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Originating in England, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier was bred for
bull, bear, and lion baiting. The aforementioned "blood-sports" were
officially eliminated in 1835 when Britain introduced animal welfare
laws. However, "blood-sport" proponents began using this breed for
organized dog fighting. Today, with their "blood-sport" history
behind them, this breed has become a stable and popular family pet.
Often referred to as the Staffie, this muscular and stocky breed
exudes strength, courage, and athletic ability. They are bold,
tenacious, and alert. The Staffordshire Bull Terrier has a fearless,
protective, and determined nature and is extremely agile. Their most
distinguishing and striking features are their broad head and
expressive face. These dogs were registered with the AKC in 1974.
General Appearance
The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is a powerful and muscular dog, very
strong for his size with a broad head and very strong jaws. Dark
preferable, but may bear some relation to coat color. Round, of
medium size, and set to look straight ahead. Light eyes or pink eye
rims to be considered a fault, except that where the coat
surrounding the eye is white the eye rim may be pink. Ears--Rose or
half-pricked and not large. Full drop or full prick to be considered
a serious fault. Mouth--A bite in which the outer side of the lower
incisors touches the inner side of the upper incisors. The lips
should be tight and clean. The coat is smooth, short and close to
the skin, not to be trimmed or de-whiskered. Colors include red,
fawn, white, black or blue, or any of these colors with white. Any
shade of brindle or any shade of brindle with white. Black-and-tan
or liver color to be disqualified. The tail is medium length, low
set, tapering to a point and carried rather low. Should not curl
much and may be likened to an old fashioned pump handle. Lips tight
and clean. Jaws strong, teeth large, with a perfect, regular and
complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower
teeth and set square to the jaws. Rose or half pricked ears, not
large or heavy. Full, drop or pricked ears highly undesirable.
Temperament
Strong willed, spirited, and energetic, the Staffordshire Bull
Terrier is a dog that loves the attention and companionship of his
family. These little yet sturdy dogs have plenty of devotion, love,
and loyalty to give to their owners. Although the Staffordshire Bull
Terrier does not tend to bark a lot, he is an alert dog - and
although he may not necessarily try and chase away an intruder he
would defend his loved ones fiercely if anyone tried to harm them.
The Staffordshire Bull Terrier loves spending time with his family,
and could be construed as a little clingy - he is certainly not the
right choice for those with little time to devote to a pet. The
Staffordshire Bull Terrier has strong impulses and can be
headstrong, so he is best suited to those with some experience of
dog ownership. Consistent, firm, and positive training from a
confident, assertive owner is important. Early socialization is
necessary to promote a stable, even temperament in the Staffordshire
Bull Terrier. You will need to provide these dogs with a good amount
of exercise, as he does have bags of energy. He is a very good
digger and jumper, so a securely fenced, safe area is essential when
he is not on a leash. These dogs love to chew, so you should invest
in appropriate toys in order to save your belongings. Bred for dog
fighting, the fighting instinct in the Staffordshire Bull Terrier is
strong, and he may challenge other dogs. However, with proper
socialization he will get along okay with other household dogs and
cats. These dogs get along well with strangers, and are very good
with children who are older and gentle.
Grooming
The Staffordshire Bull Terrier has a short coat and minimal grooming
is needed. A soft bristle brush or a hound mitt used weekly will
keep shedding down and keep the coat soft and healthy looking.
Bathing is only required when the dog is dirty. Bathing too often
will strip the coat of its essential oils and may cause the skin to
become dry and flaky. If the dog has an odor, a quick rub down with
baby wipes or puppy wipes will be enough.
Health Problems and Life Expectancy
The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is prone to
cataracts. Other eye
problems can be common, but can be avoided by testing the parents
before breeding. Hip dysplasia is seen occasionally, but can be
prevented by limiting the amount of stress on the joints as the
puppy grows. You can limit the stress on the joints by not pushing
the dog to run, and by not allowing the dog to frequent stairs. They
are also prone to gas, but with a healthy diet this can be brought
down to a minimum. The Staffordshire Bull Terrier has a life
expectancy of around 12-14 years.
Activity Level
Staffordshire Bull Terrier dogs need to be exercised daily. They have a lot of energy and
need to be kept busy. Without proper exercise, Staffies can become
rambunctious, destructive and get themselves into trouble. A tired
dog is a happy dog. If the Staffordshire Bull Terrier is exercised
properly, they will be quiet and calm in the home. Other activities
that Staffies excel in are agility, advanced obedience, tracking,
and weight pulling.
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