Irish Staffordshire Bull Terrier Dog Breed

The Irish Staffordshire Bull Terrier is a dog that must be carefully considered before adopting. While these dogs require a lot of responsibility, there are laws in some states and nations that prohibit owning and possessing them. There is also the social stigma that accompanies them. Previously, these dogs had been bred purely for blood sport. While that activity was outlawed more than two centuries ago, there are people who still use them in an aggressive fashion.

These days, however, there are a number of people who declare that the dog is a wonderful family companion, can be trusted with young children and is only dangerous if trained by people to be so. If anything, they are excellent watch and guard dogs. Still, there are many who say that they are not for novices, and it should be noted that they are indeed challenging and require a very firm, experienced and confident alpha master.

Here are some things about Irish Staffordshire Bull Terriers that you should know:

PROS

• Rugged
• Friendly
• Love to play
• Very, very energetic
• Astonishingly strong
• Highly devoted, often to one person
• Great for extremely active lifestyles
• Can be trained for agility competition

CONS

• Impulsive
• Huge exercise needs
• Requires strong owner
• Difficult to house-train
• Can jump over most fences
• May be very dog-aggressive
• Can get separation anxiety
• Can be extremely destructive
• May not bark before attacking
• May not back down from a fight
• Will chew on things if even slightly bored
• Remarkably powerful jaws can chew through boards and fences

The Irish Staffordshire Bull Terrier is a medium-sized dog whose strength is astounding. They have a reputation for ferocity that comes from long ago when they were bred to be fighters. Still, they are playful, loving and very loyal dogs provided they are not trained to be aggressive. Harsh discipline is not at all good for them as they will become quickly belligerent.

These dogs are very smart, and they are far less stubborn than they are made out to be. With proper training and socialization, they are able to be the "nanny dog" for kids, amicable with new friends, and to have the ability to determine friend from foe as well as react accordingly.

Irish Staffordshire Bull Terriers are extremely loyal, and usually, their loyalty is for basically one person. Friends of that master will find themselves not left out, but when it comes to obedience, they may not be listened to either. These dogs are nevertheless playful with kids and can be socialized to live peacefully enough with cats and even other dogs.

Lazy is not a known term for this breed. They either do something to the hilt, or they don't do it at all. If you are a long-distance runner, you'll find this dog waiting for you at the finish line!

Like their smaller English brethren the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, the Irish Staffy is a pretty healthy dog as far as the number of ailments goes. They have one health problem, however, that is unique to the Staffy breed: a neurological disorder called L-2-hydroxyglutaric aciduria. (Oddly enough, this same illness can be found in humans.) Although dogs can have their DNA tested to find out if they have it, there is no cure. Its effects can occur in dogs as young as one year old.

The typical health concerns that may afflict an Irish Staffordshire Bull Terrier are:

Mange
Blindness
Hair loss
Hip dyplasia
Elbow dysplasia
Atopic dermatitis
Patellar luxation
Juvenile cataracts
Other skin problems
L-2-hydroxyglutaric aciduria

Kept well-exercised and free from forced aggression, these dogs can live an average age that's anywhere from 10 to 16 years old.