Staffordshire Bull Terrier

The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is rated high on Bark Busters’ list of popular breeds, coming in as the 4th most popular trained breed in the USA, and 3rd in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand

They are energetic, fun loving dogs and in great demand as the all-round family dog. Staffordshires are a very loving breed that want nothing more than to settle down for a cuddle with you after a fun-filled day. It is their sweet nature, their ability to romp and play and then cuddle and chill out, that keeps them near the top of the ‘most popular breeds list’ around the world.

This breed is generally over-exuberant in their display of affection and all Staffordshire’s possess that trait of squirmy jumping and licking as they greet their human when they arrive home. This is what most Staffie parents love about the breed, but it can be a turn off for those who can’t cope with the ‘rough and tumble’ behavior. With patience, education and training, they can be just as well behaved as any breed. They are definitely worth the effort.

The breed has a defined muscular appearance that can look intimidating, but their natural love of people shines through and wins everyone’s heart in no time.

The Staffie (as its affectionately referred to), is classed as a medium sized dog with a similar appearance to the much larger, more powerful American Staffordshire Terrier and American Pit Bull Terrier.

According to the American Kennel Club, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier is brave tenacious, a bit stubborn but also gentle, playful and clever. Authorities generally agree that the breed can be traced back to the Mastiff-like dogs through the old bull dog which, when crossed with British Terriers, produced the first ‘Bull and Terriers’. The old-fashioned bull dog was a fierce, courageous animal used in the spot of bears and bull baiting as early as the mid-sixteenth century.

Bark Busters Trainer Michael Konstantaras-Lower Coastal CT, on the subject of Staffordshire Bull Terriers.

As the owner of a female Staffordshire Bull Terrier and a male Pit Bull, I look upon the differences in the two breeds as follows:

My experience with owning and working with Staffies has been great. Although every dog has its own temperament and personality, I've found them to respond remarkably well to Bark Busters training. Smart, outgoing, and energetic. I'd describe them as being Porsches while the standard American Pit bulls being Jeeps.

The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is a very adaptable and trainable dog. They just want to please and are always full of energy. However, you do need to have patience when training, or their fun-loving personality can wear you out. They always seem to be ready for the next big thing and keeping their full-attention is always challenging.

The over-exuberance in Staffies (jumping nipping and barking) is one of their best and worst traits. They need their owners' and people they meet, to always keep calm and ignore them until they are calm. They are a very soft natured dog, so they go from manic to submissive in a second.

Staffies tend to be over-zealous with other dogs. A lot of their excitable behavior with other dogs ends up with them humping the other dog, and because they are so strong, this can cause problems with other dogs. The other dog will try and get away, but the Staffie holds tight and this invariably leads to a fight.

Staffies like to play fetching games. So spend some time teaching them to bring their ball back, hiding their ball and sending them to find it.

I find that by keeping the exercises short and fun, they stay focused on what I am trying to teach them.

"Positive-only" dog training is a big fad right now. Treats can be great motivators for training Staffordshire Bull Terriers, but if your dog will only obey for a treat and you need to have treats always on hand to get the best out of your dog, then the dog is in charge of things, not you and this is not conducive to controlling a lively, energetic breed

I find that ‘communication’ built from consistent education, is the key because we always have our voices with us and as long as you keep the sessions short, you will get great results from this breed.

Case Study -Clancy-6 year old Staffordshire Terrier

Behavioral issue: Dog Aggression, pulling on the leash and general disobedience.

His human parent told us that ‘Clancy’ started out as a fun-loving puppy, a well-adjusted puppy who loved all dogs. She told us that she could not wait to take him to the ‘dog park’ and show him off to all the other dog parents there, but she had to wait for him to have his shots and be cleared by the vet before she could take him.

Before his training, a side issue from his dog aggression was his leash manners. He would pull her down the street and she was just along for the ride.

His first day at the dog park went okay, there were just a few small dogs and one puppy there. They all seemed to hit it off. Clancy was the life of the party and played until he dropped.

Then one day as she entered the park with her excited little charge dragging her through the gate, a large dog pounced on him and knocked him flying. Clancy screamed in shock and tried to get away, but the big dog kept persisting. It was obviously the King of the Park and wanted Clancy to know that he had no ranking at all.

The next time they visited the dog park, Clancy refused to get out of the car. Visits to the ‘dog park’ where then completely halted, but as Clancy grew he started to become aggressive to all dogs the moment he saw them.

Success at First Lesson: Clancy’s human mom called Bark Busters.

We were able to stop Clancy’s dog aggression at his first lesson and he also learned quickly not to pull on his leash and to walk sedately at his human’s side and to listen. Who said you can’t teach and old dog new tricks?

Our methods are dog-friendly and are based on the natural way that dogs communicate. We teach you how to Speak Dog and earn your dog’s respect, with kind and dog friendly methods.

Common Illnesses and Injuries

Your Staffordshire Bull Terrier’s health concerns will change over the course of their life. A puppy might be more prone to eat something they shouldn’t, a 2-year-old Staffie may be more likely to develop allergies, and a senior Staffie is far more likely to develop arthritis as they age. Staffordshire Bull Terriers also have personality and physical traits that may make them more prone to certain conditions—an active Staffie that loves to run around the yard may be more prone to rupturing their knee ligament.

At any stage of life, there are some of the most common injuries and illnesses you should be aware of when bringing home a Staffordshire Bull Terrier:

• Cataracts and eye problems
• Hip and Elbow Dysplasia
• Joint Problems
• Cruciate Ruptures

If you are ever concerned about your dog’s health, your local veterinarian is a great resource.

Genetic Health Concerns

Like many popular breeds, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier has its fair share of hereditary based issues, such as hip and elbow dysplasia. Most reputable breeders now have their breeding stock checked and scored by a vet for these hereditary ailments. You can request proof that the puppy you are purchasing comes from parents that have been checked for these issues

Because many other health issues are also hereditary, you should do some research on the ancestry of your puppy and any health issues of that particular breed.