The Smiling Staffy

Over the years, the funloving Staffordshire Bull Terrier, with a smile as big as its heart, has proved its worth as an unaggressive, loyal and  doting member of any family.

- Helen Frost

The smiling Staffy is a wonderful dog that has earned a reputation as one of the most loyal, doting canine companions any family could wish for. With a big heart, a big personality, and a smile so large you’d think it could swallow you up, this happy-go-lucky breed will repay a good, caring family tenfold in love and affection.

With a history dating back to the bloody dog sport rings of the 1800s, the Staffy’s nature was unfairly tainted when, in those days, it was bred for dog fighting and bear-baiting to provide entertainment for blood-thirsty audiences. However, it was often said that as soon as the dogs left the fighting ring, their aggression would disappear and they would become calm and gentle — even watching over babies in the family.

With those cruel days now far behind it, the Staffy has become one of the most popular of all dog breeds and is sought-after by families wanting a fun, gentle pet for adults and kids alike.

MAD ABOUT KIDS

The Staffy got its name from Staffordshire in England, where, in the early 1900s, miners and iron workers began breeding the dogs for companionship and showing. The Staffy arrived in Australia in the 1950s and is today one of the most even-tempered breeds available.