The Official Description

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. 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. The three sentences above were taken directly from the official Standard of the Staffordshire Bull Terrier which can be found on this website in full. Also important to note is that at 14-16” and 24-38 lbs the Staffordshire Bull Terrier is not as large as some people realize.

Nature verses Nurture

One thing that catches many novices off guard is that no amount of socialization will make your Stafford love the company of other dogs. It is not all in how you raise them. Puppies are usually social until about 18 months to 2 years. After that, provided there have not been any bad experiences you can expect dog tolerance. Then somewhere around 6-7 years old you can expect another shift to one of a bit less tolerance and sometimes reactivity. Introductions to new dogs and sometimes puppies can take time. Just like us, they may not warm up to a stranger right away. That is perfectly acceptable. If your adult Stafford is reactive or got kicked out of agility class he is not broken and you did not do anything wrong, this is his nature. While many enthusiasts excel in dog sports with their Staffords it does take experience and diligence to get there.

AKCs Best Kept Secret

Staffords can be quite comfortable co-existing in a multi-dog house with dogs they are very familiar with. There are some of us who call the Staffordshire Bull Terrier the American Kennel Club’s best kept secret. We consider Staffords to be the greatest companion and family dog. They are smart, loyal and affectionate and have a great desire to please. They are considered by many trainers to be a soft and sensitive breed making them easy to train but equally easy to lose heart if harsh training methods are used.

Terrier Thru and Thru

While Staffords make great companion dogs and many do fine in apartment life they are still Terriers. They can be raised with cats, dogs, farm animals and typically do fine. Staffords have a lot of drive, tenacity and prey drive. Introducing a cat to an older dog may result in tragedy. There is a saying most of us are familiar with and that is “your Stafford may not start an altercation but they will usually be happy to finish it”. It is important to know that your Stafford will likely harass or kill little animals that get into your yard. From mice and gophers to chickens and stray cats your Stafford will probably find them all fair game. This quality is not limited to Staffords; many dogs are this way but due to public perception surrounding the bull breeds it is imperative that your dog is a good citizen and not a menace to the neighborhood. Owning a Staffordshire Bull Terrier comes with an additional responsibility of representing as a breed ambassador.

Breed Specific Legislation and Your community

Staffordshire Bull Terriers are listed on most dangerous dog lists which can make it hard to find a place to live, take your dog on an airplane or get homeowners insurance. Many communities have breed specific legislation that includes the Staffordshire Bull Terrier. Most breeders will research your community and require a letter from your landlord or homeowner’s association before they will place a puppy with you. All reputable breeders will have a contract that states the dog must be returned to them if you cannot keep the dog for any reason at any time of their life. Pure bred Staffords should never be part of the shelter system.