Free Dog Diaries 07 - Stubby by Kate Klimo Page B

battle. Fortunately, most of them eventually grew accustomed to the noise. Ever since, desensitization to gunfire is one of the first lessons a canine military recruit learns.
    Dogs have played key roles in every modern war, from Korea to Desert Storm to the war in Iraq. War is an unpleasant and regrettable fact of life, but dogs continue to offer their invaluable assistance to the military, loyally and obediently following their soldier handlers into the fray withouta moment of hesitation or a woof of complaint.
    For information on the history of U.S. war dogs, go to:
    •   jbmf.us
    •   uswardogs.org
    More About the American Staffordshire Bull Terrier
    Stubby was a street dog with no papers—a mutt. But some believe that, based on his looks and behavior, he was probably an American Staffordshire bull terrier mix. In England, the Staffordshire bull terrier came about as a result of breeding the bulldog with the Manchester terrier. Originally bred to bait bulls, the bulldog had strength and tenacity. The terrier had agility and high spirits. The result is an agile, shorthaired, medium-sized dog withgreat strength for its size and a never-say-die attitude. Farmers in the Staffordshire region of England found it useful as an all-purpose farm dog. The breed first came to America in the 1870s and was accepted in the American Kennel Club in 1936 as the American Staffordshire bull terrier. Ranging from fourteen to sixteen inches and weighing anywhere from twenty-four to thirty-eight pounds, the American “Staffy” is heftier than its British cousin. It is loyal, intelligent, eager to please, has a sense of humor, and loves people, particularly children. It is important to note that the breed tends to be very protective of its loved ones.
    For more information about this wonderful breed, go to:
    •   akc.org/breeds/staffordshire_bull_terrier/index.cfm
    Owning an American Staffordshire Bull Terrier
    These dogs often get a bad rap. Because of their strength and history as bull baiters, some people use these dogs (and dogs with similar physical traits) for the illegal and abusive practice of dog-fighting. Dogs trained to fight other dogs understandably have trouble mixing in everyday life. But when properly trained and socialized, this breed can make a first-rate pet. Just ask any loving family who owns one. They’ll tell you that Staffies—or AmStafs—are, in the noble tradition of Sergeant Stubby, affectionate, intelligent, brave, gentle, funny, loyal, and possessed of an emotional makeup that is uncannily near-human.
    For more information on owning or rescuing an American Staffordshire bull terrier, visit:
    •   amstaff.org

Stubby and Miss Louise Johnson in 1921 in the Humane Education Society parade