10.2.1. “A Dog Resembling The Staffordshire
Bull Terrier But Somewhat Larger”
The Staffordshire Bull Terrier (“Staffie”) is a cross between the Olde English Bulldogge that became extinct in the late 1800s and the Manchester Terrier. Unlike the “Pit Bulls”, they are a recognized breed of dogs. However, many are incorrectly referred to as “Pit Bulls”, “American Pit Bull Terriers”, “Blue Pits” or “Blue Pit Bulls”.
Staffordshire Bull Terrier – A breed recognized by the American Kennel Club and all universally recognized and accepted international kennel clubs.
The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is a “bull dog”, i.e., a dog that was used for bull-baiting, that has always been a small, very non-aggressive dog, but incredibly strong for its size.
In England, a particular geographical area within the country is called a “shire”. In some states in the United States, the word used is “county” or “parish”.
A Staffordshire Bull Terrier is a dog breed that was developed in the “shire” of Stafford.
The dog is a descendant of the dogs used in bull-baiting, and all dogs used for bull-baiting were commonly referred to as “bull dogs” regardless of their breed or non-breed. See http://pitbullsfactormyth.net/6-0-bull-baiting/
It is one of several breeds of small dogs called terriers that were originally used to pursue small game and drive it out of its hole or burrow. See http://pitbullsfactormyth.net/10-1-what-is-a-terrier/
Therefore, it is a breed that was: (1) developed in Staffordshire, England; (2) a descendant of the bull-baiting dogs; and (3) a terrier: therefore, it is a Staffordshire Bull Terrier.
My research has not found any reliable, objective evidence that substantiates that at any time in its history the Staffordshire Bull Terrier was bred or routinely used for dogfighting. However, they are frequently and incorrectly referred to as “Pit Bulls”.
The following are videos of several “vicious, killer, untrustworthy, etc.” “Pit Bulls”. In the United Kingdom all of these dogs are known as Staffordshire Bull Terriers: however, in the U.S. the larger descendants and the result of additional breed development are known as American Staffordshire Terriers. They are not “Bull Terriers” because they were never used for “bull-baiting”.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04i9UwNCyyc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3KpzCShE0c
Best of Breed – Staffordshire Bull Terrier – Crufts – 2015
Remember that “Pit Bulls”, “American Pit Bull Terriers” and “Pit Bull type” are banned in the United Kingdom, and the dogs are considered “Pit Bull type” if they meet a substantial number of 15 physical features outlined by the U.K. law and copied directly from a 1977 issue of the American Pit Bull Gazette published by the American Dog Breeders Association.
Also note that these are two of the dog breeds commonly and incorrectly referred to as “Pit Bulls” by the ignorant public, politicians, legal professionals, etc. who claim these dogs were “bred for centuries to be aggressive”, “all they are good for is dogfighting” and want to or have had them banned in numerous cities and countries.
So, how is it that the American Dog Breeders Association registered American Staffordshire Terriers as American Pit Bull Terriers for almost one hundred years, but the U.K. government does not recognize them as such?
The breed of the dog is not the problem: the problem is the irresponsible owners, and the ignorant public, spineless politicians, know-it-all legal professionals, etc. who would be well-served by engaging brain to learn and do what is proper instead of just running at the mouth in ignorance.
A mongrel, mutt, or mixed–breed dog, is a dog that is not the result of breeding and belongs to no breed. https://www.google.com/search?q=definition+mixed+breed&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8
At http://www.thefreedictionary.com/mongrel, The Free Dictionary defines a mongrel as,
“An animal or plant resulting from various interbreedings, especially a dog of mixed or undetermined breed.”
At http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/mongrel, the Oxford Dictionaries defines a mongrel as,
“A dog of no definable type or breed:”
At http://www.macmillandictionary.com/us/dictionary/american/mongrel, the MacMillan Dictionary defines mongrel as,
“a dog that is a mixture of different breeds”
At http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mongrel, the Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines mongrel as,
“an individual resulting from the interbreeding of diverse breeds or strains”
At http://www.thefreedictionary.com/purebred, the Free Dictionary defines purebred as,
“Of or relating to an animal having both parents of the same breed or variety.
denoting a pure strain obtained through many generations of controlled breeding for desirable traits
of or pertaining to an individual whose ancestors derive over many generations from a recognized breed”
At http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/purebred, the Oxford Dictionary defines purebred as,
“An animal bred from parents of the same breed or variety”
At http://www.macmillandictionary.com/us/dictionary/american/purebred, the MacMillan Dictionary defines purebred as,
“a purebred animal comes from parents of the same breed”
At http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/purebred, the Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines purebred as,
“bred from members of a recognized breed, strain, or kind without a mixture of other blood over many generations”
At http://www.akc.org/about/glossary/, the American Kennel Club defines purebred as,
“A dog whose sire and dam belong to the same breed and who are themselves of unmixed descent since recognition of the breed.”
At http://www.thefreedictionary.com/pedigree, the Free Dictionary defines a pedigree as,
“A line of ancestors; a lineage
A list of ancestors; a family tree
A list of the ancestors of a purebred animal”
At http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/pedigree, the Oxford Dictionaries defines a pedigree as,
“The record of descent of an animal, showing it to be purebred.”
At http://www.macmillandictionary.com/us/dictionary/american/pedigree_1, the MacMillan Dictionary defines a pedigree as,
“the parents, grandparents, etc. of an animal, or a list of them”
At http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pedigree, the Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines pedigree as,
“a register recording a line of ancestors
an ancestral line: lineage
the origin and the history of something; background, history
a distinguished ancestry
the recorded purity of breed of an individual or strain”
A “breed” is “a stock of animals or plants within a species having a distinctive appearance and typically having been developed by deliberate selection.” https://www.google.com/search?q=definition+breed&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8
“Crossbred” dogs are “produced by the mating of individuals of different breeds, varieties, or species.” Mixed-breed dogs” are dogs that are the product of artificial selection, intentionally created by humans. “Mongrels” are dogs that are not the result of breeding and belong to no breed. Collectively, the crossbreeds and mongrels are typically referred to as “mutts, curs, tykes”, i.e., dogs that are not the result of “breeding” and belong to no “breed”.
At http://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/staffordshire-bull-terrier/care/, the American Kennel Club describes the Staffordshire Bull Terrier’s temperament and training as follows.
“The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is extremely courageous and obedient, highly intelligent and affectionate with a sense of humor. 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. He looks forward to daily exercise, and his powerful jaws enjoy a supply of sturdy chew toys. While he is a sweet-tempered, affectionate dog, his strength and determination require an experienced owner who can work with him in a firm, but gentle way. The Staffie’s coat is short and smooth, and needs only a quick brushing once a week.”
When dogfighting became popular in England in the 1800s, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier may have been bred with other aggressive dogs to create one of the fighting dogs that were popular at the time. However, that would have resulted in a “mixed breed”, a different “breed” or “mutt/mongrel/cur”. All of these terms essentially mean the same thing, i.e., a dog that is a mix of unknown breeds: it is NOT a purebred because it does NOT have a pedigree, and it is no longer a Staffordshire Bull Terrier. Note that the Staffordshire Bull Terrier was a bull-baiting dog also known as a “bull dog”, and all “bull dogs” were reputed to be poor fighting dogs.
