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American Staffordshire Terrier

AmStaff, Am Staff, Staffordshire Terrier

The American Staffordshire Terrier comes from the USA; the FCI lists it among the bull-type terriers. Its standard asks for great strength for its size and gives a height of 46–48 cm for males and 43–46 cm for females, but no weight. PetMD gives 40–70 pounds (about 18–32 kg) for both sexes; a dog of this size is fully grown at about 12–15 months (PetMD).

PetMD recommends at least 60 minutes of exercise a day, says the breed is patient and loving with children, that it can be prone to separation anxiety and that its strong prey drive can make life with smaller dogs or cats more difficult. A UK study (McMillan et al., 2024, as tabled by Dogs Trust) gives a median life expectancy of 12.5 years; PetMD gives 12–16 years. VCA recommends weekly brushing; PetMD advises socialising the puppy, no exercise right after a meal (bloat), and bathing and ear cleaning about every 4–6 weeks.

Built and tested; it arrives with a coming app release.

Updated:

American Staffordshire Terrier — photo (AI)
AI-generated photo

At a glance

Size
medium — PetMD S628
Adult weight
males 18.1–31.8 kg, females 18.1–31.8 kg — PetMD S628
Daily exercise
at least 1 hour a day — PetMD S628
Lifespan
median 12.5 years — Dogs Trust S123; 12–16 years — PetMD S628

Key facts from the sources at the bottom of the page. Where sources differ, each value is listed.

Who it suits

Good for:

  • families with childrenS628

Keep in mind:

  • loves company — best with someone home most of the dayS628
  • strong prey drive — may chase small petsS628

The same tags as in the app. Each tag is backed by the sources listed at the bottom of the page.

What it needs

From breed standards, kennel clubs, veterinary charities and studies. Where sources differ, each one is shown.

Exercise

  • Daily exercise: at least 1 hour a day — PetMD S628

Meals

General guidance for dogs (not breed-specific):

  • 8–12 weeks: 4 meals a day — ASPCA S18
  • 3–6 months: 3 meals a day — ASPCA S18
  • 6–12 months: 2 meals a day — ASPCA S18
  • Adult: at least 2 meals a day — VCA Animal Hospitals S19
  • Senior: 2–3 meals a day, smaller portions — Dogs Trust S14

Lifespan

  • Lifespan: median 12.5 years — Dogs Trust S123
  • Lifespan: 12–16 years — PetMD S628

Life stages

  • Reaches adult size at: about 12–15 months (guidance for its size class) — PetMD S10

General guidance for dogs (not breed-specific):

  • Puppy: until about 6–9 months — AAHA S11
  • Young adult: until 3–4 years — AAHA S11
  • Senior: the last 25 % of the expected lifespan — AAHA S11

Size and weight

  • Size: medium — PetMD S628
  • Height at the withers: males 46–48 cm, females 43–46 cm — FCI S626
  • Adult weight: males 18.1–31.8 kg, females 18.1–31.8 kg — PetMD S628

Training

  • No. 34 in Stanley Coren's ranking of working and obedience intelligence. — Wikipedia S35
  • FCI standard no. 286, group 3 (terriers); origin: USA. — FCI S625

Questions and answers

Answered only from the sourced facts on this page; every answer names its sources.

How much exercise does an American Staffordshire Terrier need?

According to our sources, the American Staffordshire Terrier needs this much exercise: at least 1 hour a day — PetMD S628.

How long does an American Staffordshire Terrier live?

According to our sources, the lifespan of the American Staffordshire Terrier is: median 12.5 years — Dogs Trust S123; 12–16 years — PetMD S628. The sources give different values, so each one is listed.

How big does an American Staffordshire Terrier get and how much does it weigh?

Size and adult weight of the American Staffordshire Terrier, according to our sources: Size: medium — PetMD S628; Adult weight: males 18.1–31.8 kg, females 18.1–31.8 kg — PetMD S628.

Who is the American Staffordshire Terrier a good fit for?

Our sources describe the American Staffordshire Terrier as a good fit for: families with children — PetMD S628. Keep in mind: loves company — best with someone home most of the day — PetMD S628; strong prey drive — may chase small pets — PetMD S628.

Game rules, not veterinary advice

How PetPrep simulates it

In PetPrep one real week is one month of the pet's life. These are the rules the game uses for this breed. PetPrep chose them from the sources on this page; they are not care instructions for a real animal.

Life stageStartsMeals a dayDaily step goal
Puppyarrives at 2 months4; from month 3: 3; from month 6: 21,000 steps per month of age (2,000 on arrival), up to 6,000 from month 6
Young dogmonth 926,000 steps
Adultmonth 36 (3 years)26,000 steps
Seniormonth 113 (9.4 years)24,500 steps
  • Step goal = minutes of daily exercise × 100 steps: an adult gets 1 hour, so 6,000 steps a day.
  • Learns commands 1.2× as fast as the mixed breed of the free plan.
  • Becomes a senior in month 113 (9.4 years) — the last quarter of the breed's expected lifespan.
  • Walks count real steps from Apple Health or Health Connect (with permission, read-only) and the phone's motion sensor — no GPS.
  • Combing once a week.
  • Care: checking and cleaning the ears every 4 weeks — a task for the child.
  • Care: a bath every 4 weeks — a reminder for the parent.

Each game number is a PetPrep decision recorded with its sources. — PetMD, AAHA, Dogs Trust, ASPCA, VCA Animal Hospitals, The Royal Kennel Club, Purdue University Canine Welfare Science, Wikipedia, British Journal of Sports Medicine S10S11S14S18S19S21S24S35S45S123S628S629

Health

For information only, not vet-reviewed. Ask your vet about your own animal.

  • Hip dysplasia, a poorly developed hip joint that can lead to arthritis, occurs in the breed; breeders are advised to have the parents' hips scored. — PetMD S628
  • Progressive retinal atrophy, an inherited eye disease that can slowly lead to blindness, occurs in the breed; DNA tests and eye testing are available. — PetMD S628
  • Skin allergies (atopy), which cause itching and sore skin, can occur in the breed. — VCA Animal Hospitals S629

Before you buy: what to check with the breeder

Questions to settle before you take a puppy home. The points are advice from vets, welfare charities and kennel clubs; each cites its source.

For every breed

  • See the puppy with its mother, where it was born. — PDSA, RSPCA K1K2
  • The puppy should not leave its mother before 8 weeks of age. — PDSA K1
  • Ask for the pedigree. Under FCI rules a pedigree may be issued for correct parentage only. — FCI K7
  • Ask to see the health-test results of both parents. Which tests matter depends on the breed. — PDSA, British Veterinary Association, FOUR PAWS UK K1K9K10
  • National kennel clubs can set breeding rules that go beyond the FCI's — ask the breed club which tests the parents need. — FCI K7
  • Ask for a written sale contract that records the puppy's background and health. — British Veterinary Association, FOUR PAWS UK K9K10

Laws on the minimum age, microchipping and vaccination differ by country — check the rules where you live.

Health tests of the parents for this breed

We have not yet found a reliable source that lists health tests for the parents of this breed. Ask the breed club and the breeder which tests the parents have done.

Similar breeds

Other dogs in the register with similar needs — each with sourced facts.

Sources

Every fact on this page cites one of these sources.

  1. S10PetMD — S. C. Mitchell, DVM, DABVP, 2025-05-20 — When Do Dogs Stop Growing?https://www.petmd.com/dog/general-health/when-do-dogs-stop-growing
  2. S11AAHA — 2019 AAHA Canine Life Stage Guidelines — Canine life stage definitionshttps://www.aaha.org/resources/life-stage-canine-2019/canine-life-stage-definitions/
  3. S14Dogs Trust (UK) — Caring for an older doghttps://www.dogstrust.org.uk/dog-advice/life-with-your-dog/at-home/looking-after-an-older-dog
  4. S18ASPCA — General Dog Carehttps://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/general-dog-care
  5. S19VCA Animal Hospitals (2025-02-21) — Feeding Times and Frequency for Your Doghttps://vcahospitals.com/pets-first/know-your-pet/feeding-times-and-frequency-for-your-dog
  6. S21The Royal Kennel Club (UK) — Puppy feeding tipshttps://www.royalkennelclub.com/health-and-dog-care/health-dog-care/health/health-and-care/a-z-of-health-and-care-issues/puppy-feeding-tips
  7. S24Purdue University Canine Welfare Science (content: Pet Leadership Council 2019, bedogsmart.com) — Dog Fitness and Exercise (PDF)https://caninewelfare.centers.purdue.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Dog-Fitness-and-Exercise.pdf
  8. S35Wikipedia — The Intelligence of Dogshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Intelligence_of_Dogs
  9. S45British Journal of Sports Medicine (2018) — Tudor-Locke C. et al. How fast is fast enough? Walking cadence (steps/min) as a practical estimate of intensity in adults. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2017-097628https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6029645
  10. S123Dogs Trust (UK) — Life expectancy for 155 breeds and crossbred group (table of McMillan et al. 2024 data) (PDF)https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/downloads/life-expectancy-breeds-table-2024.pdf
  11. S625FCI — Nomenclature — American Staffordshire Terrier (286)https://www.fci.be/en/nomenclature/AMERICAN-STAFFORDSHIRE-TERRIER-286.html
  12. S626FCI — FCI-Standard N° 286 — American Staffordshire Terrier (PDF, EN)https://www.fci.be/Nomenclature/Standards/286g03-en.pdf
  13. S628PetMD — Georgina Ushi, DVM (published Feb. 1, 2023) — American Staffordshire Terrier — dog breed health and carehttps://www.petmd.com/dog/breeds/american-staffordshire-terrier
  14. S629VCA Animal Hospitals — American Staffordshire Terrier (Know your pet)https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/american-staffordshire-terrier
  15. K1PDSA — Getting a puppyhttps://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/looking-after-your-pet/puppies-dogs/getting-a-puppy
  16. K2RSPCA — Buying a puppyhttps://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/dogs/puppy
  17. K7FCI (copy hosted by Norsk Kennel Klub) — International Breeding Rules of the FCIhttps://nkk2023.stage22.coretrek.no/getfile.php/131987377-1520848467/Dokumenter/Registrering/FCIs%20avlsregler%202013.pdf
  18. K9British Veterinary Association — What should you consider when buying a puppy?https://www.bva.co.uk/news-and-blog/blog-article/what-should-you-consider-when-buying-a-puppy/
  19. K10FOUR PAWS UK — Questions to ask when buying a puppyhttps://www.four-paws.org.uk/our-stories/publications-guides/questions-to-ask-when-buying-a-puppy

PetPrep is a simulation for families. This page is not veterinary advice — for a real animal, ask a vet or the breed club.

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