About Staffordshire Bull Terriers

Staffordshire bull terriers (more commonly called Staffies) are people-loving, intelligent medium-sized dogs now found in many parts of the world. Because of their short coat, the breed has done well in more humid parts of the world such as South Africa. Their nickname in England is "nanny dogs" because they get along so well with children.

  1. History

    • As their name implies, Staffies were developed in Staffordshire, England, in the 1800s from English bulldogs to hunt rats, fight other dogs and to be a guard dog. They were bred to be people-friendly.

    Size

    • Staffies are solidly built dogs, making them far heavier than other dogs their size. They average 14 inches tall and 25 to 35 pounds, but they can get larger.

    Appearance

    • Staffordshire butt terriers are longer than tall, with a broad chest, broad head, semi-floppy ears and a long, thin tail. They come in just about every color dogs can, including brindle and generous white markings on a solid coat.

    Temperament

    • These are very energetic, optimistic dogs with a huge appetite. They often are very good with people but may need to be trained to get along with other dogs.

    Activities

    • According to "Training Secrets for Bully Breeds" (Bow Tie Press, 2004), Staffies have successfully been guard dogs, weight-pulling dogs, obedience dogs, tracking dogs and canine freestyle dancing dogs.