Staffordshire Bull Terrier

Temperament

The FCI standard describes the Staffy as a dog of traditionally indomitable courage and tenacity, highly intelligent, affectionate especially with children, bold, fearless and totally reliable. The AKC gives it top marks for affection, getting along with young children, energy and trainability. At home it wants to be part of everything and would ideally sleep with its owner. It usually greets strangers with enthusiasm, so it's no watchdog. Other dogs can be a different story: some Staffies, especially adult males, won't put up with provocation and won't back away from a fight. Small animals can trigger its hunting instinct. Still, it usually lives peacefully with a cat it grew up with, and in play it can be surprisingly gentle with its family.

Energy

calmvery energetic

Affection

independentvelcro pet

With children

not idealgreat

With other pets

difficultgreat

Trainability

stubborneager to learn

For first-time owners

for experienced ownersyes

With strangers

waryoutgoing

Playfulness

dignifiedeternal puppy

Shedding

minimalheavy

Grooming

easydemanding

Being left alone

strugglescopes well

Apartment living

needs a house and yardgreat in a flat

Barking

quietvocal

With other dogs

difficultgreat

Protectiveness

lowhigh

Drooling

hardly anya lot

Cold tolerance

feels the coldexcellent

Heat tolerance

strugglescopes well

Scores of 1–5 compare the breed with other breeds of the same species, based on the sources at the bottom of the page. Every animal is different. How we score traits

Who is the Staffordshire Bull Terrier for?

The Staffy suits an active family, including one with children, and apartment dwellers who have time for daily exercise and play. A sensible first-time owner who's willing to go to obedience classes can manage one too. It's not a good choice for someone who wants a guard dog, expects carefree play with every dog at the park, or doesn't want a dog that demands closeness.

Size and looks

Care and exercise

The Royal Kennel Club recommends up to an hour of exercise a day for a Staffy, but this energetic dog will gladly do more: fetch, tug of war, running, even agility or weight pulling. Keep it leashed around unfamiliar dogs until you know how yours reacts. The short coat needs a wipe with a grooming mitt once a week. Staffies love food and gain weight easily, so watch portions. Their jaws are powerful, so choose durable toys. Positive training gets great results, because the dog is eager to cooperate. A dog coat helps in freezing weather. Teaching calm and rest is as important as exercise, because young dogs wind up easily. Trim the nails every few weeks if they don't wear down on pavement.

Health and breed-related conditions

As good practice, the Royal Kennel Club recommends DNA tests for hereditary cataract and L-2-hydroxyglutaric aciduria, an eye exam with litter screening, and elbow X-rays. The AKC adds hip and elbow dysplasia, patellar luxation and eye defects such as juvenile cataracts, PHPV and posterior subcapsular cataracts. L-2-HGA is a metabolic disease that causes seizures, a wobbly gait and behavior changes, and thanks to the DNA test breeders can easily avoid it. When buying a puppy, ask for copies of both parents' test results. The AKC gives a life expectancy of 12–15 years.

• L-2-hydroxyglutaric aciduria (L-2-HGA)An inherited metabolic disease that damages the nervous system; a DNA test identifies carriers.
• hereditary cataract (HC)Cataracts that appear in young dogs; a DNA test is available.
• persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous (PHPV)A congenital eye defect detected by eye exam, including in puppies.
• hip and elbow dysplasiaBreeders should X-ray hips and elbows before breeding.
• patellar luxationThe AKC lists it among the conditions breeders screen for.

This is general breed information, not a diagnosis. If something worries you, talk to your veterinarian.

Breed history

The Staffy descends from bull-and-terrier dogs, created by crossing bulldogs and terriers for bloody entertainment. When animal baiting was banned in England in 1835, the gambling moved to illegal cellars, where dogs fought each other or killed rats. The breed went by many names, including Staffordshire Pit-dog and Brindle Bull, and its current name comes from the county of Staffordshire, where it was especially popular. In the 1880s Staffies reached America, where breeders developed the taller, heavier Amstaff from them. More than a century of responsible breeding has turned both types into family dogs.

Fun facts

• The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is not on Poland's list of breeds considered aggressive.
• The FCI standard gives a height of 35.5–40.5 cm, with a weight of 12.7–17 kg for males and 11–15.4 kg for females.
• The breed is named after the English county of Staffordshire.
• The FCI standard calls the Staffy affectionate "especially with children."

Frequently asked questions

This breed also appears in

• Medium dog breeds
• Best dogs for kids
• Best dogs for apartments

Sources

1. 1FCI standard nr 76 – Staffordshire Bull Terrierfci.be
2. 2AKC – Staffordshire Bull Terrierakc.org
3. 3Royal Kennel Club – Staffordshire Bull Terrierroyalkennelclub.com
4. 4Rozporządzenie MSWiA z 28 kwietnia 2003 r. w sprawie wykazu ras psów uznawanych za agresywneisap.sejm.gov.pl

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.