Do Staffordshire Bull Terriers Shed?

Staffordshire Bull Terriers are strong, agile bull-type terriers that were once used as fighting dogs, that is until blood sports were outlawed. Today, they’re best known as mild, friendly and loyal companions that are adored by families across the globe.

How much hair do the shed? Staffordshire Bull Terriers have short, smooth coats that don’t shed very much and that are very easy to maintain. That said, you may notice an uptick in molting once or twice a year, and SBTs aren’t the ideal breed for allergy sufferers.

Read on to learn more.

Staffordshire Bull Terrier Shedding

Staffordshire Bull Terriers are a moderate shedding breed.

Many people think that if a dog’s fur is short, they won’t shed much. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. Both short and longhaired dogs molt!

However, shorter fur does make the shedding a bit less noticeable. Especially if you were to compare the SBT with a dog like the Newfoundland, which has a thicker and longer coat. In this case, it’d be easy to think that the SBT was virtually non-shedding. Put them next to an Italian Greyhound though, and you’ll see that SBTs definitely do molt.

So they’re about average with respect to how much hair you’ll notice gathering around the home. Not as much as a heavy shedder, but more than a low shedder.

One caveat to this is that they are known to drop a bit more hair than normal once or twice a year, typically during fall and spring time. Most dogs do this, it’s simply their way of adapting to the changing seasons. So if you notice a sudden increase in molting, this may be why.

In some cases, however, heavier than normal molting can be the result of things like poor diet, stress, fleas or an underlying health issue. It can be difficult to tell if the shedding is a problem or just part of the normal hair growth cycle, but if do you have any concerns, it may be a good idea to contact a qualified veterinarian.

How do you stop the shedding?

You can’t stop dogs from shedding, it’s normal for them to drop at least some fur.

You can manage it though, and thankfully it’s not difficult. For the most part, managing the shedding comes down to ensuring your dog is healthy, that his diet is optimal and that you’re grooming him properly and consistently.

With respect to diet, there is no perfect dog food out there that will eliminate the shedding. But some dog foods are better than others. Look for dog foods that are made of high quality ingredients, contain all the essential nutrition your dog needs to be as healthy as possible, and preferably those that contain things like Omega-3 fatty acids which are known to help improve a dog’s skin and coat.

Related: Does Olive Oil Help Reduce Shedding?

Once you have that under control, it mostly comes down to grooming. So let’s take a closer look at what it takes to maintain your SBTs coat and keep as much fur out of your home as possible.

Grooming Your SBT

One of the great things about the Staffordshire Bull Terrier is that he has such a low-maintenance coat.

SBTs have a short, smooth coat that comes in a variety of colors and as with most smooth-coated breeds, brushing once or twice a week with a bristle brush or rubber hand mitt is normally enough to get the job done.

You may want to brush more often during shedding season, but they are low-fuss dogs so this is only really if you want to see less dog fur around the home.

The good thing about brushing regularly is that, not only can it help remove the dead fur before it drops off his coat, but it massages his skin and helps distribute the skin oils. Which in turn can actually help improve the condition of his coat and strengthen the hair follicles.

At the same time, it’s not a good idea to brush too often, especially not if you’re using something more harsh on the skin than a bristle or rubber brush, like a deshedding tool. Because over brushing may result in irritated skin, which can actually make the shedding worse and cause other problems.

Aside from brushing, bathing every now and then is a good way to maintain his coat and will typically remove a good amount of fur, especially when followed up with a thorough brushing session. It’s important not to use human shampoos as these can irritate and dry out the skin, which in turn can lead to excessive shedding.

For this reason, it’s generally best to stick with dog shampoos that contain as few chemicals as possible and that add moisture to his skin and hair, and to only bath when needed.

Bottom Line

Staffordshire Bull Terriers are strong, courageous dogs that are known for being gentle family companions. They do shed, but not very much, and they more than make up with this with their winning personality and easy-to-groom coat. As long as you can commit to brushing on a weekly basis, you shouldn’t notice too much fur flying around the home.

That said, those tiny little hairs do tend to needle their way into fabric and carpet more than longer hairs. So you may need to upgrade your vacuum cleaner, or get an attachment that is designed for picking up dog hair, if you want to save yourself some time.

Also, SBTs are not the ideal breed for allergy sufferers. There’s no such thing as a fully “hypoallergenic” dog breed, but some dogs are more suitable for people with pet allergies than others and the SBT isn’t at the top of that list. So if that’s a factor in your decision on whether or not to adopt, breeds like the Boston Terrier may be more suitable.

Either way, I hope you found this article helpful!