shop

The Furry Critter Network

English Staffordshire Bull Terrier Breed Description

Back to Canine Breed Menu


Breed Organization

Staffordshire Bull Terrier Club of America

Native Country
Great Britain

Other Names
Bull and Terrier, Staffy, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Stafford, Staffordshire, Staffie, Half Pit Dog

Life Expectancy
Approximately 12-16 Years

Litter Size
Average 4-6 Puppies

Breed Group
AKC Terrier

General Description

The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is a medium-sized, stocky, and very muscular dog, with a similar appearance to the much larger American Staffordshire terrier and American pit bull terrier. It has a broad head (male considerably more so than female), defined occipital muscles, a relatively short fore-face, dark round eyes and a wide mouth with a clean scissor-like bite (the top incisors slightly overlap the bottom incisors). The ears are small. The cheek muscles are very pronounced. The lips show no looseness. From above, the head loosely resembles a triangle. The head tapers down to a strong well-muscled neck and shoulders placed on squarely spaced forelimbs. They are tucked up in their loins and the last 1-2 ribs of the rib-cage are usually visible. The tail resembles an old fashioned pump handle. The hind quarters are well-muscled and are what give the Stafford drive when baiting. They are colored brindle, black, red, fawn, blue, white, or any blending of these colors with white. White with any other color broken up over the body is known as pied. Liver-colored, black and tan dogs can occur but are rare and it is advised not to breed from either as well as those with light eyes. The exception to the light eye rule are Blue English Staffordshire Bull Terriers; all others should have dark brown eyes even if fawn coat. The coat is smooth and clings tightly to the body giving the dog a streamlined appearance.

Breed Standard

Head: Short, deep through. Broad skull. Distinct stop. Short nose bridge. Very pronounced cheek muscles. Strong jaws. Tight lips.
Ears: Rose or half-prick.
Eyes: Medium size, round. Dark color. Dark rims.
Body: Compact and powerful. Muscular, moderately short neck. Broad forechest. Chest is well let down. Ribs well sprung. Horizontal topline.
Tail: Medium length, set low, and tapering toward the tip. Carried moderately low.
Hair: Short, smooth, dense.
Coat: Red, fawn, white, black, or blue, or any of these colors with white. Any shade of brindle with or without white.
Size: 35 to 40 cm ( 14 to 15.5 in).
Weight: Dog: 12.7 to 17.2 kg (28-38 lb).Bitch: 10.8 to 15.4 kg (24-34 lb).


History

The progeny of the hybrid crosses between bulldogs and terriers were sometimes referred to as half-and-halfs and half-breds but became more commonly known as the bull and terrier. Of the six distinct breeds that descended from the bull and terrier breeds, five are recognised by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in the following order: Bull Terrier, Boston Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier (AmStaff), Staffordshire Bull Terrier, and Miniature Bull Terrier.  The same five breeds are also recognised by the Canadian Kennel Club (CKC), and Fédération cynologique internationale (FCI). The American Pit Bull Terrier (APBT) is recognised by the United Kennel Club (UKC). The English Kennel Club recognizes only four of the breeds and does not accept the AmStaff or APBT.  The United Kennel Club describes the Bull Terrier as "the direct descendant of the original bull-and-terrier cross made in England, specifically to bait bulls and, later to fight in pits". Their description of the Staffordshire Bull Terrier states that the breed shares "the same ancestry as the Bull Terrier, i.e. Bulldog crossed with the Black and Tan terrier, and was developed as a fighting dog."

In the mid–19th century, the bull and terrier hybrids were known by several different aliases, such as the Patched Fighting Terrier, Staffordshire Pit-dog, Brindle Bull, and Bull-and-Terrier. A common name was simply the Bull Terrier, which was later associated with the Hinks' Bull Terrier; a socially acceptable "gentleman's companion" with refinement, cleaner lines, and courage without aggressive tendencies. During the development of Hinks' new breed of Bull Terrier, also known as the White Cavalier, various undocumented outcrosses were used that the devotees of the original strains of bull and terrier crosses didn't like, such as the Dalmatian and Collie, and they chose instead to remain loyal to their preferred type. As a result, two different breeds of Bull Terriers emerged: the Bull Terrier and Staffordshire Bull Terrier. The Bull Terrier's fighting heritage was left behind whereas breeders of Staffordshire Bull Terriers in the UK continued their illegal competitions which paralleled what was happening in the U.S. with the American Staffordshire Terrier; neither breed could gain official acceptance in their respective native lands. "No established registry wanted to be affiliated with a dog that drew the blood of its own kind for a living."

By 1874, in Britain the first Kennel Club Stud Book was published, which included Bull Terriers and Bulldogs. In 1935, The Kennel Club accepted Staffordshire Bull Terriers into their studbook with established breed standards. It wasn't until 1974 that the AKC admitted Staffordshire Bull Terriers as a purebred as their 121st registered breed.


Behavior

This vigorous, courageous, highly tenacious , bold, strong-willed dog is, in fact, calm and stable. If trained properly, he is gentle and affectionate with his owners, though is a formidable, aggressive guard dog as required. The breed’s reputation with children is second to none. Adored and adoring within its family circle. It is usually good with other pets in the household if raised together. When well cared for and properly trained they can make brilliant companions.

The Staffordshire Bull Terrier can adapt to life as a house dog if he gets plenty of exercise. Regular brushing is required.

Function

Guard Dog, Pet


Health

Staffordshire Bull Terriers are known to suffer from Hereditary Cataracts and L-2-hydroxyglutaric aciduria a metabolic disorder resulting in behavioral changes and dementia-like symptoms, both of which are detectable via DNA tests. Distichiasis (commonly known as “double eyelash”) and Persistent Hyperplastic Primary Vitreous, a condition whereby the blood supply to the ocular lens fails to regress and fibrovascular tissue forms causing hazy vision, both of which are checked by way of an ocular examination throughout the life of a breeding stud or brood-bitch to minimize the transfer and spread of these conditions. The breed is known to be at a higher risk from mastocytoma (mast cell tumours) than the general population of dogs.



Back to Canine Breed Menu

Featured Rescues

"Don't Shop ... Please Adopt"

laptop pro

ASPCA

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals® (ASPCA®) was the first humane society to be established in North America and is, today, one of the largest in the world.

Our organization was founded on the belief that animals are entitled to kind and respectful treatment at the hands of humans and must be protected under the law. Headquartered in New York City, the ASPCA maintains a strong local presence, and with programs that extend our anti-cruelty mission across the country, we are recognized as a national animal welfare organization. We are a privately funded 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation, and are proud to boast more than 2 million supporters across the country.

The ASPCA’s mission, as stated by founder Henry Bergh in 1866, is “to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States.”


laptop pro

Petfinder

If you can’t find the pet you’re looking for on Petfinder, don’t give up. Some shelters maintain waiting lists for specific breeds, so don’t be afraid to ask! There are also breed-specific rescues for just about every breed, and most of them post their pets on Petfinder. (Petfinder can even e-mail you when a pet that fits your criteria is posted — just click “Save this Search” at the top of your search results page.)


laptop pro

Rescue Me

Jeff Gold, Founder, Rescue Me! Animal Rescue Network

Jeff Gold lives in Watkinsville, Georgia on the same property as Rescue Me's Animal Rehabilitation Center, with 18 rescue animals. Shown with him in the photo to the left are Maggie, Izzie and Cortez. In 2003, after learning there was nobody doing boxer rescue work in Georgia, Gold founded Boxertown, an organization which helped find homes for over 500 boxers during its first two years. Based upon this success, Gold came up with the vision for Rescue Me! ― a network which helps all breeds of dogs, cats and other animals find good homes, anywhere in the world. RescueShelter.com is also a free service of Rescue Me! and provides the world's largest and most up-to-date directory of animal rescue organizations for all breeds of dogs, cats and other animals, including a comprehensive directory of wildlife rehabilitators in over 150 countries.


Top