According to the Kennel Club breed standard, a Staffordshire Bull Terrier’s nose must always be black. The teeth meet in a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite. A scissor bite means the upper teeth overlap lower teeth and are set square to the jaws.
Small in stature, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier packs a powerful punch and is a very agile dog. The large skull and powerful jaw give this animal a commanding presence.
The Staffies muzzle is relatively short, with pronounced cheek muscles and a distinct stop. Even though the large, round eyes are usually dark, they can be somewhat lighter depending on the coat colour.
NOTE: This page may contain affiliate links, which means Staffy Dog may receive a small commission for anything purchase via these links, at no cost to you. This keeps our tails wagging.
Half-pricked or rose-shaped ears are possible. A short, muscular neck widening at the shoulders and leading to a deep chest and a level topline is all characteristic of the Staffy.
A Staffy’s tail is medium length, has a modest rise, tapers to a point, and the dog carries it low. The tail shouldn’t curl much.
The dog’s coat length is short, smooth, and flat against the body with colours of red, fawn, white, black, and blue hues, among others. Solid white or a combination of the two is possible. A brindle or brindle-and-white Staffordshire is also a possibility. Although they should never be black and tan or liver coloured.
What Is Meant by “Blue” or “Red” Nose Staffy?
It’s common to see a liver-coloured Staffy sporting a red nose. However, the dog’s colour and nose are not acceptable to the Kennel Club because it hints at a cross with another breed somewhere in the dog’s history.
Typically, a liver-coloured Staffy will always have a red (brown) nose. A blue Staffy will have a grey (commonly called blue) nose. If you see another coloured Staffy with a red nose, it usually means there’s a cross somewhere in the dog’s history.
What Is a Blue Nose Staffy?
Because of the blue tinge to the Staffy’s coat, people call the dog a Blue Staffy. In some cases, Staffies are born with a grey-blue coat due to a recessive gene that solely affects coat colour. The gene has zero effect on a puppy’s behaviour or temperament.
The litter’s parents must have the recessive gene to produce blue puppies. In addition to the blue tinge on the coat, the dog’s nose will be grey. However, most people prefer to call the dog’s nose blue. In reality, any so-called “blue” dog is closer to grey than blue. But I guess blue sounds much more attractive and unusual than a common or garden grey.
What Is a Red Nose Staffy?
As discussed, a red nose Staffy is typically a liver-coloured Staffy with a red nose. Still, this colour combination is not acceptable to the Kennel Club. If the dog’s coat is another colour and it has a red nose, then the odds are it’s a cross with another dog breed. Many of these dogs are sold as purebred Staffies. But unless the owner has Kennel Club papers, then the reality is the dog will be a cross.
Frequently, Staffies are crossed with Labradors, Dogue de Bordeaux or other breeds with red noses. Pit Bulls have a red nose. However, it’s unlikely to be crossed with a Pit Bull, especially as they are banned in the UK.
Why Do Staffies Have Different Nose Colours?
Staffies can have different nose colours because of skin pigmentation and the colour of their coat. For example, the liver-coloured Staffy has a red nose, and the blue Staffy has a grey (commonly called blue) nose.
To reiterate, the UK Kennel Club’s Staffordshire Bull Terrier breed standard expects the dog to have a black nose.
