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The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is a small, fast fighting dog created in the 19th century. Dogs of this breed are fine companions, they are known for their love of children, their intelligence and their courage. The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is also called Staffy. Many people are drawn to this dog because it looks tough.
History of the Staffordshire Bull Terrier
The Staffordshire Bull Terrier shares a common ancestor with the American Staffordshire Terrier, the Bull Terrier and the American Pitbull Terrier, the ancestor being the Bulldog. The Staffordshire Bull Terrier was created in the early 19th century, it was to be smaller and faster in the fighting ring while being friendly and gentle towards people.
A crossing of the Bulldog with an ancestor of the Manchester Terrier led to the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, this breed has evolved over time to be the dogs we see today. The very first SBT club was formed in England in the year 1835, and the standards for this breed was documented shortly after.
In the United States of America, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier enjoyed their lives as a well-known family companion but it wasn’t until 1975 that the breed was recognized by the American Kennel Club. The first Stafford to be registered with the AKC was named Tinkinswood Imperial. The SBT Club of America was founded in 1974.
is banned or prohibited on many cities and the number of cities restricting this breed is on the increase. Today, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier is ranked 85th among 157 breeds and varieties recognized by the American Kennel Club. They embody the description of Man’s best friend and are excellent companions.
Appearance and size
Staffys are strong dogs with muscular body, an intense stare and a powerful stance. It’s a fan favorite due to its small- medium size, it’s short easy to care coat, it’s short and broad head weigh its muscular body makes the staffy look like other bull breed like the American Pitbull Terrier and the American Staffordshire Terrier.
They have distinct physical characteristics which aids in telling them apart from other breeds such as its size and ear shape. The are 14 to 16 inches tall with the males being taller. Male Staffords weigh 28 to 38 pounds, female Staffords weigh 24 to 34 pounds
Grooming
SBTs are pretty low maintenance due to their short fur, being high energy and active dogs, they would need to be groomed often. They would need to be brushed once a week and thoroughly groomed every 2-4 weeks. Check their nose, ears eyes, genitals and anus for any foul odor, discharge, broken skin, irritation and any abnormal sign on their fur.
To clean your dog’s ears, use an ear cleaning solution and a soft Cotton pad. Wipe from the flap to the ear. Do not insert the cotton bud into the ear as this could damage the fragile lining of the ear canal and push the dirt even further into the ear and can pierce the eardrum. Trim their nails every two weeks
SBTs shed minimally although they may shed heavily once every year. They require weekly brushing to maintain their shiny coat and eliminate dead hair
Temperament
Staffys are small fast fighting dogs known for their intelligence, courage and love of children. They are affectionate, emerge yet gentle and have a playful nature. They are better suited for experienced pet owners who know how to keep up with training and introduce them to the process of socialization early, first time dog owners or timid dog owners would not know how to give them the kind of care and training they would need.
The Staffordshire Bull Terrier can be an impressive, eye catching dog with its strong muscular body, powerful stance and intense stare. Even though this dog looks tough, it’s actually a softie. SBTs have a strong prey drive which will make them chase after other small animals in the neighborhood including cats. They have a high threshold for pain and can show no outward signs or whining when injured.
Staffys are sensitive and really loving, they enjoy playing more than they enjoy being tough. They are full of life and adventurous. They are people lovers and have a trustworthy nature, they are described as a dog for everyone as his greatest desire is to spend time with people, walking side by side, sitting beside you or on your laps while watching the tv, running errand, participating in activities like agility, obedience and therapy work.
The require a lot of attention as they dislike being left alone outside or at home for long periods of time without human companions. They thrive in the presence of family.
Staffys have been nicknames the nanny dog, they have a lot of patience and love for children and their antics. Although they shouldn’t be left alone with children unsupervised, they are still very friendly towards children.
They are not friendly towards strange people and strange pets and they might get aggressive with strange pets but they are gentler on humans . A person who has an in-depth understanding of the sensitive nature of this dog and is patient and loving with him will end up with the best and finest dog companion SBTs are more protective of family members than they are of property
Health
SBTs are as healthy as they come, but like all breeds, they can fall victim to certain health conditions, it is certain that not all SBTs will get these diseases but it doesn’t hurt to be informed of these diseases especially if you’re considering adopting a dog of this breed.
Canine Hip Dysplasia (CHD): CHD is an inherited condition that makes the thigh bone to not fit into the hip joint which results in arthritis or lameness. X-rays screening for hip dysplasia in dogs is done by the University of Pennsylvania Hip Improvement Program (PennHIP) or by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals. Dogs suffering from this condition should not be bred.
Elbow Dysplasia: Elbow dysplasia is a heritable condition. It is believed to be caused be the different growth rate of the 3 bones that make up for the dog’s elbow causing laxity in the joints. Elbow dysplasia leads to painful lameness depending on the severity of the condition on the dog. Surgery, medication and weight management are ways your vet may recommend to control the pain.
Patellar Luxation: This occurs when the patella which is divided into 3 parts—the tibia (calf), the patella (knee cap), the femur (thigh bone), when these bones are not properly lined up, it will slip out of place often causing the dog to hop or skip when this happens. The rubbing caused by this condition can lead to arthritis which is a degenerative joint disease. It is believed to be hereditary, there are four grades of this condition ranging from grade I, and occasional luxation causing temporary lameness in to joint to grade IV, in this grade, the turning of the tibia is severe and the patella can’t be realigned manually. Severe grades of luxation require surgical repair.
Hereditary Juvenile Cataracts: the development of a blur or cloudiness in the lens of the eyes at an early age, this condition deteriorates rapidly and can bind a dog by the age of 3. In some cases, surgery can partially restore vision. A DNA test can detect dogs that are carriers of this condition or clear of this genes.
Staffys do not handle hot weathers and environments well and need to be monitored on hot days to prevent them from overheating.
Training and exercise
The Staffordshire Bull Terrier like all dogs need to be introduced to the socialization process from their puppyhood, especially if you want them to be friendly to other dogs and animals.
If your Terrier has mastered the process of socialization properly and is raised in the midst of other dogs and animals, they can leave to live together with other dogs and animals, if your Bull Terrier isn’t socialized properly, it will never do well with other animals and will need to live in a single pet household. They have high energy levels, they also get to exercise by going for walks, running errands. They need a firm leader.
They may be aggressive towards other strange dogs so they should always be walked on a leash.SBTs are highly intelligent and are also free thinkers who enjoy doing things their own way. They will need a firm, consistent and patient hand to train them.
SBTs do well in apartments if they are properly exercised, They love to chew especially during puppyhood which can lead to some destructive behavior, a good way to control this is to provide them with plenty of tough, durable toys. Staffys are diggers as well, best bet is to reinforce the bottom of your fences with chicken wire or concrete so they won’t be able to dig beneath them.
A lack of a solid barrier means another dog might enter your Scotty’s territory which would lead to a big fight which you would not want.
Staffys are very energetic dogs who need vigorous walks and play sessions daily.
Why you should get a Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Staffys are loving, affectionate, playful and courageous, they expect love and give it back in more ways than one. If you meet the need of this breed, you’ll have a faithful and adoring member of the family.
Where to get a Staffordshire Bull Terrier and price
Despite their pure breed status, these dogs can be found in the care of rescues and shelters. It is important to research on your city bylaws to prevent the seizure and destruction of your dog as not all cities permit the ownership of this breed.
It is never a good idea to buy a Stafford from a pet store, a puppy mill or a breeder that doesn’t provide you with guarantees and health clearances. Go for a reputable breeder that tests her breeding dogs and ensures they are free of genetic diseases that might be passed onto puppies before breeding them. He or she should show you health clearances for the puppy’s parents and the puppy.
Health clearances prove that both the puppy and it’s parents have been tested and cleared for certain health conditions. Health clearances you can expect to see with this breed include a health clearance from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals for hips and elbows and a health clearance from the Canine Eye Registry Foundation certifying that their eyes are healthy.
Health clearances are not issued to dogs younger than two years of age as some health problems do not appear until a dog is fully grown. The cost between $1500 to $2000.