Yorkshire Terrier versus American Staffordshire Terrier. Final Verdict on Which one is a Better Pet.

Last Updated: Apr 09, 2022

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Yorkshire Terrier Versus American Staffordshire Terrier: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Yorkshire 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 Yorkshire 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 Yorkshire Terrier and the American Staffordshire Terrier.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Yorkshire 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 Yorkshire 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 Yorkshire 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 Yorkshire Terrier or the American Staffordshire Terrier.

Yorkshire Terrier versus American Staffordshire Terrier

Yorkshire Terrier versus American Staffordshire Terrier: Overview

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

Furthermore, the Yorkshire Terrier belongs to the Companion Dogs group. Companion Dogs were bred to be companions for humans. Their main goal in life is to be with people, and they will be very sad if left to themselves for long hours day after day.

On the other hand, the American Staffordshire Terrier belongs to the Terrier Dogs group. Terrier Dogs 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.

Yorkshire Terrier versus American Staffordshire Terrier: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Yorkshire 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 Yorkshire Terrier and the American Staffordshire Terrier

FactorYorkshire TerrierAmerican Staffordshire Terrier
Does NOT Drool5/53/5
Life Span12 to 15 years10 to 15 years
Tolerates Being Alone2/52/5
Tolerates Cold Weather2/52/5
Tolerates Hot Weather2/53/5
Kid-Friendly2/54/5
Friendly Toward Strangers2/54/5
Does NOT Shed4/54/5
Easy To Groom2/54/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight4/54/5
Does NOT chew on things4/51/5
Low Prey Drive4/53/5
Dog Friendly3/52/5
Easy To Train3/54/5
Intelligence3/54/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl3/52/5
Tendency NOT to Wander3/53/5
Good For Novice Owners4/52/5
Affectionate With Family4/54/5
General Health4/53/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor2/51/5
Minimal Exercise Needs2/53/5
Weight4 to 6 pounds40 to 60 pounds
Adapts Well To Apartment Living5/52/5
Easygoing1/53/5
NOT Rambunctious1/53/5
Potential For Playfulness5/54/5
Height8 to 9 inches tall at the shoulder16 to 19 inches
Average Lifespan13.5 years12.5 years
Average Price$2420$1090
Price Range$1600 – $2950$500 – $1500
Temperament Score83.7 percent85.5 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cornell DNA Bank
  • DNA Repository
  • Eye Examination- Prior to the onset of breeding, recommend evaluations at 1, 3, and 6 Years of Age.
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Legg-Calve-Perthes
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Clear By Parentage
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • NCL-A (Cerebellar Ataxia)
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds981
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds)2734

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Yorkshire 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 Yorkshire Terrier is 76 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 Yorkshire Terrier is a better pet than the American Staffordshire Terrier. So, you should get a Yorkshire Terrier!

    Yorkshire Terrier versus American Staffordshire Terrier

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Yorkshire Terrier and the American Staffordshire Terrier

    Below is a list of where the Yorkshire Terrier and the American Staffordshire Terrier are most different:

  • Yorkshire Terriers are not prone to nip and chew at things. However, American Staffordshire Terriers are prone to nip and chew at things.
  • Yorkshire Terriers adapt well to apartment living. However, American Staffordshire Terriers do not adapt well to apartment living.
  • The Similarities Between the Yorkshire Terrier and the American Staffordshire Terrier

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

  • Both the Yorkshire Terrier and the American Staffordshire Terrier do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Yorkshire Terrier and the American Staffordshire Terrier cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.
  • Both the Yorkshire Terrier and the American Staffordshire Terrier cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.
  • Both the Yorkshire Terrier and the American Staffordshire Terrier do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.
  • Both the Yorkshire Terrier and the American Staffordshire Terrier are not prone to gaining weight easily.
  • Both the Yorkshire Terrier and the American Staffordshire Terrier have a very low prey drive. This means they get along well with other pets.
  • Both the Yorkshire Terrier and the American Staffordshire Terrier are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Yorkshire 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 Yorkshire Terrier and the American Staffordshire Terrier do things with high intensity. They can be very forceful.
  • Both the Yorkshire Terrier and the American Staffordshire Terrier require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the Yorkshire Terrier and the American Staffordshire Terrier are very playful.
  • Size Comparison of the Yorkshire Terrier versus American Staffordshire Terrier

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

    The Yorkshire Terrier weighs 4 to 6 pounds when fully grown. The Yorkshire Terrier is 8 to 9 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, the American Staffordshire Terrier weighs 40 to 60 pounds when fully grown. The American Staffordshire Terrier is 16 to 19 inches when fully grown.

    Size of Yorkshire Terrier versus Size of American Staffordshire Terrier

    Appearance (Colors) of the Yorkshire Terrier and the American Staffordshire Terrier

    Yorkshire Terrier Colors

    The Yorkshire Terrier comes in the following beautiful primary colors:

    • Brown / Chocolate
    • Red / Chestnut / Orange
    • Bicolor
    • Yellow / Tan / Blond / Fawn
    • Black
    • Golden
    • Gray / Blue / Silver
    • Tricolor (Brown, Black, & White)
    • Apricot / Beige
    • White / Cream
    • Sable

    The Yorkshire Terrier comes in the following lovely secondary colors in addition to its primary colors:

    • White / Cream
    • Apricot / Beige
    • Black
    • Yellow / Tan / Blond / Fawn
    • Brown / Chocolate
    • Gray / Blue / Silver
    • Red / Chestnut / Orange
    • Golden
    • Tricolor (Brown, Black, & White)
    • Sable
    • Bicolor

    American Staffordshire Terrier Colors

    The American Staffordshire Terrier comes in the following beautiful primary colors:

    • Apricot / Beige
    • Red / Chestnut / Orange
    • Gray / Blue / Silver
    • Black
    • White / Cream
    • Yellow / Tan / Blond / Fawn
    • Brown / Chocolate
    • Brindle
    • Sable
    • Bicolor
    • Merle (Blue)
    • Golden
    • Tricolor (Brown, Black, & White)

    The American Staffordshire Terrier comes in the following lovely secondary colors in addition to its primary colors:

    • White / Cream
    • Red / Chestnut / Orange
    • Black
    • Yellow / Tan / Blond / Fawn
    • Apricot / Beige
    • Brown / Chocolate
    • Gray / Blue / Silver
    • Bicolor
    • Brindle

    Lifespan of Yorkshire Terrier versus American Staffordshire Terrier

    The lifespan of the Yorkshire Terrier is between 12 to 15 years. The average lifespan of the Yorkshire Terrier is 13.5 years.

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

    The Yorkshire Terrier live longer than the American Staffordshire Terrier.

    Yorkshire Terrier versus American Staffordshire Terrier

    Temperament of the Yorkshire Terrier Versus the American Staffordshire Terrier

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

    This is because the temperament score for the American Staffordshire Terrier is 85.5 percent while the temperament score for the Yorkshire Terrier is 83.7 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 83.7 percent, the Yorkshire 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 Yorkshire Terrier and the American Staffordshire Terrier by measuring the temperaments of 43 Yorkshire Terriers and 743 American Staffordshire Terriers.

    Price of Yorkshire Terrier versus Price of American Staffordshire Terrier

    The average price of the Yorkshire Terrier puppy is $2420. The price of the Yorkshire Terrier typically ranges from $1600 – $2950. However, the price of a Yorkshire Terrier can be as low as $300 and as high as $15000. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 957 Yorkshire Terrier puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The average price of the American Staffordshire Terrier puppy is $1090. The price of the American Staffordshire Terrier typically ranges from $500 – $1500. However, the price of the American Staffordshire Terrier can be as low as $100 and as high as $3000. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 248 American Staffordshire Terrier puppies listed for sale from various sources.

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

    `
    Yorkshire Terrier American Staffordshire Terrier
    Average Price $2420 $1090
    Price Range $1600 to $2950 $500 to $1500

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

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

    A breakdown of the prices of Yorkshire 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 Yorkshire 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.

    Yorkshire Terrier versus American Staffordshire Terrier

    Adopting the Yorkshire Terrier versus Adopting the American Staffordshire Terrier

    You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Yorkshire Terriers and many American Staffordshire Terriers are currently available for adoption.

    These adorable and cute dogs are waiting in dog shelters hoping that someday someone will rescue them. Furthermore, adoption costs are lesser than the cost of a new puppy. Dog adoption costs are usually around $300. In addition to your local dog shelter, a good place online to see dogs that are available for adoption is petfinder.com.

    Below is an adorable Male Yorkshire Terrier named Donatello that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable Yorkshire Terriers like Donatello on pefinder.com.

    Also, like Yorkshire Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers are also available for adoption. For example, Ghost is a Male American Staffordshire Terrier that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more American Staffordshire Terriers like Ghost that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.

    The Yorkshire Terrier and the American Staffordshire Terrier can both be adopted. Images from petfinder.com

    Also, Walter (In Foster) is an adorable Male American Staffordshire Terrier on petfinder.com that you can adopt.

    You can find more Yorkshire Terriers and American Staffordshire Terriers that are available for adoption on petfinder.

    The Intelligence of the Yorkshire Terrier versus the Intelligence of the American Staffordshire Terrier

    `
    Yorkshire Terrier American Staffordshire Terrier
    Intelligence Rank 27 out of 130 dog breeds 34 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After 15 To 25 Repetitions Tend To Learn New Commands After 15 To 25 Repetitions

    Professor Stanley Coren, the famous psychology/neuropsychological professor and, dog lover/trainer measured and ranked the intelligence of about 130 different dog breeds.

    According to Prof. Stanley Coren, the total intelligence that a dog demonstrates is the addition of three types of intelligence. These intelligence types are:

  • Instinctive Intelligence: This is the natural intelligence a dog has because of what the dog was bred for. This type of intelligence comes from instinct. For example, dog breeds that were bred for guarding will have high `guarding` instinctive intelligence, while dog breeds that were bred for hunting will what high `hunting` instinctive intelligence. However, you cannot compare the intelligence of dog breeds based on instinctive intelligence because such a comparison will not make sense.
  • Adaptive Intelligence (learning and problem-solving ability): This indicates what a dog can learn to do for himself or herself. It includes learning and benefiting from experience with his environment, solving new problems, and so forth. Adaptive intelligence is specific to each dog, and not breed specific. Thus, two dogs can have remarkably different levels of adaptive intelligence even if they are of the same breed.
  • Working/Obedience Intelligence: This intelligence is the closest to what we might call school-learning ability and it is based upon what the dog can learn to do when instructed by humans. Importantly, different dog breeds have different learning abilities. Also, science has shown that some dog breeds can learn faster than some other breeds. This means certain dog breeds tend to have higher working/obedience intelligence than some other breeds. Dogs with high Working/Obedience Intelligence are smart and easy to train.

  • Prof. Coren showed that the Working/Obedience Intelligence of different dog breeds can be measured reliably. Thus, he was able to rank different dog breeds based on their Working/Obedience Intelligence.

    This is important because according to Prof. Coren, 51 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from its genes while 49 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from the dog`s environmental circumstances.

    To rank the intelligence of dog breeds, Prof. Coren employed the help of 208 dog obedience judges in North America to fill out a detailed survey on dog obedience. This number represented more than half of all of these judges in North America at the time. He also employed 63 veterinarians and 14 guard dog experts to collect data on the personality of different dog breeds.

    Prof. Coren found that the Yorkshire Terrier has an obedience intelligence rank of 27 out of 130 dog breeds. The Yorkshire Terrier belongs to the `Above Average Working Dogs` category. This means that Yorkshire Terriers tend to learn new commands after 15 to 25 repetitions.

    The American Staffordshire Terrier has an obedience intelligence rank of 34 out of 130 dog breeds. The American Staffordshire Terrier belongs to the `Above Average Working Dogs` category. This means that American Staffordshire Terriers tend to learn new commands after 15 to 25 repetitions.

    The Yorkshire Terrier is more intelligent than the American Staffordshire Terrier.

    However, Prof. Coren noted that a dog should not be judged based on its intelligence alone, that other factors such as sociability, adorability, and compatibility with the owner are other very important factors that new dog owners need to consider when deciding on a new dog.

    The Popularity of Yorkshire Terrier versus Popularity of American Staffordshire Terrier

    Every year, the American Kennel Club (AKC) publishes information on how popular a dog breed is in that particular year. The AKC gets the popularity information of a breed from how many dogs of that breed the owners register with the AKC every year. The AKC collects this data for about 200 dog breeds. The AKC collects this data for purebred dogs only(no mixed or hybrid dogs).

    The graphs and the table below show the popularity of the Yorkshire Terrier and the American Staffordshire Terrier over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Yorkshire Terrier is more popular with dog owners than the American Staffordshire Terrier. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Yorkshire Terrier is 9 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the American Staffordshire Terrier is 81 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Yorkshire Terrier

    Popularity of Yorkshire Terrier

    Popularity of American Staffordshire Terrier

    Popularity of American Staffordshire Terrier

    `
    Year Yorkshire Terrier Popularity Rank American Staffordshire Terrier Popularity Rank
    2013 6 76
    2014 6 84
    2015 7 77
    2016 9 81
    2017 9 83
    2018 10 85
    2019 12 85
    2020 13 82
    2021 13 81

    Health Problems of Yorkshire 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 Yorkshire 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 Staffordshire Terrier is prone to the same number of genetic health problems as the Yorkshire Terrier.

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

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

    Yorkshire Terrier Health Problems

    Yorkshire Terriers are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Yorkshire 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 Yorkshire Terrier puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Yorkshire 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 Yorkshire Terriers for:

  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cornell DNA Bank
  • DNA Repository
  • Eye Examination- Prior to the onset of breeding, recommend evaluations at 1, 3, and 6 Years of Age.
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Legg-Calve-Perthes
  • Patellar Luxation

  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Yorkshire 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.

    More Discussions on Health Problems in Yorkshire Terriers and American Staffordshire Terriers

    Based on our analysis of data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, of all known genetic health problems in dogs, the health problem that is most commonly seen in the Yorkshire Terrier Breed is Legg-Calve-Perthes problems.

    This is because the Yorkshire Terrier ranks 1 out of 40 dog breeds for Legg-Calve-Perthes problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 321 Yorkshire Terriers, 9 of them had Legg-Calve-Perthes problems.

    The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Yorkshire Terriers, and how common these diseases are in Yorkshire Terriers relative to other dog breeds, are given below:

  • Legg-Calve-Perthes problems: Rank 1 out of 40 Dog Breeds
  • Patella problems: Rank 3 out of 145 Dog Breeds
  • Dentition Database problems: Rank 23 out of 49 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 88 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 159 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • Based on our analysis of data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, of all known genetic health problems in dogs, the health problem that is most commonly seen in the American Staffordshire Terrier Breed is Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis problems.

    This is because the American Staffordshire Terrier ranks 1 out of 3 dog breeds for Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 709 American Staffordshire Terriers, 7 of them had Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis problems.

    The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in American Staffordshire Terriers, and how common these diseases are in American Staffordshire Terriers relative to other dog breeds, are given below:

  • Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis problems: Rank 1 out of 3 Dog Breeds
  • Degenerative Myelopathy problems: Rank 18 out of 70 Dog Breeds
  • Congenital Cardiac problems: Rank 21 out of 159 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 23 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 24 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • Advanced Cardiac problems: Rank 28 out of 71 Dog Breeds
  • Thyroid problems: Rank 34 out of 115 Dog Breeds
  • Patella problems: Rank 117 out of 145 Dog Breeds

  • The table below lists the common health problems in Yorkshire Terrier and in American Staffordshire Terrier and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the Yorkshire Terrier and the American Staffordshire Terrier:

    `
    Disease Yorkshire Terrier Rank American Staffordshire Terrier Rank
    Legg-Calve-Perthes problems 1 out of 40 dog breeds Not Common
    Patella problems 3 out of 145 dog breeds 117 out of 145 dog breeds
    Dentition Database problems 23 out of 49 dog breeds Not Common
    Eyes problems 88 out of 182 dog breeds Not Common
    Hips problems 159 out of 198 dog breeds 24 out of 198 dog breeds
    Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis problems Not Common 1 out of 3 dog breeds
    Degenerative Myelopathy problems Not Common 18 out of 70 dog breeds
    Congenital Cardiac problems Not Common 21 out of 159 dog breeds
    Elbow problems Not Common 23 out of 144 dog breeds
    Advanced Cardiac problems Not Common 28 out of 71 dog breeds
    Thyroid problems Not Common 34 out of 115 dog breeds

    *To learn more about each of these diseases, go to OFA.org and search for the disease.

    Again, most of these health problems can be prevented through health screening. Responsible breeders screen male and female dog parents for genetic problems. These breeders will only breed dogs that are free of genetic defects. That way, there is little or no chance that their puppies will grow up to have genetic health problems. Always ask a breeder for the list of health tests the breeder screens their dogs for before buying a puppy from such a breeder.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Yorkshire Terrier versus American Staffordshire Terrier

    Yorkshire Terriers do not like to be left alone.

    American Staffordshire Terriers do not like to be left alone.

    Do Yorkshire Terriers shed more than American Staffordshire Terriers?

    Yorkshire 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 is Easier to Groom, the Yorkshire Terrier or the American Staffordshire Terrier?

    Yorkshire Terriers require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.

    American Staffordshire Terriers are very easy to groom.

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

    Yorkshire Terriers get along fairly well with other dogs.

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

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

    Yorkshire Terriers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

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

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

    Yorkshire Terriers are fairly easy to train.

    American Staffordshire Terriers are very easy to train.

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

    Yorkshire Terriers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    American Staffordshire Terriers drool moderately.

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

    Yorkshire Terriers do not get along well with kids. They are not kid-friendly.

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

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

    Yorkshire Terriers have a very low prey drive. This means they get won`t chase after smaller pets. They tend to get along well with other pets.

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

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

    Yorkshire Terriers bark and howl, but not very much.

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

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

    Yorkshire 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: Yorkshire Terrier vs. American Staffordshire Terrier

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

    Yorkshire Terriers cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

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

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

    Yorkshire 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 Yorkshire Terrier or the American Staffordshire Terrier?

    Yorkshire Terriers are very good for new dog owners.

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

    Yorkshire Terrier Versus Other Dog Breeds

    You may also be interested in how the Yorkshire Terrier compares to other breeds aside from the American Staffordshire Terrier. So, see below the links to the comparison of the Yorkshire Terrier to other breeds:

    Yorkshire Terrier versus Affenpinscher     Yorkshire Terrier versus Airedale Terrier     Yorkshire Terrier versus Boxer     Yorkshire Terrier versus Bouvier des Flandres     Yorkshire Terrier versus Pomeranian     Yorkshire Terrier versus Finnish Spitz     Yorkshire Terrier versus Cardigan Welsh Corgi     Yorkshire Terrier versus Dachshund     Yorkshire Terrier versus Pharaoh Hound     Yorkshire Terrier versus Cavalier King Charles Spaniel     Yorkshire Terrier versus English Springer Spaniel     Yorkshire Terrier versus Great Dane     Yorkshire Terrier versus Collie     Yorkshire Terrier versus Toy Fox Terrier     

    Conclusion: Yorkshire 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 Yorkshire Terrier and the American Staffordshire Terrier better suits you and your family.