Should you brush and groom your Staffordshire bull terrier?

The Staffordshire bull terrier is one of the UK’s most common dog breeds, and they are the pet of choice for a huge range of different types of owners all across the country. The Staffy is the 10th most popular dog breed in the UK overall, and there are a huge range of different factors that help to contribute to this popularity and make the Staffordshire bull terrier a good fit for many families and individuals.

One of these positive traits is the Staffy coat – it is very short and single-layered, which makes it quick and easy to care for. This means that Staffordshire bull terrier owners don’t need to dedicate large portions of their day to grooming and brushing the dog’s coat and keeping them in good condition, because this is a low-maintenance coat that isn’t prone to knotting and tangling.

Thanks to this, that many Staffy owners don’t brush or groom their dogs, because many of the common problems that can arise in other breeds with different coat types simply don’t crop up.

However, there are several good reasons why all dog owners can and should brush and groom their dogs, even for breeds with very short, simple coats like the Staffordshire bull terrier – and in this article, we will cover the main benefits of brushing your Staffy for just a few minutes every day or so. Read on to learn more.

Managing shedding

Staffordshire bull terriers aren’t heavy shedding dogs, but they do still shed hair on an ongoing basis. This shedding will tend to step up a notch in autumn and particularly, spring, as the seasons change and your dog begins to shed their old coat and grow in their new one for the changing weather.

The fur that Staffys do shed tends to be dropped around the home, because their short, straight coats don’t catch hair that is lost. Brushing your Staffy regularly can help to keep shed hair in the home to a minimum, and make your dog’s coat feel more comfortable because a lot of loose, shed hair can make them feel a little itchy or uncomfortable at times.

Keeping your dog’s skin and coat in good condition

Brushing is good for both your dog’s skin and coat, because it massages the skin and boosts the circulation, helping to increase blood flow and oxygen to the epidermis to promote cell renewal.

This can help to ensure that your dog’s coat is smooth and glossy and their skin hydrated, elastic and healthy, which will help to keep them looking and feeling at their best. It also helps to remove dead skin cells that can congest the skin and make the coat dull.

Keeping your dog clean

Bathing a Staffy and keeping them clean is easier than for many other dogs, because their coats are so short and so it’s not hard to get right down to the skin to wash it and rinse it. You don’t have to contend with knots and tangling, and this all means that bathing your dog is usually quicker and easier, both the washing itself and the drying afterwards.

However, the very short, flat Staffy coat means that dirt and muck that they do come into contact with tends to get right down to the skin, and even if you wipe them off and the top of their coat looks clean, their skin underneath might be quite grimy. This is particularly likely to be the case under the dog’s belly, and in the creases of their armpits and groin.

Brushing your dog regularly with a gentle brush that gets right down to the skin can help to keep your dog’s skin clean, and reduce the frequency at which they need baths. It will also help to avoid smells, and discomfort or irritation and sores that can develop over time if your dog’s skin stays dirty.

Checking for problems

Thoroughly but efficiently brushing your dog gives you a great opportunity to look for any problems, such as sores or hot spots developing, flea populations, or other nasties like ticks and lice that may be hitching a ride in your Staffy’s coat.

Monitoring potential skin conditions

Like all dogs, some Staffordshire bull terriers may be prone to skin conditions, such as allergies, dermatitis and other general problems. Brushing your dog regularly can help you to identify any problems during their early stages and before they become acute, which is important for staying on top of them and caring for them appropriately.

Dogs with skin conditions may require special care for their skin and coats, but brushing them regularly can assist with this as well. If your dog suffers from a skin condition or you have spotted something amiss, talk to your vet about how to tackle it and how to groom your dog and care for their skin and coat in the right way.

Bonding with your dog

Finally, one huge but often overlooked benefit of brushing your Staffordshire bull terrier regularly is that this provides a valuable opportunity for you to spend some regular quiet time with your dog, paying them all of your attention and helping to form and strengthen the bond between you.

Most dogs love to be the centre of attention, and will soon come to anticipate grooming and be very keen to be brushed, assuming that you go about it in the right way using the right tools so that you don’t make your dog uncomfortable or stressed.