To live with a Stafford
An agile bulldozer
The Stafford is a very affectionate breed, that loves people and as as rule is very poor as guarding dogs because of its love for people. It loves children and is very patiance. The breed is very agile and can jump high from sitting, but at the same time can run around as an clumpsy bull dozer and in its eagerness accidently tip a child over when it wants to kiss. It always want to be as near their people as possible, either it means sitting in the lap, kiss or jump right into the arms of them.
Weather and wind
When getting a dog, your are always warned that you will have to wake up early, sleeping in is never an option, and you have to take your dog on long walks no mather how much the rain pours. When getting a Stafford, you should know this; the grown up Stafford likes to sleep in and it rather lays under the covers when it rains.
An active couch potatoe
The Stafford has easy to learn and loves most anything their family is up to, either it is agility, obediance, shows or trails, but it also loves cuddling in the couch with their family in the evening. It could be summarized as an active couch potatoe. At the same time as it is intelligent it is also very stubborn. An owner that is consistent and use soft methods in raising their stafford are usually a good concept for training and raising a Stafford. A Stafford loves making its owner happy, why it's better to use this quality in training than to getting in a quarrel letting your Stafford get output for its stubborness.
Love for life in 120 kilometers per hour
The Stafford is very intense and always gives 120 percent in anything it does, either it comes to training, being stubborn or greeting new people entering the door. Many people does not like when a dog greets that intense. It is possible to learn the Stafford to say hello in a more toned down way, but an owner who does not like this kind of intense happiness when coming home from work might consider another breed. The Stafford also gives 120 percent when playing with other dogs, which is not always appreciated by other less intense breeds.
Other animals
The Stafford loves ALL people and are likely to let both friends and burglars through the window... If it learns early to live with small animals it usally goes well and it can live with both rats or rabbits, but you should have in mind that if a rat runs over the floor their hunting insticts might be triggered. It normally gets along with dogs it knows, but it does not necessarily loves all dogs it encounters. It is a long time since it was used as a fighting dog, but as an owner you should never forget their less pleasant history. With a good socialisation both bitches and dogs can get along well with other dogs, but don't think it will love every dog it meets. A Stafford shouldn't be more aggressive towards dogs than other breeds, but their reaction WHEN encounters a dog that it does not like differs. As an owner you are responsable for not letting your dog fight. Things that in other breeds can lead to smaller quarrels, can with a Stafford involved lead to a fight to the death.
Daily care
The Stafford's daily care is easy as it does not require much grooming, and it often wear their nails during walks. It needs the same amount of psysical exercise as other middle sized breeds, but needs to use its brains to get tired. You have to be prepared that the Stafford needs as least one fast walk during an hour a day, but you should also let them use their brains. Agility, obediance, trails etc are appreciated by most.
Health
It is considered a healthy breed, but some diseases are more occurant than others. View under Health to read more about this.
Character traits
The Staffordshir Bull Terrier is much dog in a small package. At the same time as it's compact and strong, it is sensitive and very affectionate. It is stubborn and wants to be close to its owner all of the time. It finds its place in all environments. It loves being around children, there's a reason it is called "the Nanny Dog" in England. It is also very stubborn, people loving and has easy to learn with a great memory. As a breed it is a distinctive family dog.
In the book The Guide to Owing a Staffordshire Bullterrier Marion Lane writes that if you want to know a breed you should not ask a breeder or an owner, but one who has simply been around the breed much. This is because an owner or a breeder can never be objective; all breeds would be described as intelligent, loyal, affectionate etc. Through quoting what others have said encountering the breed Marion Lane gave the following description about the breed:
"Wow, how strong he is!" This comment normally follows the first careful pat on the dog's back.
"This would be the first!" There's genuine surprise in the veterinary's voice. The Stafford is obviously the only dog that really struggles to get through the clinic's door.
"Kelly, don't hurt the doggie." The three year old's mother is slightly embaressed. Her daughter just hit the Stafford in the head with a toy. Meanwhile, the Stafford patienctly quenches his eyes for the next hit.
"Whoa!" This is the surprised yell of a person who chose to ignore the owner's warning that his male doesn't like other males, at the same time as he hurrily pulls his barking dog away from the Stafford's face.
"Excellent!" The teenage boy whistles in admiration when the Stafford jumps straight up into the air from sitting position.
"What a kind dog!" The most warming comment, which often shows surprise that the dog that was expected being mean, actually is that nice...Den mest värmande kommentaren, som ofta avslöjar överraskning över att hunden som förväntades vara elak, faktiskt var så snäll...
