Breed Profile: Staffordshire Bull Terrier

In 16th-century England, the predecessor to the modern-day bulldog was used for the cruel sport of bull-baiting, in which a dog attacked a tethered bull and attempted to grip its nose and drag it to the ground. Crossbreeding of smaller dogs of this type with terriers—most likely the now-extinct old English terriers—produced a dog with the strength and tenacity of the bulldog and the speed and quick reactions of the terrier. The descendants of the resulting breed are modern-day Staffordshire bull terriers. When dog fights and bull-baiting were outlawed, Staffordshires became farm dogs, cattle dogs, and treasured family pets.

The breed was brought to the United States in the early 1960s by breeder Steve Stone and was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1975. Their fighting days long behind them, modern Staffordshires retain their popularity as both family pets and performance dogs, excelling in agility, obedience, flyball, and even lure coursing.

The following description is of an “ideal” Staffordshire bull terrier. Not all Staffordshires will fit the description exactly, but that’s not an issue unless you want one who can participate in dog shows.

Staffordshires are courageous, intelligent, loyal, and affectionate, particularly with children. They are very friendly around people but must be properly socialized and supervised to get along with other dogs and small animals.

Here are some traits to consider when determining how well a Staffordshire is going to fit in with you and your family.

The Staffordshire has a “tough guy” reputation, but this is a bit misleading and doesn’t do justice to the breed’s stable and trustworthy temperament. The dog is a good choice for a family with children—the British have even nicknamed the Staffordshire the “nanny dog” because of his penchant for watching over children. A Staffordshire is often eager to get involved in any activity and is friendly toward people. These traits, coupled with his high intelligence, make the Staffordshire an “all-purpose” dog.

A Staffordshire will thrive in a family setting with a number of people whom they can befriend. He can adapt to most environments as long as his needs are met within the home. A fenced yard is ideal to meet the breed’s substantial exercise needs.

Though Staffordshires are active, agile dogs who require vigorous physical exercise every day, they never should be allowed to run loose or roam the neighborhood. Adequate physical and mental stimulation will help to prevent behavioral problems such as destructive chewing and digging. Staffordshires’ high intelligence makes them likely to excel at a variety of canine sports.

Staffordshires are highly intelligent dogs who take well to training with the proper methods. Some Staffordshires learn tricks and commands quickly but easily become bored after a few repetitions. Others are very determined—it takes them a bit longer to learn a command, but once they master it, they never forget it.