Three Staffordshire Bull Terriers playing ball on the beach

Staffordshire Bull Terrier Insurance, Care and Health Advice

The Staffordshire Bull Terrier (also known as a Stafford, Staffy or Staffie) is often wrongly judged by their history in dog fighting. They’re a sensitive and loving breed. Whether you’re going for a walk, playing, or just cuddling up on the sofa, a Staffy will be happy just being near you. They form strong bonds and will follow your every command to make you happy.

So, if you want a fun, loving, intelligent companion, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier may be ideal. This breed guide has all the information you need for looking after a Staffy.

Staffordshire Bull Terrier Facts

Dog breed type icon
Type
Terrier
Dog breed lifespan icon
Lifespan
12 - 14 years
Dog breed size icon
Size
Large
Dog breed weight icon
Weight
11 - 17 kg
Dog breed height icon
Height
33 - 41 cm
Dog breed temperament icon
Temperament
Intelligent, stubborn, loyal
Dog breed exercise icon
Exercise
60 mins per day
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Grooming
Low maintenance

Is a Staffordshire Bull Terrier Right for Me?

The Staffordshire Bull Terrier makes a wonderful family pet due to their loving and playful nature. If you devote your time to them, they’ll devote themselves to you. They’re suited to most households, including those with other pets and children. They’re often known as ‘nanny dogs’ for this reason.

As they can be wary and aggressive towards other dogs, they may prefer to be the only dog in the household. They’re much happier being around people and are best suited to experienced owners.  

A Brindle Staffordshire Bull Terrier Puppy running in a field

What are Staffordshire Bull Terrier Puppies Like?

Staffies need to be well socialised at an early age so that they can be secure and comfortable in any situation. They can be energetic dogs, fearless and boisterous, and as a terrier breed and you should be prepared for some full-on work... and maybe breakables are moved to a safe place. A Staff puppy may be athletic but they are also 100% endearing.

A Staffordshire Bull Terrier Puppy sitting in field

Life with a Staffordshire Bull Terrier

Staffies love being around their families and don’t like to be left on their own too long. They’re generally not big barkers though. Being terriers, they can be good diggers and have a high prey drive (a potential problem if you have other small pets). But they'll always want to be by your side.

Caring for Your Staffordshire Bull Terrier

Staffordshire Bull Terriers are best fed twice a day. They’re known to pile on the pounds so make sure you feed them a balanced diet with the recommended amount. This is usually on the side of the food packaging, but you can also ask your vet or weight management nurse for advice on how to keep your dog at a healthy weight.

With their short coats, Staffies don’t need much grooming, a weekly brush is all that's needed. And unless they’ve rolled in something nasty, they’re unlikely to need a bath.

When it comes to Staffordshire Bull Terrier training, a confident, experienced dog owner who has the time and patience to train them is best. They’re intelligent and can pick things up quickly from regular training sessions, but watch out for that stubborn streak. They’re not particularly noisy or naughty but if left on their own for long periods of time, you may find they can be. As they’re people-orientated, they can suffer from separation anxiety.

Staffies need around an hour of exercise every day. This can be split into two half-hour sessions. A Staffy is happy to chill out all day, but it’s essential to keep them active to avoid excessive weight gain.

Unless they’ve been well trained from a young age with early socialisation, they shouldn’t be let off lead. They can also get exercise and mental stimulation through fun, challenging games.  

Staffordshire Bull Terrier Insurance

Staffies are big loveable dogs, and though they're seen as a healthy dog breed, you never know, and an illness or injury may happen when you least expect it. For times like these, it's good to think about insuring your dog as soon as possible.

Everypaw’s Lifetime Puppy Insurance is available from 8 weeks of age, and every policy comes with a range of additional benefits that can help when it comes to your dog's care. 

Start a quote

Common Staffordshire Bull Terrier Health Problems by Vetstream

The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is generally a robust and healthy breed but can be prone to eye conditions. We’ve got together with veterinary experts Vetstream, to give you an idea of what signs and symptoms to look out for in your Staffy.

A cataract is an opacity in the lens, which affects their eyesight. Dogs with cataracts will have loss of vision and cloudy-looking pupils. Treatment involves surgical correction to remove the lens fragments. A DNA test can identify dogs with the gene responsible for the condition.

Staffys are also predisposed to Persistent Hyperplastic Primary Vitreous (PHPV), a developmental ocular disorder. There's a range of symptoms from no visible outward signs to intraocular haemorrhage, cataracts and blindness. There’s no treatment to prevent the condition progressing but it can be left untreated if mild.

L-2-Hydroxyglutaric Aciduria (L-2-HGA)is a neurometabolic disorder. The condition affects the nervous system causing symptoms such as seizures, dementia and muscular stiffness. There’s no definitive treatment available but an affected dog can still have a reasonably good quality of life. A dog with L-2-HGA may have less energy than other dogs and be harder to train.

To prevent the further breeding of carriers of the gene responsible for the condition, a DNA screening programme for Staffordshire Bull Terriers is available.

Staffies can be prone to Hip Dysplasia (HD), a hereditary condition that causes instability in the hip joint, pain, lameness and arthritis. The BVA/KC hip dysplasia scoring scheme identifies affected dogs with HD. Hip radiographs are used to provide a hip score. Management of the condition at an early stage will mean fewer difficulties in later life.
Being overweight puts extra strain on the bones and joints so weight control and a restricted exercise programme is important. Dogs with HD can be treated with pain relief and anti-inflammatories, but surgery may be needed in severe cases.

Quick Staffordshire Bull Terrier Q&A

The Staffordshire Bull Terrier; this breed include a sturdy, muscular build and powerful jaws and, not a particularly fun fact, was originally bred as a fighting dog. The breed was created through the cross of the Bulldog with the Old English Terrier.

Staffordshire Bull Terriers are sensitive, gentle and loving. They’re incredibly child-friendly dogs and thrive on human companionship. Due to their history, the breed is predisposed to find other animals a threat so they can be wary of other dogs.

Make sure they’re well socialised from an early age so they learn not to be afraid of other dogs. They should always be kept on a lead if other dogs are around.

Even if you consider your Staffordshire Bull Terrier to be completely safe with others, you should never leave children alone with them. Always teach your children to respect and care for any animal.

The average Staffy lifespan is around 12 years, but some have been known to exceed this if well-cared for. Make sure get the right amount of exercise, a good diet and regular vet check-ups.

Staffordshire Bull Terriers don’t shed very much so are considered to be low-maintenance due to their short close-lying coat.

That's All You Need to Know About Staffies

Gentle, fun-loving, and loyal, this is a misunderstood breed, wrongly judged for its aggressive dog fighting history. They’re a sensitive and loving breed, well suited to family life. They enjoy going for walks and playing games, but they also love to veg out on the sofa.

Early socialisation and training are key for this sometimes-stubborn breed. Make sure you’re up to speed with common health conditions so that you can provide treatment early on.

Content provided from Vetstream's Vetlexicon Canis

Vetlexicon is the world’s largest peer-reviewed online clinical reference source. All our content is written and peer-reviewed by over 1,000 of the world’s leading veterinarians, ensuring relevance, accuracy and quality.

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