~I am looking for a miniature bred staffie. I no they exist because I have now come across 2. They are absolutely gorgeous,and known as short legged, "sheltie" or miniature. if anyone has any knowledge of breeders of these smaller types, or any breeders with pups who may see this, could they please e mail me at micky@ourset.fsnet.co.uk. Many thanks.

Ive never heard of this. Maybe someone can enlighten me.

Mick

Maybe a Boston????:D

May be just suffering from dwarfism, after all Staffies don’t have long legs anyway.

Hi

I have 2 staffy's 1 boy and 1 girl my boy is a lot shorter than my girl and the vet has said that he is short legged staff, my girl is the normal height and stand's about 1 or 2 inches taller.

So I think there are short legged staffy's but I have never heard of a breeder that breeds short legged I think its just like us some are taller, shorter, because my both my dogs parents were of normal height, but he is within the breed standard for his height according to the information off the webs sites and KC by they way is KC registered.

Niki

Staffs are staffs - no short legged or miniture varieties. Some are shorter in the leg than other lines (see midlands breeding) but something that most people dont realise is that staffs should stand between 14-16 inches. This irratates me so much! I used to live in london and have a bang on standard bitcxh who stands 15 inches high - so many people used to t"tell" me she was a miniture, drove me crazy!! ;) YOu have so many over standard dogs around that people thingk that 17 inches or so is the norm IT IS NOT!!!!

Alex

As Chloe has mentioned there is no officially recognised "Miniature" Staffordshire .
Staffordshire breeding tends to lean between two types which is "Bull" type or "Terrier "type . Terier are more lean and leggy while the bull breeds can apear smaller with regard to leg height but they are still stocky powerful dogs and are not miniature in any way .
Unless you have seen crossbreeding with the dogs you have seen you will not get a purebred KC registered miniature Staffy . Unless you are getting confused with Miniature Bull Terrier ? Although to be fair these dont look like Staffys but thats all I can think of with regard to anything remotely similar ?
Lel

Hi, I've got to agree with Cleopatra, I like Staffords no more than 16 inchs tall.
However I do think there are alot of Staffords being bred now that are to small. Bitches that are to small & short in the back are not going to make good breeding bitches. I have 1 dog who stands at 16inches & 2 bitches that both stand at 15 1/2 inches & are both long in the back.
I think the poster has just seen Staffords that are little.
Trace.

Maybe-
there seems to be a craze at the moment for GIANT monster Staffs so I suppose if the poster has seen smaller Standards it could look miniature I suppose.
But didnt he/she say he was told they were Miniature by the owner???
When I mention the Giant staffys currently around I am not referring to the show world . Unfortunately it seems to be rather fahionable in this neck of the woods to have a Bully monster on the end of your arm - one of my many bug bears I'm afraid!!!!

HI Lel,
MAny owners also dont knwo - and i not sure if you have notied, there are far far too many novice breeders out there, who just want one litter from their bitch cos she's lpvely and all my firneds want one - so they dont know either. I was approached in a park once by a bloke with a 9 month old staff that sttod at least 17 inches already, and was confidently told that we had different varieties of stafford! Now, correct me if i am wrong - there are different types, but no different "varieties".

Sorr if it seems i am goign off on one - it is my BIGGEST bug bear that peaople keep telling me (like i dont know my own breed - including the vets receptionist! Arrrggghhh) that my dogs are a bit on the small side for a staff! NOw, Solo is topping 16 inches and i am praying he dpesn't get any taller, and people are tellinmg me they are on the small side...

The show world seems to be bucking the outside trend in that they are goign for bulkier, shorter legged dogs (though i have a theaory that they are not actually any shorter int eh leg, its just the spring of their ribs + the chest drop that make them look smaller. Solo looks so tall when in the ring with them, but when up close he only around 1/2 inch in height bugger).

Biggest complaint though with all staffords is that people do not seem to realise that they are supposed to be athletic dogs, not big barrelling lumps that waddle when they trot! And show people are especially guilty of this!! Again i dont think that dogs are getting shorter and broader they are just not kept as fit as they should be. Cleo is full on Midlands breeding (Bowtans x Valglo - going back to Constaones yoer man adn rogue saga respectively...) and appears much shorter than she actually is as she has just depth of chest that her legs look a bit stunted, and is broad yes. BUt aalso extremely athletic beccasue of her fitness levels. Her mum (valglo) and all the way up that line couldn't walk more than a mile without panting - so fitness, not breeding or shortness of muzzle (though i have a problem with the piggydogs that are in vogue at the moment) or width of head. And it also annoys me that we talk about 2 types of stafford = the bully type ofr the terrier type - a stafford should be neither of these types as then he is no longer a staffordshire bull terrier; ie a true stafford should be an equal mixture of both of these, hence any particular type should be considere a fault.

I think it was Staffie that asked me a while back who my ideal stafford is (sorry cant find the original thread - and desperately trying to get everything into this one :p) - and thought long and hard on this one. DOnt think the ideal stafford has yet been bred, else what would be the point. BUt 2 that i really like and think have made a massive contibution to the breeding world would be Eastaff Guardian - love the head! And another would be lesser known Fromestaff The Jester, for the same reason.

God, i've gone on a bit now haven't i! :D Sorry, and hope that at least a smal proportion of it made sence!

Alex

Sorry, I can feel a RANT coming....but, I will admit to being a natural cynic, I just get soooo peeved (very polite) when people post asking what is the earliest/best/age to breed/stud their Stafford for whatever lame reasons... she is so good with kids... people said he is the best looking... they should have a go before they are done!!!! Money,money and money :( IMHO most replys are too trusting....Thats one can of worms opened :)

I do think too many exaggerations in the modern show Staff has ruined its health/athleticism? Thats not fighting from any one corner, my three are a mixed bag... I have just measured the three of them... mum is bang on 15 and half inches and 39lbs (overweight) no exaggerations just a nice little bitch... we where showing her at the time and decided to go with the trend for heavier dogs :( and put her to Kablice Midnight Caller we ended up wide of the mark :) with Tilly 16 inches and 36lbs and longer muzzle, Queenie was from a mating to grand sire Rellim Black Ace we ended up even further away at 14 and half inches and 26lbs (very fit) :) Nice to know the genes are still there to change track :) ooops... can of worms territory.

There have always been leggy Staffs around, but with the latest trend now for Irish Staffs, I'm sure the majority of people buying them would not have a clue about SBT breed standards, it looks like a Staff, it costs the same as a Staff, therefore it is a Staff. Its not. Breed standard can of worms is staying firmly shut :rolleyes:

My personal preference of my own bitches is Tilly a leggy sixteen inches and 36lbs, her balance in my eyes is spot on. I had a photo of "Manny" Constones Yer Man given to me, and I think he is the classic modern day Bull and Terrier mix. I would say Tilly is big for a bitch but people still question if they are Staffs, not because they are athletic in appearence but because they are not 19 inches plus and heads like Mastiff's. My ex bosses dog is a 18 months old, a Piebald Irish Staff standing at 21 inches, with a head like a bull. Never did manage to find out his weight, never fancied trying to pick him up (dog not boss) Now he is big even for an "Irish" but for people around here they are becoming the norm, the danger of that is obvious, I am not convinced by the breeders/lines and can see trouble ahead, loads of bad press. :( All labelled as Staffs...sound familiar? No coincidence the show scene likes shorter heavier dogs, made it easier to shout "it's NOT a Pitbull! Will that happen with the Irish strains, they are sooo similar it would make the waters even muddier ( or should that be bloodier) :(

Chloe,
<<<<Biggest complaint though with all staffords is that people do not seem to realise that they are supposed to be athletic dogs, not big barrelling lumps that waddle>>>>>

Exactly - since they were originally bred for baiting and fighting how the hell would these bulky beasts ever win and survive ??

Its hard to get to the truth of the TRUE Stafford as even in the Show world the judges seem to be divided over whether they should be lean or bulky . Sometimes the class winner is way out of the Standard !!!
Lel

Hi Folks

Just to say that my Isbts are now standing at Male 21 inches and 45lbs and the female is about 19 inches and 37lb. For the people who say that this is nearer a pit bull they are wrong. My APBT was female 27 inches 68lb. There are some people breeding dubious ISBTs that I would say are nearer pit bull sizes. This is what is causing the mix up between these two breeds. True ISBTs are not massive or heavy. They are just taller and the head is about the same as a staff only the muzzle is a bit longer.
Its the usual story of dodgy people breeding dodgy dogs for aggression muscles and money that are causing problems for all these breeds

Regards Mick

Hi,
Just to compare with Mr Murphy's ISBT's & my SBT's. My male is 16 inches & 40lb & my females are both 15 1/2 inches & 38lb's. So it just goes to show they are totally different.
Trace.

Hi Trace

The idea of the ISBT is suposed to be to have a dog that would be similar to the more athletic bull & terriers of old, instead of the modern show type.
The ISBT is about half way in size and weight between an APBT and a Uk Staffy. Any bigger is in my opinion not a good example of the breed.
My dogs are not much heavier than uk staffs. They are taller but much leaner and less bulk. Much more like a fox hound in shape/stature.

Mick

If I can also add Mick, they are just as soppy as the average Staff if my friends ISBT dog is anything to go by Saturday afternoon Sal (8 month ols Staffie) and Reg (6 year old ISBT) were both happily asleep on the hammock swinging happily pushed occasionally by my 3 year old nephew with whom Sal plans surprise attacks on the fridge/freezer for ice cream/lollies whenever he vists.


Reg is one of the nicest dogs I've ever meet. Oh he was named for Reggie Perrin as they lived by the sea when they got him and he was forever wadding out.

Karen

Yep my two are among the softest dogs I have known. My cats bully them and steal thier food. The only thing I have found is Murphy tends to be quick to fight with any dog that dares to show aggression. I put this down to being attacked as a pup. He doesnt fight with friendly dogs.
mick

Just proves my point Bull breeds are sensible/sociable dogs when treated properly there again same could be said of humans too ;)

Although somedays when I'm sitting on the M6/5 carpark, I wonder who is getting the best deal out of life me (working all hours God sends) or the pup (who's usually asleep in the conservatory getting up occasionally and harrasing my parents to throw her ball/kong/anything then moving to the hammock for an afternoon nap in the sun) As I fight my way back through the traffic.

Hmmmmm................Have to work on that one I think....A dogs life......I wish

Karen