A New Owner's Guide to Staffordshire Bull Terriers

The Staffordshire bull terrier is a compact, stocky and athletic breed hailing from the English county of Staffordshire. He was originally bred as an all-purpose working dog and is the result of early breeders crossing the bulldog with a local terrier. He̵7;s a popular pet breed, especially in his home country, and is famous for his playful, friendly demeanor.

  1. A Gentle Companion

    • Staffordshire bull terriers are famous for their gentle, affectionate and loving disposition, but this does not mean they are inherently "soft." In fact, they are determined, courageous and relatively powerful for their size. They love to be around children and are renowned for their fondness for playing with kids. However, if not properly trained and socialized, their enthusiasm for children can boil over into rambunctiousness, so supervize your Staffy at all times when he̵7;s playing with kids.

    Training and Play

    • Staffies are relatively intelligent, but they do not possess the kind of intelligence that makes them suitable for working. Staffies today are born of a willingness to please, typically by repetition. They are an all-round sort of dog and lack the type of inherent, instinctive working intelligence one might associate with a border collie or German shepherd. Staffies love to play and benefit from an active lifestyle that enables them to burn off energy.

    Health Care and Life Expectancy

    • Staffordshire bull terriers are relatively robust of health, suffering from only a small handful of hereditary health issues. Cataracts and a metabolic disorder called hydroxyglutaric aciduria are the only congenital disorders associated with the breed. The breed is not associated with the more common hereditary health problems, such as deafness, hip dysplasia and cancer. They also have a relatively high life expectancy, typically between 10 and 16 years. Due to their short, glossy coats, Staffies require only minimal grooming; a weekly brush will do just fine unless he̵7;s particularly dirty.

    A Staffie Owner̵7;s Responsibilities

    • Staffordshire bull terriers do not thrive in a low-stimulus environment. While they are needy or attention-seeking, they will make their own entertainment if ignored for too long or left alone too frequently. They like to meet new people and dogs, but badly socialized Staffies may get a little too excited or a little too forceful in his desire to play. For this reason, he needs a confident, consistent and assured owner who can use kindness to show him the correct way to behave.