The Staffordshire Bull Terriers have a moderate availability and demand in India. This breed is generally quite popular mostly amongst the affluent section of the society as it is highly expensive to bring home and efficiently raise a Staffie. Also, it is not that easy to train and handle this breed and hence it is recommended mostly to well-experienced dog owners. And finally, their tolerance to high temperatures is pretty poor and thus they cannot comfortably thrive in most parts of India where the temperature can go extremely high especially during the summer months. They would require constant care and attention from their owners in a hot environment and that could be a little inconvenient for some individuals. Hence, a potential SBT owner should be aware of all the requirements and needs of this breed so that he/she can adequately raise it.
The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is a medium sized smooth-coated canine who, considering its size, possess a great amount of strength and power. It has a muscular appearance but is equally agile and nimble. The official standards for the SBTs are given as follows:
The male and female Staffordshire Bull Terriers are very similar to each other when we compare their overall size. The average height and weight of the SBTs are around 13-16 inches (at the shoulders) and 10-17 kilograms, respectively.
|
WEIGHT |
HEIGHT |
|
|
MALE |
11-17 kg |
14-16 inch |
|
FEMALE |
10-16 kg |
13-15 inch |
The Staffordshire Bull Terriers have a close-lying smooth coat which is fairly short in length. It is well spread all over the body and it requires very little grooming to remain neat and tidy.
They have a compact and muscular body with a rather short neck that gradually widens towards the shoulders. The chest is wide and deep with well-sprung ribs. The back region is strong and leveled and the tail is of medium length, tapering in nature, set low and is mostly undocked. The forelegs and hind legs are fairly well-boned, muscular and straight.
They may have a slightly shorter head but it is quite deep and broad. Their eyes are medium in size, mostly dark in color and are evenly round. The ears are mostly erect but they tend to fold over at the tip and they are of moderate size.
They possess a fine jaw region in which the outer side of the lower incisors touches the inner side of the upper incisors. Their overall muzzle is a bit short, strong and reasonably wide.
Widely misunderstood as being ferocious and domineering, the Staffordshire Bull Terriers are in fact extremely affectionate and friendly canines. They enjoy the company of their housemates a lot and loves to play various games with them. They are also very gentle and kind to the small children and are quite careful while interacting with them. They do possess a fearless and courageous personality and thus they are not easily intimidated by anyone. This breed doesn’t get along that well with other canines and often feels challenged by dogs, especially of the same gender. Through training, this aspect of their character can be controlled and altered for the better, but it is still advised not to leave SBTs with other canines alone. General temperamental traits of the Staffordshire Bull Terrier are listed below:
Contrary to the popular belief, the Staffordshire Bull Terriers are highly affable, docile and companionable canines. They are not only friendly with their family members but are warm and amiable with the strangers as well. They are very sociable and are fond of meeting new people and making new friends.
But, it is also true that these canines should receive a good amount of training from a well-experienced dog owner/trainer in order to amplify their positive traits and control the undesirable aspects of their character. Therefore, the SBTs are not recommended to novice dog owners.
A well trained SBT is considered to be an awesome house pet because of its compliant and amenable nature towards the people it loves and trusts. Also, these canines are so gentle and tender with small kids, that in the U.K. the SBTs are often called as the “Nanny Dogs”. Therefore, it can be a really good option for potential dog owners (experienced) who are looking to raise a sweet, strong and friendly canine.
The Staffordshire Bull Terriers are divided into different types on the basis of the various combinations of colors that their coat is available in. The common colors are as follows:
|
Adaptability |
*** |
Sensitivity Level |
**** |
|
Affection Level |
***** |
Potential for mouthiness |
** |
|
Apartment-Friendly |
*** |
Drooling Potential |
*** |
|
Barking Tendencies |
** |
Energy Level |
*** |
|
Friendly towards dogs |
* |
Health Issues |
*** |
|
Friendly towards other animals |
** |
Intelligence |
**** |
|
Child Friendly |
***** |
Playfulness |
***** |
|
Exercise Needs |
**** |
Shedding Level |
** |
|
Grooming Needs |
* |
Social Needs |
**** |
|
Good for novice owners |
* |
Stranger Friendly |
***** |
|
Trainability |
** |
Watchdog Ability |
*** |
|
Tolerates Heat |
* |
Tolerates Cold |
*** |
The Staffordshire Bull Terriers should be provided with a nutrition rich high-quality dog food to keep them healthy and well-nourished. A grown SBT should be given 2 meals in a day but it is important to withhold food and water for some time after strenuous exercise sessions.
This breed requires a good amount of exercise on a daily basis not only to remain in a right shape but also to be contented and happy. They enjoy long walks and lengthy playtime with their family members in a park or an open area. They also can be taken to brief jogging sessions by their owners in the morning as it will be highly beneficial for both their body and mind.
As mentioned, this breed needs a knowledgeable owner/trainer to teach them new skills and commands. It is often quite tough for a novice owner to train these canines as they require a firm but patient hand to coach them. Under the supervision of a skilled trainer, these canines can be very compliant and agreeable while getting trained.
The grooming requirements for their short coat are quite minimal. Brushing them only once a week is enough to remove the extra dead hair from the skin and keep their coat clean and tidy. Bathing and trimming of nails can be done once every month. But it is important to clean their ears regularly to avoid wax formation which can lead to ear infections. Coming to the shedding potential of these canines, then they only shed on an occasional basis and that too in a limited manner.
The SBTs can get affected by quite a few health-related problems during their lifetime, but with proper care, nutrition and exercise, they tend to remain healthy and free from any major health issue. The common health concerns for the SBTs are as follows:
It is recommended to take this breed for general health check-ups to a vet’s place at least once every 30-45 days.
The Staffordshire Bull Terriers were developed by crossing the Bulldogs with the ancestors of the Manchester Terrier. It came into existence in the 19th century in the region of Staffordshire, England which later became the inspiration behind their name.
The SBTs are often confused with some other Terrier breeds like the American Pit Bull Terrier, the American Staffordshire Terrier et cetera and it may be because they all share a common ancestor which was the Bulldogs. The SBTs were created for bull baiting which was a popular sport in England.
When the interest in bull baiting declined, this breed’s popularity also took a hit. But, in the 20th century, the interest in the SBTs was revived and now it was mostly seen as a companion and a house pet. The Staffordshire Bull Terrier was registered as a distinct breed by the AKC in.
