Читать книгу American Staffordshire Terrier - Joseph Janish - Страница 7

Pride. Strength. Loyalty. Tenacity. These are the first descriptive terms that come to mind when looking at or thinking about the American Staffordshire Terrier.

The four words listed above only begin to describe the American Staffordshire Terrier (or AmStaff), a mighty and complex breed. What the AmStaff has to offer depends entirely on the dog’s owner. His capabilities are boundless: strength insurmountable, desire to please unending, an ideal animal for activity and labor. Yet, at the same time, this breed makes a truly wonderful companion, an affable animal to family and friends, with the added capability of a guardian. Such a dog sounds so perfect, you might call him a “super dog.” If any breed is worthy of this hero status, the American Staffordshire Terrier certainly qualifies.

Carrie, Mandy and Willynwood High Tech are part of a happy family. When properly introduced to children, AmStaffs become very loyal, trusted and gentle family pets.

Originally bred for the purpose of fighting other dogs, the AmStaff is an easy-going, trustworthy and extremely affectionate dog toward human beings. Despite its inherent ability to maul and mangle beasts more than three times its size, the AmStaff is generally unaggressive and will not seek a confrontation. In short, an AmStaff will not start trouble but, boy, will he end it!

Instead of aggression, the AmStaff channels his extensive energies toward pleasing his master. The breed’s willingness to please, in fact, stems from its history as a fighter—the dog wanted so badly to win for his master that he would fight to the death. Such commitment and dedication is certainly prized no matter what task is given.

And tasks this breed can handle! Aside from his fighting duties, the AmStaff also found work in various jobs, mostly in farms and in butcher shops. Today the AmStaff retains his skills as a working and sporting dog and is used both as a laborer and in competition. On farms, AmStaffs are prized for cattle driving, herding, guarding and pulling. In society, the breed is used by the police and other organizations to assist in apprehension, narcotics detection, search and rescue, riot control and many other things. In competition, the AmStaff excels in various sports, including (but not limited to) tracking, herding, obedience, weight-pulling, agility trials, Schutzhund work and, of course, conformation. In short, the AmStaff is perhaps the world’s most versatile dog!

PERSONALITY AND ATTRIBUTES

American Staffordshire Terriers are happy, outgoing, stable dogs who make wonderful pets. They are extremely intelligent and are excellent guardians. Careful breeding has produced today’s American Staffordshire Terriers, who are affectionate, reliable and exceedingly loyal dogs with fearless personalities. An extremely family-oriented dog who does not scare easily, the AmStaff does well with children and elderly people who use canes, walkers or wheelchairs. In fact, the breed is used extensively as a therapy dog, brought into hospitals, geriatric homes and care centers to assist in rehabilitation and to bring cheer and joy to the patients.

This AmStaff pup gets a lift from his American Bulldog chum. The bulldog breeds are among the most versatile of all dogs.

This does not rule out the rest of the age groups, as the AmStaff can play fetch for hours and always enjoys a good run. Great fun for both dog and owner are games of retrieving a flying disc. Though not a retriever by trade, the AmStaff is nonetheless a tireless participant in chasing after and returning objects thrown by his master. The outstanding agility and speed of the breed become apparent as the dog takes off after, and jumps up to snatch, the plastic flying disc. It is a real treat to watch the dog show off his athleticism in this game.

The American Staffordshire Terrier, due to his great strength and trainability, can make a perfect home guardian. By nature, an AmStaff is friendly to all humans and will not view man as an opponent. However, through responsible training, an AmStaff can learn to distinguish between friend and foe and attack unwanted intruders to his home. A true champion and defender of his family, the AmStaff will put himself in harm’s way, sometimes suffering serious injury to keep family members safe.

Though the AmStaff will rarely be moved to instigate aggression, he will have a natural instinct to respond to the challenge of other dogs—it’s in the terrier blood. This can become a problem if the animal is not properly trained out of this behavior, which is known as gameness. For the most part, even larger dogs like Mastiffs and Rottweilers do not stand a chance against a determined AmStaff. Their low center of gravity, incredible neck and jaw power and tenacity to fight on—even when exhausted or badly injured—give AmStaffs the edge over the larger breeds.

Adaptable to country and city living, the AmStaff finds comfort in whatever situation his master can provide. An open field to roam is certainly a benefit and well appreciated by the athletic AmStaff, but it is not a necessity. The dog will find as much happiness indoors, so long as his master is near. The only thing that will break the spirit and heart of this dog is the lack of his owner’s fond attention.

Personality is one of the most important traits in a dog. A sound personality and temperament is key to determining how a specific dog, not dog breed, will react to everyday situations. Before you get your dog, or as soon as possible after getting him, be sure to have a temperament test done. Ask your veterinarian where to get a test administered. If your dog scores poorly enough on the temperament test to cause you concern, seriously consider returning him/her to the breeder. Poor temperament can be an indicator of a problem waiting to happen. Also, if your dog scores poorly on this test, do not breed him/her. Poor temperament is a trait that can be, and usually is, passed on to offspring.

The typical American Staffordshire Terrier has a fairly easy-going personality, with great intelligence and an overwhelming desire to please. AmStaffs love people, and love to be with people; perhaps the worst punishment you can administer to your AmStaff is to separate him from you. Bonding immediately, the AmStaff is eternally devoted and will not only love but also protect his family. He is very happy to extend his affable personality to anyone whom he recognizes as a friend of yours, so there is no need to worry when introducing new people to your AmStaff pet.

Athletic, determined and boundless describe the American Staffordshire Terrier, as he will engage in almost any activity. Many AmStaffs have an affinity for water.

The AmStaff’s tenacity may be his strongest attribute, a characteristic greatly prized by the dog-fighting crowd that developed this breed. Interestingly, many of the positive traits garnered from its dog-fighting heritage have stayed with the breed. The model AmStaff is extremely courageous, never backing down from a challenge or a task presented to him. Once given a job, he is also a tireless worker, never stopping until the required assignment is complete.

The dog’s extreme determination is balanced by an equal amount of calmness, a quality emanating from the AmStaff’s strong self-confidence. Rarely does this dog feel threatened and, though the AmStaff loves a challenge, he has too much self-conviction to feel overchallenged.

Physically, there are few breeds that can match the American Staffordshire Terrier. The AmStaff is carved from hard muscle and wrapped tightly in tough skin. A large head and dense skull provide the first impression of the AmStaff, whose huge and friendly smile seems perpetually present. The big head, connected by a thick neck, is perched atop muscular shoulders and a broad chest. Rippling muscles represent the rest of the AmStaff’s physique, giving the dog enormous strength. This breed has been known to weight-pull over 3,000 pounds in competition, to give you an idea of the dog’s strength capability.

When properly socialized, AmStaffs get along well with each other as well as with other family pets.

In addition to strength, the AmStaff also is incredibly agile, especially considering its size. This trait was developed during its previous existence as a fighting dog, and today it is useful in a variety of tasks and competitive events, such as agility trials and Schutzhund work. Combine this strength and agility with excellent speed, quickness and a never-saydie tenacity and you have quite an incredible dog.

Though the breed is not well known for its scenting ability, the AmStaff is, in fact, a great tracker. The American Staffordshire Terrier’s acute sense of smell, probably inherited from his terrier ancestors, enables him to be used for hunting, tracking and myriad other duties. In the United States, the AmStaff is used extensively in search and rescue, assisting authorities in finding lost persons. This same trait is used by police for, literally, “sniffing out” and apprehending criminals, and for identifying narcotics hidden in luggage and clothing. Combined with his strength and speed, the scenting ability of the AmStaff also makes him an ideal complement to the hunter in pursuing game.

With such an amazing combination of skills and abilities, the American Staffordshire Terrier is the ultimate companion for many different people for many different reasons.

THE AMERICAN STAFFORDSHIRE TERRIER IN THE HOME

Your AmStaff puppy will likely be a boisterous, active and, above all else, happy puppy as he investigates his new home. He will find fun in exploring beyond set boundaries, toying with items that may or may not be meant to be toys and eating just about anything that will fit in his mouth. Obviously, you will need to keep a close eye on your new puppy and be sure that electrical wires and other possible dangers are not accessible to the curious new family member. Eventually, with proper guidance from you, your puppy will understand the rules and find comfort in his new home.

MAKING THE RULES

The strongest personality trait of the AmStaff is his willingness to please. This makes training fairly easy compared to other breeds, but nonetheless a task that must be taken seriously by the AmStaff owner. Early on, make it clear to the dog where he is and is not allowed to be. Establishing boundaries, both inside the home and out, is important for both you and the dog. You may not want the dog jumping on your bed; moreover, the dog needs to know where he belongs. This is an instinctual need for canines, and the earlier you can provide a place for the dog to call his own, the easier it will be for both of you.

While learning the boundaries, your AmStaff can also start learning the rules of the home. Be consistent and firm with your direction, and always use excessive praise when the dog does well. Avoid using negativity as a means of training; dogs respond much more quickly to positive methods. You can begin to teach the dog simple obedience right away. The basic commands such as sit, stay and come are essential and can be learned in a relatively short time by the very intelligent American Staffordshire Terrier.

The AmStaff’s ability to learn is a unique trait that is above and beyond the normal learning curve for most other breeds. This is due mainly to the breed’s inherent desire to please. The dog wants so badly to make you happy he will learn just about anything so long as you reward him with a smile on your face. At the same time, it is absolutely necessary to spend time with your AmStaff and to teach him a variety of tasks. You will be impressed to find out that the AmStaff can execute a variety of tasks around the home, and in fact he will feel more accepted and valued when he feels he has specific jobs to accomplish. Start with simple tasks, such as retrieving the newspaper or your slippers in the morning, and continue assigning small jobs. Be creative; remember, this is a dog that is used throughout the world for jobs ranging from sheep-herding to narcotics detection. There is no end to the amount of assistance an AmStaff can provide to you, so take advantage. The more your AmStaff can do for you, the happier he, and you, will be.

OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS: CHILDREN AND ANIMALS

Contrary to popular belief, the American Staffordshire Terrier can get along quite well with other animals. Due to its previous status as a fighting dog in the pits, the misconception developed that the AmStaff could not be trusted around other animals because of its intrinsic aggressiveness. This is not the truth! The AmStaff is generally a passive animal, moved to fight only when attacked or instructed to do so. That said, you can feel comfortable introducing your current pets to their new AmStaff friend. AmStaffs have been known to coexist quite happily with other dogs, cats, birds and rabbits, to name a few. Unlike most other breeds, the AmStaff does not necessarily need to be introduced to other family pets as a puppy, so it is equally safe to bring another pet into the AmStaff’s home. Of course, you will not want to bring an AmStaff (or any animal, for that matter) into a situation that already houses an aggressive animal.

With children, an American Staffordshire Terrier is equally affable and usually protective. Children love dogs, and AmStaffs love children. Whereas an aggressive pet may instigate a major row with an AmStaff, a child’s horseplay will rarely evoke even a defensive nip from the dog. Good sense says always to supervise small children with dogs, and, while usually this is mainly necessary for the safety of the children, the supervision is more important for the safety of the dog in the case of the AmStaff. Small children have a tendency to tease, pull and poke animals in ways and places that are dangerous to the pet. Most ordinary animals will respond with defensive techniques, such as biting, but the AmStaff is no ordinary animal. A dog of everlasting patience and understanding, the AmStaff will endure the teasing of children without response, and because this breed has such a high threshold of pain, the dog can be seriously injured. Teach your children to play lovingly with their pet; make sure they understand that the dog can be hurt by certain actions and they will mature into fine, respectful adults.

Although the AmStaff can be a trusted babysitter, it is never advisable to leave any dog unattended with a child. It’s safe to say that this child is well protected by his brawny nanny.