The seemingly magical coat colour of the Blue Staffordshire Bull Terrier is a wonder to behold. Fanciers unfamiliar with this breed might be puzzled by the absence of a blue hue in his fur.
We will clarify the confusion behind the Blue Staffy’s coat colour and also talk about the health concerns tied to it.
What Does a Blue Staffordshire Bull Terrier Look Like?
The Blue Staffie is a variation of the Staffordshire Bull Terrier Dog. He has the regular appearance of the breed but with a steel grey coat.
The blue in his name is attributed to the subtle blue tinge his fur gives off when light hits it in a certain way. Often, this may not be noticeable at first glance.
The Blue Staffordshire Bull Terrier’s colouration is a result of a coat colour dilution. His hair colour was originally black but faded to grey with subtle hints of blue.
The colour dilution also affects the eye colouration of the Blue Staffy. Instead of the typical dark brown eyes found in most Staffordshire Bull Terriers, Blue Staffies often exhibit light amber eyes.
Despite his different colouration, the Blue Staffy shares similar physical traits with other dogs in the breed. He has a bulky, muscular build and a broad, wedge-shaped head with noticeable cheek muscles.
He has a short neck, a black nose, and triangular ears. His limbs are well-muscled and powerful. His tail is medium in length and tapers at the end.
How Did the Blue Staffordshire Bull Terrier Acquire His Coat Colour?
The colouration of the Blue Staffordshire Bull Terrier boils down to genetics. A rare genetic mutation in the melanophilin (MLPH) gene is found to be the cause of his grey coat. According to scientists, the dilution gene is recessive. Thus, Staffies need two copies of it for them to be born with a blue colouration.
Dogs that carry a single copy of the mutated gene will not possess this unique coat colour. However, breeding them with canines that also have the dilution gene is likely to produce Blue Staffordshire Terrier puppies in the litter.
Take note that the Staffy’s original base coat colour must be black for the grey shade to be expressed. If he has a brown base coat, the dilution gene will turn it into a light greyish brown colour known as Isabella or Lilac.
Does the Dilution Gene Cause Health Problems in the Blue Staffordshire Bull Terrier?
In Blue Staffies, the dilution gene hinders the spreading of pigment-forming cells called melanocytes along their hair shaft.
As a result, these molecules end up abnormally clumping into each other, which leads to skin disorders like colour dilution alopecia (CDA). This condition causes thinning in areas of the coat affected by the dilution gene.
CDA can appear in affected Blue Staffordshire Terrier puppies as early as 3 to 12 months. Common symptoms of CDA include:
- Patches of hair loss
- Dull coat
- Dry hair
- Flaky and itchy skin
CDA is a dermatological issue that’s incurable. It will require life-long treatment to manage its symptoms. Treatment options may include dietary changes, antibiotic medications, nutrient supplementation, and topical remedies.
If not given appropriate and immediate medical care, affected Blue Staffordshire Terriers may develop other concerning diseases, such as secondary skin bacterial infections and skin cancer.
Is the Blue Staffordshire Bull Terrier Recognised by Major Kennel Clubs?
Despite the blue colouration’s association with skin disorders, it is a recognised coat colour in the Staffy dog breed by major kennel clubs, including the UK Kennel Club and American Kennel Club. According to the breed standards of both organisations, solid blue colouration and blue with white markings are acceptable in Staffies.
Since blue is not a fault in the breed, many dog enthusiasts are attracted to owning a Staffy with this distinctive colour.
Keep in mind that genetic testing for CDA in dogs does not exist as of yet. Thus, there is no way to tell if a Blue Staffy puppy may develop this disease.
Meticulous selective breeding helps eliminate CDA from breeding lines and increases the likelihood of producing a healthy litter of puppies. However, it does not completely guarantee that your chosen pup will remain free from this skin disorder.
If you are intent on owning a Blue Staffordshire Bull Terrier, be aware that he might exhibit CDA. So make sure to be financially prepared for the lifetime treatment it will require.
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How Much Brushing Does the Blue Staffordshire Bull Terrier Need?
The Blue Staffy has a single coat, resulting in less shedding compared to dogs with double coats. His short, sleek hair is low-maintenance and only needs brushing once a week.
The Blue Staffordshire Bull Terrier’s fur does not quickly accumulate grime. Bathing him once every three months will do unless he gets into situations that heavily dirty his coat.
Frequent washing should be avoided to prevent drying out his coat and making him susceptible to skin problems.
Although the Blue Staffy is a low-shedding dog, his coat is not considered hypoallergenic. Being around him may trigger allergic reactions in pawrents with dog allergies. For this reason, he is not the best fit for individuals suffering from this health condition.
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What Are Blue Staffordshire Bull Terriers Like as Family Pets?
While the dilution gene may affect the health of the Blue Staffy, it does not alter his personality. He will have the same disposition as other Staffy dogs. The Staffordshire Bull Terrier breed has a history of dog fighting. Fortunately, years of selective ethical breeding have successfully prevented aggression from becoming a persistent trait.
Blue Staffy dogs of this era are gentle canine companions with a high tolerance for children. However, although they have a calm demeanour, these canines will require early training and socialisation because of their protectiveness towards their family.
Early training and socialisation help shape them into watchful but non-reactive dogs with sharp instincts. They will be capable of quickly distinguishing people with bad intentions from those who do not pose a threat.
Due to the dog-fighting origins of the Blue Staffy, he might be domineering towards certain canines. If you are raising him in a multidog household, an early and gradual introduction must be made for him to be more welcoming of other furry pals.
The Blue Staffordshire Bull Terrier has a strong tenacity and high prey drive, which makes him potentially dangerous around smaller animals. If you have small pets, think twice before acquiring a Blue Staffy puppy.
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Is the Blue Staffordshire Bull Terrier Challenging to Train?
Terrier dog breeds like the Staffy are infamous for their wilfulness. This means training the Blue Staffordshire Bull Terrier will require plenty of time, effort, and patience.
Sometimes he will test your leadership by insisting on doing things his way. If you are not firm in establishing rules and boundaries, he will repeat these transgressions as much as he can get away with.
Prove to him that you are no pushover by establishing your place in the pack. Be stern with your ways if you need to, but refrain from resorting to punishments like screaming and hitting.
These methods have no place in the Blue Staffy’s training regime as they can only hurt his sensitive soul. Choosing this type of training method can lead to a strained bond with your canine companion.
For this reason, we recommend employing positive reinforcement. Given the Blue Staffy’s people-oriented nature, he thrives on gaining the approval of his loved ones. So make sure that he receives that during training through the use of praise and treats.
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FAQs About the Blue Staffordshire Bull Terriers
1. Are Blue Staffordshire Bull Terriers Recognised by Kennel Club?
Blue Staffordshire Bull Terriers are recognised by the UK Kennel Club and the American Kennel Club. Other colour variations allowed in the Staffy breed include:
- Black
- Fawn
- Red
- White
According to the breed standards of both organisations, these colours can be solid or with white markings.
2. Are Blue Staffordshire Bull Terriers Rare?
Blue Staffordshire Bull Terriers used to be rare, but that’s no longer the case. Their beautiful coat colour caught the eyes of numerous dog fanciers, which led to a significant increase in demand for these dogs. Since the Blue Staffy is highly sought after, breeders may offer him at an exorbitant price. Beware that the cost of a dog is not indicative of the quality of his health and temperament.
Take time to learn about the breeding practices of your chosen breeder. Make sure they are not running a puppy mill or engaging in fraudulent puppy scams.
It is also a good idea to check if your Blue Staffy puppy and his parents are KC-registered, which confirms his purebred lineage. Also, ask the breeder for health testing documents to ensure he has a low risk of developing hereditary health issues.
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3. Does Blue Staffordshire Bull Terrier Keep His Blue Eyes?
The Blue Staffordshire Bull Terrier is born with light blue eyes. However, he will not be able to keep this eye colour. His iris will gradually turn a dark-brown or light amber shade once he reaches around 16 weeks of age.
4. Do Blue Staffies Have Health Problems?
Some Blue Staffies may develop health problems because of the dilution gene responsible for their unique coat colour.
This mutated gene can cause abnormal clumping of the cells in charge of transporting pigment, resulting in colour dilution alopecia. It is a lifelong skin disorder that induces patchy hair loss in affected Blue Staffy dogs.
Keeping up with routine management treatment is crucial to preventing dangerous health complications, such as secondary bacterial infections and cancer.
Conclusion
The Blue Staffordshire Bull Terrier has a mesmerising grey coat with a bluish tinge. This type of coat colouration is achieved through the presence of the dilution genes, which turn a black base coat into steel grey. Dog enthusiasts who want to own a Blue Staffy should be aware of the potential health concerns that come with his coat colour, particularly colour dilution alopecia.
Make sure you are financially prepared to handle medical care costs if your Blue Staffy puppy develops this ailment.
