Rottweiler vs Staffordshire Bull Terrier

A Rottweiler
Photo: Fabian Roudra Baroi
A Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Photo: W.carter

Side by side

Rottweiler
Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Adult weight
Males 43–54 kg (95–119 lb); females 37–46.4 kg (82–102 lb) (measured in UK vet records, n = 5,321, middle 50%)1
Males 13–17 kg (29–37 lb); females 11–15 kg (24–34 lb) (breed club figure)2
Height
No sourced figure
Males 36–41 cm; females 36–41 cm (breed club figure)2
Lifespan
Median 10.6 years3
Median 12 years3
Fully grown
13 months, both sexes4
11 months, both sexes4
Group
Pinschers & molossoids5
Terriers6
Coat
Coat of medium length5
Short coat6
Shedding
Moults most as the seasons change
Sheds through the year
Grooming
Brushing a few times a week
A brush once a week
Exercise
A moderate amount
Health
Bone cancer (far more likely); Elbow joint disease (much more likely)7,8
Mast cell tumour (much more likely); Demodectic mange starting young, dogs under 2 (much more likely)9,10
Class
Watchdog
Family

Which suits you

Size
The Rottweiler is far larger: about 45 kg (99 lb) as an adult, against 14 kg (31 lb) for the Staffordshire Bull Terrier.
Lifespan
In UK vet records the Staffordshire Bull Terrier lives longer: a median of 12 years, against 10.6 for the Rottweiler.
Shedding
Their coats shed differently: the Rottweiler moults most as the seasons change, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier sheds through the year.
Grooming
The Rottweiler needs more grooming, brushing a few times a week, where the Staffordshire Bull Terrier needs a brush once a week.
Temperament
They differ most on loyalty (Rottweiler: sticks close to its people; Staffordshire Bull Terrier: bonded to its family) and on handler demand (Rottweiler: needs an experienced owner; Staffordshire Bull Terrier: needs steady training).
Alike
Both are rated the same on affection: a lap or leaning dog.
Neither is the better dog in general. Which suits you depends on your home, your days and the care you can give.
Take the breed matcher

What they're like

Rottweiler
Pinschers & molossoids · Giant

By temperament the Rottweiler is calm, self-assured and watchful. It is devoted to its own household but reserved with strangers.

Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Terriers · Medium

Temperamentally the Staffie is bold, tenacious and very attached to people. The Kennel Club standard notes its fondness for children, though its fighting past can show as intolerance of other dogs.

The Rottweiler page →The Staffordshire Bull Terrier page →

Breed traits

Day to day
Rottweiler
Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Activity
A good daily walk and play
A good daily walk and play
Intelligence
Learns readily, likes games
Learns readily, likes games
Handler demand
Differs
Needs an experienced owner
Needs steady training
With people
Rottweiler
Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Affection
A lap or leaning dog
A lap or leaning dog
Loyalty
Differs
Sticks close to its people
Bonded to its family
Independence
Cooperative, with its own ideas
Cooperative, with its own ideas
Around the home
Rottweiler
Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Sensitivity
Differs
Hardy, takes a busy home in its stride
Average
Voice
Differs
Barks to alert, then settles
Quiet
Prey drive
Differs
Chases; needs managing
Likely to chase small pets
Breed explains only about 9% of how individual dogs differ in behaviour11. Meet the dog. A good breeder breeds for temperament as well as health, and matches each puppy's personality to the right home12,13.

Puppy growth

Reference curves · both sexes
The Rottweiler grows to the heavier adult, about 46 kg against the Staffordshire Bull Terrier's 14 kg.
Rottweiler
Staffordshire Bull Terrier
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More comparisons

Compare the Rottweiler with
American Staffordshire Terrier vs Staffordshire Bull TerrierAmerican Pit Bull Terrier vs Staffordshire Bull TerrierDoberman Pinscher vs RottweilerGerman Shepherd vs RottweilerAmerican Bully vs Staffordshire Bull TerrierCane Corso vs RottweilerAll breed comparisons →

Sources

Parts of this page were written by AI ·