The origin of the Staffordshire Bull Terrier can be traced back to the 17th century. As the sport of bull baiting declined in popularity in England and dogfights became more common, the need for a smaller and more agile fighting dog than the larger bulldog and mastiff that had been used became clear. Bulldogs were bred to reduce their size and eventually a cross between these smaller dogs and the Black and Tan Terrier resulted in the Staffordshire Bull Terrier.
Eventually dog fighting also began to lose its popularity and was finally outlawed in 1835. The Staffordshire Bull Terrier remained in favor with working class families, however, and soon after the ban on dog fighting a group of workers in the Staffordshire area attempted to preserve the breed by introducing it into the world of dog shows.
The breed was officially introduced to the Kennel Club in England in 1935, and was accepted into the American Kennel club in 1974.
