Staffordshire bull terrier

Staffordshire bull terrier, breed of terrier developed in 19th-century England for fighting other dogs in pits. The breed was created by crossing the bulldog, then a longer-legged and more agile dog, with a terrier, possibly the fox terrier or one of the old breeds known as the white English and the black-and-tan terriers. Once known by such names as bull-and-terrier, half and half, and pit bull terrier, the Staffordshire bull terrier is a stocky, muscular, and unusually strong dog standing 14 to 16 inches (36 to 41 cm), with an average weight of about 28 to 38 pounds (13 to 17 kg).

Whether cities should enact breed-specific legislation (BSL, or "pit bill bans") for dogs such as Staffordshire bull terriers is widely debated. Some see BSL as a humane way of making communities safer by discouraging dog fighting and the breeding of dangerous dogs. Others argue there is no evidence that BSL makes communities safer and that other legislation would be more effective than expensive and controversial BSL laws. For more on the debate on pit bull bans, visit ProCon.org.