How to Care for an American Staffordshire Terrier

The American Staffordshire terrier is known for its dominant personality and will need firm training from an early age. But this shouldn't be too difficult, as this dog's first desire is to please its owner. Know that your Staffordshire terrier will have to be restrained at all times when around other dogs because of its strong fighting instinct.

Things You'll Need

  • Worming Medicine
  • Dental Kits (for Dogs)
  • Dog Beds
  • Dog Bones
  • Dog Brushes
  • Dog Collars
  • Dog Conditioner
  • Dog Dishes
  • Dog Food
  • Dog Grooming Sprays
  • Dog Leashes
  • Dog Shampoo
  • Dog Training Aids
  • Nail Clippers For Dogs
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Vaccinate your American Staffordshire terrier when you first get her, and make sure she gets yearly booster vaccinations to maintain her immunity to disease. Also, worm your adult dog every three months and consult with your veterinarian about flea control products.

    • 2

      Feed your American Staffordshire terrier high-grade dog food. The first ingredient should be meat if you want a quality product. Crude protein should be no less than 30 percent and crude fat no less than 20 percent. The fiber content needs to be 4 percent or less.

    • 3

      Train and socialize your American Staffordshire terrier when she's young. This breed has dominant and aggressive tendencies and needs to be around people and animals to avoid negative behavior formation. Remember to use positive reinforcement when training.

    • 4

      Realize that this breed can be difficult to house-train and will require much time and patience in this area. Puppies will probably need to relieve themselves up to six times a day. Begin by urging them to go after meals.

    • 5

      Exercise or run your American Staffordshire terrier daily. Be sure to keep her on leash to prevent fighting with other dogs.

    • 6

      Brush your dog's coat daily with a firm-bristle brush, and buff her coat with a damp cloth to bring out the sheen. Shampoo as needed and trim nails every two to three weeks.

    • 7

      Understand that the American Staffordshire terrier is prone to certain health conditions such as hip dysplasia (a malformed ball and socket in the hip joint) and cataracts (cloudy eye lens).

    • 8

      Note that male American Staffordshire terriers will grow to 17 to 19 inches and weigh between 57 and 67 lbs. Females will grow to 16 to 18 inches and also weigh between 57 and 67 lbs.

    • 9

      Expect an American Staffordshire terrier to live 10 to 12 years.