Walk a
Staffordshire Bull Terrier down the street and you are bound to be asked
this question: “Is that a Pit Bull?” Most Stafford owners are quick to
answer no, and then take the time to say the name of the breed over and
over, slowly and carefully, to make sure there is no misunderstanding.
They may go on to try to explain what a Pit Bull actually is: “bigger,”
“longer legs,” “cropped ears.”
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However, the
complete and correct answer to the question would be not “no,” but “not
anymore.” Today the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, both here and in England,
is a family pet.
Origin of the Breed
In England in the early
1800s an unspeakably inhumane spectator sport called bullbaiting was
in vogue. This bloody spectacle called for a tethered bull to be first
roused to a fury by tormenting humans and then to be attacked by a
succession of large dogs. Large purses were offered to encourage the
best Bulldogs (not to be confused with our modern “sourmug” Bulldog)
from surrounding areas to compete.
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Then, in
1835, bullbaiting became illegal. The new spectacle was dog fighting.
They crossed the Bulldog with one or more of the native English
terriers in an attempt to create a type of dog that would combine the
courage, strength and tenacity of the Bulldog with the fire of a
terrier. The new breed went by many names predominantly Staffordshire
Bull Terrier for the region where it originated, Staffordshire.
Overcoming the Past
Dog
fighting in turn was declared illegal in England, but the
difficulty of enforcement only served to drive it underground at
first. In the meantime, a huge surge of interest in legitimate dog
shows and exhibitions, on both sides of the Atlantic, was taking
place. At least some owners of Staffordshire Bull Terriers were
interested in this new venue for showing off their dogs, but
because of it's unsavoury past, the breed was not accepted for
registration in the Kennel Club of England until 1935.
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Considering what the
breed has had to endure in its first 160 years, it certainly
doesn't need to fall into the hands of people who may not
understand and appreciate it.
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During the many long
years that the Staffordshire Bull Terriers were active fighting
dogs, breeders had little interest in qualities other than their
fighting abilities. But meanwhile, almost coincidentally, the dogs
had been developing many fine characteristics that contributed to
their success in the pit but also made them excellent all-around
family dogs. Possibly the most important of these is the dog's
unusual affection for the human race in general. This quality
seems surprising until you learn the rules of pit fighting
eliminated from competition any dog that attacked a person in the
pit - all the more astonishing when you consider that almost any
dog, in the heat of a squabble with another dog, may very well
bite his owner if he tries to intervene.
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A second quality
that ironically was enhanced by pit fighting was the Stafford's
overwhelming desire to please its owner. It has been reported that
during an actual fight, the owners of the combatants would
continually move around the enclosure to make sure they were
always in their dog's line of sight. Sadly, it seemed to be the
encouragement of its owner that gave an exhausted dog the heart to
continue.
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We
suggest reading whatever books you can find regarding the breed. You
will soon develop a thirst for knowledge and appreciate their
resilient if not ominous past.
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