Number 6….

Staffordshire Terrier- $1000 – $1300

In the nineteenth century in Staffordshire, Bulldogs and various terrier breeds were crossed and eventually bred the Staffordshire Terrier. When it was brought to the United States it was crossed with other breeds to produce a broader, more powerful head and increased weight.This was preferred by Americans and became recognized as a new, separate breed. After dog fighting was made illegal, the breed was separated into two strains  a show strain and a non- show strain. These were later recognized as their own breeds as well; the show strain, American Staffordshire, and the non- show, the American Bull Terrier.

The  Staffordshire Terrier is a very stocky and muscular dog that is very strong for its size. Their coats are very thick and glossy that comes in all colors, partial and patched, but it is not favorable for the dog’s coat to be more than 80 percent white. They have tails that are short for their size and tapers to a point. These terriers are usually big bone, large dogs and cousin to the American Pit Bull Terrier. Staffordshires are very intelligent  outgoing dogs. They are commonly very confident and level tempered. They do well with children, being that they are very gentle and well- natured dogs, and also make great guard dogs. They are very obedient, but are also highly protective of their owners and will fight if provoked. If a Staffordshire is raised unsociable they may become aggressive. It is extremely important for the owner to establish themselves higher than the dog early on to make sure that the dog is obedient. As far as health problems go, Staffordshires are prone to heart murmurs, thyroid problems, skin allergies, tumors, hip dysplacia, and also hereditary cataracts and congenital heart disease. Exercise is mandatory for these terriers, otherwise they become hard to handle.