Petzlover
American Staffordshire Terrier is originated from United Kingdom but Chorkie is originated from United States. American Staffordshire Terrier may grow 39 cm / 16 inches higher than Chorkie. American Staffordshire Terrier may weigh 18 kg / 40 pounds more than Chorkie. American Staffordshire Terrier may live 4 years more than Chorkie. American Staffordshire Terrier may have more litter size than Chorkie. Both American Staffordshire Terrier and Chorkie requires Low Maintenance.
The American Staffordshire Terrier is a part of all the confusion surrounding the group of “pit bulls”. The American Staffordshire Terrier is directly related to the English Bull Terrier and English Terrier. The breed of the English Staffordshire Terrier was bred in the early 19th century in the West Midlands. It was not until later that the breed came from Staffordshire. These English Staffordshire Terriers are also the source of contention by breeders who insist it was the Fox Terrier, White English Terrier, Tan and Black Terrier that are the ancestors of the English Staffordshire Terrier.
These terriers (AKA pit bull terrier) came to the United States in the mid 1800’s. By the late 1890’s they were accepted by the United Kennel Club (UKC)as the American Pit Bull Terrier – a new and distinct breed. There were also some that were accepted into the AKC as the Staffordshire Terrier. In England they were still known as the American Staffordshire Terrier. When the AKC accepted the breed in 1936 they were given a new standard, new purpose and new group – the terrier. In 1969 the American Kennel Club recognized these dogs as American Staffordshire Terriers and refused to recognize the American Pit Bull Terrier. The name was changed to move the breed away from its characterization as a bull fighter and to distinguish it from the smaller English Staffordshire Terrier. All American Staffordshire Terriers are directly related to the American Pit Bull Terriers.
The Chorkie is a very popular little dog but he is not a purebred. The Chorkie was developed by crossing the Yorkshire Terrier with the Chihuahua. Probably the most popular Chorkie ever was the Taco Bell dog in the 1990s. This hybrid is a young breed created in the late 1900’s. These small, toy dogs are great lapdogs. It’s not possible to know the exact heritage of the Chorkies but the initial crossing of the two breeds occurred in the early part of the 20th century.
The Chorkie makes a great indoor pet best suited for the single or elderly person. Not because the Chorkie does not like children but because they are so small they can be easily injured by children. They are continuing to grow in popularity all the time among those who enjoy the new designer dogs.
The American Staffordshire Terrier is a strong, powerful dog – stocky, muscular and graceful. At one point in time the American Staffordshire Terrier and the American Pit Bull Terrier were considered to be the same breed. Even today there are those that make that argument, but they have been recognized outside the AKC as separate breeds. The AKC only recognizes the American Staffordshire Terrier and not the APBT. However – even though there have been decades of separation in breeding the American Staffordshire Terrier and the American Pit Bull Terrier are the very same dogs genetically.
The American Staffordshire Terrier has a broad skull, high set ears and pronounced cheek bones. Their ears should not be cropped by AKC standards and their eyes are far apart, round and dark. With a medium sized muzzle and a heavy muscular back, they are as powerful as they look, if not more so. Most have black noses. The AmStaff has a broad, deep chest with wide set forelegs and compact feet. The tail is short and tapered and it should not be docked.
As mentioned previously the Chorkie is a mix between the Yorkshire Terrier (Yorkie) and the Chihuahua. They Tend to look more like the terrier than the Chi with a small head carried high on a well-proportioned body, with the long silky hair of the Yorkie. Their head carried the shape of the Chihuahua. Like the Chihuahua, they have mostly pointed ears although some Chorkies have droopy ears. The Chorkie coat is silky, long, and can be in a variety of colors. The ears are either fringed like the Yorkie or smooth like the Chihuahua.
The American Staffordshire Terrier is a loving, gentle dog that wants nothing more than to be with and please his people. Contrary to his reputation as a “killer”, this dog is actually a lover. They are great with children and want to be a part of the family. They even think they are lap dogs, regardless of their size. They are never going to be aggressive toward people and even though they are not one-person dogs, they are loyal, and they are devoted to the family and the “leader of the pack”.
This breed can tell who is their friend and who is not. They are not aggressive, but they will protect their own. They are courageous, confident, attentive, bold and strong-willed. The AmStaff gets along with other dogs most of the time, but they will never back down from a challenge and should never be left unsupervised with another dog. They should not be loose in a neighborhood or at a dog park. No matter how much you trust your American Staffordshire Terrier they can be killers in any fight with another dog.
In addition to this you must socialize and train your AmStaff. You need to be the pack leader and be in control. The AmStaff wants to please you so for a strong leader they will respond positively to positive training. They are intelligent and pick up quickly on what you want them to do. However, they are incredibly strong physically so training them to heel and walk with you obediently is a must. A well trained and exercised American Staffordshire Terrier is a happy dog and a loyal family dog.
Remember that the Chorkie is a cross breed and not a purebred. Its temperament is that of a mixed breed dog which is usually laid back and mellow. The Chorkie might bark a lot as both the Yorkshire and the Chihuahua are known to bark. It can carry the traits of either or both of its parents.
The Chorkie is a great lap dog though he can be stubborn and wear their owner out with all their energy. They are playful and willful and need strong leadership despite their small size. They will bark at anything they find to be suspicious. Despite their size they are highly intelligent and very loyal, affectionate dogs. They love their people and will not like it if you leave them alone very often. They are quite brave to the point of being reckless and can be aggressive toward dogs a lot bigger than they are. Due to their courage and their barking they are great family dogs.
For the most part the American Staffordshire Terrier, like most of the “pit bulls” is a hearty, healthy dog. They have a few tendencies that breeders should test for including hip dysplasia, allergies, and heart issues. They can test for Cerebellar ataxia, which has affected the AmStaff with a progressive decline in their ability to control their muscles and coordination.
feed You can feed your American Staffordshire Terrier either commercially purchased food or food you make yourself if the quality is high, nutrition is good, and the amount eaten is determined by the owner. Do not free feed. The AmStaff has the tendency to become obese. Its ok to use treats for training and rewards, as long as its use is controlled.
As previously mentioned the American AmStaff Terrier has a tendency toward a few health issues. Hip Dysplasia – this condition causes a lot of pain and disability. It leads to different types of arthritis and degenerative joint disease. Cardiac Issues – Congenital heart disease consists of vessel malformation and lesions.
The AmStaff can be susceptible to Autoimmune Thyroiditis. This is a form of hypothyroidism developed by dogs. It is usually seen between 2 and 5 years of age. Continual retesting is recommended.
This is the most dangerous disease possibility that the American Staffordshire Terrier faces. There is a test for this condition which causes the AmStaff to display an inability to control their muscles and a loss of balance, to the point of falling. This is a progressive disease that often leads to euthanasia. The Staffordshire Terrier Club of America suggests that AmStaffs carrying the NCL genes should never be bred.
The American Staffordshire Terrier is an energetic, and athletic dog that loves to play and needs plenty of exercise. This breed is oriented to people and should never be left alone in the yard all day as a way for her to exercise. She needs you to play with her. If you cannot do this, then you should not own this breed of dog. This breed also loves to play canine sports. They thrive on games like dock diving, agility and obedience competitions. They excel at search and rescue. These are competitive dogs that want nothing more then to please their people.
These small dogs have a lot of energy and need to eat a food that is high in quality calories. No empty calories for these guys. Feed them at least twice a day and no more than a fourth of a cup of dry food for the entire day. They can become overweight easily so do not overfeed.
Additional health issues might include knee cap dislocation leading to arthritis or lameness and a tendency to develop low blood sugar.
Again, these are high energy little dogs. They need to be exercised or at least have brisk play inside the house. They excel at competitive games such as barn hunt, agility and obedience.
