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I love Staffordshire terriers, also known as the American pitbull terrier or “pitbull.” With so many pitbulls sitting in shelters across the country (more than 9,000 on Petfinder alone), I thought I’d share how great these dogs are. My next dog just might have to be a pitbull. The guy in this photo is Matty. He needs a home and you can read his profile here.

Staffordshire terriers have a bad reputation because they have been used as fighting dogs since the 1800s when they were first bred in the United States, according to the Encyclopedia of Dog Breeds by D. Caroline Coile. They are known as pitbulls because they would fight other dogs in “pits.” However, be aware that the term “pitbull” refers to a group of dogs, including the American Staffordshire terrier and the Staffordshire bull terrier. Several similar breeds are often inaccurately slapped with the name pitbull such as the Cane Corso, the American bulldog and any mix resembling these breeds.

American Staffordshire terriers were bred to be affectionate to people because their owners had to handle them even in the middle of a dogfight. Because of this, Staffordshires are friendly to strangers and generally love children and make loyal family pets.

American Staffordshire terriers weigh about 55-70 pounds, larger than the Staffordshire bull terrier. American Staffordshire terriers come in colors ranging in solid or mixes of white, brown, red and black.

Advantages to owning an American Staffordshire terrier:

1. Staffordshires are playful and gentle around people. They love children and affection. This is why it is so sad to see a Staffordshire terrier unsocialized and tied up in a yard all the time. These dogs thrive off of human interaction and companionship.

2. Staffs require very little grooming. Their coats are short and smooth. They still shed, of course.

3. This breed is easy to train because of its desire for attention and to please its owner.

4. Staffordshires make great watchdogs and will protect their owners if threatened. Unfortunately this trait is abused when owners encourage their Staffordshires to be aggressive.

5. They are beautiful dogs to look at, with muscular bodies and a strong, sturdy appearance with smooth, shiny coats.

Disadvantages to owning an American Staffordshire terrier:

1. Staffordshire terriers require dedicated owners who will give them the training, attention and exercise they need. They are powerful dogs and need their owners to encourage the gentle side of the breed and provide positive outlets for their dogs’ energy.

2. Staffordshire terriers have an inacurate reputation for being aggressive. Of course, this is the same as assuming one nationality of humans is aggressive. If you own a Staffordshire, some people will be afraid of your dog and you will be treated differently just for owning one. If your dog so much as growls at another dog, expect other dog owners to freak out even though the same behavior would be tolerated from a Yorkie, a golden retriever, a beagle or many other breeds.

3. Many laws ban “pitbulls,” especially apartment complexes and some cities. Be aware of the inconveniences and stereotypes you will have to deal with if you own a Staffordshire.

4. Staffordshires need to be properly socialized around other dogs and small animals. Because they were bred to fight dogs, they are fearless of other dogs and can be aggressive to other animals.

5. Because of their strength and size, Staffordshires can be difficult to handle. A pinch collar or Gentle Leader help with walking a Staff that pulls on the leash.

If you would like to write a profile of your favorite breed, send me an email at Lindsay@thatmutt.com. I’ll use pictures of your dog and link to your site. I’m happy to feature any breed! Click here to see all the breed profiles that have been done. Below is Ace hanging out with the Staffordshire we fostered for a short time last fall. He thought she was great!

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Ace did something bad last night. He bit my boyfriend in the face.

This made me realize I cannot tolerate any aggressive behavior from my dog.

The bite was a small puncture wound on the side of Josh’s nose, an inch or so below his eye. A small puncture wound, yes, but the nip was not from playful mouthing or an accidental tooth hit. For a half-second, Ace made the decision to bite.

The bite happened this way: Josh and I were play fighting with Ace in the room, something we do at least once a week. We always let Ace jump up on the bed to “give kisses” in our faces.  Well that’s what happened this time, only Ace’s excitement escalated, resulting in the nip. Clearly, we were asking for trouble. Had anyone else told me this story, I would’ve thought, well, you’re a dumb ass.

Looking back, I realize I have tolerated, even encouraged some behavior in Ace that was wrong. And Josh is just as guilty, always wanting our dog to protect us and be a tough guy. Ace is literally one of the most submissive, gentle dogs I know, which is why we never thought twice about playfully rough housing with him.

In the last year we have taught Ace to chase the cats when they do something bad like scratch the couch, taught him to “give kisses” in our faces, wrestled with him to the point where he is growling and mouthing, played tug-a-war even when he’s growling and praised him when he snapped at our cat Beamer when he tried to take Ace’s food (Beamer has an issue with stealing everyone’s food). Well, all of these games are over as of last night.

The bite happened so fast neither Josh or I disciplined Ace until seconds later. By that time Ace had already moved on and forgotten all about the incident. It was too late to correct him. He served some time in his kennel anyway, but I can guarantee Ace had no clue why he spent the rest of the night in his  kennel.

I know most of us play with our dogs too roughly. We wrestle and play chasing games. We even think it’s cute when dogs “play” growl or “play” bite. But dogs get confused and excited. And when dogs get too excited they enter a different state of mind. Dogs are dogs. As their owners, it is our responsibility not to forget what animals are capable of.

I don’t know what I would do if Ace caused someone to need stitches. I don’t know what I’d do if he bit a child. Remember that 70 percent of all dog-bite fatalities are children.

As I write this I am thinking in particular of my friends with giant breeds (you know who you are). I can’t help but think of how one playful nip could turn into a very bad accident. I also think of the owners of small dogs who think their little pooches could cause no harm. Well, all it takes is the right nip.

This is a reminder for me not to be careless with my dog. I work hard to train Ace, to give him what he needs and to keep him and others safe. But I have made mistakes. Remember to be aware of the little things now in order to prevent accidents down the road.

By the way, last night when Ace slept in his kennel, my cat Scout was in my bed purring up a storm. I mean snuggling and drooling like he hasn’t done in months. A coincidence?

A pit bull mauled a 9-week-old boxer puppy last week at a local dog park in Fargo, shaking the pup and refusing to let go. It’s a scene that has happened or could happen in all dog parks: one dog attacks another dog.

Aggressive behavior at the dog park cannot be avoided completely. Going to the dog park is always a risk. Dog whisperer Cesar Millan and author Jon Katz  say dog parks are disasters waiting to happen. There are just too many unbalanced, nervous, excited dogs together. A few months back, I wrote a post on 10 things to consider at the dog park. But most of that post included tips only you can control. What happens when someone doesn’t follow the dog park rules? The dog parks in Fargo are managed by the park district. None of the rules are enforced. Even if a dog attacks another dog, animal control does nothing. Law enforcement only gets involved if a human is the victim.

Keeping all this in mind, here are seven things to consider at dog parks for your own dog’s safety, since you cannot control it if some idiot brings his aggressive dog into the park.

1. Find out what law enforcement will actually enforce in your area.
Maybe your police department has its act together a little better than Fargo’s finest. Find out what the laws are and how they are enforced. Don’t be afraid to report questionable dogs and owners.

2. Keep your dog in the appropriate area for her size.
Most dog parks are divided into at least two sections, based on the size of the dogs. I am guilty. On quiet days when there are only a few dogs at the park, we will all bring our dogs to one side. I do always ask the little dog owners if it’s OK first, but it’s not OK. In the attack I mentioned earlier, the adult dog mauled a puppy that shouldn’t have been on the big dog side in the first place. Certain dogs see small animals as prey. My mutt chases squirrels and rabbits all the time, for example. Really, could you blame a lab mix for mistaking a Chihuahua for a rodent?

3. If a dog is questionable, be safe and leave the park.
If there is a dog I don’t trust, or a human who is irresponsible, I make the choice to leave the park with my dog. It’s not worth it to stay and risk a bite or a fight.

4. Do what you can to control your own dog.
I don’t do this often enough, but it is a good idea to walk my dog before we go to the dog park. If you walk your dog for a half-hour before you go to the park, she can get rid of pent up energy. The dogs that enter the dog park in an excited state of mind are the ones most likely to be challenged by a dominant dog. Practice entering and exiting the park with your dog under control and practice the recall so your dog will come in all situations.

5. Know what you will do if a fight does occur.
Most of the time when dogs appear to be fighting, they are just playing roughly or working out who is the dominant one. It usually sounds worse than it is and neither dog gets hurt. But when one dog attacks another dog and it escalates, what will you do? Dog trainer Jeff Millman over at Watch and Train suggests making a loud noise by hitting a garbage can or yelling to distract the dogs. He also said to try throwing toys at the dogs, spraying them with water or covering their heads with jackets. Another option is to pull the dogs apart, but know there is a high chance the dogs will bite you.

6. Have veterinary emergency information handy.
Program your dog’s vet number into your phone. Know the hours of the vet’s office and where the local animal ER is located. You never know when an emergency will occur.

7. Remember all animals are unpredictable.
I wish I could trust Ace 100 percent. I don’t think he would ever bite another dog because he is very submissive, but how do I know he wouldn’t? I don’t. Animals don’t just bite out of aggression. They bite if they are scared or excited, too. Like I said, Ace is normally a submissive dog, but there are a few dogs he will bark and growl at. Behavior like this is often what stirs up a fight.

Have you seen any fights at the dog park? What did you do? Do you think dog parks are safe?

(Image is of my parents’ dog, Sophie, and my uncle’s dog, Radar.)