Hi, I’m Robert, the creator of TheStaffyClub.com. My partner and I have been fortunate enough to share years of our lives with Staffordshire Bull Terriers – raising them from playful pups to wise seniors training the pups, and heartbreakingly, saying goodbye – once to the son of our senior boy Flash, and then, sadly, to Flash himself. Beyond our own dogs, our family and friends have also loved and lost Staffies, giving us a deep, firsthand understanding of the joys, challenges, and heartache that come with this incredible breed.
Animals have always been a big part of our lives. I grew up with cats, while my partner once had a pet rat—a white one named Snowbell. Over the years, we’ve had experiences with a variety of dogs, from Labradors and German Shepherds to a Shih Tzu, Jack Russell, and Border Collies. But the one breed we’re both in awe of is the Staffordshire Bull Terrier.
Flash, our senior, was my first experience with the breed. He was studded years ago, and we were offered pick of the litter. Tizer (who became known as Chunk because of his muscular build) was raised alongside Flash, so we had the father and son for a while. Sadly, Chunk passed away at just three years old due to uncontrollable seizures, which were later believed to have been caused by a brain tumour. This issue ran in the litter.
Fast forward to 2021, and we planned to begin anew by studding Flash with another pedigree Staffy. Unfortunately, due to Flash’s age and the deterioration of his hind legs, that never happened. What did happen is the lady who was mating her Staffy with Flash got in contact with us to offer first dibs on the newborn litter hers had to another pedigree SBT.
Out of the five available, the all-white boy was the one that clicked with us.
This was Codi’s first photo.
When we got Codi, a close relative took his brother.
The two pups were together more than they were apart, eventually becoming inseparable to the point where Reo would become completely miserable if they were separated (Separation Anxiety). We all agreed it was best to keep them together. For a couple of years, we had a pack of 3 Staffies – Flash, Codi, and Reo. Now, our pack’s the two siblings – Codi and Reo. And, yes, they are brothers, and they do get on. No squabbling.
Since we got them, there are always new things to learn, like how to stop a Staffy from destroying their bedding, chewing skirting boards, digging the garden, eating poo, jumping, whining, and so on.
Searching for information about teething tips, longer-lasting toys, chews, training treats, exercising, etc. – tons of stuff is available for general terrier breeds, but there’s a lack of resources for Staffy parents to get the low-down on what works and what doesn’t with Staffordshire Bull Terriers.
The aim of TheStaffyClub.com is to build a resource for all Staffy parents to learn about raising the breed to be the ‘Nanny’ type of dog they are known to be with the right upbringing.
Additionally, to raise support for Staffordshire Bull Terriers to remain family pets.
A strong goal of The Staffy Club is to advocate on behalf of Staffies, giving them a voice when they need it most.
In recent times (2023), the media has been highlighting the misbehaviour of bull breed dogs, particularly the XL bully, which, coincidentally, is not a breed at all. It’s a mixed breed of two different bull terriers.
Nonetheless, I see it firsthand when I walk our Staffies. Some people are petrified of them, even without them showing any signs of aggression. People just look and instantly judge them to be vicious-looking dogs. It’s because they’re muscular. Nothing more.
Don’t get me wrong – I completely agree that any dog can cause harm, and bully breeds, with their strong physiques, can do significantly more damage than a small, yappy dog.
However, it’s up to the owners to avoid putting them in situations where they feel afraid, nervous, or anxious, causing them to act out of character. You hear it time and again…
“Oh, I don’t know what came over him/her, he/she’s never done that before.”
That’s for all owners, regardless of breed. I’ve had a Jack Russell charge our three while the owner was texting. A pack of five Labs that escaped from a garden tried to get to Flash (our senior Staffy). On that occasion, we needed to pick him up to raise him high enough that they couldn’t reach him.
The Staffy Club aims to provide the resources to raise a bully breed that can be trusted around people and other animals – without being responsive to others, but only their commands. A Staffy that, when s/he’s around people, won’t jump on every single person that comes through your door, bark when the post arrives, or howl the instant you leave them in a room.
If you have a question about your Staffy, or perhaps are researching the breed while considering pet adoption or fostering and would like to ask a Staffy owner, I can be contacted by email at hello@thestaffyclub.com.