Is my dog a Staffordshire Bull Terrier?
A Staffy is compact and muscular, with a broad head, pronounced cheeks and a short, smooth coat. Upload a photo for a free check, then compare the details below with the dog in front of you.
Also known as: Staffy, Staffie, SBT, Stafford
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About the Staffordshire Bull Terrier
The Staffordshire Bull Terrier comes from the English Midlands, where bulldog and terrier types were crossed in the nineteenth century. The Kennel Club recognised it in 1935, and the FCI and the AKC recognise it too. Today it is above all a family dog: bold, affectionate, very fond of people and famously good-humoured at home. It packs a lot of strength into a medium-sized frame and has energy to match. Plenty of exercise, early socialisation with other dogs and consistent, reward-based training suit the breed well.
At a glance
- Type
- Pedigree breed
- Size
- Medium
- Adult weight
- 11–17 kg
- Life expectancy
- 12–14 years
- Exercise
- High
How to recognise a Staffordshire Bull Terrier
- Short, broad head with a distinct stop, pronounced cheek muscles and a short foreface ending in a black nose.
- Small rose or half-pricked ears; fully dropped or upright ears are unusual in a typical Staffy.
- Short, smooth, close coat in red, fawn, white, black or blue, solid or with white, or any shade of brindle.
- Compact, low-to-ground body with a wide, deep chest; stockier and shorter in the leg than its American relatives.
- Round, medium-sized eyes, preferably dark, looking straight ahead.
- Medium-length tail, set low and tapering to a point, carried rather low like an old-fashioned pump handle.
Photo tip. Photograph the dog standing side-on. Leg length relative to body depth, plus ear carriage, separates a Staffy from the taller AmStaff and leggier Pit Bull types.
Staffordshire Bull Terrier or look-alike?
American Staffordshire Terrier
Taller and more substantial, standing noticeably higher at the shoulder, with a broader, longer head. Ears may be cropped in some countries. A Staffy is shorter in the leg, more compact and lighter overall.
American Pit Bull Terrier
Leaner and leggier, built for agility, with a longer muzzle and a wedge-shaped head. Any colour except merle is accepted, so liver and red-nosed dogs are common. A Staffy has a shorter face and a stockier frame.
Boxer and Boxer mixes
A Boxer cross is usually taller, with a square, upturned muzzle, an undershot jaw and looser lips. Fawn or brindle with a white chest occurs in both, so compare muzzle shape and leg length.
Staffordshire Bull Terrier mixes
Staffies appear in many crosses, planned and accidental, often with Labradors, Boxers, Jack Russells and other terriers. The broad head, cheek muscles, short smooth coat and brindle or fawn colours tend to carry through, while ears, leg length and muzzle shape follow the other parent. Rescue dogs described as “Staffy cross” often combine several bull and terrier breeds. For these dogs the identifier typically returns Staffordshire Bull Terrier beside a related type such as the American Pit Bull Terrier, plus the other breed it sees. A DNA test gives the proportions.
Health and care
- Hereditary cataract and L-2-hydroxyglutaric aciduria (L2-HGA) are known in the breed, and both have reliable DNA tests. Ask to see the results for both parents.
- Hip dysplasia and slipping kneecaps also occur. Ask for hip scores and a patella check, and keep your Staffy lean, as the breed puts on weight easily.
- Staffies are prone to skin allergies and skin lumps, including mast cell tumours. Run your hands over the coat regularly and have any new or changing lump checked promptly.
- They need daily exercise and mental work. Their muscle and enthusiasm make them sensitive to heat during hard play, so keep sessions short on warm days.
- The short coat needs only a weekly rub with a rubber mitt. Early socialisation and steady, reward-based training help this sociable breed thrive.