Breeds

Notes on specific breeds — temperament, energy, the things breed clubs leave out. Written from the inside where we can.

Every breed comes with a brochure. These notes are the parts that don't make the brochure: what changes at eighteen months, what nobody tells you about energy patterns, what a long evening with one really looks like.

What should I know about Staffordshire Bull Terriers?

Staffies are compact, muscular dogs with surprising warmth — they bond hard, they like people, they're not the fight-machines the tabloids made them out to be. Expect high energy until about eighteen months, then a gradual settle. Plan for daily exercise, early socialisation, and a household that's okay with being followed everywhere.