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For those who are considering a new dog, if you wish to purchase a small to medium-size breed dog, with a shorter coat, English bred dog, the Staffordshire bull terrier is one to consider. These dogs are related to the bull terrier, and descended from various fighting ancestor bred dogs, which in turn makes for their muscular build and body composition. The Staffordshire bull terrier is originally descended from the United Kingdom, and weigh anywhere from 12 to 16 kg for females, and 14 to 18 kg for male dogs. They can also be found in various different colors, from black, red, or white, depending on the breeding process.
History of the Staffordshire bull terrier-
Early on when these dogs were bred, they were intended to be fighting dogs, rather than companion dogs. This was mainly due to the fact that the dogs were brought to the markets early on, for the purpose of tenderizing meat (poultry, and other meats which were sold), as well as for entertainment purposes for those looking to see dog fights as a spectator sport. The Staffordshire bull terrier was bred from the Bull Terrier and the American Pit Bull, and American Staffordshire Terriers, which early on were known as the “Bull & Terrier.”
Due to animal welfare laws, the dog fighting which spectators came to see was banned, and these dogs were no longer bred to fight for the sport. However, for private owners, many still bred the Staffordshire bull terrier, in order to hold private fights at their homes, rather than in the public, and charged a fee for spectators to come watch the fights. As time passed, these practices were no longer done in the UK, or in other regions where the dog was bred, and over time they became a more suitable and popular house pet and companion. The breed was accepted as a “house pet,” by The Kennel Club of the United Kingdom in 1935, and since then, the breed has been popular amongst dog owners, in the UK, as well as other regions of the world including the US.
Reasons to purchase a Staffordshire bull terrier-
Today, there are various reasons why one would consider purchasing the Staffordshire bull terrier as a common house pet. Although many believe they are fierce dogs, due to their early history, they are in fact quite calm and loving dogs, if they are properly bred, and raised in the right environments. Additionally, many individuals who are looking for a house pet, have an affinity for their appearance, especially when they are younger puppies, and they can then be properly bred and raised in the home environment.
Their size also makes them easy to care for in the home, and if properly treated and cared for, they are said to be extremely affectionate dogs for pet owners. These Staffordshire bull terrier dogs are also said to be extremely intelligent, trustworthy, and extremely affectionate with their owners, when they are raised in the home, and properly treated. Additionally, there are many owners who claim that they are an extremely loyal breed, and loving to their care takers and family.
For those who are looking for an attack dog, it is also said that with proper training the Staffordshire bull terrier is the ideal option. Due to their mixed breed, and the temperament these terriers are prone to show, they can easily be trained to be guard dogs, or attack dogs, if used by certain police force training units. But, for those who are looking for a great house pet, it has also been claimed that they are loyal, easy to train, and make great pets for inside the home.
Pros and cons of owning Staffordshire bull terrier-
Other than their appearance, and the fact that they are extremely loyal to their owners and families, there are several pros one will find when choosing the Staffordshire bull terrier as a house pet. They are intelligent dogs, can easily be house trained or trained as a guard dog, depending on the manner they are raised in. They are also extremely compassionate dogs, and have a cute appearance for those who seek this quality in their dogs.
The Staffordshire bull terrier is also a loving dog when raised in a calm environment, they come in various color options for the owners to choose, and they are a mix, but still have pure bred qualities, which is something that many dog owners seek to find when purchasing a dog. Other pros include the fact that the Staffordshire bull terrier is extremely affectionate and has an affinity to be around people. Another great pro to owning this breed is the longer life span, if they are properly treated and cared for.
For those who are considering the Staffordshire bull terrier as a pet, there are also certain cons to owning these dogs. If not properly trained, due to their natural affinity and breed, and due to the fact that they were originally “fight dogs,” they can severely injure an individual. The dog is also pretty expensive to own and care for, due to certain diet restrictions, and due to the different types of common medical conditions they are prone to.
Certain conditions the Staffordshire bull terrier is prone to getting include: Hereditary cataracts (HC) and L2HGA (which is a metabolic disorder). Another common, but less severe condition is distichiasis (double eyelash), and PHPV, which is a condition where the ocular lens fail, resulting in blurry or poor vision.
Other cons include the propensity to fight, and the poor press release they may have, due to the past history of the breed. They are also fairly expensive to purchase, if you buy a pure bred, and if you are planning on buying them as a puppy to raise them in to adulthood.
Although there are certain conditions and illnesses the Staffordshire bull terrier is prone to, and although they might have poor press for their early history as a “fight dog,” they are actually a very calm, loving, and affectionate pet. Today, most owners who purchase the Staffordshire bull terrier breed do so to raise them from puppies, up through adulthood, and keep them in the home as a house pet.