Arguably the best stafford ever.

This'll probably cause a biy of a discussion, but this dog has been called the Staffordshire Bull Terrier that most closely resembles the Breed Standard. He has been used in several books as an illustration of the standard.......

Ch. Eastaff Guardian

He's a good looking dog. I'd certainly be happy with him. I like the smaller size staffs, like Shady and Dakota, to me thats how they should be.

My brothers dog Masey is like that will have to put some pics of her on here, he always says Milly is a staff on stilts

He was a cracking dog. Really strong, but not overdone, and a superb temperament. Joyce Shorrock, who bred him, told me once that she could die happy knowing that she'd bred as near to perfection as she could. She never expected to get another as good as him. Sadly, he died young.

Caryll wrote:He was a cracking dog. Really strong, but not overdone, and a superb temperament. Joyce Shorrock, who bred him, told me once that she could die happy knowing that she'd bred as near to perfection as she could. She never expected to get another as good as him. Sadly, he died young.

Wot a shame

Aww did he. he is a lovely dog to thats about the same size as kaiser thats how i think a staffy should be

Nice, makes mine look like a heinz 57! Oh well!

Janey wrote:Nice, makes mine look like a heinz 59! Oh well!

MOO is beautiful, love your avatar BTW xx

Janey wrote:Nice, makes mine look like a heinz 59! Oh well!

Hey, don't put Moo down! She's a gorgeous looking girl & every inch a staffy!!

he's a handsome chappy alright ,,,,, i could'nt pick half the great dogs from the other in all honesty , untrained eye lol ,,,,, and shontelle , you have impecable taste in dogs hahahahahah

come to think of it , eastaff dogs in my two's peds if memory serves me correct ,,,, caryll think you'll ever get another staff ?

Thats why they're such gorgeous dogs niff, if they've got his line in them, how could they not be? Seriously, your dogs are stunning. Their size and shape is exactly the way a staffy should be in my opinion, but like you, I have an untrained eye, but I know what I think looks good and shady and dakota definitely do.

Caryll wrote:This'll probably cause a biy of a discussion, but this dog has been called the Staffordshire Bull Terrier that most closely resembles the Breed Standard. He has been used in several books as an illustration of the standard.......

Ch. Eastaff Guardian

I agree this guy is a nice looking Stafford. And he may well be the best fit to the modern standard but I prefer the original 1935 standard - So I will argue that whilst he is a great looking Stafford he's not the best - Give me Gentleman Jim or Game Laddie JMHO.

With reference to the Old tyme Bull & Terrier pictures. I guess this guy is breeding for ability rather than looks hence the dog looks quite different to what you'd see normally. Staffords have always had fanciers of particular types be it the terrier or bully type or different mixes inbetween. Here is a picture of picture of the three different types of Staffords: The picture is from circa 1930s and is of the Cradley Heath, Walsall and Darlaston type dogs - as you can see the Cradley Heath type dog ended up being the type the standard was drawn up on.

Eaststaff guardian was a stunning example of the breed. A real cracker and the type of stafford I like. To me he fits the standard like a glove, good choice caryll

niff wrote:caryll think you'll ever get another staff ?

I dunno. I still love em, and they'll always hold a really special place in my heart, but Bull Terriers are that bit more challenging. Maybe after Dempsey I'll be too old for another bully, so then I might get another staff.

Steveb wrote:With reference to the Old tyme Bull & Terrier pictures. I guess this guy is breeding for ability rather than looks hence the dog looks quite different to what you'd see normally.

Well, in a way you're right. The dogs are mainly being bred as 'sporting' dogs. ie they are used for lamping (legal, unfortunately) and badger baiting. Some, I'm sure, end up with the fighting fraternity. One at least is being used in Bikejoring.

I'm not questioning the breeding behind his dogs as they are what they are so if he says they are pure Staffords then I'll take his word for it but if they are bred for lamping then it would make sense to have some Whippet in there and if he's breeding for function rather than looks then there wouldn't be any problem mixing breeds to get the result your after.

Caryll wrote:
I dunno. I still love em, and they'll always hold a really special place in my heart, but Bull Terriers are that bit more challenging. Maybe after Dempsey I'll be too old for another bully, so then I might get another staff.

I've never owned a Bull Terrier and only known a couple throughout the years but it's a breed I'd quite like to own oneday. They do appear a little more head strong than Staffies - but what would you say are the main differences?

Steveb wrote:I'm not questioning the breeding behind his dogs as they are what they are so if he says they are pure Staffords then I'll take his word for it but if they are bred for lamping then it would make sense to have some Whippet in there and if he's breeding for function rather than looks then there wouldn't be any problem mixing breeds to get the result your after.

They're not pure-bred. They're bred for a purpose. My objection is just that - what purpose? I don't like lamping, but then I don't like hunting anyway. I certainly don't like fighting!

Steveb wrote:

Caryll wrote:
I dunno. I still love em, and they'll always hold a really special place in my heart, but Bull Terriers are that bit more challenging. Maybe after Dempsey I'll be too old for another bully, so then I might get another staff.

I've never owned a Bull Terrier and only known a couple throughout the years but it's a breed I'd quite like to own oneday. They do appear a little more head strong than Staffies - but what would you say are the main differences?

They're far more stubborn & can be headstrong. Having the extra size & weight can be a bit of a problem, and they certainly know how to use it! They are also highly destructive, far more so than staffs. They're not quite as 'people orientated as staffs either, so sometimes you have to watch them with strangers, although they're just as good with kids.

Oh, and they're thick as two short planks!

I hope you covered Dempsys's ears when you called him thick!

No, I tell him that to his face every day! He just grins & wags his tail! This is the dog who, at nearly 2 years old still hasn't worked out that our garden gate opens inwards!

anyone that would use staffys for lamping is a bloody bafoon , i used to do alot of lamping maybe 10-12yrs ago and i can tell you now there is no way on this earth a staffy would get anywhere near a hare , roe , or even a rabbit for that matter , maybe 1 rabbit out 100 that had miximatosis maybe lol then again if the people that are doing the lamping and are sending in the lurchers to do the hard work then letting staffs tare the animals to bits they need shot

I know whewre your coming from with the stubborness, a few of my friends have bull terriers and they are the most strong-willed dogs I've ever met. Well on a par with neopoliton mastiffs!

Bull terriers mentality - 'If I bang my head against it hard enough it will open'

I'm ready for a debate over my fave histroical staff but no time works way too hectic today, bloody new IT system

Sorry guys - just realised my post on the first page with the pic of the three types and talkingabout the the old tyme staffords was meant to be on the other thread titles "I just found out there's no such thing as an English staffy" well half of it was anyway lol Head not in gear today.

Niff your right I couldn't imaging a Staffie catching much lamping but that's the dog Caryll and I were talking about are on the other thread.

Caryll - they sound like great dogs. Their dopey nature sounds like it could be quite amusing - I've heard they are nicknamed clowns. Interesting that they are not quite as people orientated I wonder how that came about.

niff wrote:anyone that would use staffys for lamping is a bloody bafoon , i used to do alot of lamping maybe 10-12yrs ago and i can tell you now there is no way on this earth a staffy would get anywhere near a hare , roe , or even a rabbit for that matter , maybe 1 rabbit out 100 that had miximatosis maybe lol then again if the people that are doing the lamping and are sending in the lurchers to do the hard work then letting staffs tare the animals to bits they need shot

Ah, but they're not the staffies or bullies you would normally see - they're lightweight, very lean & more lurcher-ish if you see what I mean.

I hate to disagree lol but Ty is actually very good at catching rabbits........and deer as u no haha x

He was one of the greats thats for sure Caryll and will go down in history as that .Its a shame he died young along with consones yer man and veronic voo doo such a pity but they will be remembered.

Ha Ha you make me laugh poor dempsey, my niece has a georgeous bull terrier called bently hes thick as two short planks and every day he runs into the patio doors nearly knocks himself out when she opens the curtains but hes lovely

Caryll wrote:No, I tell him that to his face every day! He just grins & wags his tail! This is the dog who, at nearly 2 years old still hasn't worked out that our garden gate opens inwards!

He sounds like he has the same 4 seconds memory as Blue.

4 seconds? Wow, that's a long memory!

I was a bit misleading.............it's only 4 seconds when I am bribing him with a tasty treat

Ah, right! That sounds a bit more like Dempsey!