Taken on mobile phone
I have a dog. His name is Ace.
He has helped me through some very difficult time in my life. I have PTSD and although Ace is what people would say is "only an animal", he seems to have a deep understanding of my condition. I think he suffers from the same thing.
My friend Ace and the breed that he comes from (Staffordshire Bull Terrier) are the most maligned and misunderstood breed in the Uk at the moment. i will use the term "Staffie" as short hand.
In 1835 bloodsports such as bull and bear baiting with dogs was banned. It was a cruel sport that involved using bulldogs to attack bulls and the reason was often quoted as to "soften the meat" but this was a lie. It was performed for purely entertainment. 1835 in the UK saw the introduction of the animal welfare bill that outlawed these cruel and inhumane pastimes.
However, dog fighting continued. The upper classes would fight bulldogs, the first real British fighting dog. They are large and expensive to both buy and maintain. The working classes at this time could neither afford the cost nor did they have the space to keep such a large and boisterous dog. So they bred their own.
The requirements for a dog for the working classes was a lot different than the upper classes. The working class often lived in cramped conditions with little spare money. They also had larger families and more children. So any dog they bred would have to fit those requirements. The breed was standardized in 1935 in a meeting at a pub in Staffordshire . Hence the name. Staffordshire was one of the centres of the industrial revolution.
Staffies were often discribed as "Nanny dogs" for their temperament around children. They became part of working class culture. They are small in stature but well muscled and fast. They can live in small houses with no problem and are cheaper to feed. But the number one requirement for working class families was its temperament around children. Staffies are great around babies and toddlers, often sitting next to them to protect them.
In modern times the staffordshire Bull terrier is the most maligned and misunderstood breed. Mainly due to it's association with pit bull terrier types, the dangerous dog act in the UK and to some extent irresponsible owners, mainly youngsters. However, it's my view that the attack on staffies as a breed is part of a bigger assault, more broadly, against the working class in the UK. As a dog that has been, and is owned predominantly by the working class it has become a target of the media in a wider attack on working class culture! It seems to me with uncontrolled migration, automation and high costs of an ageing population that the liberal elite are trying their hardest to get rid of working class culture and replacing it. The attack on staffies is part of that. You can't take a staffie to the vets without them trying to persuade you to neuter them. Most of the animal charities offer help with treatment but only on condition you castrate and mutilate your pal!!
Wikipedia says:
The modern breed is one that has a temperament suitable as a companion dog. It is a dog worthy to show and was accepted by The Kennel Club as the Staffordshire Bull Terrier on 25 May 1935.[9] The Staffordshire Bull Terrier Club was formed in June 1935. It is unusual for a breed to be recognised without a club in existence first, and even more unusual for there not to have been a breed standard in place. A standard was not drawn up until June 1935 at the Old Cross Guns, a Black Country pub in Cradley Heath where 30 Stafford enthusiasts gathered and devised the standard and elected the club's first secretary, Joseph Dunn, a well-known figure connected with the breed.
Challenge certificates were awarded to the breed in 1938, and the first champions were Ch. Gentleman Jim (bred by Joseph Dunn) and Ch. Lady Eve (owned by Joseph Dunn), both taking titles in 1939. The breed was recognised in the U.S. by the American Kennel Club in 1975.
Ace has made it possible for me to go out and not feel scared. More than just a bodyguard though i understand him and him me. He is a rescue and had a bad life before we came together. He has helped me understand my condition as he suffers the same i think. He is nervous and scared of other dogs as i am of other people. He would often tolerate other dogs up to the point that he felt aggression from them. He would then switch to defending himself. Much like i used to.
Now he seems to have learned that ALL dogs are not a threat. He has learned that he can avoid them if he chooses too. He has taught me these things too. i am a better and healthier person for the love of my friend. He has taught me patience and caring. sadly he has shown me that he is a more loyal companion than most people. He guards my grandson like a sentry..
Dogs aren't called mans best friend for nothing. They are more than just pets. they understand us and are unbelievably loyal.
Thanks for reading this post. I owe my pal a debt of gratitude that I'll never be able to repay. He has reintroduced me to life after a long a troubling condition. He is more than just a companion, he is
P.S. I'm buying a new camera and aim to bring you better pictures of Ace and his adventures..
Any pictures of your best friend? please post them, I'd love to see them..
