QUESTIONS
1. What is my relationship with the breed? (ie breeder, first time owner etc)
First time owner of this breed, and a possible breeder.
2. Where and why was the breed first developed?
Like with any of the modern breeds its impossible to tell the origins for sure of the american staffordshire terrier/american pit bull terrier.
Ancient Greeks called the Molossi tribe where associated with these dogs - Molossian family of dogs.
They also gave rise also to mastiffs
The britons used a variation of the mastiff called pugnaces - fighting dogs or ones capable of using in warfare.
Roman emperor claudius beat briton chief caractacus in 50 ad. He liked these dogs and selected quantities where
sent to rome.
From 50 ad to 410 ad they where disseminated accros the roman empire as fighting dogs. They where mixed with
other indigenous breeds throughout europe, creating a genetic melting pot for the bulldogs that are thought
to be the immediate antecedents of the American Pit Bull Terrier.
1066 Normans invaded england and introduced baiting. originating from butchers who used them to keep wayward
bulls in check.
The butchers pride in there dogs ability to take down bulls created shows to appease the crowds.
And by the 16th century nearly every town in england had it own baiting ring
In baiting events, no more than one or two dogs were unleashed on the bull. They were trained to unrelentingly
harass the bulls until they collapsed from fatigue, their injuries, or both. These episodes lasted for prolonged
periods, sometimes as long as three or four hours. Eventually, the public's grew bored with bulls and introduced
a creative flair to the sport, baiting dogs with bears, boars, horses, and even monkeys!
In 1406, Edmond de Langley - the Duke of York - produced a short treatise for Henry IV entitled, "The Master of
the Game and of Hawks." In it, he described a descendent of the ancient Mastiffs that he called the "Alaunt",
the most commonly used baiting dog of the era. A 1585 painting of the Alaunts hunting wild boar portrayed lean,
muscular animals with profound similarities to the dogs we know as pit bulls.
Baiting was made illegal by the British parliament in 1835. However, this legislation did little to satiate the
public's desire to watch the spectacle of dogs in fighting sports. As a result, their attention turned to a variety
of other pursuits such as ratting - a practice in which a dog was thrown in a pit with a varying number of rats.
The dogs raced against the clock and each other to determine which one could kill the most rats in the shortest
period of time. The "pit" in pit bulls comes from the fact that ratting occurred in a pit that kept the rats from
escaping.
Ultimately the public's fickle gaze fell on the sport of dog fighting, primarily because it could be more easily
hidden from the prying eyes of the law than baiting and other fighting sports. Since dog fighting required smaller
and more agile animals than the ones that were used in baiting, fighting bulldogs were bred with terriers who were
known for their feistiness and indefatigable focus. The result was the bull-and-terrier, more commonly known as the
first pit bull terrier - a muscular, canine gladiator bred specifically for combat with other dogs.
Sometime in the early 1800's crossing bulldogs and arguably english white terriers in England and Ireland they made
essentially 3 breeds. SBT Staffordshire Bull Terrier, AST American Staffordshire Terrier and APBT American PitBull Terrier.
3. How common is it in Australia?
A lot more common than when they where first introduced in 1984 in Australia
4. What is the average lifespan?
12 - 14 years
5. What is the general temperament/personality?
Energetic, excitable and loving. Always seem to have a look on there face like "What are we doing next?"
6. How much daily exercise is needed for the average adult?
Minimum half hour if you work, hour and hours if you don't!
7. Is it a breed that a first time dog owner could easily cope with?
If they get one that is food driven NOT prey driven sure. If the latter then you need to be vigilante and responsible.
8. Can solo dogs of this breed easily occupy themselves for long periods?
Of course, just depends on where they are left. If chucked in the laundry for hours they will get up to mishcief but give them a
backyard and they will be fibne.
9. How much grooming is required?
Once a week a groom them, saves having to vacuum it up later.
10. Is it too boisterous for very small children or for infirm people (unless the dog is well trained)?
Depends on the dog. Some are very well behaved and respond quickly to commands. But I wouldn't leave any adult staffy with any 5 year old
unsupervised no matter what.
11. Are there any common hereditary problems a puppy buyer should be aware of?
Ataxia if they are not papered. If papered no need to worry. Mainly hip and elbows. Also heart, eye and thyroid tests. There are more but couldn't be bothered listing them all!
12. When buying a puppy, what are the things you should ask of the breeder? (eg what health tests have been done (if applicable) and what is an acceptable result to those tests so the buyer has an idea of what the result should be)
Elbows and hips a must and as above ataxia if not papered. Not exactly sure but results for hips going by http://www.offa.org/hd_grades.html indicate to me no more than 22 points. Which is half way point between borderline. Hips are graded diff to 3 grades. I am not sure exactly either but I would assume only grade 1 would be acceptable. Someone correct me if I am wrong. Also if heart an eye tests are done as well that is a bonus but wouldn't expect it. Thyroid as well.
