I am new to this site and I may be covering some ground that has already been covered recently and I apologise but I have a few questions if you would be so kind to help. My partner is a big staff fan and we have a young daughter so we are looking for a suitable family dog. I am not the greatest staffie fan in truth but I have seen photos of some 'blue staffs' and think they look quite smart. They don't look as stuppy in the leg and seem tidier in the nose/mouth and I do like the colour. What I don't understand is the difference between the Irish and English staff? Is it probably an Irish staff I have seen? And if so are the differences due to them being cross breeded with a pitbull? I don't wish to stereotype or stigmatise the pitbull but they do have a reputation and we do have a young daughter!! Also why are the Irish ones not KC registered? Is it because they are Irish?
Basically, previously I have not been too concerned about KC registered or Pedigree as it is a family pet and not for show though I would be concerned if we got a blue staff and one of its parents was a pitbull. Are we approaching this in the wrong manner? Also are there any registered breeders of blue staffs? All comments welcome though I have tried to investigate thoroughly but have struggled to find decent info online so criticism would be a little unfair!! Many thanks

hiya i own a staffy and have 3 children and two other dogs my staff is brill with them as for an irish staff as far as iam aware you cant get them in this country anymore correct me if iam wrong  a blue staff is a lovely looking staff but they are quiet sought after therfore you could be looking at 500 plus for a kc one and just becouse there blue doesnt mean they will have a sound teprement there are a couple of web sites dedicated to staffys type staffordshire bull terriers on jeeves and they will connect with a few. my staffy isnt kc but full pedigree she is a brilliant dog she is 2 yrs old and loves the kids and my young nephews my advice research the breed and look at the backgrounds when you go looking for a staffy pup if you decide to get one good luck

This is a good website to check out:
http://www.staffords.co.uk/breedcouncil/

good choice of dog :-)
If you want some links to ISBT sites PM me :-)

saffie said "as for an irish staff as far as iam aware you cant get them in this country anymore correct me if iam wrong  "

You are wrong saffie :-)
there are hundreds of irish staffies in the UK, they are a very popular type of dog. They are also a breed with a lot of misconceptions and misinformation attacthed :-(

I would just like to say Mark please beware that MANY people will try passing off poorly bred staffys or cross bred staffys as Irish...so please be VERY careful
Archer

Especially as there doesn't appear to a consensus of opinion of what they're actually meant to look like.

cos looks don't matter JG!

Unless you select a breed because, among other things, you like the look of them ... :(

Funny that isn't it JG....people are interested in the Irish staff becasue of its looks and then we've been told that they're not bred for looks but for 'ability' and thats why none look alike? Why can't you do both I wonder? ....seems many other breeds can!!!!

I wonder if that's because they have standards to aspire to, Archer?
:)

the difference between the two is the height an irish is taller and slighter build and they are available in this country

Hi,

I have two Blue Irish Staffies, i would give you the website address but i think i will get banner so send me a private message. My site has lots of pics of blue staffies.

We breed a litter about 4 months ago, and had 4 blues and 2 whites with blue spots.

All very nice dogs, and very good with kids and even babies. They have never even growled at a human.

All the best.

There are lots of people out there who pass crossbreeds as Irish but there are lots of bad breeders out there who pass of crossbreeds just as Staffords too, I am sure this exists in other breeds too.  There was a time when many unscrupulous breeders used the term Irish to sell APBTs but this phase seems to have passed and they seem to be using the term AmStaff instead. 

Generally the Irish bred dogs are seen as taller and more athletic, but I would just go for the reasoning that really they tend to be more athletic in looks coming from working stock you find that they are built more for speed, stamina and power with leaner bodies and longer muzzles with less wide heads and more obvious musculature from rigorous exercise, they are in many cases representative of Staffords which were around at the turn of last century in general this is the aim of most people within the breed, not to create a different breed altogether but to revert back to the way the dog once was and to give potential owners the choice of varying types within the one breed.  It should be pointed out here that there is no breed called the Irish Stafford there are strains of Stafford that come from Irish stock hence the term Irish bred Stafford or Irish strain SBTs but many people make the mistake of putting the two dogs in two different categories.  There are a few lines that run taller than others but in general they are usually only a couple of inches taller than the current UK SBT standard the main difference is the weight ratios which were not amended when the standard height was brought down by 2". 

As with any dog do your research and learn about the various lines, well known breeders, health issues within the breed what type you like what lines you prefer and most of all don't rush.  There are just as many bad breeders or Irish dogs as there are any other type of dog.  If you have the right knowledge you should have no problems in finding a well bred Stafford from Irish lines, also there are many KC lines which run slightly taller and are known to be more athletic than some, Yankeestaff is just one name that springs to mind there are many more.  The best you can do is gain as much knowledge as you can and hopefully by the time you come to look at some dogs you will be familiar with the various lines and pedigrees and you will be able to make a better informed decision on whatever dog you choose.

Please note there is no such breed as Irish Blue or Blue Irish SBTs as some people have come to think in recent times the colouring is merely a diution of black and is very common within a certain strain of SBTs namely the Kaos Kennel (KK) dogs bred down from Psycho bloodlines.  If you do decide on an Irish bred SBT please also be aware that there is an inclination for many breeders to charge extortionate amounts for colours that are seen to be "rare" i.e. blue indicating you are getting something special for your money.  Please do not be fooled into this current craze, a blue stafford is worth no more or less than a white, black, red or brindle Stafford.  A litter of blues costs the same to whelp & raise as a litter of any other colouring.  Moreover, I would say a reasonable price limit for a stafford would be £400 usually the norm between £300 and £400 the tendency to overcharge for the blue colour is crazy if you look hard enough you will find good breeders who charge reasonable prices whatever the dogs colouring as they are interested merely in the breed rather than lining their pockets.

From the ads I've seen the price for a KC SBT pup has risen over the last couple of years, the norm seems to be £450-£600 now. And some people ask ridiculous money for a blue - over a thousand!
Staffs are great though I have never had a problem with mine and I have three children and numerous other pets......

Blue are more expensive, why? well its a simple case of supply and demand. There are a lot of people after a good quality blue staff, and very few around.

Are you joking Jo Palling - blue is uncommon lmfao - please tell me your kidding right?  Look back through history lots of blue dogs have always been present in the Irish bred dogs and quite predominant too never rare.  No I take it your one of those who sells "Rare" blue Staffords for lots of £££££.

I can tell you this they are not rare moreso today than ever, if you look through most free papers and online e & m there are hundreds of adverts for "rare" blue staffords that has always made me laugh if they are so rare why are there so many people breeding & selling them.  If a breeder really cares what they are producing money should be little importance whether it's a case of supply & demand or not.  Any responsible breeder dedicated to the breed would never breed for Supply & Demand reasons.  It may be about supply & demand to you but if that is the case that is rather sad supply & demand is not an excuse for charging extortionate prices to unbeknown buyers.  That is just a poor excuse to hide the fact that at the end of the day they are selling dogs for ridiculous prices where the only factor can be to line their own wallets.  If it wasn't they would be selling for reasonable & average Stafford prices (£300-£400) regardless of colour.  Most of the best breeders I know do not care what colour the pups are they all go for the same price regardless.  I also believe that this current hype is just bad for the breed, more & more I am seeing poorly bred specimens bred simply for colour or because they are athletic pets when the true essence of the breed is being lost. 

FACT.  Blue is just a colour and a dilution of black, a blue dog is no better or worse than any other colour therefore should not cost a penny more.  Your more likely to find more blue dogs than you would white but you don't see adverts for rare white staffords....your right supply & demand is a factor but imo it boils down to greedy breeders taking advantage of people who don't know any better.

When somebody looks for a dog colour should be the last thing on the list, when somebody considers breeding colour should be the last thing on the list.

Give me a good healthy, athletic Stafford any day I couldn't give a hoot what colour it is, sad that people do though I guess that will never change.

Ahh Illeach,

You sound a little jealous, i guess you haven't got a blue dog then!

FACT: there are less blues around than say black or brindle dogs, you simply can't argue with that. If you search for puppies on say findit or admart you will find blues but you will definately find a lot more of other colours

Almost every time i take my dogs out people stop in the street and say what beautiful dogs i have and what lovely colours they are. I have people stop me and force me to take their telephone numbers, just in case i breed again. Personally i think blues are better looking, and i personally would pay more for one. As i said supply and demend if was sets the price. I complete agree that prices over £700 are way over the top, but becuase they are lot of people after blues and less around they do demand a premium price of around £500-£600. That is not too much for a beautiful healthy dog of the colour you want.

But IMO, only asking more if they are good quality blues of a type that will do well in the ring - which a lot of blues are not :-(

I would (& did) pay more for a good quality blue kc reg staffie but I would not pay more for one with pale eyes etc.

There was a litter of blue staffie pups in my paper this week £800.00 each!!!  Not KC registed.
I went to see them, because I like going to look at staffie puppies :-), & they were an awfull colour & type - there eyes were allmost amber! (Still cute puppies though & well looked after)

The owners tried to tell me KC papers were not impotant as long as I had the pedigree as I could register them with the KC myself???!!! -  how many people will they con into beleving this?

the people who stop you in the street are not students of the breed, ability to do what the dogs are intended is THE most important factor, FACT! colour is down to personal taste but temprement and type should never be comprimised, people who want blues are new to the breed, i would pay for quality pedigree rather than colour anyday. blue is by far the most common by me! i had a black and white dog and a blue/brindle and white bitch!

you cant go wrong with a staff, i have 3 kids and she is brilliant with them, pm me and ill send you a good site on first time stafford owners, read up as much as you can before you make your decision.

I have two staffords and 4 children and they are very good with them but they are older children. Staffs are good with children but they are very lively dogs and when pups even more so. I would be very careful with small children as they can so easily be knocked flying by an over enthusiastic staff. 

Staffs are like most other breeds...if purchased from a good breeder and raised correctly they make wonderful pets.If raised poorly or bred from aggressive parents then ,as with any dog, they can be a liabilty.
Archer