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The Staffordshire Bull Terrier (also known as Staffie, Stafford, Staffy or Staff) is a dog with a smile you can drive a truck through and a heart that forever craves human companionship. Their enthusiasm for life and huge capacity for love makes them a wonderful dog for the family, and their active need for fun helps them to share a special bond with children. This is one of the main reasons Staffies are such a success with children, because they are as hardy and fun-loving, and fearless, as the children themselves are! This is also recognised by the UK kennel club, as the Stafford being one of only two dog breeds from over 190 that have a mention of the breed’s suitability with children and family members, which makes it a foremost all-purpose dog.staffie in If an owner provides their Staffie with proper training -as all responsible dog owners should – in addition to a good diet and a special place within the family then you couldn’t ask for a more loyal and affectionate pet. Shower a Staffie with affection and you’ll have a four-legged shadow, desperate to please you and always ready for a cuddle. It has been said that “no breed is more loving with its family” and our kennel staff and Staffie foster carers are more than happy to give testament to that fact!

The Staffordshire Bull Terrier, or “Staffie” as they are often affectionately known, are an English breed. Strong for their size, these animals have a stocky muscular build but are surprisingly agile and athletic. A short muscular neck should be in proportion with the close-coupled well-defined body. Forelegs are set wide apart to allow for a deep chest. The head is broad with a slightly foreshortened muzzle, and the eyes have a bold and energetic expression. The coat is very short and smooth and appears in several colours such as black, fawn, white, brindle and red.

The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is intelligent, energetic and courageous, and is renowned for being exceptionally good in the family with children. In England, the Staffie used to be known by the affectionate nickname, “The children’s nursemaid” or “The nanny dog” due to it trustworthy compassion towards children and adults alike. Highly affectionate and loyal to their owners, Staffordshire Bull Terriers are also welcoming to new people. The Staffordshire Bull Terrier gives 110% to everything they do, be it play, training, or the affection they lavish on their owners and family. They are extremely courageous dogs, obedient, affectionate, and loyal -often with a cheeky comedic streak! They are happy in most situations but seem to thrive as a family dog.

The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is an active breed and sometimes appears to have unexpendable amounts of energy, so regular exercise and training sessions are a must. A good long walk and off lead exercise each day is sufficient, though, of course, they will always welcome more! Their intelligence and energy make these animals great candidates for obedience and agility work. Staffies are not only versatile in the home, they have adapted to a range of outdoor activities, too. This breed is a high-flyer in obedience, agility and flyball competitions and will give just about any activity a go. Staffies are easily trained, with few problems in retaining and responding to their training, due to their keen genetic trait to learn and please. When it comes to grooming the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, they are a low maintenance pet. A Staffordshire’s coat will need a quick brush to help keep the coat shiny and healthy, and will only need to be occasionally washed.

One concern for owners of this breed is some negative media coverage that has been mis-directed onto these dogs as a result of the actions of irresponsible owners. It is imperative for all owners -of any breed – to correctly train their dogs and help us combat the negative stereotypes attached to dogs of all kinds. Like many breeds, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier has strong impulses and can be headstrong, so they are best suited to those who can offer consistent and positive training as a confident, assertive owner. With many people now in London and the UK, as a whole, choosing to breed these dogs to make fast money, they have become a common sight in our capital. This also means that people who have no desire to be a good dog owner and give their dog what they needs to fulfil its breed traits, are misusing these dogs and contributing to the cycle of negative media coverage. If you are looking to re-home a dog, why not consider a Staffordshire Bull Terrier, you will no doubt be impressed with their intelligence, adaptability and bottomless desire to please and shower you with as much affection as possible.