As the name suggests, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier dog breed was first developed in Staffordshire back in the 19th Century by crossing Bulldogs with various terrier breeds including the Black and Tan Terrier.
The breed was initially created to be a small, fast fighting dog for dog fighting, bull baiting and vermin control.
Their dog fighting history has given them an undeserved reputation as a dangerous dog breed, which, after sound breeding practices, is simply not the case.
Now, the Staffie is known as a fine companion and an affectionate family pet as they're notoriously intelligent, courageous and affectionate, particularly towards children. They have even recently dethroned the Labrador as the number 1 favourite breed in the UK.
Their strong muscular body and powerful stance can be intimidating, but in truth their main desire is to spend time with people, whether that is snuggling on the sofa, playing in the garden, or going for a walk.
Their short faces make them unsuited to staying outside for long periods in hot temperatures, so it's vital they are monitored and have constant access to fresh water and shade.
There’s a reason Staffordshire Bull Terriers have recently been crowned ‘Top Dog’ in the UK. They're an incredibly affectionate and loyal breed who love children and strangers and don't like being left alone. They also love to play, although sometimes they can be a little boisterous, so don’t leave them alone with young children.
Whilst they're very people friendly, they don't do well with other dogs – sadly a side effect of their history as a fighting breed. This means it's very important that you don't let them off their lead in public.
They're intelligent, but they're also free thinkers which can make them difficult to train and means they require firm, patient and consistent training.
The loveable staffie loves to chew, especially as a puppy, so provide many chew toys to protect your home.
Although they're not much of a barker, prepare for your home to be full of the sound of snorts, grunts, snores and groans.
The difficulty in training Staffies, among other traits, means they need an experienced owner and they're perfect for someone who is confident, consistent and firm, but is also loving.
They're very loyal and need constant companionship which means they're not suitable for anyone who has to leave the house for more than a couple of hours a day.
Owners must be prepared to dedicate time for 1 to 2 hours of walking every day, as well as plenty of stimulation, love and snuggles when at home.
Their preferred setting would be a home with a nice big fenced garden, however they can cope in apartments, so long as they get regular walks. Staffies are diggers, so it’s important to reinforce fences by embedding them in concrete or burying chicken wire to prevent them from escaping.
You can never say for sure how a staffie will get on with other dogs, so they're better off in households where they are the only pet.
Staffordshire Bull Terriers don't require much grooming thanks to their short, smooth coat and low levels of shedding.
Although they don’t shed much, it is still important to brush them weekly to remove loose hair.
You will find dirt brushes off easily and they generally don’t produce much odour, meaning they do not need frequent bathing and when you do need to bathe them, their coat dries very quickly.
Other grooming focuses on their mouth, ears and paws. You must brush their teeth 2-3 times a week minimum, regularly check their ears for debris, redness and sore spots, and trim their nails once or twice a month as needed or when you can hear their nails click on the floor.
To make yours and your pet’s lives easier, start grooming early on as a puppy. Get them used to you holding their feet and looking in their mouths and ears. If you start too late, you will find the process a lot more difficult.
Generally, staffies are a healthy breed, but like any animal, they can be subject to certain health conditions.
When purchasing a puppy, you must make sure the breeder has had the correct tests done on both parents and the puppy itself to ensure there are no signs of hereditary issues. For Staffies, you should expect to see health clearances on both parents from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals for hips and elbows, and from the Canine Eye Registry Foundation, certifying that the eyes are healthy.
To give your pet the best chance of staying healthy, feed them with high quality dog food twice a day. As with every dog, their portions will vary depending on factors like age, size, exercise levels etc.
To avoid bloat, withhold food and water for at least an hour after vigorous exercise.
Hip Dysplasia is an inherited condition that means the thighbone doesn’t fit snuggly in the hip joint.
The symptoms are generally pain and lameness which will vary in severity and can be present in one or both rear legs.
Sadly, it’s not uncommon for the disorder to lead to hip replacement.
Make sure you ask any breeder if the puppy’s parents have been tested and cleared for Hip Dysplasia. If they have not, or the issue is present in one or both, find another breeder.
Patellar Luxation is a relatively common problem that occurs when the patella is not properly lined up. This causes the Femur (thigh bone), Patella (kneecap), and Tibia (calf) to slip out of place. When this happens, the dog will generally skip or hop.
There are four grades, ranging from I, an occasional luxation causing temporary lameness in the joint, to grade IV, in which the turning of the tibia is severe, and patella cannot be realigned manually.
The constant rubbing caused by this issue can lead to arthritis, a degenerative joint disease and severe levels of Patella luxation may require surgery to avoid further issues and pain.
Hereditary Juvenile Cataracts is a fast-acting condition that leads to opacity and cloudiness in the lens of the eye at an early age.
The rapid progression can mean a dog is blind by just 3 years of age.
DNA tests are available to identify dogs that are carriers, affected, or clear of the defective gene, so when you’re considering buying from a breeder make sure they have had this DNA test to screen their dogs.
Demodectic Mange is caused by demodex mites which live in hair follicles. All dogs carry these mites, and those with weakened immune systems can develop this condition which is also called demodicosis.
Demodicosis comes in two forms – Localised and generalised.
The localised form causes patches of red, scaly skin and hair loss on the head, neck and forelegs. It is usually thought of as a puppy disease and will often clear up on its own.
The generalised form usually only appears on older puppies and adults. Affected dogs will develop patchy skin, bald spots and skin infections all over the body.
Fortunately, the mite cannot be passed to humans or other pets.