Staffordshire Bull Terrier

Search Staffordshire Terrier Info by Google® Staffordshire Terriers: American Staffordshire Terrier and Staffordshire Bull Terrier Over 250 color photos as well as a gallery of historical black and white photos photos depict the past and present of the staffordshire Terriers. This book will prove invaluable to active members of the breed fancies and pet owners alike, as it offers information concerning history, breed conformation, management, and health care.

Staffordshire Bull Terrier

Known affectionatyely as the"Staffie"; In England, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier is sometimes refferred to as the "nanny dog" because of a reputation as being a child's guardian and playmate companion.

The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is a short-coated, medium-sized dog breed slightly smaller than the American Staffordshire. It is also one of several breeds that fall under the umbrella of Pit Bulls. It was in 1935 that Staffordshire Bull Terriers were accepted by the American Kennel Club and gained some popularity among the population and they were rexcognized officially in the Terrier Group in 1975..

The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is a stocky, medium-sized, very muscular dog, similar in appearance to the larger American Staffordshire Terrier and American Pit Bull. Her coat is smooth and tight to the body giving the dog a sleek appearance. This dog has a wedge-shaped, broad head , defined muscles on the back of the skull, a relatively short fore-head, a wide mouth with a clean bite and dark round, expressive, eyes. The ears are small. The cheek muscles are very pronounced. The lips are firm. His head tapers down to a strong well-muscled neck and strong shoulders sit on squarely spaced front legsand the hind quarters are well-muscled.

Like many bully breeds, the Staffordshire Bull can trace its heritage back to the ancient war dogs of the Greeks. The Mollossians gave rise to the great Mastiffs of Europe, and then to the family of dogs bred to bait bulls and other animals.

Personality
The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is known for its character of fearlessness and loyalty. The breed has an affectionate nature and it maintains a quietness and trustworthy stability. The breed makes a well-rounded, all-purpose dog.

Staffordshire Bulls are people-oriented and they seek companionship and want to be with you all the time. With appropriate socialization the Staffordshire Bull Terriers are friendly with everyone and can make a fairly dedicated watch dog. Most dogs can will live peacefully with other dogs and cats in your family, although many Staffords are more than ready to enage ina a fight if challenged. If you already have an Alpha dog in your family, the Stafford may not be a good choice for you. It's better that Staffords are closely supervised around unknown dogs as they may engage any animal that appears to challenge them.


Unfairly painted from their association to the Pit Bull reputation, Staffordshire Bull Terriers are an entirely different breed, yet many people will lump all of these similar-looking dogs together as possibly dangerous.

In certain jurisdictions, Staffordshire Bull Terriers have been targeted for "banning" and the legal liabilities of owning any breed that looks intimidating and has a fighting heritage should be seriously consideredbecause people are quicker to sue if such a dog does anything even remotely questionable. Of course, the proper training and socialization of the dog from a young age will be the best assurance that they will be behaved animals as they mature.

Height/Weight
Life span: 12 – 14 years

Temperament: Bold, Intelligent, Affectionate, Reliable, Loyal, Fearless, Courageous

Weight: 24 to 37 pounds
Height: Female: 12 to 17 inches

Coat Colors: Black, White, Brindle, Fawn, Brindle & White, Blue, Black & White, Fawn & White, Red, Red & White, Blue & White

Food/Diet/Health Issues
The Staffordshire Bull Terrier possesses tremendous stamina and must lots of fresh air exercise; daily walks or runs are a must. Puppies are prone to having an elongated soft palate. Like all the bully type breeds, Staffordshire Bull Terriers often have gas and farting problems. Prone to mast cell tumors.

The breed is prone to cataracts, HC and PHPV (both eye complaints), although proper breeders who put their animals through screening of both parents lessens the risks. DNA work in the has been ongoing to attempt to cure this issue. Hip dysplasia is occasionally seen.


Staffordshire Bull Terrier Breed Standard
This Official and updated Standard of the Staffordshire Bull Terrier that was approved by the American Kennel Association in 1989.

General Appearance : The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is a smooth - coated dog. It should be of great strength for its size and, although muscular, should be active and agile.

Size, Proportion, Substance

Height at shoulder - 14 to 16 inches. Weight - Dogs, 28 to 38 pounds; bitches, 24 to 34 pounds, these heights being related to weights. Non - conformity with these limits is a fault. In proportion , the length of back, from withers to tail set, is equal to the distance from withers to ground. Head : Short , deep through, broad skull , very pronounced cheek muscles, distinct stop, short foreface, black nose. Pink (Dudley) nose to be considered a serious fault.

Eyes - 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 badly undershot or overshot bite is a serious fault. Neck, Topline, Body : The neck is muscular, rather short, clean in outline and gradually widening toward the shoulders.

The body is close coupled, with a level topline , wide front, deep brisket and well sprung ribs being rather light in the loins. The tail is undocked, of medium length, low set, tapering to a point and carried rather low. It should not curl much and may be likened to an old - fashioned pump handle. A tail that is too long or badly curled is a fault.

Forequarters : Legs straight and well boned, set rather far apart, without looseness at the shoulders and showing no weakness at the pasterns, from which point the feet turn out a little. Dewclaws on the forelegs may be removed. The feet should be well padded, strong and of medium size. Hindquarters : The hindquarters should be we ll muscled, hocks let down with stifles well bent. Legs should be parallel when viewed from behind. Dewclaws, if any, on the hind legs are generally removed.

Coat
Smooth, short and close to the skin, not to be trimmed or de - whiskered. Co lor : 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. Gait

Free, powerful and agile with economy of effort. Legs moving parallel when viewed from front or rear. Discernible drive from hind legs. Temperament : From the past history of the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, the modern dog draws its character of indomitable courage, high intelligence, and tenacity. This, coupled with its affection for its friends, and children in particular, its off - duty quietness and trustworthy stability, makes it a foremost all - purpose dog.

Disqualification : Black - and - tan or liver color.