How to take care of an american standford - expert advice

The decision to have a dog at home implies a series of commitments, such as those made with respect to the family, and that is why this decision must be carefully considered to ensure that you can and will assume these responsibilities. This happens with any dog, but it is certainly something that you have to think better when dealing with dogs considered by PPP or potentially dangerous. For example, this is the case of the American staffordshire terrier, which has gained more followers over time and is increasingly seen in homes. Also popularly called 'amstaff', 'stanford' and 'standford', although the last two forms are incorrect.

If you have decided to share your life with a dog of this breed, you will be interested in knowing how to care for an American 'standford' . If so, keep reading this article where all the details are explained.

Origin of the american staffordshire terrier

This race, although consolidated in the United States of America, has its origins in nineteenth-century England . Specifically, it appeared practically at the same time as the American pit bull terrier, since both breeds were used to monitor and defend the butchers and collectors, as well as to fight against bulls and other dogs, something that today is largely illegal of the world.

In the late nineteenth century the AKC ( American Kennel Club ) [1], which was founded in 1884, recognized the American staffordshire terrier, differentiating it from the pit bull. Today the FCI ( Fédération Cynologique Internationale or International Cynological Federation) [2] also recognizes it. However, at present, the UKC (United Kennel Club) does not recognize this breed and does recognize the pit bull, that is, does not differentiate them.

How is the American staffordshire terrier breed - knows the characteristics

Before going on to discuss all of your cares it is advisable to know better how the American staffordshire terrier breed is, in order to better understand why some of the necessary care. Thus, these are its physical and character traits, indicated by the associations mentioned above:

Physical characteristics of the american 'standford' terrier

The amstaff is a muscular dog and, at the same time, very agile.
The body is wide, robust and somewhat low.
Its head is large and wide and its neck is medium length, wide and thick.
Its jaw is strong and wide, so the musculature of this area looks very developed.
The snout is medium, not at all elongated or reaches the point of being flat.
The eyes are somewhat small, rounded, somewhat separated from each other and always dark in color.
The ears are triangular, of high insertion and to be semi-direct, that is to say, elevated but with the point fallen forward.
The chest is also wide and deep, noting the difference in width with the hip, which is somewhat thinner.
Its tail is low, straight, thick at the base and tapering until it reaches the tip.
The height at the withers, not counting the neck or the head, is between 46 cm and 48 cm (between 18 and 19 inches) in the males and between 43 cm and 46 cm (17 to 18 inches) in the females.
The weight is between 25 kg and 30 kg, with the males being somewhat larger than the females.
The fur is short, hard and shiny, accepting any color, such as white, black, liver, black and tan and with spots.

Character of the american staffordshire terrier

The character of this race is friendly, extroverted, curious, cheerful, reliable and very sociable. They are very affectionate dogs, active, playful, with energy but of calm character and very familiar and protective, especially with the children.

Now that its characteristics have been discussed, some of the issues that revolve around its care can be better understood. For example, the fact of gathering characteristics such as the strong and broad jaw and having a powerful musculature is considered a PPP and, in addition, due to its type of muscles and its level of energy it needs to be spent, tired and exercised, to feel good and healthy, something that will help you to be a balanced dog. So, if you're wondering how to care for an American staffordshire terrier, below are the guidelines.

PPP license or holding license

This breed in many countries is considered a potentially dangerous dog, so it is mandatory by law to obtain a license that certifies that we are able to care for and take responsibility for a dog with these characteristics. Thus, it is necessary to be informed of the law of the country in which you reside to meet these requirements if necessary. In addition, we must bear in mind that there are countries in which according to the autonomous community or the region these laws may vary, so it is vital to consult both the law of the country and the region, province, state or autonomous community in which reside

In order to obtain the permit, it is necessary to pass a series of physical and psychological medical tests, as well as to secure the insurance with third parties, although this may vary according to the country.

Care for amstaff health

Generally, this breed is very healthy, however we must comply with veterinary reviews, the vaccination schedule of our country and the deworming calendar, to prevent diseases and infections. Although they are in good health, they do have a tendency to suffer from problems such as heart conditions, hip and elbow dysplasia, cataracts, progressive retinal atrophy, demodicosis, cerebellar ataxia, separation anxiety and sexual disorders (such as excessive sexual behavior and related diseases). with the reproductive system). Because of this propensity to problems of a sexual nature and for other reasons, it is advisable to sterilize or castrate the dog, whether male or female.

It is essential that you always pay attention to any physical and behavioral changes of your furry and that, if any appear, go directly to the veterinarian .

Socialization and education of the American 'standford'

This is necessary to start from an early age, since being a puppy is when the dog learns all the basics and their customs, habits, character, etc. are created. After the puppy stage, as an adult, it is also possible to socialize and educate them, however it can be a much more complex task since some habits will have to be changed or even some fears and behavior problems to be solved. For this, especially when it is already an adult dog and if it presents problems, it is advisable to have the help of a behavioral professional and dog ethology or a canine educator .

Learn about these other articles on How to train a puppy and How to socialize a puppy with adult dogs and people.

How to walk to an american 'standford'

Like any other dog, american 'stanford' need to go outside 3 times a day . However, the walks can not last only fifteen or twenty minutes, since any dog needs to sniff, relate, play, exercise and tire, which requires more time on each walk. Each walk should be at least 30 minutes . Remember that you must walk on a leash and, if in your country it is considered PPP, also with a muzzle, preferably a grille and not cloth, so you can breathe and pant without problems.

In this video we explain what is the best way to walk a dog, but if you can not teach him to walk quietly by your side, he pulls the leash, crosses or throws himself towards other animals or jumps over people, we recommend You go to a canine educator, since it is very important to solve this aspect.

Food for an amstaff

The feeding should be appropriate for the age of the dog, for example, if it is a puppy you should look for a feed and / or wet food for dogs of this age. Being medium dogs it is important that the size of the balls of feed is suitable for them, ie neither too large nor those made for small breeds or miniature. That makes it easier for you to eat at an adequate rate, without anxiety. In addition, there is the possibility of feeding it with suitable homemade food, for example with a BARF diet .

In we recommend that you consult with the veterinarian which food is the most appropriate for your furry in particular, according to their age and health status .

Brushed and bathroom for an amstaff

It is recommended to brush your dog once a week to eliminate dead hair, increasing the brushing to two or three weeks in the molting season. It is necessary to get used to the dog from the puppy to the brushing and bathing, paying special attention to the relaxed atmosphere, he is calm and does not punish him, but reward him when he does it well, with caresses, prizes and words with a pleasant tone.

It is important that you bathe as much once a month, unless it is very dirty, and that you do it with a special shampoo for dogs and suitable for your fur and age. This is important so as not to damage the protective layer of your skin, something that could cause skin diseases. Discover here How to bathe my dog for the first time.

Required exercise for an american staffordshire terrier

It is a race with a high level of physical energy, although they generally have a quiet personality, something that should not be confused. They need to walk, exercise and feel physically and mentally tired and fulfilled. That is why, not only must we help them to spend their physical energy, but we also have to help them not to get bored and have a busy mind.

One of the best ways is to integrate the dog into the family in a way that feels useful and, for this, there are various exercises and activities, as well as habits, that can teach you to correctly apply a dog educator. A good idea is to place a backpack in the harness of the dog, in fact you can buy backpacks in the form of a harness, which will help you to perform physical and mental work, helping you to feel more balanced.

It is necessary to remove it several times, as has been mentioned before, but it is also necessary that it can run in open areas, such as the field or large areas enabled for it in the cities. Also, you can take it out to run with you or take it to parks with obstacles, such as agility .