Staffordshire Bull Terrier Health: Skin, Seizures, and the Aggression Question
UK vet records found Staffies had no higher odds of recorded aggression than other dogs. Their real predispositions were skin disease and seizures.
Written by thecanineledger
Staffordshire Bull Terriers fill UK rescue kennels, and their reputation is part of the reason. A study of UK vet records set out expecting to find more aggression in the breed. It didn’t. “There was no significant difference in the odds of aggression between Staffordshire Bull Terriers compared with non-Staffordshire Bull Terriers” (Pegram et al., Canine Medicine and Genetics 2020).
While that finding matters most for rehoming, the study also mapped the breed’s health. Staffies were more prone to some problems and less prone to others.
Our note: Our opening line about rescue kennels isn’t from this study.
1. The study
The dogs. Researchers used VetCompass, a database of anonymised UK primary-care records. They compared 1,304 Staffies with 21,029 other dogs, using records from 2016. Staffies were the second most common purebred breed in the sample.
The method. They compared the odds of 36 common disorders between Staffies and other dogs. They took account of age, sex and neutering, weight, insurance and vet group.
Funding. The Kennel Club Charitable Trust and a pet insurer supported the work.
2. Aggression
What they found. Recorded aggression was no more likely in Staffies than in other dogs.
Why it differs from older reports. Earlier reports found more aggression in the breed. The authors note “many of these reported predispositions were documented over 20 years ago.” They suggest the breed may have changed as more Staffies are kept as family pets.
What the study couldn’t do. “It should be noted that all forms of aggression were grouped and evaluated as a single disorder.” It couldn’t separate different kinds of aggression.
The authors’ view. They suggest people visiting rescue centres “should avoid preconceptions about the breed behaviour”. They add that, with responsible ownership and an enriched home, Staffies can make a suitable family pet.
Our note: Vet records only capture aggression that a vet noted.
→ Breed Bans: What the Laws Say, and Whether They Reduce Bites · → Dog Bites and Children: Who Gets Bitten, and What Prevention Can’t Yet Promise
3. More likely in Staffies
| Disorder | Odds compared with other dogs |
|---|---|
| Seizure disorder | 2.06 times |
| Atopic dermatitis (skin allergy) | 1.88 times |
| Skin mass | 1.80 times |
| Stiffness | 1.76 times |
A caution from the authors. Seizure disorder, skin mass and stiffness were catch-all labels, used when a vet hadn’t reached a precise diagnosis. So was heart murmur, in the table below. The authors say these findings “may reflect diagnostic differences between SBTs and other dog breeds rather than a true predisposition or protection.” They place the most confidence in atopic dermatitis.
Our note: Staffies had higher odds of skin masses. Have new skin lumps checked by your vet.
→ The Itchy Dog: Allergies, Atopic Dermatitis, and What Actually Helps · → Found a Lump? Why Your Vet Should Put a Needle in It · → First Seizure: What to Do, and What Counts as an Emergency
4. Less likely in Staffies
| Disorder | Odds compared with other dogs |
|---|---|
| Anal sac impaction | 0.53 |
| Periodontal (gum) disease | 0.41 |
| Heart murmur | 0.33 |
| Retained baby tooth | 0.19 |
| Patellar luxation (slipping kneecap) | 0.15 |
An odds of 0.41 means a Staffie had well under half the odds of other dogs.
Overall. “From the relative number of predispositions to protections identified, there is no evidence that Staffordshire Bull Terriers have higher overall health problems than non-Staffordshire Bull Terriers.” The authors note that counting problems doesn’t measure how severe they are.
5. If you have, or want, a Staffie
- Judge the dog in front of you, not the breed’s reputation.
- Watch for itching, licking and ear or paw problems, and see a vet early.
- Get new lumps checked.
Our note: These points are ours.
→ Choosing a Breed or a Mix: The Health Data Breeders Don’t Lead With
6. What we could not verify
| Commonly said | What we found |
|---|---|
| “Staffies are aggressive” | Not shown in 2016 UK vet records. Aggression of all kinds was grouped together. |
| “Staffies are unhealthy” | No. They had about as many protections as predispositions. |
| “Staffies are prone to epilepsy” | Seizures were more common, but the label may hide other diagnoses. |
Sources
- Pegram C, Wonham K, Brodbelt DC, Church DB, O’Neill DG. Staffordshire Bull Terriers in the UK: their disorder predispositions and protections. Canine Med Genet 2020: VetCompass study, 1,304 Staffies and 21,029 other dogs, 2016. Supported by the Kennel Club Charitable Trust and a pet insurer
Always confirm with your vet before acting on anything on this page.