Staffordshire Bull Terrier

The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is a muscular dog, very strong for their size. The head is short and deep with a broad skull, short foreface, distinct stop and strong jaws. The nose is black. The lips should be tight and clean. The round eyes are dark in colour, in relation to the coat. The somewhat small ears are either rose or half pricked. The front legs are straight. The low set tail is thicker at the base, tapering to a point, carried low. The smooth, short coat comes in red, fawn, white, black or blue, or any of these colours with white and in any shade of brindle with or without white markings. Potential owners of the breed should be aware coat colour has NO bearing on price and that there are no rare colours in Staffordshire Bull Terriers.

The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is a manmade breed and was a cross between the bulldog of the day (not the current Bulldog) and the now-extinct Old English Terrier. He was developed in an era when man was less than humane to man and definitely less accommodating towards animals. The breed was recognised by The Kennel Club (UK) in 1935.

This is where the breed really comes into its element. The Staffordshire Bull Terrier has always been a popular choice for Australian families and this tradition looks set to continue. A reliable all-purpose family breed, he has an affinity with children and he is their protector and confidant. A Stafford yearns for affection from his family and friends. To be frank, interaction is required for his wellbeing. He is happy to go for a walk, ride in the car or snuggle on the couch with his owner/s. It is often said that when this happy-go-lucky soul is around you are never really alone. The SBT is very much child-proof and can handle the punishment young children often inflict. It is highly recommended, as with all breeds, that supervision is always practiced. In a nutshell, no child should be left with ANY animal unsupervised.

The original wash and wear dog! Being a single coated breed all that is generally required is a quick weekly rub down with a damp cloth/chamois. Winter care is required with the Stafford. He is not one to tolerate weather extremes. It is important not to exercise young puppies (less than 12 months) too much too soon as this may cause future health problems. Contrary to common belief Stafford s do not need copious amounts of exercise.