Last Updated: Nov 22, 2022
Quick Links: Table of Contents
- Are American Staffordshire Terriers Aggressive Towards Strangers?
- Are American Staffordshire Terriers Aggressive Towards their Owners?
- Are American Staffordshire Terriers Aggressive Towards other Dogs?
- Are American Staffordshire Terriers Afraid of Strangers?
- Are American Staffordshire Terriers Afraid of Other Dogs?
- Do American Staffordshire Terriers Have Non-Social Fears?
- Do American Staffordshire Terriers Get Along Well With Other Dogs?
- Are American Staffordshire Terriers Easy to Train?
- Do American Staffordshire Terriers Get Along Well with Cats? Do They Get Along Well with Other Pets?
- Do American Staffordshire Terriers Like Attention? Are they Clingy or Aloof?
- Do American Staffordshire Terriers have Separation Anxiety? Do They Like to be Left Alone?
- Are American Staffordshire Terriers Touch Sensitive? Do They Like to be Groomed?
- Are American Staffordshire Terriers Hyper? Are they Highly Excitable?
- Are American Staffordshire Terriers Playful? What is the Energy Level of American Staffordshire Terriers
- Conclusion on American Staffordshire Terrier Temperament
Introduction to the Temperament of the American Staffordshire Terrier
The are many descriptions of the temperament of the American Staffordshire Terrier out there. However, most of these descriptions are difficult to verify or prove. They are based on mere speculations.
In this article, we will provide a factual description of the temperament of the American Staffordshire Terrier based on solid scientific research. This will give you a better understanding of what you can expect from the American Staffordshire Terrier breed.
We obtained our description of the temperament of American Staffordshire Terrier by analyzing raw scientific data from The Canine Behavioral Assessment & Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ) database.
The C-BARQ dog temperament standard was developed by researchers from the University of Pennsylvania. It is considered the gold standard for measuring the behavior of dogs.
Over the years, the C-BARQ study has collected data on the temperament of thousands of dogs of different breeds including the American Staffordshire Terrier.
The C-BARQ study obtains its data by asking dog owners to score the behavior of their dogs on different behavior patterns.
The idea behind the C-BARQ study is that if it collects thousands of scores from thousands of dog owners on different aspects of dog behavior, a clear pattern will emerge on the temperament of different dog breeds.
The C-BARQ questionnaire measures 14 behavior aspects of dogs:
- Aggression towards stranger
- Aggression towards its owner
- Aggression towards other dogs
- How well they get along with other dogs
- Fear of strangers
- Fear of new things (new objects, unfamiliar loud sounds, etc)
- Fear of other dogs
- Separation anxiety
- Clinginess
- Trainability/ Stubbornness
- Prey drive
- Excitability
- Touch sensitivity
- Energy level
In this article, we will discuss the score of the American Staffordshire Terrier for each of these 14 characteristics. This will let you know the real temperament of the American Staffordshire Terrier.
The summary table below shows the score of the American Staffordshire Terrier for the different behavioral characteristics.
High percentage scores close to 100 are bad. Low percentage scores close to 0 are good.
| Behavior | Score |
|---|---|
| Owner Directed Aggression | 8.3 percent |
| Dog Directed Aggression | 55.3 percent |
| Excitability | 53.7 percent |
| Energy Level | 53.4 percent |
| Attachment Attention Seeking | 52.7 percent |
| Prey Drive | 51.3 percent |
| Separation Related Behavior | 43.3 percent |
| Dog Rivalry | 39.1 percent |
| Stubbornness | 34.7 percent |
| Stranger Directed Aggression | 32.3 percent |
| Nonsocial Fear | 31.7 percent |
| Dog Directed Fear | 27.3 percent |
| Touch Sensitivity | 24.0 percent |
| Stranger Directed Fear | 17.0 percent |
Note that with proper training, you can better your American Staffordshire Terrier`s temperament. To learn how to properly train your American Staffordshire Terrier, I highly recommend that you go through Dr. Ian Dunbar`s online dog training classes, which you can find here.
I learned most of the things that I know about training dogs by reading Dr. Dunbar`s books and watching his training videos. Dr. Dunbar`s dog training methods are for people expecting to own a puppy soon, new dog owners, and experienced dog owners.
Another helpful online dog training class that I recommend is this one. The class will teach you how to properly train your American Staffordshire Terrier.
See also our complete ranking of dog breeds from the `best` to the `worst` based on temperament.
Are American Staffordshire Terriers Aggressive Towards Strangers?
Dog breeds that are aggressive to strangers show hostile responses to strangers approaching or invading the dog`s or the dog owner`s personal space, territory, or home range.
Stranger-aggressive dog breeds are quick to show aggression to unfamiliar people.
Typical signs of moderate aggression in dogs include barking, growling, and baring of teeth. More serious display of aggression generally includes snapping, lunging, biting, or attempting to bite.
American Staffordshire Terriers are somewhat aggressive towards strangers.
This is because the American Staffordshire Terrier ranks average for aggression towards strangers.
The American Staffordshire Terrier ranks number 60 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards strangers.
This information is based on what 47 American Staffordshire Terrier owners reported on the temperament of their American Staffordshire Terrier in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the American Staffordshire Terrier has a stranger-directed-aggression score of 32.3 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat aggressive towards strangers just like the American Staffordshire Terrier are listed in the table below
| Stranger-Directed-Aggression Rank | Breed | Stranger-Directed-Aggression Score |
|---|---|---|
| 57 | Beagle | 32.4 % |
| 58 | Italian Greyhound | 32.4 % |
| 59 | Treeing Walker Coonhound | 32.3 % |
| 60 | American Staffordshire Terrier | 32.3 % |
| 61 | Australian Kelpie | 32.0 % |
| 62 | Havanese | 31.5 % |
| 63 | Alaskan Husky | 31.3 % |
The dog breeds that are most aggressive towards strangers are the:
The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards strangers are the:
Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.
Are American Staffordshire Terriers Aggressive Towards their Owners?
Due to human effort over the course of many centuries, the dog has become a very domestic animal. Dogs have learned to live well with humans. As a result, dogs respect and love their owners. Nevertheless, some dog breeds are less respectful to their owners than some other dog breeds.
Owner-aggressive dog breeds show threatening or hostile responses to their owner or other members of the household when challenged, manhandled, stared at, stepped over, or when approached while in possession of food, objects, or toys.
A dog that is owner-aggressive shows its aggression by barking, growling, and baring of teeth. In extreme cases, these dogs can snap, lunge, bite, or attempt to bite their owners.
American Staffordshire Terriers are a little bit aggressive towards their owners.
This is because the American Staffordshire Terrier ranks low for aggression towards its owner.
The American Staffordshire Terrier ranks number 95 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards their owners.
This information is based on what 47 American Staffordshire Terrier owners reported on the temperament of their American Staffordshire Terrier in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the American Staffordshire Terrier has an owner-directed-aggression score of 8.3 %.
Other dog breeds that are a little bit owner-aggressive just like the American Staffordshire Terrier are listed in the table below
| Owner-Directed-Aggression Rank | Breed | Owner-Directed-Aggression Score |
|---|---|---|
| 92 | American Bulldog | 8.6 % |
| 93 | Boxer | 8.5 % |
| 94 | Treeing Walker Coonhound | 8.4 % |
| 95 | American Staffordshire Terrier | 8.3 % |
| 96 | Eurasier | 8.3 % |
| 97 | Belgian Sheepdog | 8.3 % |
| 98 | Lagotto Romagnolo | 8.0 % |
The dog breeds that show the most aggression towards their owners are the:
The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards their owners are the:
Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.
Are American Staffordshire Terriers Aggressive Towards other Dogs?
Dogs that are aggressive towards other dogs will direct aggressive threats or actions toward unknown or unfamiliar dogs.
A dog-aggressive dog will threaten or show hostile responses when approached by unfamiliar dogs
A dog that is dog-aggressive shows its aggression by barking, growling, and baring of teeth. In extreme cases, these dogs can snap, lunge, bite, or attempt to bite other dogs.
American Staffordshire Terriers are quite a bit aggressive towards other dogs.
This is because the American Staffordshire Terrier ranks high for aggression towards other dogs.
The American Staffordshire Terrier ranks number 44 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards other dogs.
This information is based on what 47 American Staffordshire Terrier owners reported on the temperament of their American Staffordshire Terrier in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the American Staffordshire Terrier has a dog-directed aggression score of 55.3 %.
Other dog breeds that are quite a bit dog-aggressive just like the American Staffordshire Terrier are listed in the table below
| Dog-Directed-Aggression Rank | Breed | Dog-Directed-Aggression Score |
|---|---|---|
| 41 | Standard Schnauzer | 56.4 % |
| 42 | Maltese | 55.9 % |
| 43 | Yorkshire Terrier | 55.6 % |
| 44 | American Staffordshire Terrier | 55.3 % |
| 45 | Anatolian Shepherd | 54.3 % |
| 46 | Boston Terrier | 53.5 % |
| 47 | Pembroke Welsh Corgi | 53.2 % |
The dog breeds that show the most aggression towards other dogs are the:
The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards other dogs are the:
Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.
Are American Staffordshire Terriers Afraid of Strangers?
Some dogs breeds tend to be fearful of strangers.
Dogs that are fearful of strangers will avoid strangers. These dogs will crouch, cringe, or tremble when approached by strangers.
Extreme fear in dogs is characterized by serious attempts to escape or hide from the feared stranger.
American Staffordshire Terriers are a little bit fearful of strangers.
This is because the American Staffordshire Terrier ranks low for fear of strangers.
The American Staffordshire Terrier ranks number 86 out of 124 dog breeds for fear of strangers.
This information is based on what 47 American Staffordshire Terrier owners reported on the temperament of their American Staffordshire Terrier in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the American Staffordshire Terrier has a stranger-directed-fear score of 17.0 %.
Other dog breeds that are a little bit stranger-fearful just like the American Staffordshire Terrier are listed in the table below
| Stranger-Directed-Fear Rank | Breed | Stranger-Directed-Fear Score |
|---|---|---|
| 83 | Jack Russell Terrier | 19.5 % |
| 84 | Alaskan Malamute | 19.0 % |
| 85 | Basset Hound | 18.8 % |
| 86 | American Staffordshire Terrier | 17.0 % |
| 87 | Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever | 16.7 % |
| 88 | German Shorthaired Pointer | 16.6 % |
| 89 | Rhodesian Ridgeback | 16.6 % |
The dog breeds that show the most fear of strangers are the:
The dog breeds that are least fearful of strangers are the:
Are American Staffordshire Terriers Afraid of Other Dogs?
Some dogs breeds tend to show fear when an unfamiliar dog approaches them.
A dog that is fearful of other dogs will try to avoid meeting other dogs.
American Staffordshire Terriers are a little bit fearful of other dogs.
This is because the American Staffordshire Terrier ranks low for fear of other dogs.
The American Staffordshire Terrier ranks number 84 out of 124 dog breeds for fear of other dogs.
This information is based on what 47 American Staffordshire Terrier owners reported on the temperament of their American Staffordshire Terrier in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the American Staffordshire Terrier has a dog-directed-fear score of 27.3 %.
Other dog breeds that are a little bit other-dog-fearful just like the American Staffordshire Terrier are listed in the table below
| Dog-Directed-Fear Rank | Breed | Dog-Directed-Fear Score |
|---|---|---|
| 81 | Boxer | 27.5 % |
| 82 | Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier | 27.5 % |
| 83 | Belgian Sheepdog | 27.4 % |
| 84 | American Staffordshire Terrier | 27.3 % |
| 85 | German Shorthaired Pointer | 26.6 % |
| 86 | Boston Terrier | 26.5 % |
| 87 | Rhodesian Ridgeback | 26.4 % |
The dog breeds that are most fearful of other dogs are the:
The dog breeds that are least fearful of other dogs are the:
Do American Staffordshire Terriers Have Non-Social Fears?
Dogs that are fearful of sudden or loud noises, traffic, and unfamiliar objects and situations are said to exhibit nonsocial fear.
American Staffordshire Terriers are somewhat fearful of unfamiliar sounds, situations, and objects.
This is because the American Staffordshire Terrier ranks average for non-social fear.
The American Staffordshire Terrier ranks number 62 out of 124 dog breeds for being fearful of unfamiliar things and situations.
This information is based on what 47 American Staffordshire Terrier owners reported on the temperament of their American Staffordshire Terrier in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the American Staffordshire Terrier has a nonsocial-fear score of 31.7 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat nonsocial-fearful just like the American Staffordshire Terrier are listed in the table below
| Nonsocial-Fear Rank | Breed | Nonsocial-Fear Score |
|---|---|---|
| 59 | Australian Shepherd | 32.6 % |
| 60 | Pomeranian | 31.9 % |
| 61 | American Pit Bull Terrier | 31.8 % |
| 62 | American Staffordshire Terrier | 31.7 % |
| 63 | Chow Chow | 31.4 % |
| 64 | Dalmatian | 31.3 % |
| 65 | Afghan Hound | 30.9 % |
The dog breeds that are most fearful of unfamiliar situations and objects are the:
The dog breeds that are least fearful of unfamiliar situations and objects are the:
Do American Staffordshire Terriers Get Along Well With Other Dogs?
Some dog breeds display high dog rivalry. These dog breeds will threaten or act hostile to other familiar dogs in the same household.
These dog breeds will compete with other dogs. Also, these dog breeds do not get along well with other dogs.
American Staffordshire Terriers are somewhat competitive when dealing with other dogs.
This is because the American Staffordshire Terrier ranks average on dog rivalry.
The American Staffordshire Terrier ranks number 59 out of 124 dog breeds for displaying dog rivalry when dealing with familiar dogs.
This information is based on what 47 American Staffordshire Terrier owners reported on the temperament of their American Staffordshire Terrier in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the American Staffordshire Terrier has a dog-rivalry score of 39.1 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat competition-driven just like the American Staffordshire Terrier are listed in the table below
| Dog-Rivalry Rank | Breed | Dog-Rivalry Score |
|---|---|---|
| 56 | Bulldog | 42.1 % |
| 57 | Ibizan Hound | 42.0 % |
| 58 | Basset Hound | 40.2 % |
| 59 | American Staffordshire Terrier | 39.1 % |
| 60 | Bull Terrier | 38.8 % |
| 61 | German Shepherd | 38.6 % |
| 62 | American Pit Bull Terrier | 38.3 % |
The dog breeds that do not get along well with other dogs are the:
The dog breeds that get along well with other dogs are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on how well they get along with other dog breeds.
Are American Staffordshire Terriers Easy to Train?
Dogs have high trainability have the willingness to listen to their owner. These dogs are not stubborn. These dogs obey simple commands, and they learn very quickly.
Highly trainable dogs excel at fetching objects. They also respond positively to correction and ignore distraction.
American Staffordshire Terriers are somewhat easy to train.
This is because the American Staffordshire Terrier ranks average for trainability.
The American Staffordshire Terrier ranks number 64 out of 124 dog breeds for easiness to train.
This information is based on what 47 American Staffordshire Terrier owners reported on the trainability of their American Staffordshire Terrier in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the American Staffordshire Terrier has a trainability score of 65.3 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat easy to train just like the American Staffordshire Terrier are listed in the table below
| Trainability Rank | Breed | Trainability Score |
|---|---|---|
| 61 | Cocker Spaniel (American) | 67.0 % |
| 62 | Schipperke | 66.9 % |
| 63 | Whippet | 65.9 % |
| 64 | American Staffordshire Terrier | 65.3 % |
| 65 | Chow Chow | 64.4 % |
| 66 | West Highland White Terrier | 63.9 % |
| 67 | American Bulldog | 63.1 % |
The dog breeds that are most easy to train are the:
The dog breeds that are difficult to train are the:
Learn more about how intelligent the American Staffordshire Terrier is and how the intelligence of the American Staffordshire Terrier affects its trainability in this article on how smart the American Staffordshire Terrier is.
Do American Staffordshire Terriers Get Along Well with Cats? Do They Get Along Well with Other Pets?
Dog breeds that have high chase-drive will run after (chase) cats, birds, and/or other small animals, given the opportunity.
American Staffordshire Terriers are somewhat into chasing after other smaller pets like cats, squirrels, chickens, and birds.
This is because the American Staffordshire Terrier ranks average for small-pet-chasing.
The American Staffordshire Terrier ranks number 56 out of 124 dog breeds for chasing after smaller pets.
This information is based on what 47 American Staffordshire Terrier owners reported on the temperament of their American Staffordshire Terrier in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the American Staffordshire Terrier has a chasing score of 51.3 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat into chasing after smaller pets just like the American Staffordshire Terrier are listed in the table below
| Chasing Rank | Breed | Chasing Score |
|---|---|---|
| 53 | Cocker Spaniel (English) | 54.3 % |
| 54 | Irish Wolfhound | 53.5 % |
| 55 | Dalmatian | 53.1 % |
| 56 | American Staffordshire Terrier | 51.3 % |
| 57 | Greyhound | 50.9 % |
| 58 | Boston Terrier | 50.7 % |
| 59 | Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever | 50.2 % |
The dog breeds that like chasing after cats and other smaller pets are the:
The dog breeds that will not chase after cats and other smaller pets are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their prey drive.
Do American Staffordshire Terriers Like Attention? Are they Clingy or Aloof?
Some dog breeds like to stay close to their owners all the time. These dogs like attention, and they like to receive the affection of their owners.
These dogs get jealous when their owners give attention to other dogs or other people instead of them.
Dogs with these traits are described as attachment/attention-seeking.
American Staffordshire Terriers are somewhat attachment/attention-seeking.
This is because the American Staffordshire Terrier ranks average for attachment/attention-seeking behavior.
The American Staffordshire Terrier ranks number 60 out of 124 dog breeds for attachment/attention-seeking behavior.
This information is based on what 47 American Staffordshire Terrier owners reported on the temperament of their American Staffordshire Terrier in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the American Staffordshire Terrier has an attachment/attention-seeking score of 52.7 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat attachment/attention-seeking just like the American Staffordshire Terrier are listed in the table below
| Attachment-Attention-Seeking Rank | Breed | Attachment-Attention-Seeking Score |
|---|---|---|
| 57 | Shih Tzu | 54.5 % |
| 58 | Lhasa Apso | 54.4 % |
| 59 | Irish Setter | 53.0 % |
| 60 | American Staffordshire Terrier | 52.7 % |
| 61 | Great Dane | 52.6 % |
| 62 | Bullmastiff | 52.2 % |
| 63 | Poodle (Standard) | 52.2 % |
The dog breeds that are always seeking the attention of their owners are the:
The dog breeds that are aloof are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their clinginess.
Do American Staffordshire Terriers have Separation Anxiety? Do They Like to be Left Alone?
Dog breeds that have separation anxiety do not like to be left alone.
These dog breeds tend to bark and destroy things when separated from their owners.
They become restless or lose their appetite when left alone.
American Staffordshire Terriers are somewhat prone to developing separation anxiety.
This is because the American Staffordshire Terrier ranks average for separation anxiety relative to other dog breeds.
The American Staffordshire Terrier ranks number 50 out of 124 dog breeds for separation anxiety.
This information is based on what 47 American Staffordshire Terrier owners reported on the temperament of their American Staffordshire Terrier in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the American Staffordshire Terrier has a separation anxiety score of 43.3 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat prone to develop separation anxiety just like the American Staffordshire Terrier are listed in the table below
| Separation-Related-Behavior Rank | Breed | Separation-Related-Behavior Score |
|---|---|---|
| 47 | Standard Schnauzer | 43.7 % |
| 48 | Poodle (Miniature) | 43.5 % |
| 49 | Bearded Collie | 43.4 % |
| 50 | American Staffordshire Terrier | 43.3 % |
| 51 | Ibizan Hound | 43.2 % |
| 52 | Australian Kelpie | 43.2 % |
| 53 | Greyhound | 42.7 % |
The dog breeds that are most prone to develop separation anxiety are listed below. These dog breeds do not like to be left alone. These dog breeds are the:
- Treeing Walker Coonhound
- Fox Terrier (Smooth)
- Chinese Crested
- Miniature Pinscher
- Australian Silky Terrier
The dog breeds that are least prone to develop separation anxiety are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their tendency to develop separation anxiety.
Are American Staffordshire Terriers Touch Sensitive? Do They Like to be Groomed?
Dogs that are touch-sensitive are fearful of `painful` procedures such as bathing, grooming, nail clipping, and veterinary examinations.
These dogs do not like going through these `painful` procedures, and they will react to show they do not like the procedure.
American Staffordshire Terriers are a little bit touch-sensitive.
This is because the American Staffordshire Terrier ranks low for touch sensitivity.
The American Staffordshire Terrier ranks number 79 out of 124 dog breeds for touch sensitivity.
This information is based on what 47 American Staffordshire Terrier owners reported on the temperament of their American Staffordshire Terrier in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the American Staffordshire Terrier has a touch-sensitivity score of 24.0 %.
Other dog breeds that are a little bit touch-sensitive just like the American Staffordshire Terrier are listed in the table below
| Touch-Sensitivity Rank | Breed | Touch-Sensitivity Score |
|---|---|---|
| 76 | German Shepherd | 24.4 % |
| 77 | Eurasier | 24.3 % |
| 78 | Tibetan Terrier | 24.2 % |
| 79 | American Staffordshire Terrier | 24.0 % |
| 80 | Flat-Coated Retriever | 23.8 % |
| 81 | Irish Setter | 23.8 % |
| 82 | Belgian Malinois | 23.5 % |
The dog breeds that are most touch-sensitive are the:
The dog breeds that are least touch-sensitive are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their sensitivity to touch.
Are American Staffordshire Terriers Hyper? Are they Highly Excitable?
Excitable dog or hyper dog breeds display strong reactions to potentially exciting or arousing events, such as:
- going for walks
- car trips
- sound of the doorbell
- arrival of visitors, and
- the owner arriving home
Highly excitable dog breeds have difficulty settling down after arousal.
American Staffordshire Terriers are quite a bit hyper (excitable).
This is because the American Staffordshire Terrier ranks high for excitability.
The American Staffordshire Terrier ranks number 33 out of 124 dog breeds for excitability.
This information is based on what 47 American Staffordshire Terrier owners reported on the temperament of their American Staffordshire Terrier in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the American Staffordshire Terrier has an excitability score of 53.7 %.
Other dog breeds that are quite a bit excitable just like the American Staffordshire Terrier are listed in the table below
| Excitability Rank | Breed | Excitability Score |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | French Bulldog | 54.7 % |
| 31 | Chesapeake Bay Retriever | 54.0 % |
| 32 | German Wirehaired Pointer | 53.9 % |
| 33 | American Staffordshire Terrier | 53.7 % |
| 34 | German Shorthaired Pointer | 53.5 % |
| 35 | Chihuahua | 53.2 % |
| 36 | Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier | 53.0 % |
The dog breeds that are most hyper (excitable) are the:
- Australian Silky Terrier
- Fox Terrier (Smooth)
- American Eskimo Dog
- Parson Russell Terrier
- Miniature Schnauzer
The dog breeds that are least hyper (excitable) are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on how hyper they are.
Are American Staffordshire Terriers Playful? What is the Energy Level of American Staffordshire Terriers
Energetic dog breeds are very playful dog breeds. These are the dog breeds that do not get tired easily.
American Staffordshire Terriers are a little bit energetic.
This is because the American Staffordshire Terrier ranks low for energy level.
The American Staffordshire Terrier ranks number 73 out of 124 dog breeds for energy level.
This information is based on what 47 American Staffordshire Terrier owners reported on the temperament of their American Staffordshire Terrier in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the American Staffordshire Terrier has an energy-level score of 53.4 %.
Other dog breeds that are a little bit energetic just like the American Staffordshire Terrier are listed in the table below
| Energy-Level Rank | Breed | Energy-Level Score |
|---|---|---|
| 70 | Cairn Terrier | 54.1 % |
| 71 | Pointer | 54.0 % |
| 72 | Cocker Spaniel (English) | 53.6 % |
| 73 | American Staffordshire Terrier | 53.4 % |
| 74 | English Springer Spaniel | 53.4 % |
| 75 | Scottish Terrier | 52.3 % |
| 76 | French Bulldog | 52.3 % |
The dog breeds that are most playful and most energetic are the:
The dog breeds that are laziest are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the most energetic to the least energetic.
Conclusion on American Staffordshire Terrier Temperament
The temperament of your American Staffordshire Terrier comes from a combination of its genetics and what environment your American Staffordshire Terrier is exposed to.
You cannot change your American Staffordshire Terrier`s gene but you can change the things you expose your American Staffordshire Terrier to.
Exposing your American Staffordshire Terrier to dog training sessions early in its life can help you mold the temperament of your American Staffordshire Terrier to what you desire.
Again, with proper training, you can better your American Staffordshire Terrier`s temperament. To learn how to properly train a dog, I highly recommend Dr. Ian Dunbar`s online dog training classes, which you can find here.
I learned most of the things I know about training dogs by reading Dr. Dunbar`s books and watching his training videos. Dr. Dunbar`s dog training methods are for people expecting to own a puppy soon, new dog owners, and experienced dog owners.
Another helpful online dog training class that I recommend is this one. The class will teach you how to properly train your American Staffordshire Terrier.
If you think the American Staffordshire Terrier is the right dog breed for you, see our article on how much American Staffordshire Terriers cost and American Staffordshire Terrier puppy buying guide.
Also, see our list of reputable American Staffordshire Terrier breeders in the United States and the prices of their American Staffordshire Terrier puppies.