Ratings

Breed Introduction

The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is gentle in temperament, very attentive and loyal to its owner. Agile and elegant. It has a solid bone structure, a broad head like a flat stone, strong jaws, and a muscular neck and body. To accommodate the broad jaws, the face between the jaws appears particularly wide. Its small triangular ears stand erect on top of the head, and its eyes are round and bright. It has a broad and muscular chest. The back is slightly longer than its height, with straight and sturdy front legs and strong and powerful hind legs. The coat is thick and short, with colors including yellow, brown, black, blue, etc. The area of white markings does not exceed 20% of the entire body (except for all-white dogs). The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is a short-haired dog. In terms of its size, it is very strong; despite its well-developed muscles, it remains very lively and agile. From the history of the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, the modern Staffordshire Bull Terrier has an indomitable quality, is extremely intelligent and resilient. It is very affectionate towards friends, very calm, and reliable, making it a first-class all-purpose dog.

The development of the Staffordshire Bull Terrier originated in England hundreds of years ago, created by crossing bulldogs and mastiffs. During the Elizabethan era, bulldogs and bear dogs were crossed to produce large dogs weighing about 45.36 to 54.43 kg suitable for such activities, which were gradually replaced by smaller and more agile breeds weighing up to 40.82 kg. In the early 19th century, dog fighting activities were very popular, and some smaller, more agile dogs were bred. They were called bulldogs or bull terriers. At that time, the bulldogs bred were larger than the individuals we know today, weighing about 27.22 kg. These large dogs were crossed with some smaller native English breeds, now known as Manchester terriers. The offspring of these hybrids typically weighed between 13.6 to 20.41 kg, which is the Staffordshire Bull Terrier of today.

Around 1860, James Hinks crossed the old bulldog now known as the Staffordshire Bull Terrier to produce a pure white English bulldog, which was recognized by the English Kennel Club within the last 25 years of the 19th century, while the Staffordshire Bull Terrier was not allowed due to its fighting dog reputation. In 1935, the English Kennel Club recognized the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, allowing its enthusiasts to hold beauty contests. Dog fighting has long been considered a cowardly activity, and the Staffordshire Bull Terrier has developed into a breed with such temperament that makes it a good pet and a very valuable dog for viewing.

It is believed that the Bull Terrier entered North America at some point in the mid-1880s. There, they developed into a heavier and taller dog based on different breeding lines. Today’s Staffordshire Bull Terrier is a representative of this bred breed. The Staffordshire Bull Terrier was officially recognized and registered by the AKC on November 1, 1974. After March 5, 1975, it was classified in the terrier group at AKC dog shows.