavioral Information on American Staffordshire Dogs

History

• The American Staffordshire Terrier (AST) was likely bred from the pre-19th century English Bulldog and a game terrier breed. (A "game" dog is one that is willing to carry out a task no matter what.) Bred for bull-baiting, the bulldog of that period was athletic and stood taller and straighter than the English Bulldog of today. The AKC reports that it was likely a Fox Terrier combined with the bulldog to create a dog possessing the positive characteristics of both. Previous names of the AST include the Bull-and-Terrier Dog, Half and Half, Pit Dog, Pit Builterrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Bull Terrier and Yankee Terrier.

Pit Bull Connection

• The term "pit bull" doesn't refer to a particular breed of dog. Although up to five breeds can be included under the label "pit bull," the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) narrows pit bulls to be either American Pit Bull Terriers or American Staffordshire Terriers. This doesn't necessarily mean the AST is an aggressive or unpredictable dog. While most dogs don't fight to injure, pit bulls were bred to never back down (hence their gameness). If a pit bull is provoked, aggressiveness may come more quickly to them, and sometimes their bites injure, not just warn.

Training

• The best way to train an AST and prevent any predisposition to aggression is very early socialization. Puppies who are around other puppies learn how to behave socially; they play and experience positive interaction. A fight between two puppies is common, and if they're allowed to continue socializing, they won't associate interaction with fighting. The more socialization they get, the more positive experiences they'll have, and the less defensive they'll be. If contact with other puppies is limited and generally negative, the AST might see every puppy as a threat.

Interaction with Humans

• Pit bull dogs, like the AST, weren't bred to be aggressive toward people. They even have the nickname of "nursemaid's dog," because of their reliability with children. Their protective spirit, patience and high pain tolerance makes them ideal for playing with kids, who tend to pull, poke and prod. When the dogs were bred to fight, any dog that attacked a human was put down, eliminating the trait in future generations. Owners stood in the pit with their dogs and often stepped in and pulled them apart. Some owners seek out these breeds to maintain a tough or macho image and encourage their dogs to develop bad behavior. While this may be a risk for rescue dogs, an AST raised from puppyhood in a loving environment shouldn't be a threat to humans.

Legislation

• Because of their inclusion as pit bulls, the AST has been the target of breed-specific legislation, and some cities don't allow them at all. Breeds who have a history of aggressive behavior, regardless of reason or background of the dogs, are targeted by these local statutes, and pit bulls garner the most attention. While a dog's genetics might influence his tendency to fight, other factors (particularly socialization, supervision and treatment) weigh more heavily in the matter. Among the problems associated with breed-specific legislation is misidentification, and pit bull breeds are largely misidentified. Owner responsibility is paramount with any dog, not just American Staffordshire Terriers, and extensive socialization and supervision with children is necessary.