Description: The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is a very muscular dog that has great strength. The height is 14-16 inches for the dog and 13-15 inches for the bitches. The weight of the male is 25-38 pounds and the female is 23-35 pounds. We see a short head with broad and deep skull. This has a powerful jaw that meets in a scissor bite. The lips are tight and the Staffordshire Bull Terrier rarely drools. It has a short muzzle, dark eyes that match the coat coloring. Small ears that can be half pricked or rose. They have a strong neck that is muscular blending into strong shoulders. The Staffy has padded paws that are medium in size, the front legs are straight. The tail is low set and thicker at the base, with a slight curl but this should not be much. The coat is colored black, tan, fawn, red, white, brindle or a blend of the colors with white. There is a piebald which is white with any color over the eye. Skewbald is white with red patches. The coat is smooth and tight to the body. The life expectancy of this dog is 10- 16 years.

History: This breed came from Staffordshire, England in the 1800’s from crossing the local Terriers and the Bulldog. The Staffordshire Bull Terrier breed was designed to be a fighting dog, as at the time bull baiting, fighting in a pit, was a fashionable sport. This was the poor mans entertainment and bears were used sometimes, as well as dog’s fighting dog’s. This cruelty was stopped in 1835, but it still carried on, as dog fights as it was easier to hide and gambling on the dog’s was popular. This happened in the UK and America as the working classes wanted to gamble and watch this blood sport. The Staffy (Staffordshire Bull Terrier) following declined around this time, with the change of popularity for blood sports. In the twentieth century interest grew mainly in the USA and this is where the American Pit Bull originated, being larger than the Staffy. In 1975 the AKC recognized this breed.

Temperament: This breed needs a very dominant experienced owner. As the Staffordshire Bull Terrier lives at full speed, and nothing is done by halves. While with the right owner and family you see a loving wholly affectionate dog with a sense of humor and so much courage it has to be controlled or can hurt itself. These dogs are very people friendly. These dogs will love children and the only real concern is that the child needs to know how to be a good young leader to avoid problems over dominance issues. The Staffy is good with other pets but really needs a very good leader to enforce rules. Socializing this dog, well and early, will help the dog develop well. One of the biggest problems for this dog is the chewing, they do. It will be no good just giving them a few plastic chew toys as these will be in shreds in minutes with possibly health concerns due to plastic being swallowed. There are ranges available for this strong chewer. As this is a big chewer never allow the dog to chew your hand, as a puppy, as this sends the dog the wrong message. They can be trained in obedience and agility and are in the top of the field in the UK. Here is a dog that needs and loves a challenge, so set ones that you can use rather than the dog choosing things you do not want. All family members have to be firm consistent leaders, for this dog to understand its place in the family, so families with young children or lacking good dog leadership and experience should not get this dog. This dog is strong and without the good leadership can become stubborn and very hard to handle. It cannot be stressed enough that this dog has brilliant stamina and needs very long walks daily.

Health issues: The Staffordshire Bull Terrier can have eye complaints and screening needs to be seen, by you, before getting a puppy. Hip dysplasia, tumors are also seen in some lines. Soft palate that is elongated is another problem seen in some puppies. This breed is also known to have gas like all the bull terrier types.

Grooming: The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is easy to keep looking good by brushing their coat daily with a good brush for short haired dogs.

Living Conditions: This dog, if given plenty of good exercise daily, can live in an apartment. The Staffordshire Bull Terrier can cope with a small garden.