| Staffordshire Bull Terriers: the most honest dog breed review you'll ever find. Information about Staffordshire Bull Terrier personality and behavior. |
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My book, Your Purebred Puppy: A Buyer's Guide (published by Henry Holt & Co.), includes a full-page profile of the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, including these excerpts:
"The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is rugged, energetic, and impulsive. "Why walk when you can run and play games?" is his motto.
He requires rigorous exercise as an outlet for his energy and to maintain his splendid muscle tone.
The people-oriented Stafford craves companionship and wants to be with you all the time. With proper socialization, he is friendly with everyone, yet makes a sensible watchdog and guardian.
As you might expect, the Stafford is not a pacifist with other dogs (especially those his own size or larger) and is more than willing to fight if challenged. This is not a breed who can run loose at the neighborhood dog park.
However, with proper socialization, many Staffords will live peacefully with the dogs and cats in their own family.
Stubborn and sometimes headstrong, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier is inclined to test for position in the family pecking order. Confident leadership and obedience training are musts.
Provide the strongest chew toys you can find to keep his powerful jaws busy and as an alternative to furniture.
The athletic Stafford can scale a six-foot fence, and when inclined, he can dig his way under.
This "buff little dude" is a stable, confident dog with excellent judgment, but he needs supervision and control from an owner who can match his intelligence."
History
Developed in England from crosses of old English bulldogs and terriers, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier was used for dogfighting.
Size
14-16 inches and 25-40 lbs |
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Staffordshire Bull Terriers
What's good about 'em
What's bad about 'em
- There are energetic Staffords, and placid Staffords.
- Hard-headed Staffords, and sweet-natured Staffords.
- Serious Staffords, and good-natured goofballs.
- Introverted Staffords, and Staffords who love everyone.
| If you acquire a Staffordshire Bull Terrier puppy, you can't know for sure what he or she will grow up to be like. Because a good number of purebred puppies do NOT grow up to conform to the "norm." |
Now let's look at some common characteristics for this breed...
- Looks like a small Pit Bull -- compact, muscular, and powerful
- Looks imposing and stands firmly onthe ground with boldness and confidence, so makes an effective deterrent, but is usually non-aggressive with people
- Is energetic and high-spirited and thrives on vigorous athletic activities
- Has a sleek easy-groom coat that comes in many colors
A Staffordshire Bull Terrier may be right for you.
| If you don't want to deal with... |
- Legal liabilities (public perception, future breed bans, insurance problems, increased chance of lawsuits)
- Providing extra amounts of socialization and training to make sure your dog turns out well and counteracts the bad press
- High energy level
- Destructiveness when bored
- Aggression toward other animals
- Strong-willed mind of his own, requiring a confident owner who can take charge
- Shedding
A Staffordshire Bull Terrier may not be right for you.
| If I were considering a Staffordshire Bull Terrier... |
My major concerns would be:
- Animal aggression. Like the Pit Bull Terrier, most Staffordshire Bull Terriers are aggressive toward other dogs. Many have strong instincts to chase and seize cats and other fleeing creatures, including deer and livestock. If anything goes wrong in the breeding, socializing, training, handling, or management of this breed, it is capable of seriously injuring or killing other animals.
- Providing enough socialization. Some Staffordshire Bull Terriers have protective instincts toward strangers. They need extensive exposure to friendly people so they learn to recognize the normal behaviors of "good guys." Then they can recognize the difference when someone acts abnormally. Without careful socialization, they may be suspicious of everyone, which could lead to biting.
- Providing enough exercise and mental stimulation. Staffordshire Bull Terriers are active go-getters. They MUST have regular opportunities to vent their energy and do interesting things. Otherwise they will become rambunctious and bored -- which they usually express by barking and destructive chewing. Staffords have massive jaws and can make a shambles of your house and yard.
| I strongly recommend that you take your Staffordshire Bull Terrier running or hiking or biking or swimming, or get him involved in agility (obstacle course), or advanced obedience, or tracking, or weight-pulling, or a similar canine activity. |
- The strong temperament. Staffordshire Bull Terriers are not Golden Retrievers. They are capable of learning a great deal, but they have an independent mind of their own and are not pushovers to raise and train. They can be manipulative, and many are willful, obstinate, and dominant (they want to be the boss) and will make you prove that you can make them do things. You must show them, through absolute consistency, that you mean what you say.
- Spillover from the Pit Bull reputation. Staffordshire Bull Terriers are an entirely different breed, but many people will lump all of these similar-looking dogs together as potentially dangerous.
- Legal liabilities. Staffordshire Bull Terriers may be targeted for "banning" in certain areas, or refusal of homeowner insurance policies. In this day and age, the legal liabilities of owning any breed that looks intimidating and has a fighting heritage should be seriously considered. People are quicker to sue if such a dog does anything even remotely questionable.
| Frankly, most Staffordshire Bull Terriers are "too much dog" for the average household. Very few people really have the knowledge or skills necessary to manage this breed, or to provide the type of activities that keep him satisfied. |
| If you're considering an adult Staffordshire Bull Terrier... |
There are plenty of adult Staffords who have already proven themselves NOT to have negative characteristics. If you find such an adult, don't let "typical breed negatives" worry you.
When you acquire a puppy, you're acquiring potential -- what he one day will be. So "typical breed characteristics" are very important. But when you acquire an adult, you're acquiring what he already IS.
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Copyright © 2000-2006 by Michele Welton. All rights reserved. No part of this website may be reproduced without the permission of the author. |
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