The American Bulldog Staffy is a combination of the American Staffordshire Terrier and the American Bulldog. Due to this mix, the resulting crossbreed is a strong animal, despite having a medium build. Although they were originally developed to be working dogs, their warm and loyal nature makes them wonderful family pets.
The parent breeds come from the same line of ancestors, sharing similar qualities, but the American Staffy cross Bulldog shares more common traits with the American Staffordshire Terrier.
The American Staffy cross Bulldog breed is immensely energetic, and they don’t get tired easily, even after hours of playtime and regular walks. Given their size, they can easily live in apartments.
Before you decide to adopt this adorable breed for your home, it’s vital to learn further about them. So, let’s explore their history, personality, dietary needs, and more.
History and Facts
The American Staffordshire Terrier is a short-coated and medium-sized dog of English origin. It was originally bred to be a fighting dog and is a descendant of the Old English White Terrier, which is now extinct.
During the early 19th century, the American Staffordshire Terrier gained popularity as a pet dog in England, with its positive reputation spreading to the United States as well.
In the initial period of the 1800s, the American Bulldog was the crossbreed of terrier and bull category dogs imported from England. These dogs were used for hunting rats and bullbaiting, dogfights, and bearbaiting.
There exist two types of American Bulldogs, which are standard and bully. While the bully type is heavy and short, the standard type is lean and tall.
In recent times, the American Staffy cross Bulldog came into being because of the amalgamation of these two popular breeds, with the new breed having a muscular body, huge head, and short coat.
| Height | 17 to 19 inches |
| Weight | 50 to 70 pounds |
| Lifespan | 12 to 14 years |
| Breed type | Designer |
| Coat colour | Black, brown, white, blue, brindle, and gray |
| Best suited | Active families |
About American Staffy Cross Bulldog
The notable attribute about the American Staffordshire and Bulldog mix is that its parent breeds are both believed to have originated from bulldogs or bulldog-type breeds.
This is probably the reason why they share similar traits, such as strength and intense energy. They’re both also efficient guard dogs and loyal companions.
Socialisation is very important for American Staffy cross Bulldogs. When exposed to humans and other animals from a young age, it becomes easier for them to interact with everyone around them, resulting in them being friendly and confident instead of aggressive and wild.
Owners of this breed should remember that a male American Bulldog Staffy is more dominant compared to a female dog of the same breed, and the former also don’t react well with other male dogs around. This, however, depends on the individual dog and the kind of atmosphere they have grown up around.
1. Physical Attributes of American Staffy Cross Bulldog
The American Bulldog and Staffordshire Terrier mix is muscular, relatively large, and possesses a short coat. The muzzle area of this dog is short, and they have a broad head and a black nose. In addition, these adorable dogs have dark brown, oval-shaped eyes.
The appearance of this breed presents it as a powerful dog due to its muscular thighs, deep chest, and medium-length tail. The coat of an American Staffy Cross Bulldog is stiff and short and comes in a variety of colours, with black, brindle, and white being the common ones.
These dogs usually weigh between 50 to 70 pounds, and their height could be anywhere between 17 to 19 inches.
2. Personality and Temperament
Owners of an American Staffordshire and Bulldog mix should get the dog to socialise from day one to prevent them from becoming antisocial in the future. This breed is extremely attentive and constantly aware of its ambience, making it perfect for families and kids.
These dogs are protective, loyal, and have a talent for detecting threats, helping keep your loved ones safe. American Staffy cross Bulldogs have plenty of energy, which is why it’s imperative to watch them around toddlers, as they could knock them over accidentally despite being very gentle with children.
Due to their size and history, this breed could be considered dangerous. However, when trained properly from a tender age, they grow up to be friendly and even-tempered.
Since they are active and intelligent creatures, providing them with substantial mental stimulation is necessary. If they don’t have much to do, they could behave destructively. Therefore, keep them occupied with puzzles and toys.
3. Grooming
Even though the American Bulldog Staffordshire Terrier mix has a short coat, they shed quite a lot. To maintain their coat and ensure that it remains healthy, owners can use a soft bristle brush to groom them.
Don’t bathe your dog unless absolutely required since frequent baths can harm the natural oil that keeps them protected. Check their eyes and ears frequently for injuries or infections, brush their teeth twice or thrice a week, and clip their nails if they become too long.
If you belong to a family with members who are usually busy with work and chores, having an American Staffy cross Bulldog is a wise choice since it’s quite a low-maintenance dog.
4. Diet and Nutrition
Since the American Bulldog Staffy has a lot of energy, their dietary requirement is also stringent to retain the strength in their bones and muscles.
Therefore, it is crucial you give them food that contains plenty of protein, along with nutritious items with a low level of carbohydrates in them, so they don’t become obese.
Stay away from tinned food because these dogs could get gassy. Instead, maintain a diet of dry food. Giving them a mix of wet and dry food works for some of the dogs of this breed.
5. Training and Exercise
American Staffy cross Bulldogs observe their surroundings carefully, which is why you might want to train them in an environment with the least distractions, especially if you’re trying to teach them new tricks and commands.
Be punctual and consistent with your training and reward them with healthy treats and physical praise, so they behave well from a young age. Taking them to local parks and puppy classes to interact with other dogs is a smart idea as it instills positive behavioural habits in them.
Not only is this breed energetic, but they also love to please their owners, making them fairly easy to train. They can, however, be stubborn on certain occasions. In such cases, establish your dominance and don’t display physical aggression.
Once they realise you’re the dominant one in the equation, they are sure to obey you during the training sessions.
Having massive energy means this breed requires a lot of exercises, too. Giving them an hour of daily exercise keeps them physically and mentally stimulated. You can also consider taking them to agility classes so they can burn off more energy.
Bonus Read: 4 Best Dog Ball Launcher Options in Australia
6. Health Concerns
The parent breeds of American Staffy cross Bulldogs are usually prone to luxating patella and hip dysplasia. So, you might want to observe their conditions carefully if they ever behave differently.
Apart from that, they are quite a healthy breed that isn’t inclined toward genetic health issues.
Final Words
The American Staffy cross Bulldog gets its characteristics from two strong and intelligent breeds. They prove to be immensely loyal, caring, warm, and protective if given proper attention and care. Read through the article to learn the little details about them before deciding to bring these cute companions home.
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