The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is a medium-sized, short-coated breed of dog of English lineage and may be considered to be within the pit bull type.
History
Before the 19th century, blood sports such as bull baiting, bear baiting and cock fighting were common. At the cattle market, bulls were set upon by dogs purportedly as a way of tenderising the meat and providing entertainment for the spectators. Fights with bears and other animals were also organised as entertainment.
The early bull and terrier types were not bred to resemble the breeds of today, but rather for the characteristic known as gameness, with the pitting of dogs against bear or bull; testing the strength and skill of the dogs. Landrace working dogs crossbred with bulldogs provided the ancestral foundation stock for the Staffordshire Bull Terrier. These bloodsports were officially eliminated in 1835 as Britain began to introduce animal welfare laws.. Dog fighting involved gambling; dogs were released into a pit, and the last dog still fighting or surviving was recognised the winner. A dog fighting another dog was cheaper to organise and easier to conceal from the law.
The modern breed is one that has a temperament suitable as a companion dog. It is a dog worthy to show and was accepted by The Kennel Club as the Staffordshire Bull Terrier on 25 May 1935. The Staffordshire Bull Terrier Club was formed in June 1935. It is unusual for a breed to be recognised without a club in existence first, and even more unusual for there not to have been a breed standard in place. A standard was not drawn up until June 1935 at the Old Cross Guns, a Black Country pub in Cradley Heath. A group of 30 Stafford enthusiasts gathered there and devised the standard, as well as electing the club's first secretary, Joseph Dunn, a well-known figure connected with the breed.
Challenge certificates were awarded to the breed in 1938, and the first champions were Ch. Gentleman Jim (bred by Joseph Dunn) and Ch. Lady Eve (owned by Joseph Dunn), both taking titles in 1939. The breed was recognised in the U.S. by the American Kennel Club in 1975.
Appearance
The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is a medium-sized, stocky, and very muscular dog, with a similar appearance to the much larger American Staffordshire Terrier and American Pit Bull Terrier. The coat is smooth and clings tightly to the body giving the dog a streamlined appearance. This dog has a broad, wedge-shaped head (male considerably more so than female), defined occipital muscles, a relatively short fore-face, dark round eyes and a wide mouth with a clean scissor-like bite (the top incisors slightly overlap the bottom incisors). The ears are small. The cheek muscles are very pronounced. The lips show no looseness. The teeth form a scissor bite. The head tapers down to a strong well-muscled neck and shoulders placed on squarely spaced forelimbs. They are tucked up into their loins and the last 1â€"2 ribs of the rib-cage are usually visible. The tail resembles an old fashioned pump handle. The hind quarters are well-muscled.
They are coloured brindle, black, red, fawn, blue, white, or any blending of these colours with white. White with any other colour broken up over the body is known as pied. Liver-coloured, black and tan dogs can occur but are rare and it is advised not to breed from either as well as those with light eyes. The exception to the light eye rule are Blue staffies; all others should have dark brown eyes even if they have a fawn coat. The coat is smooth and clings tightly to the body giving the dog a streamlined appearance.
The dogs stand 36 to 41Â cm (14 to 16Â in) at the withers and weigh 13 to 17Â kg (29 to 37Â lb) for males; females are 11 to 15.4Â kg (24 to 34Â lb).
Temperament
Due to its breeding and history, common traits exist throughout; the Staffordshire Bull Terrier is known for its character of fearlessness and loyalty. This, coupled with its affectionate nature, its off-duty quietness and trustworthy stability, make it a foremost all-purpose dog.
The breed is naturally muscular and may appear intimidating. Staffordshire Bull Terrier puppies are very easy to house train. They are friendly, enthusiastic and usually extremely affectionate. Staffordshires are notably adaptable in terms of changing home or even owners; this may make them vulnerable to dognapping.
RSPCA chief vet Mark Evans said: "Staffies have had a terrible press, but this is not of their own makingâ€"in fact they're wonderful dogs. If people think that Staffies have problems, they're looking at the wrong end of the dog lead! When well cared for and properly trained they can make brilliant companions. Our experience suggests that problems occur when bad owners exploit the Staffie's desire to please by training them to show aggression."
Breed-specific legislation
The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is subject to breed-specific legislation in various countries, which ban members of the Bull and Terrier family.
Health
Staffordshire Bull Terriers are known to suffer from hereditary cataracts and L-2-hydroxyglutaric aciduriaâ€"a metabolic disorder resulting in behavioural changes and dementia-like symptomsâ€"both of which are detectable by DNA tests.
Distichiasis (commonly known as “double eyelashâ€) and persistent hyperplastic primary vitreousâ€"a condition whereby the blood supply to the ocular lens fails to regress and fibrovascular tissue forms, causing hazy visionâ€"both of which are checked by way of an ocular examination throughout the life of a breeding stud or brood-bitch to minimise the transfer and spread of these conditions.
The breed is known to be at a higher risk from mastocytoma (mast cell tumours) than the general population of dogs.
A UK Kennel Club survey puts the median lifespan at 12.75 years. UK vet clinic data puts the median at 10.7 years.
Gallery
See also
- American Staffordshire Terrier
- American Pit Bull Terrier
- Breed-specific legislation
- Blue Paul Terrier
- Pit bull
- Rat-baiting
- Jock of the Bushveld
References
External links
Media related to Staffordshire Bull Terrier at Wikimedia Commons
- Staffordshire Bull Terrier at DMOZ