On this page I will discuss the array of colours we see in Staffordshire Bull Terriers. Most are well pigmented, some are not recommended, some are undesirable and none are disqualifiable (in the show ring).
Recognition is given to publishers and photographers of some images taken from the internet to illustrate colours within our breed as discussed in this article.
COLOUR/PIGMENTATION AS MENTIONED IN THE OFFICIAL SBT BREED STANDARD
COAT: Smooth, short & close
NAILS: Black in solid coloured dogs. May be white when it touches white skin.
NOSE: Must be black.
COLOUR: Red, fawn, white, black or blue, or any one of these colours with white. Any shade of brindle or any shade of brindle with white. Black & tan or liver colour highly undesirable.
Ideally the colours should be clean with dark pigmentation i.e black nose, black eye rims, black toenails. In white dogs, or where white extends beyond the eye area, you will occasionally find black (or partly black) eye rims (preferred), and some have pink eye rims. Some latitude can be applied allthough the standard calls for dark eye rims.
Liver Staffords lack in pigmentation. Coat and skin colour is chocolate/red with a brown nose (not black) and pale yellow or gooseberry eyes.
Blue Staffords lacks in pigmentation. The ‘blue gene’ is a DILUTE, it is impossible for a blue stafford to have black pigmentation (such as a black nose, black eye rims, black nails…). In my experience blue staffords are a contradiction of the breedstandard which call for a black nose and nails, yet its an ‘acceptable’ colour. We have also (as breeders) found that this colour seem to be immune compromised. AND FOR THE RECORD: FAR FROM BEING RARE (Since 70% of registrations in the UK and AU are blue in colour, and many more that are not recorded because they are not registeredby puppy-farmers)
Black & Tan Staffords (are actually patterned). This colour is undesirable to show or breed from because it is very heridatory and it will take over the breeds beautiful array of colours, like a wild fire!
EYES: Dark preferred but may bear some relation to coat colour. Round, of medium size, and set to look straight ahead. Eye rims dark.
Like the eyes shape and it’s placement, colour also add to the true expression of the stafford. The eye should be as dark as possible. Pigment around the eye rims is to be dark on all colours except where the hair is white - some latitude is allowed here where the eye rims are sometimes partly pigmented and/or pink. Light or yellow eyes are undesirable.
