HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN STAFFORDSHIRE TERRIER
To correctly give the origin and history of the American Staffordshire Terrier, it is necessary to comment briefly on two other dogs, namely the Bulldog and the Terrier.
Until the early part of the 19th century the Bulldog was bred with great care in England for the purpose of baiting bulls, a “sport” that pitted dogs against bulls in combat. The Bulldog of that day was vastly different from our present-day bulldogs. Pictures from as late as 1870 represent the Bulldog as agile and as standing straight on his legs - his front legs in particular. In some cases he was even possessed of a muzzle, and long rat tails were not uncommon. The Bulldog of that day, with the exception of the head, looked more like the present-day American Staffordshire Terrier than like the present-day Bulldog.
With the introduction in England of the Humane Act of 1835, bull-baiting (along with bear-baiting) was outlawed and the sporting men of the day sort a new pastime with their dogs. They found this new pastime in dog fighting, the practice of pitting one dog against another in a large wooden pit. As dog fighting became popular, a new type of dog began to emerge – one that possessed the strength and courage of the bulldog but also had the agility, tenacity and intelligence required to excel in this new sport. To achieve this the breeders of the time crossed the bulldog with various breeds of small terrier. Not yet a breed in their own right, it was this cross between the Bulldog and the terrier that resulted in the early forbears of the Amstaff, known at the time as the bull-and-terrier. This bull-and-terrier would eventually evolve into a number of our modern breeds, the American Staffordshire Terrier, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, the Bull Terrier and the American Pit Bull Terrier.
Until the early part of the 19th century the Bulldog was bred with great care in England for the purpose of baiting bulls, a “sport” that pitted dogs against bulls in combat. The Bulldog of that day was vastly different from our present-day bulldogs. Pictures from as late as 1870 represent the Bulldog as agile and as standing straight on his legs - his front legs in particular. In some cases he was even possessed of a muzzle, and long rat tails were not uncommon. The Bulldog of that day, with the exception of the head, looked more like the present-day American Staffordshire Terrier than like the present-day Bulldog.
With the introduction in England of the Humane Act of 1835, bull-baiting (along with bear-baiting) was outlawed and the sporting men of the day sort a new pastime with their dogs. They found this new pastime in dog fighting, the practice of pitting one dog against another in a large wooden pit. As dog fighting became popular, a new type of dog began to emerge – one that possessed the strength and courage of the bulldog but also had the agility, tenacity and intelligence required to excel in this new sport. To achieve this the breeders of the time crossed the bulldog with various breeds of small terrier. Not yet a breed in their own right, it was this cross between the Bulldog and the terrier that resulted in the early forbears of the Amstaff, known at the time as the bull-and-terrier. This bull-and-terrier would eventually evolve into a number of our modern breeds, the American Staffordshire Terrier, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, the Bull Terrier and the American Pit Bull Terrier.
The early bull-and-terriers made their way to America with immigrants from England and Ireland. Once there, some grew bigger and taller in response to their duties in a new and wider country. Some found their way into homes as pets and onto the frontier. Yet others stayed in the cities and were kept by the same type of “sporting” owner as in England and Ireland. These dogs were fought against each other around the pubs of New York, Chicago, and Boston (and other cities of course).
By the late 1800s dog fighting was flourishing in the USA and consequently a fighting dog registry was started in America to keep track of the prized pedigrees, and publish the rules for dog fighting organisations in that country. The United Kennel Club (UKC) registered the dogs as American Pit Bull Terriers. Sometimes this was written as American (Pit) Bull, or American Bull Terrier. Mostly they were known as Bulldogs or Pit Bulls.
Although it is this dog’s fighting background that is mostly remembered, only a relatively small number of the dogs were fought. Most of them went on being pets, farm and general-purpose dogs and still worked stock, penning, guarding and helping, just as they had done in their earliest days.
In the early 1930s a group of fanciers petitioned the American Kennel Club (AKC) to accept these dogs into the registry. These dogs were already registered with the UKC as discussed earlier, but their owners had little interest in dog fighting. They wanted to promote their breed as a family and show dog, and to cultivate their impressive versatility. They formed a national breed club and wrote a Standard for the breed. Much agonizing was done over the proper name for the breed as the AKC was not inclined to register them with the same name as the UKC. Finally, in 1936, they were accepted into the AKC with the name Staffordshire Terrier. This name gave credit to their origins in England, in particular the county of Staffordshire. This was just a year after the English bull-and-terriers under the name of Staffordshire Bull Terriers were recognised with the Kennel Club of England. The Standards of both the English and American breeds were written similarly, and even contained some identical phrases. The authors of both kept in touch with each other whilst working toward their common goal of acceptance by their kennel clubs. At that time the dogs described were more similar in size and structure than the breeds appear today.
In her excellent book American Staffordshire Terriers, Jacqueline Fraser advises that the first Staffordshire Terrier to be registered with the American Kennel Club was Wheelers Black Dinah, a black bitch whelped on May 30 1931. More registrations followed and by the end of 1936 there were 55 Staffordshire Terriers registered with the AKC. The show career of the Staffordshire Terrier got off to a slow start but by the close of 1937 there were a few AKC Champions, the first of which was Maher’s Captain D. The first National Speciality held by the Staffordshire Terrier Cub of America, as the breed club formed in 1936 was now known and still is to this very day, was held on May 29 1937. Entry was just three dogs and three bitches, with Best of Breed going to Basset’s Black Beans. Today the Amstaff is a popular breed world-wide, and it often accounts for one of the largest number of single breed entries at the annual World Dog Show.
By the late 1800s dog fighting was flourishing in the USA and consequently a fighting dog registry was started in America to keep track of the prized pedigrees, and publish the rules for dog fighting organisations in that country. The United Kennel Club (UKC) registered the dogs as American Pit Bull Terriers. Sometimes this was written as American (Pit) Bull, or American Bull Terrier. Mostly they were known as Bulldogs or Pit Bulls.
Although it is this dog’s fighting background that is mostly remembered, only a relatively small number of the dogs were fought. Most of them went on being pets, farm and general-purpose dogs and still worked stock, penning, guarding and helping, just as they had done in their earliest days.
In the early 1930s a group of fanciers petitioned the American Kennel Club (AKC) to accept these dogs into the registry. These dogs were already registered with the UKC as discussed earlier, but their owners had little interest in dog fighting. They wanted to promote their breed as a family and show dog, and to cultivate their impressive versatility. They formed a national breed club and wrote a Standard for the breed. Much agonizing was done over the proper name for the breed as the AKC was not inclined to register them with the same name as the UKC. Finally, in 1936, they were accepted into the AKC with the name Staffordshire Terrier. This name gave credit to their origins in England, in particular the county of Staffordshire. This was just a year after the English bull-and-terriers under the name of Staffordshire Bull Terriers were recognised with the Kennel Club of England. The Standards of both the English and American breeds were written similarly, and even contained some identical phrases. The authors of both kept in touch with each other whilst working toward their common goal of acceptance by their kennel clubs. At that time the dogs described were more similar in size and structure than the breeds appear today.
In her excellent book American Staffordshire Terriers, Jacqueline Fraser advises that the first Staffordshire Terrier to be registered with the American Kennel Club was Wheelers Black Dinah, a black bitch whelped on May 30 1931. More registrations followed and by the end of 1936 there were 55 Staffordshire Terriers registered with the AKC. The show career of the Staffordshire Terrier got off to a slow start but by the close of 1937 there were a few AKC Champions, the first of which was Maher’s Captain D. The first National Speciality held by the Staffordshire Terrier Cub of America, as the breed club formed in 1936 was now known and still is to this very day, was held on May 29 1937. Entry was just three dogs and three bitches, with Best of Breed going to Basset’s Black Beans. Today the Amstaff is a popular breed world-wide, and it often accounts for one of the largest number of single breed entries at the annual World Dog Show.
A number of early breeders chose to register their dogs as Staffordshire Terriers with the AKC while at the same time also keeping them in the UKC where they were registered as American Pitbull Terriers. Among these were such prominent breeders as John P Colby, whose dog Colby’s Primo is credited with providing some inspiration for the newly drafted Standard of the Staffordshire Terrier. While this practice of dual-registration continues among some to this very day, the fanciers and their dogs in the two kennel clubs have largely diverged over the years.
The early fanciers quickly set about trying to preserve the unique qualities of the newly accepted Staffordshire Terrier whilst attempting to improve consistency of type and temperament. The 1940 Year Book of the Staffordshire Terrier Club of America boldly proclaims:
“Today the Staffordshire has emerged from his gladiatorial background as one of the finest of all dogs. He is proud and noble of bearing, he combines power with grace and agility, he is bright and alert, and his courage is not surpassed in any other animal on earth. He is intelligent, outstandingly amenable to training and discipline, and adaptable to almost any conditions. He is superbly gentle with children, intensely loyal and affectionate and a wonderful watch dog”.
Along with producing fine show specimens, the early breeders strived to maintain the athletic prowess and versatility of the breed. Clifford Ormsby, whose X-Pert kennel pre-dated AKC recognition, wrote in his 1956 publication The Staffordshire Terrier’s, “let us take note of the number of Obedience trained Staf-Terriers. We are all very proud of this excellent record.” This tradition continues today with many Amstaffs excelling in performance events such as obedience, agility and weight pulling while others serve as therapy dogs. Throughout its history, the Amstaff has distinguished itself above all as a reliable, loving family pet.
The history of the Amstaff is littered with well known examples of the breed, none more so than Petey the Pup from the kids TV show Our Gang (later known as Little Rascals). Whelped in 1929, Petey was registered with the AKC as Lucenay’s Peter (and with the UKC as prior to AKC recognition) and lived to the ripe old age of 17.
In 1974 the English version of the bull-and-terrier, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, was formally accepted into the AKC and so in order to avoid any confusions between the English variety and its bigger, American cousin, the word American was added to denote the American Staffordshire Terrier – or Amstaff as it is often called today.
The Amstaff is now one of the most widely recognised and owned breeds in the world.
The Amstaff in Australia
Although its cousin, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier has a long history in Australia, the Amstaff was not introduced here until 1986 and it wasn’t until January 1 1987 that the Australian National Kennel Council formally recognized the breed.
The honor of being the first Amstaff to set foot on Australian soil goes to a bitch named Rockislands O’Omua O Hawaii, imported from Hawaii by Bob and Ruth Murdoch of Victoria. Their next import, a brindle dog named Ka Hanahou’s Lei O Makana, was to become the first Australian Champion. These two dogs formed the foundation of their kennel under the prefix “Amstaff”.
Following on from the Murdochs, Dr Glucina in QLD began to import Amstaffs from the USA and produced his first litter in 1990, under the prefix Araganu. Bob and Wendy Evans, of Evastaff in Tasmania, were next to follow with their import Kalokos Lea arriving in 1990.
A number of breeders began to follow, both importing and breeding locally. Over the last half a decade the breeds popularity has exploded and Amstaffs can now be found in many households the entire breadth of the country. Like their ancestors, they are excelling in the show ring, performance events and increasingly as therapy dogs.
The early fanciers quickly set about trying to preserve the unique qualities of the newly accepted Staffordshire Terrier whilst attempting to improve consistency of type and temperament. The 1940 Year Book of the Staffordshire Terrier Club of America boldly proclaims:
“Today the Staffordshire has emerged from his gladiatorial background as one of the finest of all dogs. He is proud and noble of bearing, he combines power with grace and agility, he is bright and alert, and his courage is not surpassed in any other animal on earth. He is intelligent, outstandingly amenable to training and discipline, and adaptable to almost any conditions. He is superbly gentle with children, intensely loyal and affectionate and a wonderful watch dog”.
Along with producing fine show specimens, the early breeders strived to maintain the athletic prowess and versatility of the breed. Clifford Ormsby, whose X-Pert kennel pre-dated AKC recognition, wrote in his 1956 publication The Staffordshire Terrier’s, “let us take note of the number of Obedience trained Staf-Terriers. We are all very proud of this excellent record.” This tradition continues today with many Amstaffs excelling in performance events such as obedience, agility and weight pulling while others serve as therapy dogs. Throughout its history, the Amstaff has distinguished itself above all as a reliable, loving family pet.
The history of the Amstaff is littered with well known examples of the breed, none more so than Petey the Pup from the kids TV show Our Gang (later known as Little Rascals). Whelped in 1929, Petey was registered with the AKC as Lucenay’s Peter (and with the UKC as prior to AKC recognition) and lived to the ripe old age of 17.
In 1974 the English version of the bull-and-terrier, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, was formally accepted into the AKC and so in order to avoid any confusions between the English variety and its bigger, American cousin, the word American was added to denote the American Staffordshire Terrier – or Amstaff as it is often called today.
The Amstaff is now one of the most widely recognised and owned breeds in the world.
The Amstaff in Australia
Although its cousin, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier has a long history in Australia, the Amstaff was not introduced here until 1986 and it wasn’t until January 1 1987 that the Australian National Kennel Council formally recognized the breed.
The honor of being the first Amstaff to set foot on Australian soil goes to a bitch named Rockislands O’Omua O Hawaii, imported from Hawaii by Bob and Ruth Murdoch of Victoria. Their next import, a brindle dog named Ka Hanahou’s Lei O Makana, was to become the first Australian Champion. These two dogs formed the foundation of their kennel under the prefix “Amstaff”.
Following on from the Murdochs, Dr Glucina in QLD began to import Amstaffs from the USA and produced his first litter in 1990, under the prefix Araganu. Bob and Wendy Evans, of Evastaff in Tasmania, were next to follow with their import Kalokos Lea arriving in 1990.
A number of breeders began to follow, both importing and breeding locally. Over the last half a decade the breeds popularity has exploded and Amstaffs can now be found in many households the entire breadth of the country. Like their ancestors, they are excelling in the show ring, performance events and increasingly as therapy dogs.
History of the American Staffordshire Terrier Club of Victoria Inc.
The American Staffordshire Terrier Club of Victoria was first established in 2001 by local Amstaff enthusiasts. The first President of the ASTCV was Don Campbell of Bellamon Kennels. Don continued as President for nearly 10 years and was awarded a Life Membership in 2012. Don is still active in the ASTCV and also holds the honor of being the longest active breeder of Amstaffs in Victoria. Other founding members included Ainslee Bernoth, Vanessa Long, Leigh Jenkins, Linda Campbell and Kerry Macklin among others.
For the first few years of its existence, the ASTCV operated unofficially, promoting the breed at Pet Expos, publishing a newsletter and holding Open Shows and social days for Amstaff enthusiasts. During this time interest in the breed and the club began to rise, and a whole new layer of Amstaff enthusiasts joined the ASTCV.
In January 2008 the ASTCV became an incorporated organization and formally affiliated with DOGS Victoria. This formal status allowed the ASTCV to represent the breed within DOGS Victoria and the broader canine community. The activity and membership of the club increased and the first Championship Show was held on 6th June 2009 at KCC Park.
In 2012 the ASTCV held its first Weight Pull Series, introducing this exciting sport to many Amstaff owners. Running this series was a first for an Amstaff club in Australia and the club has continued to hold a Weight Pull Series every year since. Over this time, many local Amstaffs have gone on to achieve their Working Weight Pull Dog titles, including some who have earned the more prestigious Excellent version of that title. In 2015 the ASTCV will begin construction of a new purpose built Weight Pull facility at the DOGS Victoria Bulla grounds.
In line with the ASTCV’s aim to promote the versatility of this great breed, the club held its first official Endurance Trial in 2015. This event was again a first for an Amstaff club in Australia. All in all 18 dogs achieved their Endurance Title, including 3 Amstaffs.
Over the years the ASTCV has been active in campaigning against Breed Specific Legislation and worked successfully with DOGS Victoria and other breed clubs to this end. The club has also successfully advocated for Amstaffs and Amstaff owners within both the canine community and the broader community, on issues such as canine welfare and responsible canine guardianship. Since day one the ASTCV has been committed to presenting the breed in positive image to the general public.
From its humble beginnings as a social club in 2001 the ASTCV Inc has grown to become one of the most successful and active Amstaff Clubs in Australia.
SOURCES:
Australian National Kennel Council, 2006, Extended Breed Standard of the American Staffordshire Terrier
Foster, Sarah, 1999, The American Staffordshire Terrier: Gamester and Guardian, New York, Howell Book House
Fraser, Jacqueline, 1990, The American Staffordshire Terrier, Virginia, Denlinger
Ormsby, A. Clifford, 1956, The Staffordshire Terrier, Dansville NY, A. Owen Publishing
Pascoe, H. Richard, 1977, The American Staffordhsire Terrier, Dallas, Williams Printing Copr.
www.akc.org
Australian National Kennel Council, 2006, Extended Breed Standard of the American Staffordshire Terrier
Foster, Sarah, 1999, The American Staffordshire Terrier: Gamester and Guardian, New York, Howell Book House
Fraser, Jacqueline, 1990, The American Staffordshire Terrier, Virginia, Denlinger
Ormsby, A. Clifford, 1956, The Staffordshire Terrier, Dansville NY, A. Owen Publishing
Pascoe, H. Richard, 1977, The American Staffordhsire Terrier, Dallas, Williams Printing Copr.
www.akc.org