First Published: 2001

Softcover – 1st edition

144 pages - 2001 

Publisher: Bev Harrison 

Printed by: Witley Press Ltd 

Size: 21cm x 15cm

Book Weight: 281g

Softcover – 2nd print - 2008

162 pages 

Publisher: Bev Harrison 

Printed by: Witley Press Ltd 

Product Dimensions: 21cm x 15cm

Book Weight: 319g

Introduction:

This book is aimed at putting into print all the interpretation and filling out of the skeleton which is the standard. This fleshing out has been carried out by word of mouth for generations and the method worked whilst the fancy was a close-knit society representing a minority interest and which used shows as meeting places to discuss the dogs and pass judgement on current trends in various parts of the country. These Parliaments were not for the faint-hearted.

Now, with the Stafford no longer a ‘small’ breed owned by a minority and with people showing and going home the method no longer works and it is time that the ‘secret’ standard was explained, recorded and made available.

For the newcomer to the breed it should offer a base if knowledge not available before. For the experienced and the expert it should provide a reference point to monitor developments, give talking points and challenge thought. It goes on to provide information and opinion on all aspects of showing the breed and joining the K.C. activities to the level chosen by the reader.

The book does not refer to the fighting dog except where it is appropriate and essential to understanding and is never used to justify a breed point since the basic demands of fighting and showing are so different.

An outstanding fighting dog was built as lightly as was commensurate with basic strength and agility. It has to have stamina to fight on for an hour or so if required. It needed the ability to ignore pain or injury in the single-minded purpose of killing its opponent even as it died.

With the show dog the aim is to produce a dog which appears to be strong and agile conforms to a standard and has the ability to move well. The best breeders try to keep the character intact so that it is bomb proof with people.

CONTENTS:

The Will

The Evolution of the Standard

The Three Standards Compared

The Current Standard

The Staffordshire Bull Terrier Nose to Tail (including the unwritten standard)

Picking a Pup

Puppy Exercise

Health and Sickness in Puppies

Puppy Rearing

Puppy Training

Showing a Stafford

Preparation of a Show Stafford and Maintaining Show Condition

Breeding Staffords, Breeding a Strain

Matings

Whelping

Travel with a Stafford

Old Staffords

Judging Staffords

Committee Work

The SBT Breed Council of G.B. and N.I.

Fighting amongst your own Stock

The Stafford and the Dangerous Dogs Act

Temperament

CONTENTS - 2nd print (2008) - as above plus

Update 2008

The Vet and You

Dilutions

Nutrition – Conformation

A Blast From The Past

Black Art