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Revision as of 01:16, 10 July 2019 editNormal Op (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users7,816 edits Breed-specific legislation: Removed WP:OR. The citation neither discusses "subjecting" anyone to anything (emotionally loaded language; see WP:NOTSOAPBOX, nor targets Staffies. And doesn't mention UK "long history" nor AKC recognition.← Previous edit Latest revision as of 19:55, 12 December 2024 edit undoTraumnovelle (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users8,071 edits Undid revision 1262639504 by 2A02:8012:8851:0:7181:1549:443:EDB6 (talk) Not an RSTag: Undo 
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{{Use British English|date=December 2013}} {{Short description|British breed of dog}}
{{Distinguish|Bull Terrier|American Staffordshire Terrier}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2015}}
{{good article}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}}
{{Infobox dog breed {{Infobox dog breed
| name = Staffordshire Bull Terrier | name = Staffordshire Bull Terrier
| image = File:Staffordshire-bull-terrier-white-2748733.jpg | image = File:סאטף_אנגלי.jpg
| image_alt = | image_alt =
| image_caption = | image_caption =
| image2 = | image2 =
| image_alt2 = | image_alt2 =
| image_caption2 = | image_caption2 =
| altname = | altname =
| nickname = Stafford & Staffie <ref name=KC-standard/> | nickname = {{ubl|Stafford<ref name=kc />|Staffy}}
| stock = ]<br>]<br>] | stock = {{ubl|]|]|]}}
| country = ] | country = United Kingdom
| patronage = | weight =
| maleweight = {{right|{{cvt|13|-|17|kg|lb|0}}}}
<!-----Traits----->
| femaleweight = {{right|{{cvt|11|-|15.4|kg|lb|0}}}}
| weight =
| maleweight = {{cvt|29|-|37|lb|kg}} | height = {{right|{{cvt|36|-|41|cm|in|0}}}}
| maleheight =
| femaleweight = {{cvt|24|-|34|lb|kg}}
| femaleheight =
| height = {{cvt|14|-|16|in|cm}}
| coat = smooth, short, and close
| maleheight =
| colour = white; black, blue, fawn, or red, all with or without white; any variety of brindle, with or without white
| femaleheight =
| litter_size = 5-7
| coat = Smooth, short and close
| life_span = Over 12 years
| colour = Red, fawn, white, black or blue, or any one of these colours with white, any shade of brindle or any shade of brindle with white.
| kc_name = ]
| litter_size =
| kc_std = https://web.archive.org/web/20190501215509/https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/services/public/breed/standard.aspx?id=3080
| life_span = Over 12 years
| kc2_name =
<!-----Classification and standards----->
| fcigroup = Terriers | kc2_std =
| fcistd = http://www.fci.be/Nomenclature/Standards/076g03-en.pdf
| fcisection = Bull type
| fcinum = 76 | notrecognised =
| extinct =
| fcistd = http://www.fci.be/Nomenclature/Standards/076g03-en.pdf
| akcgroup = Terrier | note =
| akcstd = http://www.akc.org/breeds/staffordshire_bull_terrier/index.cfm
| akcfss =
| akcmisc =
| ankcgroup = Terriers
| ankcstd = http://ankc.org.au/Media/pdf/Deletable_636982963502787429_9072019_59_StaffordshireBullTerrier.pdf
| ckcgroup = Terriers
| ckcstd = http://www.ckc.ca/Default.aspx?tabid=137&Breed_Code=SSB
| ckcmisc =
| kcukgroup = Terrier
| kcukstd = http://www.the-kennel-club.org.uk/services/public/breed/standard.aspx?id=3080
| nzkcgroup = Terrier
| nzkcstd = https://web.archive.org/web/20031105035003/http://www.nzkc.org.nz/br280.html
| ukcgroup = Terriers
| ukcstd = https://web.archive.org/web/20070306152038/http://mail.ukcdogs.com/UKCweb.nsf/80de88211ee3f2dc8525703f004ccb1e/dd9391625058cc238525704d006966a7?OpenDocument
| notrecognized =
| landrace =
| extinct =
<!-----Notes----->
| note =
}} }}
{{Distinguish|Bull Terrier|American Staffordshire Terrier}}
The '''Staffordshire Bull Terrier''', also known as '''Staffie''', is a breed of short-haired, small to medium sized dog that was developed in ] and northern parts of ]. The breed first originated by crossing the ] and ], and evolved over time with the infusion of other breeds for refinement of purpose which, in mid-19th century Victorian England, was ] control and ]. ] of ] was founder of the ]. As a breeder, Hinks played a significant role in perfecting the Staffie, a breed that "emerged as one of the most successful and enduring." After the banning of blood sports and pit fighting in 1835, attitudes changed which, over the course of a few centuries, resulted in generations of responsible breeding and further breed refinement of the Staffie as a popular family pet and ].


The '''Staffordshire Bull Terrier''', also called the '''Staffy''' or '''Stafford''', is a ] of small to medium size in the ] that originated in the northern parts of ] and in the ] of ], for which it is named. They descended from 19th-century bull terriers that were developed by crossing bulldogs with various terriers to create a generic ] generally known as ]s. Staffords share the same ancestry with the modern ], although the two breeds developed along independent lines, and do not resemble each other. Modern Staffords more closely resemble the old type of bull terrier, and were first recognised as a purebred dog breed by ] of Great Britain in 1935.
It wasn't until the 1930s that ] (KC) in the UK recognized the Staffordshire Bull Terrier as a breed. The Staffie's early association as a fighting dog was the biggest obstacle to overcome, but the breed eventually earned recognition as "a wonderful family pet"<ref name=KC-standard/> and was added to the breed registry. Staffies first arrived in North America in the 1880s but it wasn't until 1974 that the ] (AKC) recognized the Staffordshire Bull Terrier as a breed — not to be confused with the ] which is a distinctly separate breed — and the subject of breed bans that target the ] family of dogs.


Within the broad sweep of dog history, the story behind the modern Stafford is rather brief and somewhat confusing because of the multiple aliases attached to these dogs in centuries past, such as the "Patched Fighting Terrier", "Staffordshire Pit-dog", "Brindle Bull", and "Bull-and-Terrier".<ref name="AKC2017" /> Similar crosses also had aliases such as half-and-halves and half-breds. Blood sports such as ] and ] were outlawed with the passing of the ] by Parliament, making it illegal to bait animals but promoting the ]. Dog breeders migrated away from the heavier bulldogs, and introduced terrier blood into their crosses for ] and agility. These bull and terrier crosses produced the ancestral breeding stock that, over the course of decades, evolved into the modern conformation show dogs we know today as the Staffordshire Bull Terrier and the Bull Terrier. It was shortly before the ] that immigrants from Great Britain brought their bull and terrier crossbreeds into the U.S. They became the ancestral progenitors of the ] (AmStaff), ], ], and ].
==Appearance==
The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is a stocky, muscular and unusually strong, small to medium sized dog that stands {{convert|14|to|16|in|cm}} at the shoulder, the dogs weigh {{convert|29|to|37|lb|kg}} and the bitches {{convert|24|to|34|lb|kg}}. It has a broad chest, strong shoulders, well boned wide set legs, a medium length tail that is carried low and a broad head with a short muzzle; its ears fold over at the tips and are not cropped.<ref name=KC-standard/><ref name=KC-description/><ref name=Fogle/>


==History==
The Staffordshire Bull Terrier’s coat is short, stiff and close. Base colours can be red, fawn, white, black or blue, or any one of the aforementioned with white, any shade of brindle or any shade of brindle with white.<ref name=KC-standard/><ref name=Fogle/><ref name=Hall/>
]
The unregulated breeding history and inconsistent genetic makeup of the Stafford's early ancestry have led to misconceptions about its origins.<ref name="Klerk 2019"/>{{rp|8–11}} Individual types and styles of crossbred dogs varied by geographic region.<ref name="Harris 2008">{{cite book | last=Harris | first=David | title=Bully breeds | publisher=Kennel Club Books | publication-place=Freehold, NJ | year=2008 | isbn=978-1-59378-664-9 | oclc=172980066 | page=18}}</ref> For example, the progeny from one area may have a higher percentage of terrier than bulldog, whereas other reports claim that bulldog to terrier was preferred over bull and terrier to bull terrier.<ref name="Harris 2008" /> Dog breeders made careful selections to reinforce inheritable traits from specific ]s. Many of the mixed breed types, or ]s that were used to create the early ]s have long since evolved and stabilised into the modern purebred dogs we know today. Many of the desirable phylogenetic traits of the breed's ancestry have been preserved and further refined by selective breeding to better suit the Stafford's modern purpose as a conformation show dog, while the unwanted traits have been bred out.<ref name="Popular Science p. 126">{{cite journal | title=Popular Science | journal=The Popular Science Monthly | date=November 1936 | publisher=Bonnier Corporation | issn=0161-7370 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fygDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA126 | access-date=12 February 2022 | page=126}}</ref>


===Two Bull Terriers===
==Temperament and health==
], Dalmatian Shepherd Dog, ]; right column: Danish Mastiff, Bull-dog]]
The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is considered a loyal, devoted, tenacious and particularly affectionate breed of dog, and is among the dog breeds recommended by the ] as suitable for families with children. The Staffordshire Bull Terrier has a reputation for pugnaciousness; when challenged by other dogs it is generally known to not back away from a fight.<ref name=Fogle/><ref name=Hall/><ref name=Potts/>
In the mid–19th century, bull and terrier hybrids were known by several different aliases, such as the Patched Fighting Terrier, Staffordshire Pit-dog, Brindle Bull, and Bull-and-Terrier.<ref name="AKC2017">{{cite web |title=Staffordshire Bull Terrier Dog Breed Information |work=ACK.org |publisher=] |date=6 November 2017 |url= https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/staffordshire-bull-terrier/ | access-date=27 January 2022}}</ref> They were also referred to as half-and-halfs, half-breds, or more commonly as the bull and terrier, although they were not true breeds in the same sense that modern dog breeds are known. However, at least six modern breeds can trace their ancestry to the bull and terrier crosses.<ref name="AKC-Flaim" /> Another common name used for bull and terrier was simply Bull Terrier, which became the name for the new breed that ] developed.<ref name="Klerk 2019">{{cite book | title=The Complete Guide to Staffordshire Bull Terriers | last=de Klerk | first=Joanna | publisher=LP Media, Inc | publication-place=Isanti, MN | year=2019 | isbn=978-1-0799-9547-3 | oclc=1237368664}}</ref>{{rp|18}} Hinks used various undocumented outcrosses, including ]s and ]s, that devotees of the original strain considered undesirable. They chose instead to remain loyal to their preferred type.<ref name=KCdescription/><ref name=Hancock/> As a result, two different breeds of Bull Terriers emerged: the Bull Terrier, nicknamed the White Cavalier, and the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, named for the county where it was developed.<ref name="AKC-Flaim">{{cite web | last=Flaim | first=Denise | title=Bull Terrier History: Behind the Breed – American Kennel Club | website=American Kennel Club | date=8 October 2020 | url=https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/dog-breeds/bull-terrier-history-behind-the-breed/ | access-date=27 January 2022}}</ref><ref name="Flaim-AmStaff">{{cite web | last=Flaim | first=Denise | title=American Staffordshire Terrier History: How the AmStaff Separated From the "Pit Bull" – American Kennel Club | website=American Kennel Club | date=4 February 2021 | url=https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/dog-breeds/american-staffordshire-terrier-history-amstaff/ | access-date=26 March 2022}}</ref> The Bull Terrier's fighting heritage was left behind whereas breeders of Staffordshire Bull Terriers in the UK continued their illegal competitions which paralleled what was happening in the U.S. with the ]; neither breed could gain official acceptance in their respective native lands. Journalist and dog expert Denise Flaim stated succinctly: "No established registry wanted to be affiliated with a dog that drew the blood of its own kind for a living."<ref name="Flaim-AmStaff" />


===Recognition as a purebred===
The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is generally a healthy and robust dog breed. The Kennel Club mandates visual eye testing, and DNA testing for hereditary cataracts and ] for all Staffordshire Bull Terriers used for breeding. They further recommend DHA testing for ].<ref name=Fogle/><ref name=KC-health/>
Traceable pedigrees did not exist prior to the founding of ] (KC) in 1873, which was initially formed by a group of dog show fanciers who wanted to preserve the reputation of dog shows, while at the same time, avoid breeder fraud by establishing a dog's identity and documenting its pedigree.<ref name="Ritvo 1986 pp. 227–253">{{cite journal | last=Ritvo | first=Harriet | title=Pride and Pedigree: The Evolution of the Victorian Dog Fancy | journal=Victorian Studies | publisher=Indiana University Press | volume=29 | issue=2 | year=1986 | issn=0042-5222 | jstor=3826951 | page=241 | url=http://www.jstor.org/stable/3826951 | access-date=23 July 2022}}</ref><ref name="Nature 2018">{{cite journal | title=Genes unleashed: how the Victorians engineered our dogs | journal=Nature | date=2018-10-16 | doi=10.1038/d41586-018-07039-z | last1=Olmert | first1=Meg Daley | volume=562 | issue=7727 | pages=336–337 | bibcode=2018Natur.562..336O | s2cid=53084883 | doi-access=free }}</ref> The first volume of ''The Kennel Club Stud Book'' was published in 1874, and included a list of dog shows and names of dogs that were exhibited at each show, beginning with the first dog show in 1859.<ref name="Ritvo 1986 pp. 227–253" /> ]s, and ]s were also recognised and included in the first volume.<ref>{{cite book |last=Pearce |first=Frank |title=Kennel Club Stud Book |publisher=Horace Cox |volume=1 |edition=1st |date=1874 |page= |url=https://archive.org/details/TheKennelClubStudBooku.k.VolumeI-1874}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Pearce |first=Frank |title=Kennel Club Stud Book |publisher=Horace Cox |volume=1 |edition=1st |date=1874 |page= |url=https://archive.org/details/TheKennelClubStudBooku.k.VolumeI-1874}}</ref> However, it was not until 1935 that the Staffordshire Bull Terrier was officially recognised by the KC.<ref name="KC-description">{{cite web |title=Staffordshire Bull Terrier: description |work=TheKennelClub.org.uk |publisher=] |url= https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/search/breeds-a-to-z/breeds/terrier/staffordshire-bull-terrier/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=16 April 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210416180902/https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/search/breeds-a-to-z/breeds/terrier/staffordshire-bull-terrier/}}</ref> It was much later, in 1974, that the ] (AKC) accepted the Staffordshire Bull Terrier into its breed registry as its 121st official breed.<ref name="NYTimes.com 1974">{{cite web | title=Staffordshire Bull Terrier to Become A.K.C.' s 121st Registered Breed Oct.1; Manhattan Aide Named | website=] | date=18 August 1974 | url=http://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1974/08/18/91071036.html?pageNumber=185 | access-date=12 February 2022}}</ref><ref name="American Kennel Club 2017"/>


===Shared ancestry===
==History==
] ]'', ] 1804]]
Of the six distinct breeds that descended from the bull and terrier breeds, five are recognised by the AKC in the following order: Bull Terrier, ], American Staffordshire Terrier (AmStaff), Staffordshire Bull Terrier, and ].<ref name="Harris 2008" />{{rp|39}}<ref name="American Kennel Club 2017" /><ref name="American Kennel Club 2017-AmStaff">{{cite web |title=American Staffordshire Terrier Dog Breed Information |work=AKC.org |publisher=] |date=6 November 2017 |url= https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/american-staffordshire-terrier/ |access-date=16 July 2019}}</ref> The same five breeds are also recognised by the ] (CKC). The KC recognises only four of the breeds and does not accept the AmStaff or ] (APBT).<ref name="Harris 2008" />{{rp|39}} The APBT is recognised by the ] (UKC).
].]]
] 1935.]]
]


The KC, which was the first breed registry to accept the newly developed Staffordshire Bull Terrier into its ''Stud Book'', stated that the breed "shares the same ancestry as the Bull Terrier, i.e. Bulldog crossed with the Black and Tan terrier, and was developed as a fighting dog." They further acknowledged that because of the dog's "early association with fighting it was, for some time, difficult to get recognition for the breed and it was not until the 1930s that The Kennel Club recognised the breed."<ref name="KC-description" /><ref name="KCSBT" /> The ] (CKC) did not recognise the Stafford until 1952, and afforded more credence to the breed's bull and terrier heritage: "The Bull and Terrier might have disappeared if not for a group of fanciers led by Joseph Dunn, who appreciated the dogs for their own sakes and persuaded The Kennel Club (England) to recognise the breed as the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, the name of the English county where the breed was most popular."<ref name="CKC-origin">{{cite web | title=Staffordshire Bull Terrier | website=CKC | url=https://www.ckc.ca/en/Choosing-a-Dog/Choosing-a-Breed/Terriers/Staffordshire-Bull-Terrier | access-date=25 July 2022}}</ref>
===Origins===
There are two theories about the development of the Staffordshire Bull Terrier.<ref name=Beaufoy/><ref name=Hancock/> The first and more widely held theory is that the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, like the ], descends from the long extinct ], a type of dog developed in early 19th century ] for the then popular ] such as ] and ].<ref name=KC-description/><ref name=Fogle/><ref name=Beaufoy/> The Bull and Terrier originated as a cross between the ferocious, thickly muscled ] and the agile, lithe and feisty ].<ref name=KC-description/><ref name=Fogle/><ref name=Beaufoy/> The aggressive Old English Bulldog, bred for ] and ], was often pitted against its own kind in organised dog fights, but it was determined that lighter, faster dogs were better suited for dog fighting than the heavier Bulldog.<ref name=Fogle/><ref name=Beaufoy/> In mid-19th century Victorian England, the dogs were used for fox hunting and ] control, above and below ground, as well as for dog fighting.<ref name="Hinks">{{cite web | title=James Hinks | website=Google Books | url=https://books.google.com/books/about/James_Hinks.html?id=kyX4MgEACAAJ | access-date=2019-05-24| last1=Kane | first1=Kevin | year=2001 }}</ref><ref name=KC-standard/> In an effort to produce a lighter, faster, more agile dog with the courage and tenacity of the Bulldog, breeders outcrossed with local terriers and ultimately achieved success.<ref name=KC-description/><ref name=Fogle/><ref name=Beaufoy/>


===Other theories of origin===
The second less widely held theory is that the Old English Bulldog was not crossed with terriers; rather, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier is a direct descendant derived from generations of selective breeding of early Bulldogs which produced a smaller dog with a more athletic build.<ref name=Beaufoy/><ref name=Hancock/> Some believe the theory is evidentially supported by certain genetic characteristics and similarities in the appearances of modern Staffies when compared to the Old English Bulldogs depicted in some of the early 19th century paintings.<ref name=Beaufoy/><ref name=Hancock/>
]
]
], circa 1909]]
When comparing the centuries-old bull and terrier to the modern Stafford, Joanna de Klerk, DVM, author of ''The Complete Guide to Staffordshire Bull Terriers'' (2019), said that "being so similar to the original Old English Bulldog, which has since been bred beyond recognition, some argue the Staffie originates solely from that breed rather than having any Terrier in the mix."<ref name="Klerk 2019"/>{{rp|8–11}} Part of the confusion and misconceptions about the breed is due to the breed's inconsistent genetic makeup as a result of unregulated breeding practices beginning with the Staffie's origins and continuing much later into its development, well before traceable pedigrees existed. It is generally accepted that the Stafford descended from the 19th-century ]–] crosses that were later bred for ] after ]s were declared illegal.<ref name="Klerk 2019"/>{{rp|8–11}} But it wasn't until the early 20th century, well after ] refined the bull and terrier crosses into what became the English Bull Terrier, that the Stafford eventually emerged, a ] was created, and in 1935, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier was officially recognised by the KC.<ref name="Klerk 2019"/>{{rp|8–11}}


In the spring 2013 issue of The Stafford Knot, Jason Nicolai describes some important evolutionary factors in the breed standards of the Staffordshire Bull Terrier that are "very often misquoted and misunderstood."<ref name="SK-Evolution">{{cite web|url=https://thestaffordknot.com/wp-content/uploads/tsk-library/Evolution-Of-The-Staffordshire-Bull-Terrier-Breed-Standard.pdf | title=''Evolution of The Staffordshire Bull Terrier Breed Standard'' | last=Nicolai | first=Jason | publisher=The Stafford Knot, Inc. | issue = 26 | pages=30–33 | date=2013|access-date=15 February 2022}}</ref> The standard for the modern Stafford aligns with the breed's transformation from its bull and terrier ancestry as a fighting dog to a modern conformation show dog.<ref name="SK-Evolution" /> Some book authors have compared nineteenth-century drawings or paintings to the visual appearances of modern Staffords.&nbsp;Author and Stafford enthusiast, James Beaufoy, wrote in his book ''Staffordshire Bull Terriers: a practical guide for owners and breeders'' (2016) that there is "interesting evidence" in some of the early 19th-century paintings that depict conformation and coat colour similarities of the modern Stafford when compared to the ]. One such painting is by artist ] (1817), titled ''Crib and Rosa''.<ref name="Beaufoy" />
In the mid–19th century, James Hinks crossed the Bull and Terrier with the ] in an effort to achieve a more refined appearance with better legs and a nicer head. A later outcross included the ] and ] which led to the development of the Bull Terrier.<ref name=KC-description/><ref name=Hancock/>


A.W.A Cairns was the editor of the online ''Stafford Magazine''.<ref name="Stafford Mag">{{cite book | title=The Stafford Magazine Winter 1968 | date=January 1968 | publisher=Southern Counties Staffordshire Bull Terrier Society | url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Stafford-Magazine-Winter-1968/dp/B0018HUX2E | access-date=12 February 2022}}</ref> Cairns believed a "Stafford-like animal existed at the turn of the 19th Century" and admitted, with the "possibility for slight prejudice", that "the only modern dog of this type is the Staffordshire Bull Terrier". However, Cairns does clarify that the pedigree inscribed on the plaque of the Crib and Rosa painting, specifically the words "the famous Staffordshire bitch", is not suggesting that it was a Staffordshire Bull Terrier, but that "it could be concluded that animals of that type, existed in that county before 1816."<ref name="KC Gazette 1987" /> The writings of both Cairns and Beaufoy align in that the "Staffordshire Bull Terrier is a relatively 'new breed{{' "}} in the context of when it was first recognised by the KC.<ref name="KC Gazette 1987" />
===Recognition===


In October 1987, Cairns wrote in the ''Kennel Gazette'' that "Kennel Club recognition of the breed is shrouded in mystery. Recognition was announced in the April 1935 ''Kennel Gazette'' in the name of Staffordshire Bull Terrier. There was no explanation as to how this came about. No Breed Club or Breed Standard existed."<ref name="KC Gazette 1987">{{cite web|url=https://thestaffordknot.com/wp-content/uploads/tsk-library/The-History-Of-Staffordshire-Bull-Terriers.pdf|title=''The Stafford'' |last=Cairns |first=A.W.A.| work=Kennel Gazette| publisher=]|date=October 1987|access-date=12 February 2022}}</ref> Cairns also drew attention to the similarities in the Bull Terrier and Stafford in the late 19th century, prior to the downface feature of the modern Bull Terrier: "At that time 'Bull Terriers' could be registered 'Sire, Dam and date of birth unknown', so in effect any dog could be registered as a 'Bull Terrier'. In consequence, many of the dogs registered were found to be, what became known as Staffordshire Bull Terriers."<ref name="KC Gazette 1987" />
Devotees of the original Bull and Terrier type, predominantly located in the ], maintained the original bloodlines and appearance.<ref name=KC-description/><ref name=Beaufoy/><ref name=Hancock/> The name "Staffordshire Bull Terrier" did not appear until 1930 when it began to appear in advertisements for dogs of the type.<ref name=Beaufoy/> Throughout 1932 and 1933 attempts were made to gain The Kennel Club recognition by pioneering breeder Joseph Dunn. In early 1935, the first show was held on the blowing green of the Conservative Club at ] and in May that year, the Kennel Club approved the name "Staffordshire Bull Terrier" (the first name requested, "Original Bull Terrier", was rejected by the Kennel Club).<ref name=KC-description/><ref name=Fogle/><ref name=Beaufoy/> In June 1935, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier Club was formed during a meeting at the Old Cross Guns pub in Cradley Heath. That same day, the breed standards were approved and further shows were held that year.<ref name=Beaufoy/> Other pivotal breeders involved in acquiring breed recognition were Joe Mallen and actor ].<ref name=Beaufoy/> The first champions recognized in England were awarded in 1939 to the bitch Lady Eve and the dog Gentleman Jim.<ref name="Pretoria Staffordshire Bull Terrier Club">{{cite web | title=Breed History | website=Pretoria Staffordshire Bull Terrier Club | url=http://www.psbtc.co.za/history.html | access-date=2019-07-09}}</ref>


===DNA analysis===
In the US, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier Club was organized on January 14, 1967 by Steve Stone.<ref name=NYT-1971>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1971/09/19/archives/a-breed-that-came-up-the-hard-way.html|title=A Breed That Came Up the Hard Way|date=19 September 1971|accessdate=16 May 2019|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref> There were few dogs in the country at that time, most being imports from Canada, New Zealand and other parts of the world. The first attempts to encourage club membership and gain AKC recognition began with the first rally held in the summer of 1967 which resulted in 14 memberships and 8 Staffies registered by the club. By year's end, the count had increased to 39 registered dogs. Dog imports continued, and the number of memberships and registered dogs increased exponentially but it would take nearly a decade of hosting sanctioned shows and demonstrating consistency in the breed standard by responsible breeding before the club would acquire official recognition.<ref name=NYT-1971/><ref name="American Kennel Club 2017">{{cite web | title=Staffordshire Bull Terrier Dog Breed Information | website=American Kennel Club | date=2017-11-06 | url=https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/staffordshire-bull-terrier/ | access-date=2019-05-24}}</ref>
In 2017, a ]-wide study suggested that all of the bull and terrier–type dogs, including the Staffordshire Bull Terrier and five other distinct breeds, map back to the terriers of Ireland and to origins which date to the period 1860–1870. The timing corresponds with historical descriptions of dog fighting competitions in Ireland, a lack of accurate stud book documentation, and, as a result, undocumented dog crosses at the time when these breeds were first created.<ref name="Parker2017">{{cite journal |doi=10.1016/j.celrep.2017.03.079 |pmid=28445722 |pmc=5492993 |title=Genomic Analyses Reveal the Influence of Geographic Origin, Migration, and Hybridization on Modern Dog Breed Development |journal=Cell Reports |volume=19 |issue=4 |pages=697–708 |date=2017 |last1=Parker |first1=Heidi G. |last2=Dreger |first2=Dayna L. |last3=Rimbault |first3=Maud |last4=Davis |first4=Brian W. |last5=Mullen |first5=Alexandra B. |last6=Carpintero-Ramirez |first6=Gretchen |last7=Ostrander |first7=Elaine A.}}</ref><ref name="Pedersen Pooch Liu p.">{{cite journal | last1=Pedersen | first1=Niels C. | last2=Pooch | first2=Ashley S. | last3=Liu | first3=Hongwei | title=A genetic assessment of the English bulldog | journal=Canine Genetics and Epidemiology | publisher=Springer Science and Business Media LLC | volume=3 | issue=1 | date=29 July 2016 | issn=2052-6687 | doi=10.1186/s40575-016-0036-y | page=6| pmid=27478618 | pmc=4965900 | doi-access=free }}</ref><ref name="Potts 2015">{{cite web | last=Potts | first=Lauren | title=Staffordshire bull terriers: A question of class? | website=BBC News | date=24 January 2015 | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-30902078 | access-date=12 February 2022}}</ref>


DNA studies have brought some clarity to the hybridisation mystery of bull and terrier crossbreeding, suggestive of a New World dog within some modern breeds, but they do not positively identify all the breeds that were involved.<ref name="Parker2017" /> As supported by the DNA study, as well as the AKC and KC, references to the historic bull and terrier were not as a bona fide breed;<ref name="AKC-Flaim" /><ref name="Harris 2008" /> rather, the term was used to describe a ] group of dogs that may include ] of different breeds, or crosses of those breeds. Bull and terrier hybrids, or ] types are considered the forerunner of several modern standardised breeds.<ref name="VJ" >{{cite journal | journal=The Veterinary Journal | title=Inconsistent identification of pit bull-type dogs by shelter staff | year=2015 | volume=206 | issue=2 | issn=1090-0233 | doi=10.1016/j.tvjl.2015.07.019 | pages=197–202 | last1=Olson | first1=K.R. | last2=Levy | first2=J.K. | last3=Norby | first3=B. | last4=Crandall | first4=M.M. | last5=Broadhurst | first5=J.E. | last6=Jacks | first6=S. | last7=Barton | first7=R.C. | last8=Zimmerman | first8=M.S. | pmid=26403955 | doi-access=free }}</ref>
The ] (AKC) officially recognized the Staffordshire Bull Terrier Club in 1974, giving it recognition as the official AKC Parent Club representing the Staffordshire Bull Terrier. On March, 5 1974, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier was the 120th breed recognized by the AKC.<ref name="American Kennel Club 2017"/>


===Early protection=== ===Early protection===
The ] made blood sports illegal, and effectively stopped bull and bear baiting in the United Kingdom.<ref name=Fogle/><ref name=Beaufoy/><ref name=Invention/> Bull and bear baiting required large arenas which made it easier for authorities to police, whereas illegal dog fighting was much harder to terminate because fight sponsors kept their venues hidden and closely guarded in private basements and similar locations. As a result, dog fighting continued long after bull and bear baiting had ceased. It wasn't until the ] was passed that organized dog fighting in Britain was effectively terminated.<ref name=Beaufoy/> The ] made blood sports illegal, and effectively stopped bull- and bear-baiting in the UK.<ref name="Beaufoy"/><ref name="Invention"/> Baiting required large arenas which made it easier for authorities to police, whereas illegal dog fighting was much harder to terminate because fight sponsors kept their venues hidden and closely guarded in private basements and similar locations. As a result, dog fighting continued long after bull- and bear-baiting had ceased. It was not until the passage of the ] that organised dog fighting in Britain largely came to an end.<ref name="Beaufoy"/>


==Modern breed== ===The Kennel Club===
] ] 1935]]
]
"The early proto-staffords provided the ancestral foundation stock for the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, the American Pit Bull Terrier and the American Staffordshire Terrier."<ref name="SBT-1935">{{cite web | title=Staffordshire Bull Terrier 1935 - Staffordshire Bull Terrier 1935 | website=Staffordshire Bull Terrier 1935 | url=https://sbt1935.com/staffy/breed-history | access-date=10 September 2022}}</ref><ref name="Read 2013-Cabot Briggs">{{cite book | last=Read | first=Tony | title=The bull terrier in sport and show - history & anecdote | publisher=Vintage Dog Books Made available through hoopla | publication-place=United States | year=2013 | isbn=978-1-4465-4654-3 | oclc=1098628082 | page=}}</ref> In 1930, the name "Staffordshire Bull Terrier" first appeared in advertisements for dogs of the type.<ref name=Beaufoy/> Throughout 1932 and 1933, attempts to achieve Kennel Club recognition for the breed were made by ] judge and breeder, Joseph Dunn, but the Stafford's early origins as a fighting dog made it difficult to gain acceptance.<ref name=KCdescription/><ref name="SK-Link Past to Present">{{cite web|url=https://thestaffordknot.com/wp-content// | title=''Linking The Past To The Present–Pt. 1'' | publisher=Stafford Knot, Inc. | last= Robinson-Cox | first= Clare (Hamason) | page=10 | issue=30 | date=June 2016 | access-date=9 April 2022}}</ref><ref name="Read 2013-Cabot Briggs" /> In early 1935, Dunn obtained permission from the KC to hold a variety dog show to see if it would attract Stafford owners to show their dogs; he offered cash as a special attraction. The show was held in April 1935 and was a success.


In May 1935, the KC approved the name "Staffordshire Bull Terrier"; the first name requested, "Original Bull Terrier", had been rejected.<ref name="KCdescription" /><ref name="Beaufoy" /> Dunn decided to form a club and invited other dog breeders to participate.<ref name="SK-Link Past to Present" /> In June 1935, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier Club was formed during a meeting at the Old Cross Guns pub in Cradley Heath; a breed standard was approved the same day, and further shows were held that year.<ref name="Beaufoy" /> Other pivotal breeders involved in acquiring breed recognition were Joe Mallen and actor ].<ref name="Beaufoy" /> The first champions recognised in England were the bitch Lady Eve and the stud Gentleman Jim in 1939.<ref name="AKC2017" /><ref name="KCSBT">{{cite web |url=https://www.wotdsbtc.org.au/_files/ugd/1e22a9_0028b86db7f741f781b15fa81e414fae.pdf |title=The Staffordshire Bull Terrier and its Ancestors |publisher=Kennel Club |page=7 |date=20 June 2014 |access-date=26 January 2022 |archive-date=27 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220127050042/https://www.wotdsbtc.org.au/_files/ugd/1e22a9_0028b86db7f741f781b15fa81e414fae.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>
===Popularity===
The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is one of the most popular dog breeds in the United Kingdom, Australia, France and New Zealand.<ref name=Potts/><ref name=news.com/><ref name=SCC/><ref name=NZ-Herald/> In 2019, ]’s ''Britain's favourite dogs'' declared the Staffordshire Bull Terrier to be the most popular dog breed in Britain.<ref name=Avis-Riordan/>


Phil Drabble reported that among the various types of bull and terrier, the type from Cradley Heath was recognised as a separate breed to be named the Staffordshire Bull Terrier.<ref name=":2">{{cite book|last=Drabble|first=Phil|title=The Book of the Dog|date=1948|publisher=Borden Publishing Co.|editor-last=Vesey-Fitzgerald|editor-first=Brian|location=Los Angeles|page=669|chapter=Staffordshire Bull Terrier|access-date=2 February 2018|chapter-url=http://www.staffordmall.com/phildrabble.htm|via=Stafford Exchange}}</ref> It was subsequently accepted by ] (KC) in July 1935, marking an official milestone for the Staffordshire Bull Terrier's acceptance into the KC's breed registry.<ref name="SK-Link Past to Present" />
Due in part to its popularity, Staffordshire Bull Terriers have experienced negative impacts from over-breeding. In 2013, the breed accounted for more than a third of the dogs passing through shelters such as ]. They are often associated with ] culture, and tend to attract the negativity associated with it.<ref name=Potts/>
===FCI===
In 1954, the breed was recognised by the ] located in Thuin, Belgium.{{r|fci}}


===Breed-specific legislation=== ===American Kennel Club===
The Staffordshire Bull Terrier, as well as the Bull Terrier and American Staffordshire Terrier, are three distinct modern purebred dogs in the AKC Terrier group, all with a similar ancestry.<ref name="American Kennel Club 2017"/> Historically, the Staffordshire Terriers had arrived in America by the mid-1800s. After their arrival, two distinct breeds were developed, one of which some American breeders developed into a taller, heavier offshoot of the English version which became the American Staffordshire Terrier.<ref name="American Kennel Club 2017-AST">{{cite web |title=American Staffordshire Terrier Dog Breed Information |work=AKC.org |publisher=] |date=6 November 2017 |url= https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/american-staffordshire-terrier/ |access-date=14 July 2019}}</ref>

Initially, the AKC refused to recognise any breeds that were associated with dog fighting.<ref name="American Kennel Club 2017-AST" /><ref name="Flaim 2021-AmStaff">{{cite web |last=Flaim |first=Denise |title=American Staffordshire Terrier History: How the AmStaff Separated from the 'Pit Bull' |work=AKC.org |publisher=] |date=4 February 2021 |url= https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/dog-breeds/american-staffordshire-terrier-history-amstaff/ |access-date=27 January 2022}}</ref> The early Bull Terrier breed developed by James Hinks as a conformation show dog was recognised by the AKC in 1885. It was nearly 50 years later in 1936 that AKC recognised the Staffordshire Terrier, later changing the breed's name to the American Staffordshire Terrier to avoid confusion with the English version.<ref name="Flaim 2021-AmStaff" /><ref name="American Kennel Club 2017-AST" /> In an effort to achieve AKC recognition of the English Stafford, Steve Stone organised the US Staffordshire Bull Terrier Club, 14 January 1967.<ref name=NYT-1971>{{cite news |last=Fletcher |first=Walter R. |url= https://www.nytimes.com/1971/09/19/archives/a-breed-that-came-up-the-hard-way.html |title=A Breed That Came Up the Hard Way |date=19 September 1971 |access-date=16 May 2019 |work=]}}</ref> There were few Staffords in the country at that time, most being imports from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and other parts of the world.

The first attempts to encourage club membership and gain AKC recognition began with a rally held in the summer of 1967 which resulted in 14 memberships and 8 Staffords registered by the club. By year's end, the count had increased to 39 registered dogs. Dog imports continued, and the number of memberships and registered dogs increased but it would take nearly a decade of hosting sanctioned shows and demonstrating consistency in the breed standard by maintaining responsible breeding practices that the club would acquire official AKC recognition.<ref name="American Kennel Club 2017">{{cite web |title=Staffordshire Bull Terrier Dog Breed Information |work=AKC.org |publisher=] |date=6 November 2017 |url= https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/staffordshire-bull-terrier/ |access-date=24 May 2019}}</ref><ref name="NYT-1971" />

In 1974, AKC officially recognised the Staffordshire Bull Terrier Club, giving it recognition as the official AKC Parent Club representing the breed. The first Stafford to be registered and entered into the AKC Stud Book was Ch. Tinkinswood Imperial, an English import. An Australian import, Northwark Becky Sharpe, was the first U.S. champion.<ref name=NYT-1971 /><ref name="SBTCA 2021">{{cite web | title=Breed History | website=Staffordshire Bull Terrier Club of America | date=5 April 2021 | url=https://sbtca.com/the-breed/breed-history/ | access-date=13 February 2022}}</ref>

==Characteristics==
===Appearance===
]
The Stafford is short-haired, and of roughly equal length from the ] to the tail and from the withers to the ground. The coat is short, stiff and close. It may be white; black, blue, fawn or red, all with or without white; or any variety of brindle, with or without white.<ref name=kc /><ref name="Hall" /> It has a broad head; the ears fold at the tip. It is muscular and well-boned, with strong shoulders, a wide chest and wide-set legs. It is agile and quite active. It is a terrier, and is so classified by the Kennel Club and the ].{{r|fci|kc}} The dog usually stands {{convert|36|–|41|cm|in|abbr=on}} at the ]. Dogs weigh about {{convert|13|–|17|kg|lb|abbr=on}}; bitches approximately {{convert|2|kg|lb|abbr=on}} less.{{r|kc}}<ref name="KCdescription" /><ref name=kc />

===Temperament===
The Stafford has a reputation for ]; when challenged by another dog it is known to not back away. They have a mixed reputation in the UK, with some people associating the breed with ]s.<ref name="Hall" /><ref name="Potts 2015" />

==Health==
A 2022 UK study of veterinary records found the breed to have a life expectancy of 11.33 years, slightly below the life expectancy of ]: 11.82 but just above the overall average of 11.23 years.<ref>{{cite journal | last1=Teng | first1=Kendy Tzu-yun | last2=Brodbelt | first2=Dave C. | last3=Pegram | first3=Camilla | last4=Church | first4=David B. | last5=O’Neill | first5=Dan G. | title=Life tables of annual life expectancy and mortality for companion dogs in the United Kingdom | journal=Scientific Reports | publisher=Springer Science and Business Media LLC | volume=12 | issue=1 | date=2022-04-28 | issn=2045-2322 | doi=10.1038/s41598-022-10341-6 | page=6415| pmid=35484374 | pmc=9050668 }}</ref> A 2024 UK study found a life expectancy of 12 years for the breed compared to an average of 12.7 for purebreeds and 12 for ].<ref>{{cite journal | last1=McMillan | first1=Kirsten M. | last2=Bielby | first2=Jon | last3=Williams | first3=Carys L. | last4=Upjohn | first4=Melissa M. | last5=Casey | first5=Rachel A. | last6=Christley | first6=Robert M. | title=Longevity of companion dog breeds: those at risk from early death | journal=Scientific Reports | publisher=Springer Science and Business Media LLC | volume=14 | issue=1 | date=2024-02-01 | issn=2045-2322 | doi=10.1038/s41598-023-50458-w | page=531| pmid=38302530 | pmc=10834484 }}</ref>

A UK study found a predisposition to juvenile onset ] in the Staffordshire Bull Terrier: In dogs under the age of two years 2.14% of Staffords had demodicosis compared to 0.48% overall.<ref>{{cite journal | last1=O'Neill | first1=D. G. | last2=Turgoose | first2=E. | last3=Church | first3=D. B. | last4=Brodbelt | first4=D. C. | last5=Hendricks | first5=A. | title=Juvenile-onset and adult-onset demodicosis in dogs in the UK: prevalence and breed associations | journal=Journal of Small Animal Practice | volume=61 | issue=1 | date=2020 | issn=0022-4510 | pmid=31584708 | pmc=7003809 | doi=10.1111/jsap.13067 | pages=32–41}}</ref> An American study found the same predisposition with 10% of Staffords having the condition compared to 0.58% overall.<ref>{{cite journal | last1=Plant | first1=Jon D. | last2=Lund | first2=Elizabeth M. | last3=Yang | first3=Mingyin | title=A case–control study of the risk factors for canine juvenile-onset generalized demodicosis in the USA | journal=Veterinary Dermatology | volume=22 | issue=1 | date=2011 | issn=0959-4493 | doi=10.1111/j.1365-3164.2010.00922.x | pages=95–99| pmid=20707860 }}</ref>

] identified in the breed include ], ], ] and ].{{r|Da Costa|page=6}} The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is one of the most commonly affected breeds for ].<ref>{{cite book |author1-first=James A.C. |author1-last=Oliver |author2-first=Cathryn S. |author2-last=Mellersh | editor1-first=Barbara | editor1-last=Cooper | editor2-first=Elizabeth |editor2-last=Mullineaux |editor3-first=Lynn | editor3-last=Turner |title=BSAVA Textbook of Veterinary Nursing |date=2020 |publisher=British Small Animal Veterinary Association |isbn=978-1-910-44339-2 |edition=Sixth|chapter=Genetics| page=131}}</ref>

==Popularity and use==
The Stafford is considered a family pet and companion dog, and is among the breeds recommended by the KC for families.<ref name="KCdescription"/><ref name="Cornish 2019">{{cite web |last=Cornish |first=Natalie |title=6 best dog breeds for families with children, according to Kennel Club |work=Country Living |date=26 April 2019 |url= https://www.countryliving.com/uk/wildlife/dog-breeds/a25945638/best-dog-breeds-families-with-children/ |access-date=24 July 2019}}</ref> Relative to the breed's ancestral progenitors, the AKC states: "From his brawling past, the muscular but agile Staffordshire Bull Terrier retains the traits of courage and tenacity. Happily, good breeding transformed this former gladiator into a mild, playful companion with a special feel for kids."<ref name="American Kennel Club 2017"/>

In the decade 2011–2020, annual registrations with the KC fell from about 7000 to about 5000; in 2019 and 2020 it had the highest number of registrations in the Terrier group.{{r|KCstats}} It is among the most frequently registered breeds in Australia, France, and New Zealand.<ref name="Potts 2015" /><ref name="News.com.au" /><ref name="SCC" /><ref name="NZ-Herald" /> In the United States, it was in 81st place on an AKC list of registrations by number in 2020.{{r|akc}}

==Pit bull comparisons==
Modern Staffords are often confused with the fighting ] because they share common ancestors that date back to the early 1800s when pit fighting was a popular sport. As a result, Staffords are considered among the breeds with a stigma attached relative to the "]",<ref name="Potts 2015" /> and have been termed "]s".<ref name="Unleashed: The Phenomena of Status Dogs and Weapon Dogs">{{cite book |last1=Harding |first1=Simon |title=Unleashed: The Phenomena of Status Dogs and Weapon Dogs |date=1 February 2014 |publisher=] |isbn=978-1-4473-1620-6 |pages=53 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SU_qAgAAQBAJ |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Dangerous 'status' dogs on the rise">{{cite news |last1=Iqbal |first1=Nomia |title=Dangerous 'status' dogs on the rise |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/hi/the_p_word/newsid_8060000/8060207.stm |access-date=16 September 2022 |work=] |date=21 May 2009}}</ref> Globally, pit bull-types including Staffordshire Bull Terriers have made local news for acts of aggression, but breed advocates have raised questions about the veracity of visual breed identification, and media hype.<ref name="Washington Post 2012">{{cite news | title=Experts say 'pit bulls' don't exist | newspaper=Washington Post | date=28 August 2012 | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/experts-say-pit-bulls-dont-exist/2012/08/28/b0c410b8-f14c-11e1-b74c-84ed55e0300b_story.html | access-date=3 March 2022}}</ref><ref name="Adventure 2016">{{cite web | title=The Most Feared Dogs May Also Be the Most Misunderstood | website=Adventure | date=3 July 2016 | url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/article/pit-bull-ban-aggressive-dog-breed-bronwen-dickey | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210226142821/https://www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/article/pit-bull-ban-aggressive-dog-breed-bronwen-dickey | url-status=dead | archive-date=26 February 2021 | access-date=3 March 2022}}</ref> News reports often treat the breed as one that attacks other dogs.<ref>{{cite journal|url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1558787820301131|title=Dog bites dog: The use of news media articles to investigate dog-on-dog aggression|journal=Journal of Veterinary Behavior|first1=V. Tamara|last1=Montrose|first2=Keith|last2=Squibb|first3=Susan|last3=Hazel|first4=Lori R.|last4=Kogan|first5=James A.|last5=Oxley|volume=40|pages=7–15|date=November–December 2020|doi=10.1016/j.jveb.2020.08.002 |s2cid=225394613 }}</ref> Similar breeds have been associated with bites to humans.<ref>{{cite journal|url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0165587618305950|title=Dog bite injuries to the face: Is there risk with breed ownership? A systematic review with meta-analysis|journal=International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology|first1=Garth F.|last1=Essig Jr.|first2=Cameron|last2=Sheehan|first3=Shefali|last3=Rikhi|first4=Charles A.|last4=Elmaraghy|first5=J. Jared|last5=Christophel|volume=117|pages=182–188|date=February 2019|doi=10.1016/j.ijporl.2018.11.028 |pmid=30579079 |s2cid=57740754 }}</ref>

Early DNA research found some genetic links between breed and behaviour. A 2022 study from the ] described in detail how ] in the dog ] are associated with behavioural traits of various breeds.<ref name=Dutrow>{{cite journal|title=Domestic dog lineages reveal genetic drivers of behavioral diversification|first1=Emily V.|last1=Dutrow|first2=James A.|last2=Serpell|first3=Elaine A.|last3=Ostrander|journal=Cell|date=December 8, 2022|volume=85|issue=25|pages=4737–55|doi=10.1016/j.cell.2022.11.003|pmid=36493753 |pmc=10478034 |s2cid=254386051 }}</ref> They found heritable patterns in terriers "consistent with working roles involving catching and killing prey".<ref name=Dutrow/> Another 2022 study, from the ], concluded that most behavioural traits are heritable whereas behaviour "only subtly differentiates breeds".<ref name="Karlsson-2022">{{cite journal | last1=Morrill | first1=Kathleen | last2=Hekman | first2=Jessica | last3=Li | first3=Xue | last4=McClure | first4=Jesse | last5=Logan | first5=Brittney | last6=Goodman | first6=Linda | last7=Gao | first7=Mingshi | last8=Dong | first8=Yinan | last9=Alonso | first9=Marjie | last10=Carmichael | first10=Elena | last11=Snyder-Mackler | first11=Noah | last12=Alonso | first12=Jacob | last13=Noh | first13=Hyun Ji | last14=Johnson | first14=Jeremy | last15=Koltookian | first15=Michele | last16=Lieu | first16=Charlie | last17=Megquier | first17=Kate | last18=Swofford | first18=Ross | last19=Turner-Maier | first19=Jason | last20=White | first20=Michelle E. | last21=Weng | first21=Zhiping | last22=Colubri | first22=Andrés | last23=Genereux | first23=Diane P. | last24=Lord | first24=Kathryn A. | last25=Karlsson | first25=Elinor K. | title=Ancestry-inclusive dog genomics challenges popular breed stereotypes | journal=Science | publisher=American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) | volume=376 | issue=6592 | date=29 April 2022 | pages=eabk0639 | issn=0036-8075 | doi=10.1126/science.abk0639 | pmid=35482869 | pmc=9675396 | s2cid=248430592 }}</ref> That study found that dog breeds that have been stereotyped as being aggressive, such as pit bull types, were not more aggressive than other dogs. The results of that paper indicate that dog behaviour is primarily "shaped by their environment, not their breed".<ref name = "Science-2022 DNA study">{{cite web|url=https://www.science.org/content/article/your-dog-s-breed-doesn-t-determine-its-personality-study-suggests|title=Your dog's breed doesn't determine its personality, study suggests|publisher=AAAS|last=Grimm|first=David|date=28 April 2022|access-date=15 June 2022}}</ref>
{{clear}}

==Breed-specific legislation==
{{main|Breed-specific legislation}} {{main|Breed-specific legislation}}
]
A number of ] and ]s around the world have placed restrictions on the ownership of the "pit bull class" of dogs.<ref name=DB>{{cite web|url=https://www.dogsbite.org/legislating-dangerous-dogs-state-by-state.php |title=International BSL|publisher=DogsBite.org|access-date=9 July 2018}}</ref> The pit bull class typically comprise a variety of different breeds, including the English Bull Terrier, ], ], and Staffordshire Bull Terrier. Some areas also regulate or restrict other breeds such as Dalmatian, ], ], ], ], ] ], and any mix or even a resemblance of those dogs.<ref name=ASPCA/> In the USA, the ASPCA is opposed to breed-specific legislation, referring to it as "breed-discriminatory laws". In the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand, Staffies are not restricted by any breed-specific legislation.<ref name=Potts/>
In 2018, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (]) lobbied the ] to have the breed added to the list of restricted dog breeds in the ]. The ], the KC, ], ], and the Battersea Dogs & Cats Home all objected to the proposal. The proposal was rejected by Parliament;<ref name="Rodger 2018">{{cite web | last=Rodger | first=James | title=Government ruling on petition to add Staffies to Dangerous Dogs Act | website=CoventryLive | date=2018-07-19 | url=https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/uk-world-news/government-delivers-ruling-petition-add-14921613 | access-date=2022-09-18}}</ref> therefore, Staffords are not banned under the UK's Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.<ref name="Potts 2015" /><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1991/1743/made/data.htm |title=The Dangerous Dogs (Designated Types) Order 1991 No. 1743 |website=www.legislation.gov.uk}}</ref>


In the United States, dogs that are often defined as pit bulls and commonly banned in some counties include American Pit Bull Terriers, Staffords, American Staffordshire Terriers, and Bull Terriers.<ref name="Animal Legal & Historical Center 2012">{{cite web | title=Overview of Breed Specific Legislation (BSL) Ordinances | website=Animal Legal & Historical Center | date=1 January 2012 | url=https://www.animallaw.info/article/overview-breed-specific-legislation-bsl-ordinances#:~:text=While%20American%20Pit%20Bull%20Terriers,another%20hand%2C%20other%20municipalities%20and | access-date=3 March 2022}}</ref> The ] and ] are among several agencies and organisations that have stood in opposition to the "theory underlying ]—that some breeds bite more often and cause more damage than others, ergo laws targeting these breeds will decrease bite incidence and severity" as they do not believe it has been successful in practice.<ref name="ASPCA 2006">{{cite web | title=Position Statement on Breed-Specific Legislation | website=ASPCA | date=6 September 2006 | url=https://www.aspca.org/about-us/aspca-policy-and-position-statements/position-statement-breed-specific-legislation | access-date=3 March 2022}}</ref> As of June 2017, there were 21 states in the US that prohibited breed-specific legislation.<ref name="TODAY.com 2017">{{cite web | title=What is a pit bull? (Hint: It's not actually a breed) | website=TODAY.com | date=27 October 2017 | url=https://www.today.com/pets/what-pit-bull-it-s-not-actually-dog-breed-t118066 | access-date=3 March 2022}}</ref><ref name="Animal Legal & Historical Center 2021">{{cite web | title=Overview of States that Prohibit BSL | website=Animal Legal & Historical Center | date=1 January 2021 | url=https://www.animallaw.info/article/overview-states-prohibit-bsl | access-date=3 March 2022}}</ref>
AKC considers ] "a slippery slope" stating that "any dog can be exploited and trained to be aggressive" and expressed concern because they believe "breed-specific bans ultimately punish responsible dog owners, while doing very little to actually punish irresponsible owners."<ref name="Relations 2018">{{cite web | last=Relations | first=AKC Government | title=Why Breed Bans Affect You – American Kennel Club | website=American Kennel Club | date=2018-02-01 | url=https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/news/breed-bans-affect/ | access-date=2019-05-24}}</ref> In 2018 ] lobbied the British Parliament to have the Staffordshire Bull Terrier added to the list of dog breeds covered by the ] but the idea was rejected by parliament, the ], the Kennel Club, ], ] and the Battersea Dogs & Cats Home; all objected to the proposed ban.<ref name=Winter/>


====Irish Staffordshire Bull Terrier==== ===Irish Staffordshire Bull Terrier misnomer===
In the United Kingdom, ] are sometimes advertised as "Irish" Staffordshire Bull Terriers in an attempt to circumvent the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.<ref name=Foggo-Lusher/> The appearance of the Irish Staffordshire, which is not recognised by any ] or breed registry, is attributed by the RSPCA to be contributing "to a rise in incidents of dog fighting". The editor of '']'' magazine described the breed as "complete fiction".<ref name=Foggo-Lusher/> In the UK, American Pit Bull Terriers are sometimes advertised as "Irish Staffordshire Bull Terrier" in an attempt to circumvent the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.<ref name="Foggo-Lusher" /> The Irish Staffordshire Bull Terrier is not recognised as a breed by the ] or any other kennel club.<ref name="IKC-2014">{{cite web |title=Native Breeds of Ireland |website=The Irish Kennel Club |date=16 June 2014 |url= https://www.ikc.ie/dog-ownership/types-of-dog/breeds/native-breeds-of-ireland/ |access-date=15 December 2020}}</ref>


==Notable animals== ==Notable dogs==
* ] – since 1882, the military mascot of the ].<ref>{{cite news |title=Funeral held for mascot dog of Staffordshire Regimental Association |url=https://www.itv.com/news/central/2022-01-31/funeral-held-for-mascot-dog-of-staffordshire-regimental-association |access-date=13 September 2022 |work=] |date=31 January 2022 |language=en}}</ref>
* Jock – a Staffordshire Bull Terrier cross, subject of ] book '']''.<ref name=FitzPatrick/>
* Jock – a Stafford cross, subject of ] book '']'' (1907).<ref name=FitzPatrick/><ref>{{cite news |last1=Hepburn |first1=David |title=10 fun and fascinating dog facts about adorable Staffordshire Bull Terrier breed of dog |url=https://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/family-and-parenting/staffy-trivia-file-these-are-10-fun-and-fascinating-dog-acts-about-the-adorable-staffordshire-bull-terrier-breed-3368333 |access-date=13 September 2022 |work=] |date=5 September 2022 |language=en}}</ref>
* Cooper – a Staffordshire Bull Terrier adopted in March 2018 by the Staffordshire Police for training as a ], the first of this breed in the UK.<ref name=Diebelius/>
* Cooper – adopted in 2018 by the ], the first of the breed in that police force. He worked as ] until 2022, visited schools and appeared on '']''.<ref name="Popular Staffordshire">{{cite news |title=Popular Staffordshire Police drug-search dog retires |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cpwe4ed99n8o |access-date=16 September 2022 |work=BBC News |date=8 September 2022}}</ref>


==Gallery== ==Gallery==
<center><big>'''Images depicting standard colors and body shapes of Staffies.'''</big></center> {{center|'''Images depicting standard colours and body shapes of Staffords'''}}
<gallery mode="packed-hover"> <gallery mode="packed-hover">
File:Staffie.jpg |Red & white File:Staffie.jpg|Red & white
File:StaffBull.JPG|black
File:GLIMMER MAN Domidar Dogs.jpg |Black
File:Staffordshire-bull-terrier-white-2748733.jpg
File:סאטף אנגלי.jpg |White & black
File:NATCHEZ 300.jpeg | Red File:NATCHEZ 300.jpeg|Red
File:Staf LM.jpg | Brindle File:Staf LM.jpg|Brindle
File:Staffordshire Bull Terrier, called "King".jpg|Blue
File:StaffBull.JPG |Black
File:Staffordshire Bull Terrier, called "King".jpg File:Brindle & white Staffordshire Bull Terrier (AKA Essie).jpg|Brindle &white
File:Brindle & white Staffordshire Bull Terrier (AKA Essie).jpg |Brindle & white File:Fawn Staffordshire bull terrier.jpg|Fawn
File:Staford g75.jpg|Black Brindle
File:Staffordshire Bull Terrier "Chaman".jpg |Fawn
File:Staford g75.jpg |Liver
File:J.M. Crossland - Staffordshire bull terrier belonging to the Rev. John Gower - Google Art Project.jpg |Fawn, cropped ears
File:Staffy-949999-1920.jpg |White & black, ears not cropped
</gallery> </gallery>

==See also==
* {{Portal-inline|Dogs}}
{{clear|right}}


==References== ==References==
{{Commons category}}
{{Reflist|refs=
{{reflist|30em|refs=

<ref name="akc">Reisen, Jan (16 March 2021). . American Kennel Club. Accessed June 2021.</ref>

<!--ref name="ASPCA">], , retrieved 19 March 2019.</ref-->

<!--ref name="Avis-Riordan">Katie Avis-Riordan, , retrieved 17 March 2019.</ref-->


<ref name="Beaufoy">{{cite book |last=Beaufoy |first=James |date=2016 |title=Staffordshire Bull Terriers: a practical guide for owners and breeders |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=6pk5DAAAQBAJ&q=Staffordshire+Bull+Terriers:+a+practical+guide+for+owners+and+breeders |location=Ramsbury, Wiltshire |publisher=Crowood Press |isbn=9781785000973}}</ref>
<ref name=ASPCA>], , retrieved 19 March 2019.</ref>


<!-- <ref name="Mellersh">Cathryn S. Mellersh, Louise Pettitt, Oliver P. Forman, Mark Vaudin, Keith C. Barnett (2006). . ''Veterinary Ophthalmology''. '''9''' (5): 369–378. {{doi|10.1111/j.1463-5224.2006.00496.x}}</ref> -->
<ref name=Avis-Riordan>Katie Avis-Riordan, , retrieved 17 March 2019.</ref>


<!--<ref name="Diebelius">Georgia Diebelius, , published 19 November 2018.</ref>-->
<ref name=Beaufoy>James Beaufoy, ''Staffordshire Bull Terriers: a practical guide for owners and breeders'', Ramsbury, Wiltshire: The Crowood Press Ltd., 2016, {{ISBN|9781785000973}}.</ref>


<ref name=fci>. Fédération Cynologique Internationale. Accessed June 2021.</ref>
<ref name=Diebelius>Georgia Diebelius, , published 19 November 2018.</ref>


<ref name=FitzPatrick>], '']'', London: Longmans & Co., 1907.</ref> <ref name="FitzPatrick">], '']'', London: Longmans & Co., 1907.</ref>


<ref name=Foggo-Lusher>Daniel Foggo and Adam Lusher, , published 2 June 2002. ( 3 August 2018).</ref> <ref name="Foggo-Lusher">Daniel Foggo and Adam Lusher, , published 2 June 2002. ( 3 August 2018).</ref>


<ref name=Fogle>Dr Bruce Fogle, ''The encyclopedia of the dog'', New York: DK Publishing, 2009, {{ISBN|978-0-7566-6004-8}}.</ref> <ref name="Hall">Derek Hall, ''The ultimate guide to dog breeds: a useful means of identifying the dog breeds of the world and how to care for them'', Buntingford: Regency House Publishing Ltd., 2016, {{ISBN|978-0-7858-3441-0}}.</ref>


<!-- Not in use
<ref name=Hall>Derek Hall, ''The ultimate guide to dog breeds: a useful means of identifying the dog breeds of the world and how to care for them'', Buntingford: Regency House Publishing Ltd., 2016, {{ISBN|978-0-7858-3441-0}}.</ref>
<ref name="Hoffman">{{cite journal |last1=Hoffman |first1=Christy L. |last2=Harrison |first2=Natalie |last3=Wolff |first3=London |last4=Westgarth |first4=Carri |title=Is that dog a pit bull? A cross-country comparison of perceptions of shelter workers regarding breed identification |journal=Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science |year=2014 |volume=17 |issue=4 |pages=322–339 |doi=10.1080/10888705.2014.895904 |pmid=24673506 |pmc=4160292 }}</ref>
Not in use-->


<ref name="KCdescription">. ]. Archived 16 April 2021.</ref>
<ref name=Hancock>David Hancock, ''Sporting terriers: their form, their function and their future'', Ramsbury, Wiltshire: The Crowood Press Ltd., 2009, {{ISBN|978-0-7566-6004-8}}.</ref>


<ref name=KC-description>], , retrieved 17 March 2019.</ref> <!--ref name="KC-health">], , retrieved 19 March 2019.</ref-->


<ref name=KC-health>], , retrieved 19 March 2019.</ref> <ref name=kc>], . The Kennel Club. Archived 1 May 2019.</ref>


<ref name=KC-standard>], , retrieved 17 March 2019.</ref> <ref name="KCstats">. The Kennel Club. Archived 2 June 2021.</ref>


<ref name=NZ-Herald>], , published 22 May 2017.</ref> <ref name="NZ-Herald">], , published 22 May 2017.</ref>


<ref name=news.com>], , published 2 February 2017.</ref> <ref name="News.com.au">], , published 2 February 2017.</ref>


<ref name="Da Costa">Ronaldo C. Da Costa, Curtis W. Dewey (2015). , third edition, ebook. Ames, Iowa: John Wiley & Sons. {{isbn|9781119062042}}.</ref>
<ref name=Potts>Lauren Potts, , published 24 January 2015.</ref>


<ref name=SCC>], , published 12 February 2019.</ref> <ref name="SCC">], , published 12 February 2019.</ref>


<ref name="Invention">Michael Worboys, Julie-Marie Strange & Neil Pemberton, ''The invention of the modern dog: breed and blood in Victorian Britain'', Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2018, {{ISBN|9781421426587}}.</ref>
<ref name=Winter>Stuart Winter, , published 18 July 2018.</ref>


<ref name="Hancock">{{cite book |last=Hancock |first=David |date=2011 |title=Sporting terriers: their form, their function and their future |location=Ramsbury, Marlborough |publisher=The Crowood Press Ltd |pages=60–66 |isbn=978-1-84797-303-0 }}</ref>
<ref name=Invention>Michael Worboys, Julie-Marie Strange & Neil Pemberton, ''The invention of the modern dog: breed and blood in Victorian Britain'', Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2018, {{ISBN|9781421426587}}.</ref>


}} }}


==External links== ==External links==
* - Staffordshire Bull Terrier history, statistics, links etc.
{{Commonscat}}
* * - Staffordshire Bull Terrier UK Club
* - Staffordshire Bull Terrier Pedigree Search Engine
* {{dmoz|Recreation/Pets/Dogs/Breeds/Terrier_Group/Staffordshire_Bull_Terrier/}}
<!-- DO NOT ADD PRIVATE BREEDERS OR ADVERTISING; IT WILL BE REMOVED -->
<!--Editors: breed registry, club, rescue, and kennel information links are placed on DMOZ, not here-->


{{Terriers}} {{Terriers}}

Latest revision as of 19:55, 12 December 2024

British breed of dog Not to be confused with Bull Terrier or American Staffordshire Terrier.

Dog breed
Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Common nicknames
  • Stafford
  • Staffy
OriginUnited Kingdom
Foundation stock
Traits
Height 36–41 cm (14–16 in)
Weight Males 13–17 kg (29–37 lb)
Females 11–15.4 kg (24–34 lb)
Coat smooth, short, and close
Colour white; black, blue, fawn, or red, all with or without white; any variety of brindle, with or without white
Litter size 5-7
Kennel club standards
KC standard
Fédération Cynologique Internationale standard
Dog (domestic dog)

The Staffordshire Bull Terrier, also called the Staffy or Stafford, is a purebred dog of small to medium size in the terrier group that originated in the northern parts of Birmingham and in the Black Country of Staffordshire, for which it is named. They descended from 19th-century bull terriers that were developed by crossing bulldogs with various terriers to create a generic type of dog generally known as bull and terriers. Staffords share the same ancestry with the modern Bull Terrier, although the two breeds developed along independent lines, and do not resemble each other. Modern Staffords more closely resemble the old type of bull terrier, and were first recognised as a purebred dog breed by The Kennel Club of Great Britain in 1935.

Within the broad sweep of dog history, the story behind the modern Stafford is rather brief and somewhat confusing because of the multiple aliases attached to these dogs in centuries past, such as the "Patched Fighting Terrier", "Staffordshire Pit-dog", "Brindle Bull", and "Bull-and-Terrier". Similar crosses also had aliases such as half-and-halves and half-breds. Blood sports such as bull-baiting and bear-baiting were outlawed with the passing of the Cruelty to Animals Act 1835 by Parliament, making it illegal to bait animals but promoting the matching of dogs against each other. Dog breeders migrated away from the heavier bulldogs, and introduced terrier blood into their crosses for gameness and agility. These bull and terrier crosses produced the ancestral breeding stock that, over the course of decades, evolved into the modern conformation show dogs we know today as the Staffordshire Bull Terrier and the Bull Terrier. It was shortly before the American Civil War that immigrants from Great Britain brought their bull and terrier crossbreeds into the U.S. They became the ancestral progenitors of the American Staffordshire Terrier (AmStaff), Miniature Bull Terrier, Boston Terrier, and American Pit Bull Terrier.

History

Staffordshire bull terrier by J. M. Crossland (1799–1858)

The unregulated breeding history and inconsistent genetic makeup of the Stafford's early ancestry have led to misconceptions about its origins. Individual types and styles of crossbred dogs varied by geographic region. For example, the progeny from one area may have a higher percentage of terrier than bulldog, whereas other reports claim that bulldog to terrier was preferred over bull and terrier to bull terrier. Dog breeders made careful selections to reinforce inheritable traits from specific dog types. Many of the mixed breed types, or mongrels that were used to create the early fighting dogs have long since evolved and stabilised into the modern purebred dogs we know today. Many of the desirable phylogenetic traits of the breed's ancestry have been preserved and further refined by selective breeding to better suit the Stafford's modern purpose as a conformation show dog, while the unwanted traits have been bred out.

Two Bull Terriers

The dog and its races, 1876. left column: English Mastiff, Dalmatian Shepherd Dog, Pug; right column: Danish Mastiff, Bull-dog

In the mid–19th century, bull and terrier hybrids were known by several different aliases, such as the Patched Fighting Terrier, Staffordshire Pit-dog, Brindle Bull, and Bull-and-Terrier. They were also referred to as half-and-halfs, half-breds, or more commonly as the bull and terrier, although they were not true breeds in the same sense that modern dog breeds are known. However, at least six modern breeds can trace their ancestry to the bull and terrier crosses. Another common name used for bull and terrier was simply Bull Terrier, which became the name for the new breed that James Hinks developed. Hinks used various undocumented outcrosses, including Dalmatians and Collies, that devotees of the original strain considered undesirable. They chose instead to remain loyal to their preferred type. As a result, two different breeds of Bull Terriers emerged: the Bull Terrier, nicknamed the White Cavalier, and the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, named for the county where it was developed. The Bull Terrier's fighting heritage was left behind whereas breeders of Staffordshire Bull Terriers in the UK continued their illegal competitions which paralleled what was happening in the U.S. with the American Staffordshire Terrier; neither breed could gain official acceptance in their respective native lands. Journalist and dog expert Denise Flaim stated succinctly: "No established registry wanted to be affiliated with a dog that drew the blood of its own kind for a living."

Recognition as a purebred

Traceable pedigrees did not exist prior to the founding of The Kennel Club (KC) in 1873, which was initially formed by a group of dog show fanciers who wanted to preserve the reputation of dog shows, while at the same time, avoid breeder fraud by establishing a dog's identity and documenting its pedigree. The first volume of The Kennel Club Stud Book was published in 1874, and included a list of dog shows and names of dogs that were exhibited at each show, beginning with the first dog show in 1859. Bull Terriers, and Bulldogs were also recognised and included in the first volume. However, it was not until 1935 that the Staffordshire Bull Terrier was officially recognised by the KC. It was much later, in 1974, that the American Kennel Club (AKC) accepted the Staffordshire Bull Terrier into its breed registry as its 121st official breed.

Shared ancestry

Dustman, bull and terrier, Benjamin Marshall 1804

Of the six distinct breeds that descended from the bull and terrier breeds, five are recognised by the AKC in the following order: Bull Terrier, Boston Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier (AmStaff), Staffordshire Bull Terrier, and Miniature Bull Terrier. The same five breeds are also recognised by the Canadian Kennel Club (CKC). The KC recognises only four of the breeds and does not accept the AmStaff or American Pit Bull Terrier (APBT). The APBT is recognised by the United Kennel Club (UKC).

The KC, which was the first breed registry to accept the newly developed Staffordshire Bull Terrier into its Stud Book, stated that the breed "shares the same ancestry as the Bull Terrier, i.e. Bulldog crossed with the Black and Tan terrier, and was developed as a fighting dog." They further acknowledged that because of the dog's "early association with fighting it was, for some time, difficult to get recognition for the breed and it was not until the 1930s that The Kennel Club recognised the breed." The Canadian Kennel Club (CKC) did not recognise the Stafford until 1952, and afforded more credence to the breed's bull and terrier heritage: "The Bull and Terrier might have disappeared if not for a group of fanciers led by Joseph Dunn, who appreciated the dogs for their own sakes and persuaded The Kennel Club (England) to recognise the breed as the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, the name of the English county where the breed was most popular."

Other theories of origin

Bulldog and two Bull Terriers circa 19th century
"Crib and Rosa" circa 1817 Abraham Cooper (1787–1868)
Bull Terrier by Maud Earl, circa 1909

When comparing the centuries-old bull and terrier to the modern Stafford, Joanna de Klerk, DVM, author of The Complete Guide to Staffordshire Bull Terriers (2019), said that "being so similar to the original Old English Bulldog, which has since been bred beyond recognition, some argue the Staffie originates solely from that breed rather than having any Terrier in the mix." Part of the confusion and misconceptions about the breed is due to the breed's inconsistent genetic makeup as a result of unregulated breeding practices beginning with the Staffie's origins and continuing much later into its development, well before traceable pedigrees existed. It is generally accepted that the Stafford descended from the 19th-century bulldogterrier crosses that were later bred for dog fighting after blood sports were declared illegal. But it wasn't until the early 20th century, well after selective breeding refined the bull and terrier crosses into what became the English Bull Terrier, that the Stafford eventually emerged, a breed standard was created, and in 1935, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier was officially recognised by the KC.

In the spring 2013 issue of The Stafford Knot, Jason Nicolai describes some important evolutionary factors in the breed standards of the Staffordshire Bull Terrier that are "very often misquoted and misunderstood." The standard for the modern Stafford aligns with the breed's transformation from its bull and terrier ancestry as a fighting dog to a modern conformation show dog. Some book authors have compared nineteenth-century drawings or paintings to the visual appearances of modern Staffords. Author and Stafford enthusiast, James Beaufoy, wrote in his book Staffordshire Bull Terriers: a practical guide for owners and breeders (2016) that there is "interesting evidence" in some of the early 19th-century paintings that depict conformation and coat colour similarities of the modern Stafford when compared to the Old English Bulldog. One such painting is by artist Abraham Cooper (1817), titled Crib and Rosa.

A.W.A Cairns was the editor of the online Stafford Magazine. Cairns believed a "Stafford-like animal existed at the turn of the 19th Century" and admitted, with the "possibility for slight prejudice", that "the only modern dog of this type is the Staffordshire Bull Terrier". However, Cairns does clarify that the pedigree inscribed on the plaque of the Crib and Rosa painting, specifically the words "the famous Staffordshire bitch", is not suggesting that it was a Staffordshire Bull Terrier, but that "it could be concluded that animals of that type, existed in that county before 1816." The writings of both Cairns and Beaufoy align in that the "Staffordshire Bull Terrier is a relatively 'new breed'" in the context of when it was first recognised by the KC.

In October 1987, Cairns wrote in the Kennel Gazette that "Kennel Club recognition of the breed is shrouded in mystery. Recognition was announced in the April 1935 Kennel Gazette in the name of Staffordshire Bull Terrier. There was no explanation as to how this came about. No Breed Club or Breed Standard existed." Cairns also drew attention to the similarities in the Bull Terrier and Stafford in the late 19th century, prior to the downface feature of the modern Bull Terrier: "At that time 'Bull Terriers' could be registered 'Sire, Dam and date of birth unknown', so in effect any dog could be registered as a 'Bull Terrier'. In consequence, many of the dogs registered were found to be, what became known as Staffordshire Bull Terriers."

DNA analysis

In 2017, a genome-wide study suggested that all of the bull and terrier–type dogs, including the Staffordshire Bull Terrier and five other distinct breeds, map back to the terriers of Ireland and to origins which date to the period 1860–1870. The timing corresponds with historical descriptions of dog fighting competitions in Ireland, a lack of accurate stud book documentation, and, as a result, undocumented dog crosses at the time when these breeds were first created.

DNA studies have brought some clarity to the hybridisation mystery of bull and terrier crossbreeding, suggestive of a New World dog within some modern breeds, but they do not positively identify all the breeds that were involved. As supported by the DNA study, as well as the AKC and KC, references to the historic bull and terrier were not as a bona fide breed; rather, the term was used to describe a heterogeneous group of dogs that may include purebreds of different breeds, or crosses of those breeds. Bull and terrier hybrids, or pit bull types are considered the forerunner of several modern standardised breeds.

Early protection

The Cruelty to Animals Act 1835 made blood sports illegal, and effectively stopped bull- and bear-baiting in the UK. Baiting required large arenas which made it easier for authorities to police, whereas illegal dog fighting was much harder to terminate because fight sponsors kept their venues hidden and closely guarded in private basements and similar locations. As a result, dog fighting continued long after bull- and bear-baiting had ceased. It was not until the passage of the Protection of Animals Act 1911 that organised dog fighting in Britain largely came to an end.

The Kennel Club

First ever Staffordshire Bull Terrier show, Cradley Heath 1935

"The early proto-staffords provided the ancestral foundation stock for the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, the American Pit Bull Terrier and the American Staffordshire Terrier." In 1930, the name "Staffordshire Bull Terrier" first appeared in advertisements for dogs of the type. Throughout 1932 and 1933, attempts to achieve Kennel Club recognition for the breed were made by dog-show judge and breeder, Joseph Dunn, but the Stafford's early origins as a fighting dog made it difficult to gain acceptance. In early 1935, Dunn obtained permission from the KC to hold a variety dog show to see if it would attract Stafford owners to show their dogs; he offered cash as a special attraction. The show was held in April 1935 and was a success.

In May 1935, the KC approved the name "Staffordshire Bull Terrier"; the first name requested, "Original Bull Terrier", had been rejected. Dunn decided to form a club and invited other dog breeders to participate. In June 1935, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier Club was formed during a meeting at the Old Cross Guns pub in Cradley Heath; a breed standard was approved the same day, and further shows were held that year. Other pivotal breeders involved in acquiring breed recognition were Joe Mallen and actor Tom Walls. The first champions recognised in England were the bitch Lady Eve and the stud Gentleman Jim in 1939.

Phil Drabble reported that among the various types of bull and terrier, the type from Cradley Heath was recognised as a separate breed to be named the Staffordshire Bull Terrier. It was subsequently accepted by The Kennel Club (KC) in July 1935, marking an official milestone for the Staffordshire Bull Terrier's acceptance into the KC's breed registry.

FCI

In 1954, the breed was recognised by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale located in Thuin, Belgium.

American Kennel Club

The Staffordshire Bull Terrier, as well as the Bull Terrier and American Staffordshire Terrier, are three distinct modern purebred dogs in the AKC Terrier group, all with a similar ancestry. Historically, the Staffordshire Terriers had arrived in America by the mid-1800s. After their arrival, two distinct breeds were developed, one of which some American breeders developed into a taller, heavier offshoot of the English version which became the American Staffordshire Terrier.

Initially, the AKC refused to recognise any breeds that were associated with dog fighting. The early Bull Terrier breed developed by James Hinks as a conformation show dog was recognised by the AKC in 1885. It was nearly 50 years later in 1936 that AKC recognised the Staffordshire Terrier, later changing the breed's name to the American Staffordshire Terrier to avoid confusion with the English version. In an effort to achieve AKC recognition of the English Stafford, Steve Stone organised the US Staffordshire Bull Terrier Club, 14 January 1967. There were few Staffords in the country at that time, most being imports from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and other parts of the world.

The first attempts to encourage club membership and gain AKC recognition began with a rally held in the summer of 1967 which resulted in 14 memberships and 8 Staffords registered by the club. By year's end, the count had increased to 39 registered dogs. Dog imports continued, and the number of memberships and registered dogs increased but it would take nearly a decade of hosting sanctioned shows and demonstrating consistency in the breed standard by maintaining responsible breeding practices that the club would acquire official AKC recognition.

In 1974, AKC officially recognised the Staffordshire Bull Terrier Club, giving it recognition as the official AKC Parent Club representing the breed. The first Stafford to be registered and entered into the AKC Stud Book was Ch. Tinkinswood Imperial, an English import. An Australian import, Northwark Becky Sharpe, was the first U.S. champion.

Characteristics

Appearance

Staffordshire Bull Terrier puppy

The Stafford is short-haired, and of roughly equal length from the withers to the tail and from the withers to the ground. The coat is short, stiff and close. It may be white; black, blue, fawn or red, all with or without white; or any variety of brindle, with or without white. It has a broad head; the ears fold at the tip. It is muscular and well-boned, with strong shoulders, a wide chest and wide-set legs. It is agile and quite active. It is a terrier, and is so classified by the Kennel Club and the Fédération Cynologique Internationale. The dog usually stands 36–41 cm (14–16 in) at the withers. Dogs weigh about 13–17 kg (29–37 lb); bitches approximately 2 kg (4.4 lb) less.

Temperament

The Stafford has a reputation for pugnacity; when challenged by another dog it is known to not back away. They have a mixed reputation in the UK, with some people associating the breed with chavs.

Health

A 2022 UK study of veterinary records found the breed to have a life expectancy of 11.33 years, slightly below the life expectancy of crossbreeds: 11.82 but just above the overall average of 11.23 years. A 2024 UK study found a life expectancy of 12 years for the breed compared to an average of 12.7 for purebreeds and 12 for crossbreeds.

A UK study found a predisposition to juvenile onset demodicosis in the Staffordshire Bull Terrier: In dogs under the age of two years 2.14% of Staffords had demodicosis compared to 0.48% overall. An American study found the same predisposition with 10% of Staffords having the condition compared to 0.58% overall.

Neurological disorders identified in the breed include cerebellar abiotrophy, Chiari-like malformation, myotonia congenita and L-2-hydroxyglutaric aciduria. The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is one of the most commonly affected breeds for hereditary cataracts.

Popularity and use

The Stafford is considered a family pet and companion dog, and is among the breeds recommended by the KC for families. Relative to the breed's ancestral progenitors, the AKC states: "From his brawling past, the muscular but agile Staffordshire Bull Terrier retains the traits of courage and tenacity. Happily, good breeding transformed this former gladiator into a mild, playful companion with a special feel for kids."

In the decade 2011–2020, annual registrations with the KC fell from about 7000 to about 5000; in 2019 and 2020 it had the highest number of registrations in the Terrier group. It is among the most frequently registered breeds in Australia, France, and New Zealand. In the United States, it was in 81st place on an AKC list of registrations by number in 2020.

Pit bull comparisons

Modern Staffords are often confused with the fighting pit bull-types because they share common ancestors that date back to the early 1800s when pit fighting was a popular sport. As a result, Staffords are considered among the breeds with a stigma attached relative to the "chav culture", and have been termed "status dogs". Globally, pit bull-types including Staffordshire Bull Terriers have made local news for acts of aggression, but breed advocates have raised questions about the veracity of visual breed identification, and media hype. News reports often treat the breed as one that attacks other dogs. Similar breeds have been associated with bites to humans.

Early DNA research found some genetic links between breed and behaviour. A 2022 study from the National Human Genome Research Institute described in detail how non-coding variations in the dog genome are associated with behavioural traits of various breeds. They found heritable patterns in terriers "consistent with working roles involving catching and killing prey". Another 2022 study, from the Broad Institute, concluded that most behavioural traits are heritable whereas behaviour "only subtly differentiates breeds". That study found that dog breeds that have been stereotyped as being aggressive, such as pit bull types, were not more aggressive than other dogs. The results of that paper indicate that dog behaviour is primarily "shaped by their environment, not their breed".

Breed-specific legislation

Main article: Breed-specific legislation
Kit Burns's Saloon, NY, by Edward Winslow Martin (James D. McCabe), "The Secrets of the Great City" (Philadelphia, 1868)

In 2018, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) lobbied the British Parliament to have the breed added to the list of restricted dog breeds in the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the KC, Dogs Trust, Blue Cross, and the Battersea Dogs & Cats Home all objected to the proposal. The proposal was rejected by Parliament; therefore, Staffords are not banned under the UK's Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.

In the United States, dogs that are often defined as pit bulls and commonly banned in some counties include American Pit Bull Terriers, Staffords, American Staffordshire Terriers, and Bull Terriers. The CDC and ASPCA are among several agencies and organisations that have stood in opposition to the "theory underlying breed-specific laws—that some breeds bite more often and cause more damage than others, ergo laws targeting these breeds will decrease bite incidence and severity" as they do not believe it has been successful in practice. As of June 2017, there were 21 states in the US that prohibited breed-specific legislation.

Irish Staffordshire Bull Terrier misnomer

In the UK, American Pit Bull Terriers are sometimes advertised as "Irish Staffordshire Bull Terrier" in an attempt to circumvent the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. The Irish Staffordshire Bull Terrier is not recognised as a breed by the Irish Kennel Club or any other kennel club.

Notable dogs

Gallery

Images depicting standard colours and body shapes of Staffords
  • Red & white Red & white
  • black black
  • Red Red
  • Brindle Brindle
  • Blue Blue
  • Brindle &white Brindle &white
  • Fawn Fawn
  • Black Brindle Black Brindle

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