Angel Rock Staffords FACTS ABOUT STAFFYBULLS
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by Cheryl Ellicott |
 The SBT (StaffyBull, Staffordshire Bull Terrier) is much misunderstood,
especially in the USA. Here are some facts you need to know about them: The breed is rare in the USA; at the writing of this article there were just around 800 registered. (Comparison: there are 4.5 million pitbulls in the country) If you adopted a SBT from a shelter, I'm sorry but you probably have a mislabeled non-SBT. In rescue we see between 10 and 15 TRUE SBT homeless each year, across the whole country. As of the writing of this article, in the USA there are ZERO confirmed reports of a true SBT ever biting a person. That's almost unheard of for any breed. The SBT is small - 14 to 16 inches at shoulder and weighs typically 25 to 40 pounds. They have a short muzzle, short cobby body, and an octagon shaped head, round eyes and tight lips (as opposed to many breeds with loose flews.) The SBT vary from bulldog body type to terrier type bodies; the ideal is a balance right in the middle, as the standard has always called for a muscular dog, yet "active and agile". The terrier type body is healthier and more versatile. The (ideal, traditionally good tempered) SBT are not stubborn. They are extremely sensitive to their owners and love to please; they must be trained with POSITIVE methods only. If you think your SBT is stubborn, your training methods are wrong and are shutting him down. (NOTE: However, since first writing this article, sadly I've learned of many purebred staffybulls who do NOT have the correct temperament (per history, per the breed standard)- - and guess what? They really ARE stubborn. They require a different method of training than I use with my dogs.) The SBT is a "temperament breed". The temperament MUST COME FIRST. "Show champion" means NOTHING in a breed known for it's temperament. Temperament isn't judged in conformation shows. This is "the Nanny dog". If your dog doesn't have the correct temperament, do not allow it to be bred, regardless of it's conformation show quality. If you are looking for a puppy, be sure the sire and dam have the proper temperament. This is the description of temperament from the Breed Standard: Temperament: From the past history of the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, the modern dog draws its character of indomitable courage, high intelligence, and tenacity. This, coupled with its affection for its friends, and children in particular, its off-duty quietness and trustworthy stability, makes it a foremost all-purpose dog. NOTE the trustworthy stability, high intelligence and the off-duty quietness. This breed should be Quiet and mellow in the house. They are smart, and so should learn quickly. They should be 100% safe and reliable to leave the baby alone with, or the children. (Protect the dog from the kids though! ) They are not constant barkers, are not spooky, are not nervous (people submission is normal and OK, but not a spooky fear) and they are not wary of strangers. They are not hyper and wild - - but they do have an "on-switch" for playing extremely hard and finishing tasks with a super focused intensity. Please choose only a SBT with the correct temperament! The SBT can have strong prey drive; do not adopt an older SBT if you have a cat. Do not expect the SBT to get along well with same-sex dogs - - this is a terrier!!!!! Training and socializing do not change the nature. You may take a round peg and hammer it into a square hole, but will it be happy there? If you must have a "dog lover" then do not choose any breed of terrier. If you want a people-lover, then a properly tempered English StaffyBull is the dog for you!!!!!!!!!!!!
NOTE FOR SBT OWNERS: If you're having trouble explaining to your relatives, neighbors and friends exactly what breed your dog is, feel free to print this article for them. And if you should ever run into trouble with breed bans on pitbulls and you're asked what your dog is, you COULD sit there explaining all day; "No, there's a "bull" in the name, it's not the same as that other name, listen again.... Staffordshire Bull terrier.....no, no, this isn't an English version of the American breed, it's actually a completely different breed...what? How do I know? Well, I mean, gee, how does anyone know anything? I read books, talked to experts. What? No, it's not an English Pit Bull. You're not listening. This is a different breed. The pit bull was created in America using a variety of different breeds....this is an English breed, created in England in another century..... aaaaargh......" OR, you could save time and frustration by saying, he's an "ENGLISH STAFFYBULL". This is the term I've had the best results with - people cannot confuse it with anything else they've heard, so it usually satisfies their curiosity and ends the discussion. Any other variation of our breed's name sounds too similar to the pitbull names and uninformed people can't hear the difference. Have fun with your English StaffyBull and enjoy the thousands of kisses!!!
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