First Published: 1999
Publisher: Ringpress Books, 1999
Hardcover with dustjacket
256 pages
Size : 21.4cm x 28.6cm x 2cm approx
ISBN 10 : 1582451281
ISBN 13 : 9781582451282
Book Description:
Fighting dogs have existed in some form and in numerous societies for thousands of years. These dogs and the purposes for which they were developed have been an endless source of fascination and intense study for
several centuries. Now this important new book brings a meaningful historical perspective to the entire subject. A Complete History of Fighting Dogs details the dogs of war, and all the forms of baiting and fighting sports that were developed and the dogs that were used in them. When the reader is done a new appreciation is gained for the contemporary fighting breeds and their valiant ancestors.
With the help of a spectacular collection of historical and contemporary illustrations, this book provides a unique insight and much-needed understanding into one of the world's oldest canine groupings. Some of these are reproduced here for the first time.
CONTENTS:
Chapter One: THE DOGS OF WAR
Mastiffs and Bandogs
Dogs for sport
The English Alaunt
The Dogue de Bordeaux.
Chapter Two: ENGLISH BAITING 'SPORTS'
Royal patronage
A Master of the Game
A new size of fighting dog
The small mastiff
Changes in shape and size
Bull-baiting and the butcher's dog
Bull-baiting enforced by law
The method of bull-baiting
Inciting the bull
Bull-baiting in Ireland
Irish fighting dogs.
Chapter Three: THE AMPHITHEATRES
Paris Garden
Hockley in the Hole
The first ice show
Chapter Four: BEAR-BAITING
A dangerous profession
Boom years for Hockley
The status of the bear.
Chapter Five: THE HURLY BURLY OF THE BAIT
A cruel addiction
Water 'sport'
Baiting a ferocious horse
Loss of royal interest
Courageous dogs
Further acts of cruelty
Chapter Six: THE RURAL BULL-BAIT
A vivid description
Anyone for tennis?
Chapter Seven: BULL-RUNNING
Stamford bull-running
Staffordshire bull-running
A bull - at any price
Failure of the Cruelty to Animals Act
Chapter Eight: LION BAITS
Wombwell's lion bait
A second bait
Abolition of baiting
Chapter Nine: A HISTORY OF DOG-FIGHTING
Early days
A popular pastime
Wasp
Child and Billy
Early London dog fights
Dog fight challenges
Fights between other breeds of dogs
Chapter Ten: FAMOUS DOG FIGHT VENUES
The Westminster Pit
Dog fights continue
Dead dogs win fights
Other pits
An international dog fight
A widespread 'sport.'
Chapter Eleven: THE MEN AND DOGS OF STAFFORDSHIRE
A hard life
Family pride
Injuries
Defiance of the 1835 Act
Training and feeding a fighting dog
Dogs trained to fight in the Black Country
First 'UK' dog fight prosecution of the 20th century
Chapter Twelve: MAN VERSUS DOG
Brummy and the bulldog
An East End scrap
Chapter Thirteen: DOGS, DUCKS - AND A MONKEY!
Jacko Maccacco
Duck-baiting
Chapter Fourteen: BAITING AND DRAWING THE BADGER
A courageous foe
Eye-witness account
Relentless cruelty to the badger
Dog versus badger
Gameness trials in Ireland
The Irish Kennel Club 'Teastas Mor'
Chapter Fifteen: RATTING COMPETITIONS
Harmless or unhealthy?
A night at the rat pit
Billy - champion ratter
Jemmy Shaw
Jacko and Jenny Lind
The decline of ratting
Chapter Sixteen: DOG BREEDERS AND BREED DEVELOPMENT
A bad reputation
Early dog shows
Bulldog - a misnomer
An historical perspective
The truth about the bulldog
The Boxer
Conclusions
Chapter Seventeen: THE BULL TERRIER
James Hinks
Bull terriers exhibited in 1866
The Paddington strain
A change in the breed
The modern dog
Chapter Eighteen: THE STAFFORDSHIRE BULL TERRIER
Fighting for the breed
Kennel Club recognition
The influence of Joe Dunn
Opposition to the name
Crossbred bull terriers
Bill Sikes and Bullseye
Inaugural meeting
The first committee
Final approval
Origin of the Breed Standard
Jack London
Gentleman Jim
The Dudley Terrier
Chapter Nineteen: SCOTLAND'S BLUE POLL BULLDOG - FACT OR FABLE
Theories, Descriptions and anecdotes
Chapter Twenty: THE AMERICAN STAFFORDSHIRE TERRIER AND PUT BULL TERRIER
The fight for recognition
A Pit Bull movie star
The Boston Terrier connection
History of the American Pit Bull Terrier
Animal baiting with dogs
The American slave-hunting dog connection
Profile of the Pit Bull
Bowery bull-baiting
Breeding for baiting
Dog versus bear
Sallie - the war dog
Chapter Twenty-One: EARLY DOG FIGHTS IN AMERICA
'Cockney' Charlie Lloyd and 'Sheffield' George
A purge on dog-fighting
Kit Burns and Charles Brady
English and Irish rivalry
Tragic loss of life at dog fight
Dog-fighting on trial
An amazing case
A canine court appearance
New Orleans
A battle on Long Island
The 'Championship of America'
A new era
The winner loses!
Levels of training
A game bitch
Famous store linked with dog-pit
The Merry Two
Reports of 20th-century dog fights
A strong American dog fight scene
Scenes in the rat-pit
English Bullmastiff appears in the pit
The campaign against dog-fighting
Transatlantic co-operation
Chapter Twenty-Two: THE STAFFORDSHIRE BULL TERRIER IN AUSTRALIA
Fighting records
A ratting wrangle
Dog-fighting Down Under
Colonial travellers
At the turn of the 20th century
South Africa