Staffordshire Bull Terrier

History of the Staffordshire Bull Terrier breed

The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is a breed whose birth was dictated not by practical necessity, but by a thirst for profit. At the beginning of the XIX century, a new type of entertainment became fashionable among the English poor – dog fighting. Every weekend, crowds of onlookers flocked to some piglet, where they watched with delight as the owners of animals pitted their wards against each other. Here, bets were placed on victory, which only fueled interest in a wild, but such an exciting "sport".

At first, mostly bulldogs performed in the ring, which were later joined by representatives of the terrier group. However, the animals managed to keep the spectator's attention with difficulty. Fed up with the standard harassment, the people craved a cruel show, and received another dog showdown with the techniques studied along and across. In order not to lose the viewer, and with it a stable income, the owners of the four-legged fighters had to dodge and experiment with the genetic base. So a hitherto unknown variety of dogs, called bull and terriers, began to appear on the sites.

Representatives of the new breed, who were born during the crossing of a bulldog with an English terrier, surpassed their ancestors in the art of fighting, and indeed in everything related to resourcefulness, excitement and reaction speed. In addition to the outstanding fighting qualities of the animals, there was also a mousetrap talent, so the indicative rat baiting with the participation of the bull and terrier quickly turned into a favorite spectacle of the English grassroots. A dog named Billy, who set a world record in 1823, was particularly successful in this matter. In just over five minutes, the dog strangled 100 rats, who in turn also wasted no time and violently attacked the enemy.

Further breeding of bull and Terriers proceeded spontaneously. No one restricted breeders in "creative experiments", so soon three intra–breed types of staffy were formed in England:

• cradley - compact, strong animals with a developed backbone;
• varlaston – medium-sized, moderately well-fed dogs with short bulldog legs;
• varsol is the type closest to terriers with long limbs and a dry constitution.

Staffordshire bull Terriers acquired their modern appearance only in the second half of the XIX century, and they managed to acquire a breed standard only in 1935, after dog fighting in the UK was outlawed. By the way, the Cradley type, which endowed its representatives with a stocky constitution and characteristic bone structure, was declared the standard of the breed's appearance.

Video: Staffordshire Bull Terrier

Staffordshire Bull Terrier Breed Standard

The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is a smooth–haired, stocky, sturdy man with a wide chest and an intelligent, scanning gaze. You don't need to be a superkinologist to note the external similarity of representatives of this family with pit bulls and amstaffs . At the same time, it is impossible to call English staffies an exact copy of overseas "colleagues". The breed has not so few distinctive chips of its own, so if you see a staffbull at least once and talk to him for half an hour, in the future you are unlikely to confuse him with someone. In particular, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier is much more smiling than the same Amstaffs and pit bulls (developed cheek muscles + a skull stretched wide). And he is also significantly inferior to them in height.

Head

The animal's skull gives the impression of being compact and wide, the foot is clearly drawn. The muzzle of the staffbull is noticeably shorter than the head.

Jaws and teeth

The strong, developed jaws of the Staffordshire Bull Terrier have an outstanding grip. The dog's teeth are white, very large. The bite is correct, full.

Nose

The lobe is of normal size, painted in a rich black shade.

Eyes

Ideally, the animal's eyes should be rounded, straight-set, of the darkest shade possible. But in reality, individuals with a lighter shade of the iris, in harmony with the color of the coat, are not so rare.

Ears

The small, semi-erect ears of the Staffordshire Bull Terrier resemble the shape of a flower petal.

Neck

One of the distinctive features of the breed is a short, dense neck, which makes the silhouette of the dog even more solid and squat.

Housing

The body of the staffbull is somewhat stretched, firmly knocked down. The back is perfectly straight, the chest is deep, greatly expanded in breadth.

Limbs

The forelegs are slender, with shoulder blades pulled back, strong wrists and paws looking outward. The hind limbs of the dog are more muscular, with noticeably inclined shins and low-lying hock joints.

Tail

The tail of the Staffordshire Bull Terrier is relatively short, not twisted, set low.

Wool

Glossy coat type, very dense and short.

Color

• Solid black or combined with white.
• Red: solid or with white spots.
• Solid fawn or diluted with white.
• Solid blue or combined with white.
• Brindle or brindle with white.
• White: solid, as well as with black, red, fawn, blue spots and tiger spots.

Defects and defects of the breed

Often among Staffordshire bull terriers, you can find such external flaws as a flat chest, too light eyes, a suspension on the neck, light clubfoot or a sweep of limbs, hanging ears. Depending on the degree of severity, these defects may cause a decrease in the assessment of an animal at an exhibition or a reason for a ban on participation in it. At the same time, the main disqualifying defects for the staff remain cryptorchidism, malocclusion (undershot bite, overbite with waste, skew of the lower jaw), liver and black with tan colors, as well as ambling.

Photo of Staffordshire Bull Terrier

Character of the Staffordshire Bull Terrier

The fighting past of the breed, if it affected the character of its modern representatives, it was not as significant as one might expect, so today's Staffordshire bull Terriers are quite peaceful and benevolent creatures. Moreover, it is one of the most human-oriented dogs, although its appearance hints at completely opposite qualities. A mentally healthy and properly educated staffbull values nothing more than friendship with the owner, regarding communication with him as the highest reward. Whether you are going to the store, going on a picnic or going to the city beach – stuffy is happy to accompany you everywhere. Figuratively speaking, this is the kind of dog that will gladly become the shadow of its own owner. Accordingly, if you are not ready to swim in such an ocean of attention and appreciate personal space, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier is not your breed.

Staff bulls do not squeak with delight at the sight of dogs or cats, which does not turn them into bloodthirsty and uncontrollable aggressors. Naturally, they are always ready to drive a gaping kotofey or give back to a presumptuous four-legged opponent, but almost all representatives of the terrier group sin like this. Often the dog agrees to share the territory with other meowing, barking and squeaking pets, but only if their company has been imposed on the animal since childhood. In general, the manifestation of fighting qualities in relation to any living creatures is atypical for Staffordshire Terriers, although exceptions to the rule have taken place and will take place. If you come across that rare type of stuffy who measures himself against everything that moves, accept it. It will not work to mold a good-natured mattress from a hereditary aggressor, no matter how hard you try.

In whom Staffordshire bull Terriers do not see rivals, it is in children. With them, animals are invariably affectionate and prudent. It is especially interesting to observe the transformations of the pet's behavior when another toddler meets on his way. A minute ago, the staffbull was selflessly ruffling the skin of a stray mutt, and now he is already lying on the playground waiting for some kid to scratch his belly. Of course, communication between an animal and a child is better controlled, since the young generation has reached unprecedented heights in the art of provocation. And yet, as experience shows, conflicts between staff and sandbox regulars are an exceptional phenomenon.

Education and training

Keeping a dog with a fighting past imposes a number of obligations on its owner. In particular, teaching a pet the basics of behavior and its socialization are tasks that you will not be able to dodge with all your desire, since an ill–mannered and not understanding the commands of a staffbull is always a threat. Yes, the level of aggression against humans and our smaller brothers in this breed is reduced, but this does not mean that its representatives are completely harmless.

The optimal training program for the Staffordshire Bull Terrier is considered OKD (General Training Course), although simplified options like UGC (Controlled Urban Dog) are also not excluded. The passage of the ZKS (Protective Guard Service) is optional for the staff, but in practice it takes place. At the same time, it is important to understand that some kind of fantastic bodyguard will not come out of a representative of this breed. Firstly, the growth of the Staffordshire Bull Terrier does not make a big impression on hooligans. Secondly, after the animal has been trained, all you can count on is barking at an approaching stranger and trying to attack an enemy who happens to be near the pet at a distance of 2-3 m. It seems to be not so bad, but, you will agree that the barking staffbull and the chattering teeth caucasian shepherd are two completely different degrees of threat.

In the training and upbringing of the Staffordshire bull Terrier, you will have to be patient and work on asserting your own authority. Representatives of this breed are stubborn creatures who love to change the requirements imposed on them and act according to their own preferences. With all that, it will not work to put pressure on stuffy: these dogs do not tolerate rigidity and in response to rough treatment, they stop listening to the owner's orders at all.

It is very important to form the pet's skill of obeying commands in time. You can be confident in the Staffordshire bull Terrier only if he executes the order immediately and without hesitation, which is why experts do not recommend repeating the command twice. Staffbuli are still cunning, who have mastered the art of manipulation to perfection. Let them "not hear" the call once, and later they will force you to beg them whenever you need to do something.

In raising a tiny puppy, it is possible and necessary to adhere to the standard program. First, a nickname is learned with the baby, to which he must respond. By the way, as in the case of commands, it is better not to abuse repetitions here. At 2.5 months, weather permitting, you can go outside with the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, developing the habit of calmly reacting to unfamiliar phenomena and sounds. After 2-3 weeks, when the puppy gets used to the street noise, he needs to find a company to communicate with. The best option is a small party of several puppies and adult phlegmatic individuals, in which the young staff should occupy the appropriate hierarchical niche.

The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is an enthusiastic and emotional dog, so monotonous lessons bother her. For a better assimilation of the educational material by the pet, it is recommended to divide the hour-long lesson into five minutes, in between which the four-legged schoolboy is allowed to fool around and play. Remember that the puppies of the Staffordshire Bull Terrier have short-term memory, thanks to which the kids grasp new knowledge in a split second and forget them just as quickly. So don't try to fit a bunch of techniques into one lesson. It is better to fully work out one skill, honing it to perfection during subsequent trainings. It is better to start training a Staffordshire bull Terrier puppy with elementary dynamic skills, that is, with an approach to the owner's call, a toy tray, movement next to a person during a walk (without straining the leash). When the material is mastered and worked out to automatism, it can and should be supplemented, since the principle "from simple to complex" was and remains the best method of teaching staff bulls.

Maintenance and care

The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is a sociable dog and is not adapted to our weather realities, so its place is in an apartment or a private house. Don't worry, the staffbull, of course, is energetic and bouncy, but it is completely undemanding to spatial conditions and is quite compact in itself. But you will have to fork out for toys for your pet: stuffy likes to chew on some elastic little thing at their leisure. In addition, in the process of training a puppy, squeaker balls and other rubber accessories will be very useful.

Hygiene

You won't have to take care of the short fur of Staffordshire bull Terriers especially. Usually, the staffbull is combed during the seasonal molting period (spring-autumn), but there is no systematic need for this. Moreover, combing for the breed is more of a stimulating massage than a procedure to improve the appearance. The tight-fitting hair of the dog even in the off-season looks clean and tidy, which, however, does not prevent the dead hairs from intensively crumbling and covering the carpets.

Note: if the Staffordshire Bull Terrier lives in an apartment where it is too dry, warm and there are no humidification systems, it can shed seasonally, but year-round.

Once a month it is necessary to allocate time for bathing the dog. They wash the stuffy using diluted shampoo for shorthair breeds, and dry it without a hair dryer, blotting the wet wool with a towel and combing it with a rubber mitten. By the way, it is strictly forbidden to let a not–quite-dried staffbull out on the street, unless you want to kill the animal, so 2-3 hours after taking a bath - no promenades. In winter, you can wash the dog less often, for example, once every 2-3 months.

The Staffordshire Bull Terrier's eye and ear care is simple. About once a week, the pet should examine the ears and remove the sulfur and dirt accumulated inside with a wet cotton pad. An unpleasant smell from the ear funnel, as well as rashes inside it, is an excuse to visit a veterinarian. To examine the eyes, you will have to allocate at least a couple of minutes a day to remove the lumps of mucus gathering in the corners of the eyelids. In general, inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eye is not typical for staffbuls, but if you suddenly notice that the pet periodically "cries", you need to talk to a specialist in canine diseases.

With brushing the teeth of the Staffordshire bull terrier, you will have to tinker thoroughly, since in order to preserve the health and cleanliness of the oral cavity, it is necessary to dive into the mouth of the pet with a brush at least 3-4 times a week. Cutting claws for a staffbull is also mandatory. In the warm season, productive walking dogs have their claws worn off when walking, so all that remains for the owner is to trim their ends with a nail cutter once a month and polish them with a nail file. In winter, the procedure will have to be carried out more often, pre-soaking the claws in warm water to make the keratinized part softer and more pliable.

Walking

A good physical discharge for Staffordshire bull terriers is necessary, but in everything you need to observe the measure. It is undesirable to load puppies up to a year with intensive training, bicycle racing, tug-of-war games and other sports pleasures designed for adults, mature individuals. And of course, no walking under the scorching sun. Due to the fact that the muzzles of Staffordshire bull Terriers are short, their thermoregulation processes go at a somewhat slow pace, so it's easier for the animal to overheat. In winter, it is also better to reduce the duration of walks for puppies to a 10-15-minute jog in the yard.

Teenagers and adult dogs are taken outside on a leash, and it's worth walking longer with males, since it takes a certain amount of time for the fragrant "marking of the territory". By weight, Staffordshire bull terriers fall under the law "On Dog Walking", according to which it is forbidden for animals to appear in public places without a muzzle. Therefore, in order not to conflict with others, it will be necessary to accustom stuffy to this unpleasant subject for him.

Do not forget that inside each staffbull, a typical representative of the terrier tribe is dozing sensitively, for whom a walk is another opportunity to test their own strength in digging flower beds and digging ditches. It is not necessary to limit the pet in this activity. It's better to find a secluded corner outside the city or on your own backyard, where the staff will be able to come off in full without damaging the surrounding landscape.

Staffordshire bull Terriers are not thrilled with Russian frosts, but this is no reason to deny them winter walks, especially since adult dogs tolerate temperatures up to -15 ° C normally. Buy a insulated jumpsuit for your pet, put it in protective slippers that will protect the paws of the animal from the effects of reagents, and you can safely go on an excursion to the park or on a Sunday run through the city streets.

Feeding

Up to 12 weeks of age, Staffordshire Bull Terrier puppies are fed 5-6 times a day, by the beginning of the 4th month of life, reducing the number of feedings to four. Half-year-old staffies eat 3 times a day, but after the animals turn a year old, they should be switched to a two-day diet. Usually the diet of a staffbull puppy consists of easily digestible proteins, the source of which are fermented baked milk and one percent kefir, chicken / turkey breast, boiled fillet of sea fish, cottage cheese. It is better for kids to cook porridge from rice and buckwheat groats, and as natural vitamin supplements to introduce boiled chicken yolk (half), vegetable oil, seasonal vegetables that have undergone heat treatment into the diet.

Adult animals are given not only poultry meat, but also lean beef, as well as rabbit meat at the rate of 25 g of product per kilogram of dog weight. Offal Staffordshire bull terriers can be no more than twice a week. In addition, due to their reduced nutritional value, the portion will have to be increased by a third, that is, instead of 25 g of meat, about 35 g of tripe. Industrial feed is also not prohibited, but experts do not recommend mixing "drying" with natural food. As for choosing the right dry food, everything is standard here: we buy premium and super-premium varieties and refuse economy varieties from the supermarket.

Useful to know: Staffordshire Bull Terriers like to eat thoroughly and densely. In addition to meat, dogs are very respectful of apples, as well as boiled cabbage, the abuse of which provokes increased gas formation in them. Therefore, in order not to suffer from regular "gas attacks" arranged by a pet, it is better to closely monitor its diet.

Health and diseases of Staffordshire Bull Terriers

Staffordshire Bull Terriers are considered one of the most mentally stable and physically strong breeds. As for genetically determined ailments, the staffies are most susceptible to urolithiasis, intestinal inversion, entropion, hip dysplasia, hyperadrenocorticism, cataracts and cancer. Most of the promoted nurseries examine their litters for joint dysplasia and patella, which helps to identify and exclude sick individuals from further breeding. Genetic tests for HC (hereditary cataract) and L2HGA (L2-hydroxyglutaric aciduria or genetic epilepsy) they are also desirable, since effective methods of their treatment have not yet been found.

How to choose a puppy

• A normally developing Staffordshire Bull Terrier puppy should be playful, curious and very active (animals become calmer with age). If the baby is too phlegmatic and thoughtful, there is clearly something wrong with him.
• If the little staffbull does not make contact, gets hysterical and tries to hide, it signals an unstable psyche. Usually, before buying with puppies, they pass the Campbell test, which helps to determine the individual character traits of each baby.
• Males and females of the Staffordshire Bull Terrier differ both in appearance and in character. If the aesthetic characteristics of a puppy play an important role for you, it is better to choose dogs. They are larger, stronger and generally have more pronounced breed traits. Staffbull's bitches will suit those owners who need a more manageable pet. "Girls" are more attached to the family, they are more temperamental, not inclined to leadership and easier to train.
• Carefully inspect the kennel and the habitat of the puppies. Toddlers and their parents should not huddle in cramped dirty cages.
• Ask the breeder or the kennel employee for the results of the litter examination for the presence of genetic diseases. If there are no certificates, the seller is most likely inexperienced and engaged in breeding solely for personal enrichment.

Photos of Staffordshire Bull Terrier puppies

Price of Staffordshire Bull Terrier

Average price tag for the offspring obtained from the offspring (female and male from different countries) and tested for hereditary diseases, – $500 - $700. Staffordshire Bull Terrier puppies with a promising exterior, but from less famous parents will do in the area $300 - $400 . It is not uncommon to find ads for the sale of grown-up staffbuls. As a rule, they are not given by breeders, but by puppy owners who could not cope with his upbringing. They sell such dogs at a reduced cost – about $100 - $150 However, do not forget that Staffordshire bull terriers need early socialization, and by purchasing a teenage puppy, you get an animal with already half-formed and not always good habits that will be difficult to correct.