Staffordshire Bull Terrier Grooming

The Staffordshire Bull Terrier--or "Staffy," for short--has a short-haired, smooth coat that doesn't require much upkeep. The coats shed moderately (and often heavier in the spring), so consistent brushing will be necessary, but not a lot of other care is needed.

Here you'll find details on maintaining your Staffy's coat, including detailed info about bathing and brushing. You can also learn more about caring for the dog's teeth, ears, and paws--and you'll find out why shaving these dogs' coats is never a good idea.

Overall Staffordshire Bull Terrier grooming isn't hard at all--and caring for the Staffy's short, smooth coat is similarly easy. These dogs' coats shed a fair amount throughout the year, and they often have a heavy shed in the spring--so they'll need brushing twice a week or so with a bristle brush or rubber curry brush (and daily brushing during shedding season). Brush the coats section by section, moving in the direction of hair growth. Some people also like to use a de-shedding tool like a Furminator during shedding season to help collect dead hairs.

Unless your Staffy gets especially dirty or stinky, baths (described in more detail in the Bathing section below) are only required every couple of months. Haircuts aren't required at all.

And while most owners can learn all the aspects of dog grooming for Staffordshire Bull Terriers on their own, it's a good idea to take your Staffy to a professional groomer at least once. The groomer can give the dog a nice makeover, and provide tips on how to groom a Staffordshire Bull Terrier at home.

Maintaining these dogs' coats will also require the use of a few Staffordshire Bull Terrier grooming tools: a bristle or curry brush, a de-shedding tool, and canine shampoo will all be great to have.

Bathing your Staffy isn't too difficult or time-consuming, and can be a great bonding experience for you and the dog. So how often should you bathe a Staffy? This breed isn't known for its "doggy odor," so unless the dog spends a lot of time outside (where it's more likely to get dirty or stinky!), a Staffy bath every couple of months will be fine.

It's important when bathing a Staffy to use canine shampoo, as the kind made for humans can irritate a dog's skin. Staffies in particular can have sensitive skin, so lots of owners like to use hypoallergenic shampoo, which is less likely to cause irritation. The best shampoo for Staffordshire Bull Terriers includes brands like Earthbath, Vet's Best, and Pro Pet Works, all of which have hypoallergenic products.

How to bathe a Staffy: first give the coat a good brushing. You can bathe your Staffy either in a bathtub or in an outdoor plastic pool using a garden hose. Wet the coat thoroughly, then apply a quarter-sized amount of shampoo to the dog's back. Lather well, working downward and outward. (And don't forget the legs, underbelly, and tail!) Wash the dog's face, head, and ears with a washcloth, then rinse the coat until the water runs clear.

Towel-dry the coat, then finish with another quick bush-through to make the coat look neat and clean.

In a nutshell, Staffordshire Bull Terriers don't need--and can't really get!--haircuts. Staffies' short coats just aren't long enough to be trimmed any shorter than they already are.

And shaving a Staffordshire Bull Terrier--which some think will help reduce shedding--is not recommended. Unless the dog's coat is shaved bald, which should never be done, the coat will still shed; the only difference is the shed hairs will be shorter. A shaved Staffy will also be much more susceptible to heatstroke and sunburn, and the coat will usually be uneven when it does grow back in.

So to anyone considering shaving their Staffy: put those clippers away!

In addition to its coat, your Staffy will need care in the following areas:

• Teeth: Just like a human's, Staffordshire Bull Terrier teeth need regular brushing to reduce plaque and tartar, and to minimize that Staffy bad breath! Brush Staffy teeth twice a week with a regular toothbrush--but be sure to use canine toothpaste, as the kind made for humans can make dogs sick if they swallow it.
• Ears: If your Staffy's ears aren't cleaned periodically, they can collect dirt and debris, and even get infected--which can lead to hearing loss. Clean the dog's ears monthly with canine ear cleaning solution (available at pet stores or online). Be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions, but the usual process is to squirt a generous portion of solution into the ear canal, close the ear flap, and massage the ear for a few seconds to work in the liquid. Your Staffy will probably shake its head vigorously for a bit--this is normal--then you can use a cotton ball (never a Q-Tip!) to wipe out any remaining solution.
• Nails: If Staffy nails click on hard surfaces, it's time for a trim. Use regular nail clippers to cut the nails as close to the toes as possible--but be sure not to cut into the nail's "quick" (the blood vessel running through it), as doing so can make the nail bleed and be painful.
• Paw Pads: Your Staffy's paw pads can become dry and cracked, especially if the dog walks a lot on hot asphalt or snow and ice. Apply commercial paw pad moisturizer to the dog's pads weekly to keep them soft and moist.