Breed Comparison: American Hairless Terrier Versus American Staffordshire Terrier

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American Hairless Terrier Versus American Staffordshire Terrier: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the American Hairless Terrier and the American Staffordshire Terrier? Well, you have come to the right place. Because in this article, we will provide you with a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the American Hairless Terrier and the American Staffordshire Terrier better suits you.

We will provide you a detailed discussion and comparison of dog attributes such as intelligence, price, general health, friendliness, etc, for both the American Hairless Terrier and the American Staffordshire Terrier.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the American Hairless Terrier and the American Staffordshire Terrier is better suited for new dog owners, for owners with kids, for owners that live in apartments, for owners with dog allergies, etc.

Importantly, we did some analysis and calculation and we obtained a number that we call the Better-Pet Score™ for both the American Hairless Terrier and for the American Staffordshire Terrier. The dog breed with the higher Better-Pet score is the `better` pet. We hope that these Better-Pet Scores will provide you with more insight into deciding which pet to get between the American Hairless Terrier and the American Staffordshire Terrier.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the American Hairless Terrier or the American Staffordshire Terrier.

American Hairless Terrier versus American Staffordshire Terrier: Overview

A very important difference between the American Hairless Terrier and the American Staffordshire Terrier is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The American Hairless Terrier is a small-sized dog while the American Staffordshire Terrier is a medium-sized dog.

Furthermore, both the American Hairless Terrier and the American Staffordshire Terrier are Terrier Dogs. This means both the American Hairless Terrier and the American Staffordshire Terrier were originally bred to go underground to hunt rodents and other small wild animals (vermin). Terriers come in a wide range of sizes and shapes, but all terriers are energetic, highly intelligent, and territorial. Terries also have the tendency to escape. They require a securely fenced yard.

American Hairless Terrier versus American Staffordshire Terrier: Comparison Table

The table below compares the American Hairless Terrier to the American Staffordshire Terrier based on different important factors such as Price, Health, Kid-friendliness, etc.

When a dog breed scores higher for a factor than the other dog breed, the box of the breed that scores higher is shaded green and the box of the breed that scores lower is shaded red. When there is no difference between the breeds for a particular factor then the box is shaded gray for both pets. Also, when the factor is not important in picking a pet, or when the factor cannot be compared between two pets, the box for the factor is shaded gray for both pets

Most of the factors in the table for each dog breed are ranked on a scale of 1 to 5. “1” means “worst”, and “5” means “best”.

However, some factors such as “Price”, “Average Lifespan”, etc. cannot be on a scale of 1 to 5, so they are not on a scale of 1 to 5 in the comparison table.

Later in this article, we will further explain each factor as it applies to the American Hairless Terrier and the American Staffordshire Terrier

Factor American Hairless Terrier American Staffordshire Terrier
Tolerates Cold Weather 1/5 2/5
Does NOT Shed 5/5 4/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 3/5
Weight 10 to 16 pounds 40 to 60 pounds
Height 12 to 16 inches 16 to 19 inches
Life Span 13 to 16 years 10 to 15 years
Tolerates Being Alone 2/5 2/5
Good For Novice Owners 3/5 2/5
Easygoing 3/5 3/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 3/5 3/5
Dog Friendly 3/5 2/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 3/5 4/5
Easy To Train 3/5 4/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 1/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 3/5 2/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 3/5 3/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 1/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 3/5 3/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 4/5 2/5
Affectionate With Family 4/5 4/5
Kid-Friendly 4/5 4/5
General Health 4/5 3/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 2/5 4/5
Intelligence 4/5 4/5
Low Prey Drive 2/5 3/5
NOT Rambunctious 2/5 3/5
Easy To Groom 5/5 4/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 4/5
Average Lifespan 14.5 years 12.5 years
Average Price $1840 $1340
Price Range $1625 – $2000 $575 – $2000
Temperament Score 83.3 percent 85.5 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Congenital Deafness
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination- Annual exams until at least Age 8 yrs (96mo)
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Legg-Calve-Perthes
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Primary Lens Luxation
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) DNA Test
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Clear By Parentage
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • NCL-A (Cerebellar Ataxia)
  • Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the American Hairless Terrier in the table (that is, `Ease of Grooming` score + `General Health` score + `Calmness` score + …etc) and we compared it to the corresponding total score for the American Staffordshire Terrier. We call these total scores the Better-Pet Scores, as we mentioned earlier. We called this score the Better-Pet score because the better dog breed will have a higher score. This is because the pet will the higher score will have minimal needs and be easier to have as a pet.

    The Better-Pet score for the American Hairless Terrier is 82 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the American Staffordshire Terrier is 74 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the American Hairless Terrier is a better pet than the American Staffordshire Terrier. So, you should get the American Hairless Terrier!

    Although we have done our best to analyze these two dog breeds in a very unbiased way, however, we will like to let you know that there are some dog attributes that cannot be assigned a number for comparison. We cannot put a number on how cute a dog breed is, for example. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

    Also, the dog breed that best suits you will depend on your peculiar lifestyle, your taste, and your priorities, which we do not know. So, for you to decide on which breed is right for you, read through the rest of the article to further understand both the American Hairless Terrier and the American Staffordshire Terrier so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    The Similarities Between the American Hairless Terrier and the American Staffordshire Terrier

    The American Hairless Terrier and the American Staffordshire Terrier are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the American Hairless Terrier and the American Staffordshire Terrier are most similar:

    • Both the American Hairless Terrier and the American Staffordshire Terrier cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.
    • Both the American Hairless Terrier and the American Staffordshire Terrier do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.
    • Both the American Hairless Terrier and the American Staffordshire Terrier do not like to be left alone.
    • Both the American Hairless Terrier and the American Staffordshire Terrier are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
    • Both the American Hairless Terrier and the American Staffordshire Terrier get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
    • Both the American Hairless Terrier and the American Staffordshire Terrier are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
    • Both the American Hairless Terrier and the American Staffordshire Terrier are highly intelligent.
    • Both the American Hairless Terrier and the American Staffordshire Terrier have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.
    • Both the American Hairless Terrier and the American Staffordshire Terrier have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
    • Both the American Hairless Terrier and the American Staffordshire Terrier are very easy to groom.
    • Both the American Hairless Terrier and the American Staffordshire Terrier are very playful.

    Size Comparison of American Hairless Terrier versus American Staffordshire Terrier

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the American Hairless Terrier and the American Staffordshire Terrier.

    American Hairless Terriers weigh 10 to 16 pounds when fully grown. American Hairless Terriers are 12 to 16 inches when fully grown.

    On the other hand, American Staffordshire Terriers weigh 40 to 60 pounds when fully grown. American Staffordshire Terriers are 16 to 19 inches when fully grown.

    Lifespan of American Hairless Terrier versus American Staffordshire Terrier

    The lifespan of American Hairless Terriers is between 13 to 16 years. The average lifespan of American Hairless Terriers is 14.5 years.

    The lifespan of American Staffordshire Terriers is between 10 to 15 years. The average lifespan of American Staffordshire Terriers is 12.5 years.

    American Hairless Terriers live longer than American Staffordshire Terriers.

    Temperament of the American Staffordshire Terrier Versus the American Hairless Terrier

    The American Staffordshire Terrier has a better temperament than the American Hairless Terrier.

    This is because the temperament score for the American Staffordshire Terrier is 85.5 percent while the temperament score for the American Hairless Terrier is 83.3 percent, according to the American Temperament Test Society (ATTS).

    The American Temperament Test Society (ATTS) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide fair and objective evaluations of the temperaments of dog breeds.

    Dog breeds with low temperament scores tend to show unprovoked aggression, they easily panic without quickly recovering from the panic, and they tend to avoid people. However, dog breeds with high temperament scores are not aggressive and are not shy. Also, these dogs are generally friendly and are protective of their owners.

    The average temperament score across all dog breeds (over 250 breeds) is 83.7 percent.

    With its temperament score of 83.3 percent, the American Hairless Terrier has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 85.5 percent, the American Staffordshire Terrier has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the American Hairless Terrier and the American Staffordshire Terrier by measuring the temperaments of 6 American Hairless Terriers and 743 American Staffordshire Terriers.

    Price of American Hairless Terrier versus Price of American Staffordshire Terrier

    The average price of the American Hairless Terrier puppy is $1840. The price of the American Hairless Terrier typically ranges from $1625 – $2000. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 6 American Hairless Terrier puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The average price of the American Staffordshire Terrier puppy is $1340. The price of the American Staffordshire Terrier typically ranges from $575 – $2000. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 125 American Staffordshire Terrier puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The American Hairless Terrier is more expensive than the American Staffordshire Terrier.

    The charts below show the price distribution for the American Hairless Terrier and American Staffordshire Terrier. For different price points, the charts show how many American Hairless Terrier puppies or how many American Staffordshire Terrier puppies are listed for sale at those price points.

    A breakdown of the prices of American Hairless Terriers. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of American Hairless Terriers. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of American Staffordshire Terriers

    A breakdown of the prices of American Staffordshire Terriers

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the American Hairless Terrier puppy or the American Staffordshire Terrier puppy. This includes if health screening tests have been performed on the puppy, if the puppy is from a famous pedigree, the US State where the puppy is bred, etc.

    Nevertheless, when looking to buy a puppy, look at buying a puppy only from well-established breeders that breed puppies primarily for the love of dogs, and secondarily for profit. Do not buy a puppy from a puppy mill. Puppy mills mass-produce puppies in bad living conditions for maximum profit.

    You may also consider adopting a dog instead of buying a dog.

    Health Problems of American Hairless Terrier versus Health Problems of American Staffordshire Terrier

    Every dog breed has its own set of health problems that it has a tendency to develop. There is nothing like a perfect dog breed.

    Both the American Hairless Terrier and the American Staffordshire Terrier are prone to certain genetic health conditions. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) is the organization that keeps track of health problems in dogs. Based on the extensive records that the OFA keeps, the OFA knows what health problems each dog breed is naturally prone to develop. Hence, the OFA recommends which health screening that breeders should perform on a dog breed to make sure that the breeders won`t breed `defective` dog parents that can pass down defective genes to their puppy offspring.

    The more health problems a dog breed is prone to develop, the more health tests the OFA will recommend for that dog breed.

    Based on our review of OFA records, we found that the American Hairless Terrier is prone to more genetic health problems than the American Staffordshire Terrier.

    This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the American Hairless Terrier than for the American Staffordshire Terrier.

    9 health tests are recommended for American Hairless Terrier while 7 tests are recommended for the American Staffordshire Terrier.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in American Hairless Terriers and in American Staffordshire Terriers.

    American Hairless Terrier Health Problems

    American Hairless Terriers are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing American Hairless Terrier puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

    The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

    If you want a American Hairless Terrier puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your American Hairless Terrier breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

    The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen American Hairless Terriers for:

  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Congenital Deafness
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination- Annual exams until at least Age 8 yrs (96mo)
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Legg-Calve-Perthes
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Primary Lens Luxation
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) DNA Test
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for American Hairless Terriers here.

    American Staffordshire Terrier Health Problems

    American Staffordshire Terriers are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing American Staffordshire Terrier puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

    The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

    If you want a American Staffordshire Terrier puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your American Staffordshire Terrier breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

    The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen American Staffordshire Terriers for:

  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Clear By Parentage
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • NCL-A (Cerebellar Ataxia)
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for American Staffordshire Terriers here.

    Tolerates Being Alone: American Hairless Terrier versus American Staffordshire Terrier

    American Hairless Terriers do not like to be left alone.

    American Staffordshire Terriers do not like to be left alone.

    Do American Hairless Terriers shed more than American Staffordshire Terriers?

    American Hairless Terriers do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.

    American Staffordshire Terriers do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.

    Which one drools more, the American Hairless Terrier or the American Staffordshire Terrier

    American Hairless Terriers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    American Staffordshire Terriers drool moderately.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the American Hairless Terrier or the American Staffordshire Terrier?

    American Hairless Terriers are very easy to groom.

    American Staffordshire Terriers are very easy to groom.

    Does the American Hairless Terrier Have a Higher Prey Drive than the American Staffordshire Terrier?

    American Hairless Terriers have a high prey drive. They have the tendency to chase after smaller animals and pets. They do not get along well with other pets.

    American Staffordshire Terriers have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and pets.

    Do American Hairless Terriers Bark and Howl? What about American Staffordshire Terriers?

    American Hairless Terriers bark and howl, but not very much.

    American Staffordshire Terriers are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

    Can American Hairless Terriers Tolerate Cold Weather? And can American Staffordshire Terriers Tolerate Cold Weather?

    American Hairless Terriers cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.

    American Staffordshire Terriers cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.

    Wanderlust Potential: American Hairless Terrier vs. American Staffordshire Terrier

    American Hairless Terriers have a moderate tendency to wander. This means that they sometimes get distracted by other animals or objects.

    American Staffordshire Terriers have a moderate tendency to wander. This means that they sometimes get distracted by other animals or objects.

    Can American Hairless Terriers Tolerate Hot Weather? Can American Staffordshire Terriers Tolerate Hot Weather?

    American Hairless Terriers can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    American Staffordshire Terriers can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the American Hairless Terrier or the American Staffordshire Terrier?

    American Hairless Terriers get along fairly well with other dogs.

    American Staffordshire Terriers do not get along well with other dogs.

    Are American Hairless Terriers good family dogs? What about American Staffordshire Terriers?

    American Hairless Terriers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    American Staffordshire Terriers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are American Hairless Terriers and American Staffordshire Terriers?

    American Hairless Terriers get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    American Staffordshire Terriers get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Is the American Hairless Terrier Easier to Train than the American Staffordshire Terrier?

    American Hairless Terriers are fairly easy to train.

    American Staffordshire Terriers are very easy to train.

    Is the American Hairless Terrier Better for Apartment Owners than the American Staffordshire Terrier?

    American Hairless Terriers adapt very well to apartment living.

    American Staffordshire Terriers do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the American Hairless Terrier or the American Staffordshire Terrier?

    American Hairless Terriers are OK for new dog owners.

    American Staffordshire Terriers are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Conclusion: American Hairless Terrier versus American Staffordshire Terrier. Which One is a Better Pet?

    In summary, there is nothing like a better dog breed or a worse dog breed. The important question to ask is which dog breed better matches your interests and lifestyle. We hope our discussion above will help you in deciding which dog breed between the American Hairless Terrier and the American Staffordshire Terrier better suits you and your family.