Staffordshire Bull Terrier puppies

About the Staffordshire Bull Terrier

The Staffordshire Bull Terrier was created in the English Midlands in the nineteenth century by crossing bulldogs with terriers, first for the pits and then, once that was outlawed, as a companion. They are short and heavily muscled, 36 to 41 cm tall and 10.9 to 17.2 kg, with a broad head, a short smooth coat and a wide, disarming grin. Staffords are people dogs above all: outgoing, physically affectionate, and rated five out of five with children by the AKC when supervised and socialised.

This is an athletic dog that needs proper daily exercise and something robust to chew. Grooming is a weekly rub over with a hound glove. The important caveat is other dogs: plenty of Staffords are sociable and plenty are not, and the breed's history means tolerance cannot be assumed, so socialisation and honest management both matter. They are heat intolerant and should never be worked hard in warm or humid weather. Owners often skip early lead training and end up with a very strong puller.

The law in your country

This breed or type is restricted in some places. Check the current rules where you live before you commit to a puppy.

Canada

Ontario's Dog Owners' Liability Act bans pit bulls, and its definition names the Staffordshire bull terrier along with the pit bull terrier, American pit bull terrier and any dog that looks substantially like them. No one may own, breed, transfer, abandon or import one, apart from restricted pit bulls already in Ontario when the ban began in 2005, whose owners must follow the controls set by regulation. A court can use the UKC and other club breed standards to decide whether a dog is a pit bull. Source.

What to expect at eight weeks

At eight weeks a Staffordshire Bull Terrier puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A medium breed puppy at eight weeks is a manageable armful that will not stay that way. Most of the growth happens between now and six months, so buy for the adult dog where you can. This is a very high energy breed. The mistake owners make is trying to tire them out physically. Training, scentwork and puzzles will do more than distance ever will. Grooming needs are moderate, so build the brushing habit now while the coat is still short and easy. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything they meet calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of their life.

Health worth knowing about

Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.

• Hereditary cataract (HC-HSF4-2), detectable by DNA test on both parents
• L-2-hydroxyglutaric aciduria (L-2-HGA), detectable by DNA test on both parents
• Elbow dysplasia, which breeding stock should be elbow graded by x-ray before mating
• Hereditary eye disease screened under the BVA/KC/ISDS Eye Scheme

Your Staffordshire Bull Terrier puppy's first six months

• Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
• Worming and parasite schedule.
• Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Medium for a Staffordshire Bull Terrier.
• Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 10.9 to 17.2 kg adult range.
• Puppy names and the first week checklist.

Kit sizes: crate 30 inch (30 x 20 x 23 in, 76 x 51 x 58 cm) for an adult of up to 17.2 kg; chew toys made for medium breeds. Worked out the same way as the crate size calculator. PetMD bases a crate on the dog's own measurements, not weight or breed alone, so measure once the puppy is home.

Buying guides for this

• Best chew toys for teething puppies, by size, and the chews to skip
• Harness or collar for a puppy? What the neck pressure studies show
• Best crate for a puppy: wire, plastic or soft, and how to size one with a divider

Other medium breeds

More on the Staffordshire Bull Terrier

Previous: Stabyhoun · Next: Standard Schnauzer

Sources

• akc.org for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming, shedding and the temperament ratings, coat type and health notes
• fci.be for country of origin
• ontario.ca for the legal status notes
• Health notes from Staffordshire Bull Terrier breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/staffordshire-bull-terrier/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.

Photo: Pixabay contributor (CC0), uploaded by Atsme, CC0 1.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. All photographers are listed on the photo credits page.