Despite the breed's own gentle, people-focused temperament and its old nickname 'the nanny dog,' its bull-and-terrier ancestry and blocky build mean it can be caught up in the same insurance exclusions, breed-specific ordinances, and pet-unfriendly rental listings that target pit-bull-type dogs in parts of the US, regardless of an individual dog's behavior.
12years, median
0.5 years below the all-dog median of 12.5.
Measured, not estimated: the middle age at death across 584,734 UK dogs, 284,734 of them deceased. Based on 61,548 dogs of this breed. 95% confidence interval 12 to 12.1 years. Half lived longer than this, half did not. UK dogs, so treat it as the best available figure rather than a promise about yours.
In the same study, small breeds as a group had a median of 12.7 years and medium-muzzled breeds 12.8. This breed is small and medium-muzzled.
McMillan et al. 2024, Scientific Reports 14:531 — open access · CC BY 4.063.7% of Staffordshire Bull Terriers had at least one disorder recorded in 2016, against 66% of other dogs.
Compared with other dogs, 2016
1,304 Staffordshire Bull Terriers against 21,029 other dogs. The odds of having at least one disorder that year were no different from other dogs (odds ratio 0.90, 95% CI 0.80 to 1.02). Of 36 disorders tested, 4 were more common in the breed and 5 less common.
More likely in Staffordshire Bull Terriers — times the odds
- Seizure disorder1.38% vs 0.76%2.1×
- Atopic dermatitis1.99% vs 1.14%1.9×
- Skin mass3.76% vs 2.17%1.8×
- Stiffness1.15% vs 0.71%1.8×
Less likely
- Anal sac impaction2.61% vs 5.23%0.53×
- Gum disease (periodontal disease)6.52% vs 16.71%0.41×
- Heart murmur0.84% vs 2.62%0.33×
- Retained baby teeth0.15% vs 0.84%0.19×
- Slipping kneecap (patellar luxation)0.15% vs 1.04%0.15×
Aggression was tested and was not more common in Staffies than in other dogs (odds ratio 1.09, not statistically significant).
“there is no evidence that Staffordshire Bull Terriers have higher overall health problems than non-Staffordshire Bull Terriers.”— the authors, Pegram et al. 2020, Canine Medicine and Genetics 7:13
Health tests to ask the breeder for
Staffordshire Bull Terrier Club of America sets the tests a Staffordshire Bull Terrier needs for a CHIC number in the OFA's open database. A CHIC number means the tests were done and the results are public. It does not mean the dog passed them: ask for the results for both parents, or look them up yourself on ofa.org.
- Hip Dysplasia (OFA Evaluation or PennHIP Evaluation)
- Elbow Dysplasia (OFA Evaluation)
- Eye Examination by a boarded ACVO Ophthalmologist (minimum age 1 year; results registered with OFA or CERF)
- L-2-Hydroxyglutaric Aciduria (L-2-HGA) DNA test
- Hereditary (Juvenile) Cataracts (HC/HSF4) DNA test
When to spay or neuter: the guidelines split at 45 pounds grown, five to six months under it and after growth is complete over it, and the UC Davis study gives a guideline by breed for 35 breeds. The spay and neuter page has both, and the two weeks after.
- Patellar Luxation (OFA Evaluation)
- Congenital Cardiac Database (OFA Evaluation)
Test names as the club lists them; checked September 2026. OFA CHIC breed page. How to use this at the breeder: check a breeder.
Adopt a Staffordshire Bull Terrier near you
Shelters and rescues list Staffordshire Bull Terriers and Staffordshire Bull Terrier mixes on Petfinder. Enter a ZIP code to see who is waiting within 100 miles.
Listings come from Petfinder and open there. Petipedia does not take part in adoptions and earns nothing from them.
Living with a Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Staffords are muscular, high-energy dogs that want to be close to their people and can be genuinely wonderful with children they're raised with, but that same strength and enthusiasm means an under-exercised or under-socialized Stafford is a lot of dog to handle — daily vigorous exercise and early socialization matter more here than with a lower-drive breed. Because of the breed's appearance and its association with bully-type breeds, owners in some US cities and with some landlords or insurers may face restrictions unrelated to their particular dog's temperament.
Health you should know about
- Hereditary cataracts — the breed is among those most commonly affected; eye and DNA testing are recommended before breeding.
- L-2-hydroxyglutaric aciduria (L-2-HGA) — an inherited metabolic/neurological disorder causing seizures and movement problems; a DNA test identifies carriers.
- Cerebellar ataxia and related neurological disorders — including Chiari-like malformation and myotonia congenita, both documented in the breed.
- Juvenile demodectic mange — one UK study found it in roughly 2% of Staffords under two years old, versus well under 1% in dogs generally.
Read the full Dog Care Guide first — costs, daily time, and everything a dog needs before you choose a breed.
Naming a Staffordshire Bull Terrier? British dog and cat names, 89 of them, with what they mean.
Sources — 3 references
Last reviewed October 2026. 3 sources listed below. Written and maintained by Petdeals.io. General care information, not veterinary advice — for a sick animal, call a vet.