• Staffies love children, making them an who will be happy to help after they’ve ideal family pet. They can be a bit too left our home for yours. much for very little children as they are so energetic and strong, so this should be Buying a Staffordshire Bull Terrier: considered when looking to get a Staffie • If you are going to buy a pup from a or Staffie-cross. Staffie breeder, you can expect to pay around £300-£500. Staffordshire What to do if you want to welcome a Staffordshire Bull • Make sure that you go to a reputable Bull Terriers and breeder and ask to see the pups with Terrier into your life... their mother before you make any decisions about buying one. Staffie-crosses Choosing to get a dog is a very big decision, especially if that dog is likely to be a • A good dog breeder will always get Staffie. You must think very carefully about their pups checked over by a vet and whether you have the time and energy to have them vaccinated, wormed & given take one on as, despite the rewards, they flea-treatment before they go to their do require a huge commitment from their new home. Ask for vaccination cards owners in order to lead happy lives. or vet documents to make sure this has been done. If you’re set on a Staffie, you have two main options for getting one: Be a responsible owner and neuter Rehoming from a rescue organisation: your dog – it’s simply the best choice • If you want to rehome a Staffie from a for you and your pet. Dogs Trust rehoming centre, you will be asked all about your lifestyle to make If you are interested in rehoming a sure they are the right pet for you. dog, supporting Dogs Trust or for more information and factsheets about all • As with any rescue dog, the background aspects of dog ownership, please visit of a rescued Staffie is often unknown, www.dogstrust.org.uk or contact: and as a result they may need lots of Dogs Trust training and sensitive handling to begin 17 Wakely Street with. With a lot of time and effort they will make a lovely family pet. London EC1V 7RQ • If you rehome a Staffie from Dogs Trust Tel: 020 7837 0006 and need further advice about training Reg. Charity Numbers: 227523 or behaviour you can contact your local and SC037843 centre’s Training and Behaviour Advisor Dating back to the 1800’s, the and some good training and handling, Staffordshire Bull Terrier was mainly bred Staffies and Staffie-crosses can prove for ratting, bull baiting and dog fighting. to be loving and loyal family pets, so They were mainly owned by working class shouldn’t always be overlooked when you families, living in close contact with them are thinking about getting a dog. and often being left with the children, earning them the ‘nanny dog’ nickname. The breed was officially recognised by the What you should know about Kennel Club in 1935 and has proved to be owning a Staffie a popular family dog ever since. The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is distinctive Staffies and Staffie-crosses have become in its good looks, and they can be easily fashionable pets, but we often see a identified by their solid, barrel-chested lot of them in Dogs Trust centres due shape. They have earned the nickname to overbreeding, or being handed in by ‘keg on legs’ thanks to their compact yet people who may not have realised how muscular appearance. much care and attention they really need. • Staffies are totally devoted to their Staffies sadly have a bad reputation families - anyone who shows a Staffie due to their fighting history. Thanks to love and care will get the same back, perceived physical similarities with Pit and more to spare. They are very eager Bull types they have also recently been to please and thrive on reward-based tarnished with the ‘dangerous dogs’ training. label. However, given a loving home Photo by Andy Catterall • They are intelligent and fun loving, so need owners who have plenty of time to • Due to the breed’s history of dog play with them, and lots of toys to keep fighting, Staffies can be dog aggressive them busy. and are better off being the only pet in the home, unless they’ve been really well • Staffies are full of energy, and owners of socialised at an early age. these power-house dogs soon notice how fit they get from all the exercise they • If left without anything to do for a long have to do with them. time Staffies can get very bored and even destructive. Plenty of toys should • Being muscular and strong, Staffies need be available and they shouldn’t be left very tough toys to chew on, as well alone for long periods of time. as owners that are strong enough to control them on the lead. Photo by Andy Catterall .