American Staffordshire Terrier Facts – Wisdom Panel™ Dog Breeds

The American Staffordshire Terrier (or AmStaff, for short) dates back to 19th-century England—when various terriers were crossed with the Bulldog. The courageous and powerful dogs that resulted excelled in the fighting pit. But they also showed great talent as guard dogs and livestock herders.

These pit bulls came to America in the late 1800s. And though some were used for fighting, many became fixtures both on the frontier and at home—thanks to their hard-working, gentle nature. Still, most kennel clubs were hesitant to recognize dogs associated with fighting.

Though the American Pit Bull Terrier received United Kennel Club recognition at the turn of the century, breeders in the U.S. set out to develop a related but distinct breed. They focused their breeding programs on increasing the pit bull’s size and weight.

This effort led to the Staffordshire Terrier, which the AKC recognized in 1936. When the AKC later recognized the Staffordshire Bull Terrier from England in 1972, they decided to add “American” to the Staffordshire Terrier’s name to clearly delineate between the two breeds.

Today, most AmStaffs live as peaceful, gentle family members. They’ve earned a great reputation and excel in many roles—including guarding, police work, and agility.