types, were not more aggressive than other dogs. The results of that paper indicate that dog behaviour is primarily "shaped by their environment, not their breed". Breed-specific legislation In 2018, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) lobbied the British Parliament to have the breed added to the list of restricted dog breeds in the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the KC, Dogs Trust, Blue Cross, and the Battersea Dogs & Cats Home all objected to the proposal. The proposal was rejected by Parliament; therefore, Staffords are not banned under the UK's Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. In the United States, dogs that are often defined as pit bulls and commonly banned in some countries include American Pit Bull Terriers, Staffords, American Staffordshire Terriers, and Bull Terriers. The CDC and ASPCA are among several agencies and organisations that have stood in opposition to the "theory underlying breed-specific laws—that some breeds bite more often and cause more damage than others, ergo laws targeting these breeds will decrease bite incidence and severity" as they do not believe it has been successful in practice. As of June 2017, there were 21 states in the US that prohibited breed-specific legislation. Irish Staffordshire Bull Terrier misnomer In the UK, American Pit Bull Terriers are sometimes advertised as "Irish Staffordshire Bull Terrier" in an attempt to circumvent the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. The Irish Staffordshire Bull Terrier is not recognised as a breed by the Irish Kennel Club or any other kennel club, and is attributed by the RSPCA to be contributing "to a rise in incidents of dog fighting". Notable dogs Watchman – since 1882, the military mascot of the Staffordshire Regiment. Jock – a Stafford cross, subject of Sir Percy FitzPatrick's book Jock of the Bushveld (1907). Cooper – adopted in 2018 by the Staffordshire Police, the first of the breed in that police force. He worked as police dog until 2022, visited schools and appeared on Crimewatch Live. Gallery References External links Staffordshire Bull Terrier 1935 - Staffordshire Bull Terrier history, statistics, links etc. Staffordshire Bull Terrier UK Club - Staffordshire Bull Terrier UK Club SBTpedigree - Staffordshire Bull Terrier Pedigree Search Engine Dog breeds originating in England Dog fighting breeds FCI breeds Terriers