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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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When dogs used for fighting are taken out of their abusive situations, they should be given a chance to live a normal life.

According to CNN, 47 pit bulls were taken from property owned by Michael Vick. All the dogs went to animal rehabilitation centers. The hope is that with time, some of them will be able to be adopted and learn what life is like as a loved pet.

Many of these dogs are living in Utah at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary. This is a facility home to about 2,000 animals on any given day, according to its web site. The animals that go there stay until they are well enough to live the rest of their lives as a pet. The ones that cannot live in society again stay at the sanctuary. This is a happy ending for so many dogs. No animals are euthanized unless they are suffering from terminal illness or are in incredible pain.

Unfortunately, not every dog can possibly go to a rehabilitation center. Although the pit bulls formerly owned by Vick are in good hands, hundreds of pit bulls that have never been trained to fight sit in rescue organizations across the country, waiting for a home. Just to give you some idea, today I did a search on Petfinder for pit bull terrier. More than 9,100 profiles appeared. These dogs sit in cages for months at a time, becoming more and more unsocialized, frustrated and bored. A life in a cage is not a life for a dog.

I believe all dogs can be rehabilitated if they are given enough time, love and training, even the most extreme cases. But there are not enough resources to offer help like this to every dog. The animals that end up at Best Friends and places like it are lucky. They have acres to run and play on, and they get the best care. If there were more facilities like this across the country, blameless dogs and cats would not have to be euthanized every day.