Staffordshire Bull Terrier Profile

Other Names: Staffie, Stafford, Staffordshire

Country of origin: Great Britain

Dog Group Kennel Club:  Terrier

General appearance:

Staffordshire Bull Terriers or Staffies are medium sized, strong and muscular breeds of dog.  They were originally bred for fighting but now are seen in many family surroundings.  They have smooth coats, broad heads and show great strength despite their size. The Staffordshire Bull Terrier has a soft, sleek, dense, and short coat that lays close to the body. The Staffie is a compact, powerfully built dog that is muscular all over.  They have a large square head with eyes that are set looking straight ahead. 

Colours:

A range of colours although black and tan and liver are not desirable.

Size:

Bitch           33 - 38 cms

Dog             36 -41 cms

Weight:

                            Min                   Max
 
Bitch            11kg (24lbs)   15.5kg (34lbs)

Dog               12.7kg (28lbs) 17kg (37lbs)

Temperament:

Staffies are bold and courageous and show fearless qualities but, at the same time, they are generally loving and affectionate and like children. They can show aggression towards other dogs and although they will not start fights, they don't back down and show no pain if hurt. Obedience training is important for this breed. They thrive on human contact and are extremely loving, devoted, and loyal. Staffies are exceedingly protective of their family and make excellent guardians and watchdogs.The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is not recommended for the novice dog owner. They can be quite vocal, so they must be taught when to stop, and  they can be very destructive if they are left alone at home for long periods of time.

Movement:

Powerful and agile showing no stiffness.

Care and training:

This breed requires minimal grooming. An occasional firm, bristle brushing and bath will suffice. They do not tolerate cold climates but also have a tendency to become over-heated quickly. They are best suited as indoor pets.

The Staffordshire Bull Terrier requires a dominant owner and needs early and intense socialization and obedience training. They are easily housetrained. It is absolutely crucial that all training of this breed be done in a positive, consistent, patient, and firm manner. They do have a stubborn streak so a degree of firm handling is required. They can also be quite headstrong and boisterous, especially during adolescence.

Overall Exercise: 100 - 120 minutes per day.
They do enjoy their exercise, and need to be given enough so that their boisterousness in the house is kept to a minimum.

Feeding requirements:

The Staffie is an undemanding dog to feed with no special dietary requirements; they generally have a good appetite.  

Grooming: Low

Noise: Med

Personal Protection: High

Suitability As Guard Dog: High

Level of Aggression: Medium

Compatibility With Other Animals: Medium

Suitablity for Children: High

Often docked?  No

Average litter size: 4 - 6

Life expectancy (yrs): 12 - 14

Health issues: Cataracts, entropion, over heating and breathing problems.

History: Thought to be the "original" Bull-and-Terrier, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier evolved from the British Isles as a direct result of a cross between an Old English Bulldog and a smooth- coated terrier, possibly the Black and Tan Terrier. When early specimens of this breed were brought to the United States in the 1800s, they were crossed with other breeds to become larger and taller. This produced the American Staffordshire Terrier and the American Pit Bull Terrier. The original smaller Staffy remained in England without change. The Staffy was originally used for bull-baiting and dog fighting. When the sport was outlawed in Britain, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier was developed along gentler lines as a companion dog. Fancier Joseph Dunn didn't want to see this breed vanish into history, so he created a club for the breed and strove to make the breed recognized by the Kennel Club of England. Since no name had yet been chosen for this breed, and Bull Terrier was already taken, the breed's name fell to a city of great interest in the breed, Staffordshire.