STAFFY DOGS

The tragedy for the Staffie is to look similar to the pit bull, banned under the dangerous dogs act.
Hard-looking dogs have become a status symbol on the street and the Staffordshire bull terrier has become a victim of that fashion.

Dog fighting is an abhorrent, cruel activity which is barbaric and sickening to any right-minded member of the public !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

'Hundreds' involved in dog fightsPit bulls are banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991"Several hundred" people in the UK are involved in illegal dog fighting, the Royal Society for the Protection of Animals (RSPCA) has said.
The warning follows a BBC investigation that uncovered a network of criminal gangs who supply illegal pit bull terriers

Many of the Staffordshire Bull Terriers are taken as puppiesThieves may be specifically targeting Staffordshire Bull Terriers, a report obtained by the BBC says.
The Metropolitan Police document shows there was a 74% rise in stolen dogs across the London area last year, from 239 to 417, with many taken as puppies.
Staffordshire Bull Terriers made up 56% of all the dogs stolen.
The report, obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, says some criminals may be using the dogs to guard "criminal assets".
The worst areas for the thefts have been Croydon, Bromley, Greenwich, Haringey, Lambeth and Hackney

It looks moody, tough and mean, and it loves a scrap: stocky, muscular, big head, strong jaws, and short, no-nonsense coat. Put a heavy studded collar on it, clip on a chromed chain-link lead, and it's the street-accessory of choice on estates across Britain. The Staffordshire bull terrier looks the part: uncompromisingly urban, hard as nails.
And now, 15 years after pit bull terriers were banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act, reports from all sorts of sources - from dog-walkers to politicians - are warning that Staffordshires, mastiffs and other pugnacious dog breeds are once again becoming the accessory - and occasionally the weapon - of choice on Britain's urban streets. Typical new breed of owner: young lad, aged 15-22. Typical purpose for having the dog: to gain respect, to intimidate, to use as a form of protection, and sometimes for crime.

Thousands of parkland trees across the country are being mauled and destroyed by pitbulls, bull terriers and other “weapon dogs”, goaded by their owners to attack trunks, hang from branches and bite off tree bark, experts warn.!!!!!!1

Why is it that every time one sees a Staffordshire Bull Terrier walking down the street, the chances are the man at the other end of the lead has an IQ at sub-moronic level and a swagger that suggests an undeserved level of personal confidence? I’ve nothing against the dogs, but many of their owners are a waste of oxygen.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Staffies are nice natured dogs.The problem with staffies is when d1ckheads who want a "hard" dog to improve their image are allowed to keep them.All to often they dont treat the dogs well and encourage agressive behaviour or they find them to much hard work to keep, staffies require a lot of exercise and are very powerful (have a look the SSPCA website in the re-homing section and the majority are staffies).

One of the largest subjects currently on debate in dog ownership has to do with breed bans. Breed bans may also be referred to as breed specific legislation. The laws, guidelines or policies set in place work towards the restriction of breeding and ownership of certain types of dogs. Depending on the country, breed bans have focused on Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, Brazilian Mastiffs, Dobermans, Akitas and many others. While some locales completely outlaw the ownership of these breeds others enact guidelines as to when, where and how the animal can be kept. Much debate rages on the how and why of these guidelines and where they stand legally. Each side has its supporters and detractors with the dogs largely stuck in the middle!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Typical Staffordshire Bull Terrier facts
Height: Male 14-16 in (36-41cm) Female 13-15 in (33-38 cm)Weight: Male 25-38 lb (11-17 kg) Female 23-35 lb (10-16 kg)Average litter size: 4 to 6 pupsLife expectancy: 10-12 yearsGood with children: YesKennel Club classification: Terrier
Colour of a Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Staffordshire Bull Terriers can be brindle, black, fawn, red or blue. Any of these colours, along with white, are acceptable.

Staffordshire Bull Terrier Puppies are one of the most popular breeds across the world. In fact in the United Kingdom they are one of the top ten most popular breeds. This has not happened by chance. The Staffordshire bull terrier is a much maligned breed and yet its popularity sores.



One reason for this is that they are an amazingly loyal and loving dog. That are devoted to their families. The Staffy comes from a terrier background and because of its history was initially used as a fighting dog. In fact that is where its name comes from they were initially used for bull baiting. However over time the role of the Staffy has changed and with the right owner they are the perfect house dog.



One of the main reasons for this is that Staffy bull terriers are fantastic with Children just look on you tube or Google Staffy with a baby and you will see many results. Staffordshire bull terrier puppies have a protective nature and are called the nanny dog by many. They are gentle souls in their own home environment. Being a terrier they are also bright and intelligent and are an easy dog to train.



Depending on the size of your home a Staffy could be the perfect dog for you. Though they are strong and muscular they are smaller than other dogs and are short haired. If you are a house proud Mum or dad this is also a bonus. Staffordshire bull terriers do moult though not as much as most other dogs.



So if you want a new dog in your family the Staffordshire bull terrier puppy might just be the breed for you.

One of the most trustworthy and loving pets that you can bring home are dogs. This is because over the centuries, they have proved to be just this, earning them the title - 'man's best friend'. In most homes and elsewhere, dogs are loved and usually treated well however, there are also many instances of Dog Abuse that is the appalling reality of our times. Sadly, Dog Abuse Facts, recorded by the 'abuse database', reveal that more than half of the 12,000 cases of animal abuse account for Dog Abuse. Fortunately, there are several dog shelters and rescue groups as well as other humane organizations which are fully committed to the treatment and welfare of abused dogs.
Defining Dog Abuse
Broadly speaking, cruelty to animals is the unnecessary and unacceptable suffering or harm inflicted by humans. This definition also applies to Dog Abuse. More specifically, it can also be defined as the hitting, shouting at, or injuring a dog in a particular way. However, employing dogs to carry out a specific task or performance, as seen in circuses or in law enforcement, cannot be included in this definition. In cases where dogs are used for such purposes as clothing, food, research or entertainment, animal welfare groups do not consider these as Dog Abuse, provided they are obtained or conducted in a humane way with least suffering to the dog.
Negative effects of Dog Abuse
The single most negative aspect of Dog Abuse is the psychological effect. This is based on Dog Abuse Facts and data gleaned from research conducted on animal abuse with particular emphasis on dogs. Physical or verbal abuse can have a long-lasting psychological effect on the dog. In many cases, the former can cause the dog to be handicapped for life or live with severe health problems. Psychological effects are usually presented in the form of shy or aggressive behavior. Shy is when the dog will reject petting or touching and move away. This behavior may include hiding under tables, beds or in closets, etc. Aggression is the other ill effect of Dog Abuse. This may include growling at people who approach the dog. Often times, such dogs even attack innocent people and their abuser.
Abusing the little ones
Nothing could be more cruel or deplorable than Puppy Abuse. What makes this heartrending is that these cute little pets cannot speak or fight back. Believe it or not, there are sadists out there who consider Puppy Abuse as just another way to entertain themselves. You must not forget that those pretty little puppies at the pet store have come from puppy farms where they were kept in the most unsanitary and harsh conditions. The sad fact is that their parents may still be there.
Remember, a puppy needs just as much love and care as would your little child. Therefore, give it all the love and affection you possibly can and as it grows older, you'll find it returning your kindness in a thousand different ways.

Dogs bred for fighting. E+W+S
(1)This section applies to—
(a)any dog of the type known as the pit bull terrier;
(b)any dog of the type known as the Japanese tosa; and
(c)any dog of any type designated for the purposes of this section by an order of the Secretary of State, being a type appearing to him to be bred for fighting or to have the characteristics of a type bred for that purpose.
(2)No person shall—
(a)breed, or breed from, a dog to which this section applies;
(b)sell or exchange such a dog or offer, advertise or expose such a dog for sale or exchange;
(c)make or offer to make a gift of such a dog or advertise or expose such a dog as a gift;
(d)allow such a dog of which he is the owner or of which he is for the time being in charge to be in a public place without being muzzled and kept on a lead; or
(e)abandon such a dog of which he is the owner or, being the owner or for the time being in charge of such a dog, allow it to stray.
(3)After such day as the Secretary of State may by order appoint for the purposes of this subsection no person shall have any dog to which this section applies in his possession or custody except—
(a)in pursuance of the power of seizure conferred by the subsequent provisions of this Act; or
(b)in accordance with an order for its destruction made under those provisions;
but the Secretary of State shall by order make a scheme for the payment to the owners of such dogs who arrange for them to be destroyed before that day of sums specified in or determined under the scheme in respect of those dogs and the cost of their destruction.
(4)Subsection (2)(b) and (c) above shall not make unlawful anything done with a view to the dog in question being removed from the United Kingdom before the day appointed under subsection (3) above.
(5)The Secretary of State may by order provide that the prohibition in subsection (3) above shall not apply in such cases and subject to compliance with such conditions as are specified in the order and any such provision may take the form of a scheme of exemption containing such arrangements (including provision for the payment of charges or fees) as he thinks appropriate.
(6)A scheme under subsection (3) or (5) above may provide for specified functions under the scheme to be discharged by such persons or bodies as the Secretary of State thinks appropriate.
(7)Any person who contravenes this section is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale or both except that a person who publishes an advertisement in contravention of subsection (2)(b) or (c)—
(a)shall not on being convicted be liable to imprisonment if he shows that he published the advertisement to the order of someone else and did not himself devise it; and
(b)shall not be convicted if, in addition, he shows that he did not know and had no reasonable cause to suspect that it related to a dog to which this section applies.
(8)An order under subsection (1)(c) above adding dogs of any type to those to which this section applies may provide that subsections (3) and (4) above shall apply in relation to those dogs with the substitution for the day appointed under subsection (3) of a later day specified in the order.
(9)The power to make orders under this section shall be exercisable by statutory instrument which, in the case of an order under subsection (1) or (5) or an order containing a scheme under subsection (3), shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

London's deputy mayor has called for changes in the law to reduce attacks by dangerous dogs in the capital.
Kit Malthouse will join MPs and union officials at a cross party event in Westminster in central London later.
Police seized 1,700 dangerous dogs while 700 ambulances were called out to dog attacks in London last year.
Campaigners believe the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 is increasingly outdated in its approach to combating the problem.
"We need some changes in the law," Mr Malthouse told BBC London.
"We want stiffer penalties, extension to private land and more discretion for police to deal with dogs more quickly."
The government launched a consultation in March 2010 to seek "views on whether current legislation relating to dangerous dogs adequately protects the public and encourages responsible dog ownership".
The consultation closed in June after receiving thousands of responses.
Animal Welfare Minister Lord Henley said that he would announce the government's approach to dangerous dogs early in 2011.
A spokesman for the Dangerous Dogs campaign said: "These dogs and their irresponsible owners are a growing menace for many people across the country in terms of anti-social behaviour and other, more serious crimes."
Communication Workers Union (CWU) health and safety officer Dave Joyce said: "The problem of dangerous dogs is not going away.
"Horrific dog attacks on children, postal workers and members of the public cannot continue to go unchecked."