The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is a medium-sized, short-haired dog that originated in England. It is one of the most popular breeds in the continental United States and belongs to several breeds collectively known as Pit Bulls.
The esteem and attitude of this breed can be very intimidating due to its mass and muscular physique, but you will be surprised that this intimidating appearance hides a very affectionate dog.
In fact, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier might just be one of the most loyal dog breeds you’ll ever own. You may be surprised that this muscular dog has a soft spot, and I’ll tell you why.
Breed Characteristics
The Staffordshire Bull Terrier has distinct physical characteristics, such as small ears, pronounced cheek muscles, and lips that do not present looseness. Its short and soft coat gives the Staffordshire Bull Terrier a streamlined and ‘macho’ appearance.
Adaptability: High
Trainability: High
Health and grooming: High
Friendliness with human and other pets: High
Exercise needs: Above average
Colors
The Staffordshire Bull Terrier comes in numerous varieties of coat colors, such as red, white, black, blue, brindle, or any combination with white. With only one coat size and type, which is short, this breed’s grooming requirements are very easy to maintain. Regular and vigorous brushing, as well as oral and ear cleaning is essential for this dog.
How Big Do Staffordshire Bull Terriers Get?
Male Staffordshire Bull Terriers are slightly larger and heavier than their female counterparts. The male Staffordshire stands 14 to 16 inches tall at the shoulder, while the female stands 13 to 16 inches at the shoulder when fully grown. Males weigh from 28 to 37 pounds and females 23 to 34 pounds
There is only one breed standard and size for the Staffordshire Bull Terrier.
Are Staffordshire Bull Terriers Dangerous Or Aggressive Dogs?
Never! The Staffordshire Bull Terriers not at all dangerous or aggressive dogs. In fact, this dog is commonly mistaken for its larger relatives, the American Pit Bull Terrier, known for its aggressive behavior.
Staffordshire Bull Terriers are extremely calm, affectionate, active, friendly, and enthusiastic around humans. They love to express themselves by nuzzling, licking, pawing, and jumping.
Do Staffordshire Bull Terriers Make Good Guard Dogs?
Despite their guard dog appearance, Staffordshire bull terriers make fair to poor guard dogs. They are observed to be very adaptable in terms of change in both the environment and the pet’s parents, and this trait makes them very easy to be ‘dognapped‘.
A properly trained Staffordshire Bull Terrier can be a wonderful companion, and they can be trained for obedience as well as for security and yield favorable results through persistence and dedication.
Are Staffies Good First-time Dogs?
The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is not for the mainstream audience, and it’s more of an acquired taste because most first-time owners prefer a dog that looks cheesy and adorable, which is not entirely the case with this type of muscular dog.
However, due to its strong affinity with humans, it is the most recommended medium-sized dog for first owners who would like to have a “dog that acts like a toy dog but looks like a guard dog”.
This breed is consistently included in the most popular breeds in the United States. You will be surprised that the Staffordshire Bull Terrier is one of the few dogs that exhibits an extremely strong affinity with its pet parents.
Are Staffordshire Terriers Good Family Dogs?
Yes! Staffordshire bull terriers absolutely make good family dogs. Enthusiasm and affection are two factors where the Staffordshire Bull Terrier shines. It does not require a lot of space and exercise and does well in apartments or condominium living, as well as in the suburbs and the countryside.
Staffordshire Bull Terriers are very adaptable and can catch up with parents of semi-active to active pet parents.
This breed has a solid frame for a medium-sized body. It is recommended for families with children due to its patient and loving demeanor, although younger children may still need some supervision.
The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is very easy to housetrain, and its impressive adaptability is where this breed shines.
If you are the type of pet parent who travels a lot and changes your address frequently due to personal preferences, these dogs can catch up with those changes. As with other dogs, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier is moderately compatible. They can tolerate barking and nosy dogs as part of the family, but try not to pair them with naturally aggressive breeds.
The Staffordshire Bull Terrier might be a popular breed, but many families are intimidated by its appearance. Appearance can be truly deceptive, and with a muscular dog that can capture the hearts of both young and old, considering this breed may be one of the best decisions you can have a budding pet parent.
Are Staffordshire Bull Terriers Good With Children?
The Staffordshire Bull Terrier has a very favorable affinity for humans, especially young children. In fact, its nickname Nanny Dog is what this dog does best, being a nanny to the children.
This breed has an excellent temperament, much better compared to other dog breeds that are normally found in homes. Their muscular build can catch up with quirk and active pet parents and their children, and they will happily play with them.
Another factor that families with small children love the Staffordshire Bull Terrier is that it doesn’t shed much, thanks to its short, close-to-skin coat. This significantly reduces the chances of inducing allergies. As a parent of a pet, just be aware of excessive licking and moderate drooling, which is common with pitbull varieties.
Main Highlights Of This Breed
- The Staffordshire Bull Terrier comes with many nicknames, such as Nanny Dog, SBT, Staffy Bull, Staffy, and Staffy Dog.
- Currently, it is one of the most popular breeds in the United States and its popularity has been growing steadily as the masses learn more about the breed.
- In general, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier comes in many varieties of red, white, black, blue, brindle, or combined with white.
- The key characteristics of this breed are affectionate and adaptability.
- The Staffordshire Bull Terrier was originally bred for blood sports, but as animal welfare and awareness became prominent, it became one of the most popular breeds among singles and gym buffs due to its compact but macho appearance.
- Due to the short coat, grooming for this dog is very easy.