American Staffordshire Terrier

Also called AmStaff, Staffordshire Terrier (former AKC name)

Checked 2026-09-30 · 4 sources

A self-assured, smart dog with a playful, gentle side at home.

Key facts
Size	Medium
Weight	20.4 to 31.8 kg (45 to 70 lb)males 22.7 to 31.8 kg, females 20.4 to 27.2 kg1 2
Height	43 to 48 cm (17 to 19 in)males 46 to 48 cm, females 43 to 46 cm2 1
Lifespan	12 to 14 years1 2
Coat	Short, smooth coat
Origin	United States, from bull-and-terrier dogs that arrived from Britain around the mid-1800s.2
Group	Terriers (FCI group 3)

First-time owner Easy to train Cuddly Low grooming

confident and good-natured

playful and affectionate with family

wash-and-go coat

3 1

what they are likeAmerican Staffordshire Terrier temperament

A self-assured, smart dog with a playful, gentle side at home. Well-socialised AmStaffs are typically devoted to their family and good with children; early socialisation with other dogs is recommended.3 1 2

how to spot oneAmerican Staffordshire Terrier coat and colours

short, smooth coat

A tight, glossy short coat over a stocky, muscular and very agile body. The nose is always black.2 1

Coloursany solid, part or patched colourblackbluefawnredbrindlewhite with patches2

a typical week and yearThe care rhythm

A typical home-care rhythm for an American Staffordshire Terrier. A starting point, not a vet's advice.

Brushingevery week
Bathevery 8 weeks
Nail trimSooner if you hear clicking on the floorevery month
Ear checkFloppy ears trap moisture, so check and dry themevery week
Teeth brushingDaily brushing is idealevery 2 days
ExerciseDaily walks and playevery day
Flea, tick and worm protectionSchedule as your vet recommendsas your vet recommends
Vet check-upSenior years usually start around age 8every year

by countryIs the American Staffordshire Terrier legal where you live?

23 of the 44 countries we check have a rule that names the American Staffordshire Terrier. Check the law before you travel or move, the details change.

Rules by country
Country	Rule	Source
Germany	Import bannedFederal HundVerbrEinfG (2001): Pitbull-Terrier, American Staffordshire-Terrier, Staffordshire-Bullterrier, Bullterrier and their crosses may not be imported or brought into Germany; keeping rules are set by each Land.	official
Germany, Baden-Württemberg	RestrictedPolVOgH 2000: Kampfhunde list 1, dangerousness presumed; keeping needs a permit, muzzle and leash in public, unless a Wesenstest (temperament test) rebuts the presumption.	source
Germany, Bayern	RestrictedKategorie 1 of the Bavarian Kampfhundeverordnung: fighting-dog status is irrebuttably presumed; keeping requires a permit from the municipality, granted only for a special interest.	official
Germany, Berlin	RestrictedHundegesetz Berlin 2016 with Gefährliche-Hunde-Verordnung: these breeds are deemed dangerous; keeping needs a permit, muzzle and leash in public.	source
Germany, Bremen	BannedBremHundeG (2025 version replacing the 2001 law): keeping Pitbull Terrier, Bullterrier, American Staffordshire Terrier and Staffordshire Bullterrier is prohibited with narrow exceptions.	source
Germany, Hamburg	RestrictedHamburgisches Hundegesetz: these four breeds are irrebuttably dangerous; keeping needs a permit, muzzle and leash in public.	official
Germany, Hessen	RestrictedHundeVO 2003 (amended 2022): one list of presumed dangerous breeds; keeping needs a permit, Wesenstest, Sachkunde, liability insurance, muzzle and leash.	official
Germany, Nordrhein-Westfalen	RestrictedLHundG NRW §3 gefährliche Hunde: permit, Sachkunde before the official vet, criminal record check, liability insurance, microchip, leash and muzzle outside fenced property.	official
Germany, Rheinland-Pfalz	RestrictedLHundG RP 2004: keeping needs a permit (Sachkunde, reliability, insurance), muzzle and leash in public.	source
Germany, Saarland	RestrictedSaarland dog ordinance (HuV SL 2022): presumed dangerous, rebuttable by a temperament test; permit, muzzle and leash otherwise.	source
Germany, Sachsen	RestrictedGefHundG Sachsen 2000: presumed dangerous, rebuttable by official behavioural assessment; permit, muzzle and leash otherwise.	source
Germany, Sachsen-Anhalt	RestrictedHundeG LSA 2009: dogs that may not be imported under the federal HundVerbrEinfG are presumed dangerous; keeping must be notified and needs a Wesenstest, insurance, leash and muzzle.	source
France	Permit requiredCatégorie 2 (chiens de garde et de défense): permis de détention from the mairie, behavioural evaluation at 8-12 months, owner training certificate, liability insurance, muzzle and leash in public places and transport.	official
Denmark	BannedHundeloven §1a: possession and breeding of these 13 breeds and any cross containing them is prohibited (since 2010); commercial import is banned.	source
Denmark	Import bannedHundeloven §1a stk. 3: commercial import of the listed dogs and their crosses is prohibited; consolidated act LBK nr 329 af 02/03/2021.	official
Norway	BannedHundeforskriften under the Hundeloven: owning, breeding and importing these six breeds (and any cross containing them) is illegal; police may order a dog of doubtful breed destroyed or exported.	official
Lithuania	RestrictedDangerous breeds (pavojingi sunys): permit from the municipality to keep in multi-apartment buildings, warning sign, muzzle and short leash in public, microchip and rabies vaccination; the list is exhaustive.	source
Luxembourg	Permit requiredLoi du 9 mai 2008 relative aux chiens art. 10: 'chiens susceptibles d'etre dangereux' must be declared, the owner must complete a 12-hour course and the dog a 24-hour training course with exam, leash everywhere unless exempted by diploma, muzzle on case-by-case order; all dogs in Luxembourg need liability insurance.	official
Switzerland, Zürich	BannedHundeverordnung §5 Rassetypenliste II: acquisition, breeding and moving in of these types is prohibited; Rottweilers registered before 1 Jan 2025 may be kept only with a Haltebewilligung after a temperament assessment (applications by 30 June 2025).	official
Switzerland, Genève	BannedRChiens art. 17 (15 'chiens listes'): banned in the canton for dogs arriving after 24 Feb 2008; grandfathered dogs with a 'carte bleue' must pass a behaviour test, be neutered and be muzzled and leashed everywhere.	official
Switzerland, Valais	BannedConseil d'Etat decision 2005 under art. 37 LALPA: keeping these 12 breeds and their crosses is banned (new ownership since 1 Jan 2006); visits up to 30 days per year allowed with leash and muzzle.	source
Switzerland, Vaud	Permit requiredRLPolC art. 2 and 9-11: 'chiens potentiellement dangereux' need a cantonal keeping authorisation (adult, insurance, clean record), a behaviour test (TCOM) from 12 months and up to 72 hours of training.	official
Switzerland, Ticino	Permit requiredRegolamento sui cani (RCani, in force 1 Jan 2026) art. 14-20: 30 breeds and crosses born after 1 April 2009 need an authorisation from the cantonal veterinary office before acquisition, a training course, aptitude tests at 9-13 months and in year 3; applies to dogs staying over 30 days a year.	source
Switzerland, Other cantons	Permit requiredPermit (Bewilligungspflicht) cantons per SRF overview (Dec 2024): Aargau (8 bull types + Rottweiler), Basel-Stadt and Basel-Landschaft (8), Solothurn (8), Glarus (10 incl. German and Belgian Shepherd), Schaffhausen (14), Thurgau (14); no breed rules in AI, AR, BE, GR, JU, LU, NE, SG, UR, ZG, NW, OW, SZ.	source
Austria, Wien	Permit requiredWiener Tierhaltegesetz and Hundefuehrscheinverordnung: 'Listenhunde' need a Hundefuehrschein (exam within 3 months, repeat after 21-24 months), muzzle and leash in public, handler at least 16 and under 0.5 permille alcohol; Sachkunde course before registering since 1 July 2019.	official
Austria, Niederösterreich	RestrictedNOe Hundehaltegesetz §2: 'Hunde mit erhoehtem Gefaehrdungspotential' must be notified to the municipality, extended Sachkunde, muzzle and leash in built-up areas, transport, schools and parks.	official
Austria, Oberösterreich	RestrictedOOe Hundehaltegesetz (new rules from 1 Dec 2024): 'spezielle Hunde' are treated as large dogs regardless of size, must pass an Alltagstauglichkeitspruefung and are under leash and muzzle duty in public places.	source
Austria, Vorarlberg	Permit requiredVorarlberg: keeping a listed breed requires an authorisation; muzzle, leash or custody conditions are set case by case by decision (older secondary overview, not re-verified against the current law).	source
Spain	Permit requiredReal Decreto 287/2002 (Ley 50/1999) 'perros potencialmente peligrosos': municipal licence (adult, clean record, psychological and physical aptitude, liability insurance of at least 120,000 EUR), muzzle and non-extensible leash under 2 m in public, one PPP per handler; a 2025 draft decree under Ley 7/2023 would let dogs leave the category by passing aptitude tests but is not yet approved.	official
Portugal	Permit requiredPortaria 422/2004 lists the 'caes potencialmente perigosos'; Decreto-Lei 315/2009 (as amended by DL 9/2021) requires an annual licence from the junta de freguesia (owner over 16, criminal record, training course, liability insurance of at least 50,000 EUR, sterilisation unless LOP-registered), muzzle and leash of max 1 m in public, secure 2 m enclosure and warning signs.	official
Romania	Muzzle and leash requiredOUG 55/2002 categoria II: muzzle and leash in public places (except dog areas), owner at least 18 with clean record, police declaration, ACR registration, warning sign; transfers must be reported within 48 hours.	source
Croatia	Permit requiredPedigree bull-type terriers (HKS/FCI) are allowed only from controlled breeding, with owner conditions and a socialisation test (art. 8).	official
Iceland	Import bannedMAST (Icelandic Food and Veterinary Authority) does not permit import of these breeds, their crosses for 5 generations, wolf hybrids for 10 generations, or other dogs of comparable origin, physique or temperament.	official
Turkey	BannedLaw 7332 (2021) amending Animal Protection Law 5199: producing, owning, adopting, housing, trading, displaying or advertising these breeds is prohibited; dogs owned before 14 July 2021 could be kept if neutered, chipped and registered by 14 Jan 2022, and must be muzzled, leashed and kept out of parks and playgrounds.	source
Ukraine	Insurance requiredCabinet of Ministers resolution 'Deiaki pytannia shchodo nebezpechnykh porid sobak' (10 Nov 2021) lists 51 breeds and their mixes as dangerous: owners must hold compulsory liability insurance when registering, and use a leash and muzzle where the dog may endanger people.	official
Canada, Ontario	BannedDog Owners' Liability Act (Bill 132, in force 29 Aug 2005): no new pit bulls may be owned, bred, imported or transferred; grandfathered 'restricted pit bulls' must be sterilised, muzzled and on a leash of max 1.8 m off the owner's property (O. Reg. 157/05).	source
Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba	BannedResponsible Pet Ownership By-law: pit bulls may not be brought into the City of Winnipeg (city council voted to keep the ban in 2022).	official
Japan, Ibaraki Prefecture	RestrictedIbaraki dog ordinance: specified dogs must be kept in a fully enclosed, roofed cage and the owner must display a specified-dog label.	official
South Korea	Permit requiredAnimal Protection Act (amended, in force 27 April 2024): 'maenggyeon' owners need a permit from the provincial governor after a temperament assessment, with registration, neutering and liability insurance; existing owners had until 26 Oct 2024.	source
South Korea	Muzzle and leash requiredOutside, these dogs must wear a muzzle and a leash of max 2 m; in shared indoor spaces the owner must hold the dog or its collar.	source
Singapore	Import bannedAVS: Part 1 specified dogs (except those already licensed) are not allowed into Singapore for sale, visit or stay.	official
Singapore	Insurance requiredPart 1 licensing conditions: leashed and muzzled in public, sterilised over 6 months, insurance of at least 100,000 SGD, 5,000 SGD banker's guarantee, obedience training.	official
United Arab Emirates	BannedFederal Law 22/2016 on dangerous animals, Annex 2 'List of Dangerous Dogs': possession, trade, breeding and import banned except by licence for service or medical purposes; a Nov 2021 ministerial decision updated the list to pit bull types, mastiffs, Tosa and Presa Canario, so the status of Rottweiler, Doberman and Boxer should be treated as uncertain.	official
Argentina, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires	Insurance requiredLey 4078 CABA: registration before 3 months of age, muzzle and non-extensible leash of max 2 m in public, liability insurance, secure enclosure; abandonment is a serious offence.	official
Israel	RestrictedRegulations for the Supervision of Dogs (Import and Keeping of Dangerous Dogs) 5765-2004: import prohibited, owners and handlers must be over 18, dogs over 6 months sterilised, muzzle and leash of max 2 m outside the premises, fenced yard with warning sign, no dog parks, transfer only to approved recipients.	source
Malaysia	Import bannedDepartment of Veterinary Services Malaysia: these breeds and their crosses are banned from import (as published on the Australian government MICoR page for Malaysia).	official

Checked 2026-11-05. Laws change and local rules exist; this is a sourced overview, not legal advice.

how busy a day looksAmerican Staffordshire Terrier exercise needs

Moderate to high: at least 20-40 minutes of exercise a day, ideally with running or ball games.1

the hands-on bitsAmerican Staffordshire Terrier grooming and care

Very low-maintenance coat; an occasional brush and bath keep it tidy.1

who they like aroundAmerican Staffordshire Terrier with people and other pets

A very affectionate breed that wants to be close to its people and does not like being left out of family life.1

where it all beganAmerican Staffordshire Terrier history

Bull-and-terrier dogs reached America around 1850 and were used as farm and all-round dogs. The AKC registered them in 1936 as Staffordshire Terriers and added 'American' in 1969 to tell them apart from the smaller British Staffordshire Bull Terrier.2 1

for the dinner tableFun facts

1
Pete the Pup, the ring-eyed dog from the Our Gang (Little Rascals) films, is often cited as the breed's best-known member.1
2
The breed's AKC name gained the word 'American' in 1969 to separate it from the Staffordshire Bull Terrier.2
3
The FCI lists its definitive acceptance date as 1936, the same year the AKC first recognised it.4
4
A black nose is required in the show standard.2

the story behind itWhere the name comes from

The breed was originally known as the Bull and Terrier Dog, then Staffordshire Bull Terrier after Staffordshire, England. When brought to the United States, it was called the Staffordshire Terrier, and later the name was changed to the American Staffordshire Terrier.5

stars of the breedFamous ones

Pete the Pup Famous as one of the dogs who played Pete in the 'Our Gang' (Little Rascals) film series.3

for your new friendName ideas

BusterMollyRexSadieTankLuckyDukeZoeChanceMiaRoccoSasha

told by an American Staffordshire TerrierA day in the life

I wake up with a big stretch and a tail wag, ready for whatever the day brings. My human and I start with a brisk walk, and I make sure to greet all my friends, the mailman, the neighbor's cat (from a distance), and the little dog down the street. I'm a strong, confident boy, but I'm also a big softie. At home, I love to play tug-of-war and fetch, but my favorite is cuddling on the couch. I keep an eye on the house, always alert, but I'm happiest when my human is nearby. At night, I curl up at the foot of the bed, feeling safe and loved, ready to dream about tomorrow's adventures.

A made-up story, just for fun. Not advice of any kind.

the official bitsRecognised by

AKC: Recognised in 1936 as the Staffordshire Terrier; renamed American Staffordshire Terrier from 1 January 1969.2
FCI: Standard no. 286, Group 3 (Terriers), Section 3 bull type terriers; definitive acceptance dated 10 June 1936.4
UKC: Not registered as a separate breed; UKC registers these dogs as American Pit Bull Terriers.2

homemade and simpleTreats they will love

American Staffordshire Terrier tip

AmStaffs are food-motivated and prone to weight gain, so keep treats to under 10% of daily calories and use tiny pieces in puzzle toys or slow feeders to stretch the fun.

Source: petmd.com

Simple Carrot Crunchies The Kennel Club
Pumpkin & Yoghurt Pup-Cup Dogs Trust
Homemade Dog Biscuits (Chicken & Rice) Blue Cross

All treat recipes for dogs

Not veterinary advice. Check with your vet first if your pet has allergies, a health condition, is on a special diet or is pregnant. Treats should stay a small part of the daily food. Cut to a safe size and supervise. Terms of use

the things everyone asksOwner questions

How often should I feed my American Staffordshire Terrier, and at what times?

Feed your adult American Staffordshire Terrier at least two meals a day, and puppies three to four smaller meals. Stick to consistent times like morning and evening. For exact amounts, follow the food label and consult your vet.6

What should an American Staffordshire Terrier eat, and which foods are dangerous?

Feed a high-quality dog food appropriate for his age and size. Avoid dangerous foods like chocolate, grapes, raisins, onions, garlic, and xylitol. Always check with your vet for the best diet plan.7

How often should I bathe an American Staffordshire Terrier?

Bathe your American Staffordshire Terrier at least every three months, or more often if he gets dirty. Pet Wiki's starting plan suggests a bath every 56 days. Use a dog-safe shampoo.8 Pet Wiki plan

How often does an American Staffordshire Terrier need brushing?

Brush your American Staffordshire Terrier weekly to keep the short coat tidy and remove loose hair. Pet Wiki's starting plan suggests weekly brushing. It's a low-maintenance coat.8 1 Pet Wiki plan

How do I trim an American Staffordshire Terrier's nails, and how often?

Trim your dog's nails when you hear them clicking on the floor, about every 4 weeks. Cut a little at a time and stop before the quick. If unsure, ask your vet or a groomer.8 Pet Wiki plan

How much exercise does an American Staffordshire Terrier need?

Your American Staffordshire Terrier needs at least 20 to 40 minutes of exercise daily, including running or ball games. Pet Wiki suggests daily walks and play. This active breed thrives with regular activity.1 Pet Wiki plan

How do I look after an American Staffordshire Terrier's teeth and ears?

Brush your dog's teeth two to three times a week with dog toothpaste; daily is ideal. Check ears weekly for moisture or dirt and dry them gently. Never insert anything into the ear canal.8 Pet Wiki plan

How long does an American Staffordshire Terrier live?

American Staffordshire Terriers typically live 12 to 14 years with good care.1 2

Is an American Staffordshire Terrier good with children and other pets?

Yes, well-socialised AmStaffs are devoted to family and good with children. Early socialisation with other dogs is recommended. They are affectionate and thrive on family life.3 1 2

Can an American Staffordshire Terrier be left alone?

This breed is very affectionate and prefers to be with its people. They do not like being left alone for long periods. If left alone, provide plenty of mental stimulation and consider a dog walker or daycare.1

Written from the sources on this page, a few checked guides (VCA, ASPCA, RSPCA) and Pet Wiki's own starting care plan. A friendly guide, not a vet's advice.

American Pit Bull Terrier

Staffordshire Bull Terrier

Bull Terrier

Sources (4)

Every fact on this page has a numbered source. Spotted an error? [email protected].

Hill's Pet: American Staffordshire Terrier hillspet.comused for weight, lifespan, exercise, grooming, temperament, fun fact
American Staffordshire Terrier - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.orgused for origin, recognition, size, colours, history
AKC: American Staffordshire Terrier akc.orgused for temperament
FCI nomenclature: American Staffordshire Terrier (286) fci.beused for FCI recognition
sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com
VCA Animal Hospitals: Feeding times and frequency for your dog vcahospitals.comused for owner questions
ASPCA: People foods to avoid feeding your pets aspca.orgused for owner questions
ASPCA: Dog grooming tips aspca.orgused for owner questions

Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.