The blue staffordshire bull terrier (commonly known as Staffy) is an excellent family dog with plenty of energy and intelligence. They are highly people-orientated and thrive on the companionship of their humans, although they may be a little headstrong or stubborn when it comes to training. A confident, consistent and sympathetic owner is essential for these dogs.
Is Blue Staffy a breed?
The breed was bred for the bloodsports of bear and bullbaiting in 19th century England, and while they are not used for these types of sports anymore, they retain many of the same traits that made them ideal for such activities. They are a muscular breed that can appear intimidating, but they are actually very loving and devoted dogs.
Staffordshires have short, stiff coats that come in brindle, black, red, fawn, white or any combination of these colours with white. Their tail is typically docked and their head is broad with well-defined occipital muscles, small, V-shaped ears that are half erect and a wide mouth with a scissor bite.
Like all dogs, they need lots of exercise and mental stimulation to be happy. They can also be reactive toward dogs they don’t know, so socialization is important from a young age. They tend to be overweight, so you should keep their portions under control and avoid giving them too many treats. Also, be aware that they are prone to developing L-2-Hydroxyglutaric Aciduria or L-2HGA, an inherited metabolic condition that causes damage to the brain and nervous system.
