The Staffordshire Bull Terrier or simply Stafford Bull Terrier is an English dog closely related to the bull terrier. This particular breed of dog is of medium height and a general stocky appearance. The dog has a short smooth coat which clings tightly to the body giving the animal a very streamline appearance. The dog’s muscular physique has most probably developed over the years due to its dog-fighting ancestry. The Staffordshire Bull Terrier has a characteristically big and broad head which is especially prominent amongst males. The dogs head has a short forehead with dark eyes, a short nose and tight lips. The head has powerful jaws which hold razor sharp teeth. It is said that when the Staffordshire bites something its jaws lock down and can be near impossible to open. This big head is supported by a strong muscular neck and broad shoulders which rest on short but equally sturdy forelimbs. The dog’s body is tucked in at the rear and the muscular body often reveals some of the rib cage. The Stafford Bull Terrier has a unique tail which is short and curved giving it the look of a traditional handle. The dog’s coat comprises of two colors of which white is one and the other is either black, red, fawn, liver-colored or blue. The dog is approximately 35 to 43 cm tall and weighs about 13 to 20 kg (female’s weight approximately 11 to 15 kg). This overall appearance can give the Staffordshire Bull Terrier a very formidable and intimidating look.
Despite their intimidating appearance however, the Stafford Bull Terrier is not naturally aggressive towards human beings. Although the Stafford has developed a strong physique and a courageous personality this breed of dog also famous for being very intelligent and a friendly, loyal and trust worthy companion. In fact the friendliness of the Stafford makes it an easy target for dog thieves. Some dog experts would go so far as to say that “no other breed of dog is more loving towards its family” than the Staffordshire Bull Terrier. Finally if the dog is adopted as a pup it is relatively easy to train again making it an ideal household pet.
Having said that the Stafford Bull Terrier is a powerful animal and like all dog breeds it is capable of dangerous behavior. In fact the British Dangerous Dogs Act makes it illegal for people in Britain to own pit bull terriers. Furthermore there have been a number of incidents reported in the British press which involved the Stafford Bull Terrier attacking children, adults and pets. The state of New South Wales in Australia have reported that the highest number of incidences involving dogs biting humans comes from the Stafford Bull Terrier.
It is difficult to conclude on whether the Staffordshire Bull Terrier should be adopted as a household pet. In my personal opinion as a father of a 2 year old I would prefer a much smaller less powerful dog or even cat. Even if I was not a father I owe a duty towards my neighbors and would never forgive myself if my dog inflicted harm on anyone else especially a child. Keeping the animal locked in the backyard is one safety precaution another would be to keep the dog on a leash with the mouth muzzled at all times when take it out for walks. However no matter how careful you are accidents can happen and in the end animals will remain animals difficult to predict and potentially very dangerous.