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A mix between a Chihuahua and a Staffordshire Bull Terrier, the Chi Staffy Bull is an interesting breed that can display a wide array of traits. In any case, you’re bound to get an intelligent dog that’s challenging to train. If you can master the training early, however, the rewards are immense.
Breed Overview
Height:
9–11 inches
Weight:
10–20 pounds
Lifespan:
10–15 years
Colors:
Blue, brown, silver, black, white, and red
Suitable for:
Families, apartment living, single-pet homes, and multi-pet homes
Temperament:
Smart, friendly, affectionate, stubborn, and loyal
But why are so many people willing to put up with this dog’s initially stubborn behavior, and why are they an increasingly popular crossbreed? We break that down here before diving into everything else that you need to know to care for these lovable dogs.
Chi Staffy Bull Characteristics
Chi Staffy Bull Puppies
There’s no doubt that most Chi Staffy Bull puppies are more on the stubborn side of things. Since both parent breeds have a stubborn streak, it doesn’t matter who they take after more.
However, both Chihuahuas and Staffordshire Bull Terriers are loving and playful, so their offspring is a high-energy breed that is a joy to play with. They also get along great with kids and other pets, making them one of the more sociable dog breeds out there.
As smaller dogs, they do have a slightly shorter lifespan, and there are a few potential health concerns that you need to keep an eye out for.
Temperament & Intelligence of the Chi Staffy Bull 🧠
Don’t let the Chi Staffy Bull’s stubbornness fool you; this is an extremely intelligent breed. That means with persistence and consistency, you can train these pups, but it’s going to take an experienced hand.
Still, these dogs are incredibly loyal, energetic, fun, loving, friendly, and affectionate, so it’s not hard to see why they’re so popular! They’re great whether they’re a single pet or if you’re introducing them to other furry friends.
Just keep in mind that early socialization is critical for dogs, so don’t expect that an older Chi Staffy Bull will get along with other pets if they’ve never been around them.
Are These Dogs Good for Families? 👪
There are few pets more suitable for families than a Chi Staffy Bull. Not only are they extremely affectionate toward everyone in the family, but you can also find them at the perfect size for smaller kids.
They can be large enough to avoid getting hurt by stumbling children, but small enough that they won’t accidentally trample small kids either! In short, whether you have small or big kids, a Chi Staffy Bull is a great fit!
Does This Breed Get Along with Other Pets? 🐶 😽
For the most part, a Chi Staffy Bull is great with other pets. That doesn’t mean you can skip early socialization, but it means that socialization is almost always successful.
So, if you’re adopting a Chi Staffy Bull puppy and already have other pets in the home, you shouldn’t have any problems. Chi Staffy Bulls are among the most social dogs on the planet, but they can get a little protective of their family, so if they feel threatened by a new pet, it can lead to problems.
Things to Know When Owning a Chi Staffy Bull
Before you head out and adopt a Chi Staffy Bull, it’s best to know exactly what you’re getting into. We created this guide to walk you through everything that you need to know if you just adopted a Chi Staffy Bull.
Food & Diet Requirements 🦴
The size of a Chi Staffy Bull can vary widely, and so can their food consumption. Depending on their size, you should need to feed your Chi Staffy Bull between 1.5 and 3 cups of food per day. Stick with high-quality dry dog food that meets all their nutritional needs.
You can add treats in occasionally too; just be sure not to overdo it, so your puppy stays a healthy weight.
Exercise 🐕
The Chi Staffy Bull requires a decent amount of activity to stay healthy. We recommend between 5 and 9 miles of walking per week and at least 30 minutes per day.
It depends on how active they are at the house, especially if there are other pets in the home, but if you don’t get them out enough, you’ll notice destructive boredom behaviors. Not enough exercise for a longer period can also start to lead to health concerns.
Training 🎾
The Chi Staffy Bull is a moderate to extremely stubborn dog, and this can make them challenging to train. However, since they’re intelligent, it’s not impossible. Persistence and consistency are key, as is using positive motivation to encourage your dog.
If it becomes a battle of wills, it’s only going to get more difficult for you, so it’s best to get your dog to want to listen when you’re telling them to do something. If you can’t train your dog yourself, you might need to invest in a trainer.
Grooming ✂️
Since a Chi Staffy Bull can have a short, medium, or long coat, the grooming standards on these pups can change quite a bit. You need to brush out medium and long-coat dogs several times a week; the longer the coat, the more that you need to brush them.
No matter their coat, you need to invest in top-notch shampoos for them in the bath, and you need to brush their teeth a few times a week for good oral hygiene.
Health and Conditions 🏥
While mixed-breed puppies tend to have fewer health concerns than purebreds, that doesn’t seem to be the case with the Chi Staffy Bull. They’re not overly unhealthy dogs, but they can inherit a litany of health problems from both their parent breeds.
You can prevent many of these problems with proper diet and exercise, but other problems are genetic, so you need to keep a close watch on them and consult a vet as soon as possible if you notice symptoms.
- Eye problems
- Skin allergies
- Obesity
- Collapsed trachea
- Heart problems
- Patellar luxation
- Hypoglycemia
- Hydrocephalus
Male vs. Female
There aren’t too many differences between a male and a female Chi Staffy Bull. While males can be a bit larger, it depends more on what they inherit from each parent. The more they get from the Chihuahua, the smaller they’ll be.
Males tend to need a little more attention, while females can be a bit more independent. This is true for most dog breeds, but it holds for the Chi Staffy Bull, too.
3 Little-Known Facts About the Chi Staffy Bull
1. Chi Staffy Bulls can either have a short, medium, or long coat
Depending on which parent the Chi Staffy Bull takes after, they can have a different coat. This gives these dogs a wide range of appearances. Just be aware that as the length of the coat grows, so does the amount of grooming that they need.
2. Chi Staffy Bulls make outstanding watchdogs
Chihuahuas are known for barking at every little noise, and if your Chi Staffy Bull inherits that trait, they’ll be yapping at their own shadow until you train them. While that can be a bit annoying, it does make an excellent trait for a watchdog.
However, keep in mind that this can quickly turn into protection behavior, which means they might nip at strangers if they feel threatened, so you need to train this out of them as soon as possible.
3. No one knows when humans bred the first Chi Staffy Bull
While European explorers first discovered the Chihuahua in the mid-19th century, no one knows when they introduced them and bred them with the Staffordshire Bull Terrier. One thing is for sure, though, we’re glad they did!
Final Thoughts
While the Chi Staffy Bull might be a little stubborn, they’re so cute, lovable, affectionate, and social that they more than makeup for that stubborn streak. Just be sure to know what you’re getting yourself into because training a Chi Staffy Bull isn’t for the faint of heart.
Still, they’re great for families of all sizes, those in small living spaces, and even those with other pets—there’s no family that they don’t fit right into!
See Also:
- Jack A Bee (Jack Russell Terrier and Beagle Mix)
- Jack Rat Terrier (Jack Russell Terrier & Rat Terrier Mix)
Featured Image Credit: Pixabay