The Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Before
the nineteenth century, bloodsports such as bull baiting, bear baiting
and cock fighting were common. Bulls brought to market were set upon
by dogs as a way of tenderising the meat and providing entertainment
for the spectators; and dog fights with bears, bulls and other animals
were often organised as entertainment for both royalty and commoners.
Early Bull and Terriers were not bred for the handsome visual specimen
of today, rather they were bred for the characteristic known as gameness.
The pitting of dogs against bear or bull tested the gameness, strength
and skill of the dog. These early "proto-staffords" provided
the ancestral foundation stock for the Staffordshire Bull Terrier,
the American Pit Bull Terrier with the exception of the American Staffordshire
Terrier.
These bloodsports were officially eliminated in 1835 as Britain began
to introduce animal welfare laws. Since dogfights were cheaper to
organise and far easier to conceal from the law than bull or bear
baits, bloodsport proponents turned to pitting their dogs one against
another instead. Dog fighting was used as both a bloodsport (often
involving gambling) and as an effort to continue to test the quality
of their stock. For decades afterwards, dog fighting clandestinely
took place in pockets of working-class Britain and America. Dogs were
released in a pit, and the last dog still fighting (or occasionally,
the last dog surviving) was recognised as the winner. The quality
of pluckiness or "gameness" was still highly prized, and
dogs that gave up during a fight were reviled as "curs".
As an important aside, fighting dogs were often handled in the pit
during fights, by both their owners and the judge, so were bred to
be as trustworthy with humans as they were aggressive towards other
dogs.
It is this nefarious history that gives the Staffordshire his celebrated
temperament, as in the words of the American Kennel Club: "from
the past history of the Staffordshire Terrier, the modern dog draws
its character of indomitable courage, high intelligence, and tenacity.
This, coupled with its affection for its friends, and children in
particular, its off-duty quietness and trustworthy stability, makes
it a foremost all-purpose dog."
The breed attained UK Kennel Club recognition on 25 May 1935. Much
of the groundwork to attain this status can be attributed to Joseph
Dunn and Joe Mallan. Dunn and Mallan invited friends to a Staffordshire
fanciers meeting at the Cross Guns Hotel, Cradley Heath, South Staffordshire
(a hotel owned and managed by Mallan). About fifty breeders met at
the hotel and formed the Original Staffordshire Terrier Club. The
name was shortly changed to Staffordshire Terrier Club due to the
Bull Terrier Club objecting the use of the word 'original'. Staffordshires
were imported into the US during this time. Since that time the breed
has grown to be one of the most popular breeds of dogs with a large
representation at the Crufts Dog Show.
In the US many were imported by pit fighters and used in their breeding
programs to produce the American Pit Bull Terrier and American Staffordshire
Terrier. Many were imported by British nationals who brought their
dogs with them or U.S. expatriates who fell in love with the breed
in England and brought it home. Eventually through the campaign of
many people the Staffordshire was recognised in the U.S. in 1976.
He has a loyal following.
Terriers are generally bold, inquisitive and fearless. The Staffie
is renowned for its reliability as a family dog, with special emphasis
on their reliability with children. The breed thrives in the family
environment, being a suitably compact size for close family living.
They can be protective of their family, especially those with small
children, and it is for this reason that they make an excellent family
guardian and watch dog.
As a result of their dog fighting heritage, one of the problems noticed
in this breed is a tendency of aggression towards other dogs. It must
be understood that even a Staffordshire Bull Terrier with "good"
temperament may fight when challenged by another dog and should therefore
be adequately controlled in public places. Staffordshire Bull Terrier
owners have a certain obligation to society (as could be said of all
dog owners), and should always ensure that their dogs are correctly
and adequately housed and not allowed to roam freely in public and
in the vicinity of unfamiliar dogs. It is always good advice to avoid
allowing your Staffordshire to make eye to eye contact with strange
dogs, as this is normally seen as a challenge.
It is important that any breeder can satisfy you that the puppy you
are interested in, and its parents, have a stable temperament.
Avoiding aggression can also be aided by proper socialisation and
training of the puppy. Puppies should be regularly exposed to the
full gamut of situations that they are likely to encounter as older
dogs. Regular, supervised contact with other dogs, children and any
other family pet, along with early obedience training will help ensure
that the dog grows into a well-socialised animal.
Obedience training is imperative to ensure that the owner feels they
will have control over their dog in any situation.
The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is a stocky, muscular dog with great
strength and athletic ability.
They
have a broad head, defined occipital muscles, a relatively short foreface,
half prick ears, dark round eyes and a wide mouth with a clean scissor-like
bite. The ears are small and either rose or half-prick. The cheek
muscles are usually pronounced. Their lips show no looseness, and
they rarely drool.
The
head tapers down to a strong well muscled neck and shoulders placed
on squarely spaced forelimbs. Their rib cage is well sprung and is
topped by a level top line. They are tucked up in their loins and
the last rib of their cage should be visible. Their tail is carried
like an old fashioned pump handle and should be neither too long nor
too short. Their hind quarters are well muscled and are the drive
in the Staffordshire's gait, being well let down in the hock.
They
may be coloured black, brindle, red, blue, white, or any blending
of these colours with white. White with any colour over an eye is
known as piebald or pied. Skewbald is white with red patches. Liver-coloured
and black and tan dogs sometimes occur but these are considered an
unacceptable colour for the show ring or any reputable breeding program.
The coat is smooth and short.
Desirable height at withers 36-41 cms (14 to 16 ins), these heights being related to the weights. Weight: dogs: 13-17 kgs (28-38 lbs); bitches 11-15.4 kgs. The jaw type
has about 220 to 255 pounds of force (0.98 to 1.13 kN).
As
with many breeds with show determined characteristics, the 'Staffordshire'
can suffer from several health problems including cataracts and breathing
problems.
The
Staffordshire Bull Terrier is a medium-sized, short-coated, old-time
breed of dog, originally bred for killing rodents. In the early part
of the twentieth century they gained respectability and were accepted
into the The Kennel Club of the United Kingdom as the Staffordshire
Bull Terrier. It is an English breed of dog and should not be confused
with the Bull Terrier.
Breed Clubs and Societies
BREEDERS
Tigerbull Staffordshire Bull Terriers
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