Staffordshire Bull Terrier

The Staffordshire Bull Terrier originated in England during the mid-19th century. Their Bulldog ancestors were originally bred for the gruesome sport of bull baiting, where a pack of dogs would fight a bull and spectators would bet on the outcome. Once bull baiting became outlawed, people moved to fighting dogs in the cellars of taverns. Bulldogs were too slow and lumbery for the sport, so they were bred with faster, more agile terriers to create different versions of feisty fighting dogs. James Hinks of Birmingham, England refined some of these dogs to create the Staffordshire Bull Terrier we know today. The breed was named after Staffordshire, however, as that was where they were most popular.