Can anyone clear this up for me? I have just aquired an Irish Stafford Bitch two and a half years old. I have fallen hopelessly in love with her and now this breed( or not breed) being a rescue dog we had very little history on her so I decided to research on the net. WHAT conflicting stories. One site states RSPCA claim the ISBT is really a cover up name for a pit bull? Another staffie breeder just e-mailed me to say there is no such breed and was quite rude about the fact that a staffie rescue was spending it's money on an ISBT!! My girl shows no agression to other dogs just wants to play lots of tail wagging and rolling around on the pavement when approached by a strange dog when we walk. So far is starting to get on with our two cats also. She really is adorable and well behaved I shall love her no matter what but would just like some infor on her. Her pedigree to name but a few has Chi Psycho, Farmers Boy Flint,East St Jocko, Lees Max to name but a few Mum is JG's Bebe and dad is Murphy 58915 As I say it hurts when people cross to the other side of the road when they see her coming I don't believe in bad dogs just bad owners

welcome to the board :) You'll meet a lot if likeminded people on here, one or two with ISBT's...

Mick? :)

Thanks Chloe

Glad to be on board with people who know what they are talking about!

hello
isbt are not kc staffs and the kc staff dont like them to be called staff.i can understand why as they are not staff but a different breed.just like the pit/amstaff/bullterrier are not staffs either.they are a different breed however.they were originally used for dog fighting badger baiting-theyre meant to be a gamer version of the kc staff.
in your ped it has ch pyscho which was a great dog fighting dog.the main two lines are stormer and pyscho for isbt but there are lots of other lines.isbt also have eng bullterrier in their blood.
isbt are not the same as a pitbull however much the rspca would like them to be however just like the pit/staff/amstaff etc they are used in dogfighting-but this does not make them pits.
however the dda also has pitbull types which can be classed as isbt as it a pitbull type but where do we draw the line as kc staffs if bred longer in leg can be classed as pitbull type.!!!!!!!!!
isbt should be very friendly towards all humans-same as pits should be as in dogfighting any dogs that showed aggression to humans would have been killed.just when poor backyard breeders want to breed these dogs and cross and breed crap with crap that you get bad unstable dogs leading to their bad reputation which isbt may end up getting.

Hello there,
I was in exactly the same boat as yourself! I have a 15month old isbt...i just call her an irish bull terrier if anyone asks me what she is.I bought mine as a "normal staffy" And got concerned when she just didnt grow to look like one! Do you have papers from the intercontinental club? if so, saying shes what? No doubt you will hear from Mr Murphy who i have spoken to many times and is unboubtabley the number one isbt fan and he knows what hes on about. Anyway what i foundout after plenty research is that basically according to the kc club/dangerous dogs gov department,if theyre not pit bulls they are physically so close, that they are classed as such,and are subject to the same laws.ie should be neutered/chipped/tatooed,could be taken off you and destroyed,Now dont freakout at this!!!i did!
After i was told all this the dangerous dogs people went on to say that if i had her neutered (which from what i can gather is a good thing anyway) and chipped and shes well trained i shouldnt have a problem.
Rogue is also from the Physco line(nice name) And is just plain daft..very affectionate, playfull,gorgeous shes mostly white with a brindle patch over one eye,but shes a handfull, especially at the age she is,so far shes killed most of the woodwork in my house and theres not a cage built that can hold her...no joke regular hoodini.
I now believe the isbt should be recognised as a breed..however the fact Rogue is the same shape and build as a pitt,possibly with a slightly different shape of face, has paper endorsed by a guy called Ed Ried who is recognised as bringing the first pitt bulls into the uk,and the fact from what i can gather(sorry Mr Murphy) that they started to appear in numbers as pitt`s were banned.....well you can make your own mind up,i really dont know,i personnaly think mine came from the irish line ie shes not just a pitt bull using a code name,however i think the irish line was staffy to begin with ie physco/stormer but has had some pitt/god knows what else thrown in,i know for a fact even though Rogue is just ace,if youd trained her to fight(like you could with any dog) She`d be damn good at it,and i sure as hell wouldnt want to pull her off my throat!
All in all im sure your just interested as you now have one, and im sure you already know you wouldnt swap her for anything else,i wouldnt.Sorry to waffle on so much

Hi Thanks yes I am now in contact with Mr Murphy. Just like you I was told before I picked Shakey up that she was a staff but was just a bit Leggy!! Anyhow like you say I wouldn't swap her for the world but just like you as a responsible dog owner I do like to have some knowledge of my own dog. Shakey is being chipped & neutered. Also like yours she is very well behaved.

Hello Churchill.

You can e mail me (click on Mr Murphy name above) if you wish to discuss the breeds in depth and I can give you links also.

Regards Mick

hey murphy you going to reids show?????

I would like to but I cant even get a weekend off this year far to busy the wife says. Mick.

Yeh mine seems very alike to yours in temerment. Ive got a blue male ISBT, hes a local legend especially with OAPs and children who always want to stroke him and baby talk to him. Hes the best dog you could ever buy but I have had a big problem with fence biting. Because the jaws are so strong and his energy is unparalled by most breeds he can scrap a perfectly good fence in seconds. Ive had to replace all the fences with brand new dog proof ones so just watch out, thats another hidden ISBT expense. Otherwise the dogs are great with everyone but especially good for RESPONSIBLE teenagers who have a lot of time on their hands and can take the dog for long walks or keep them entertained for long periods of time.

Just like to say hi to the ISBT owners, who whether concerned about outdated legislation or not have great dogs. A true all rounder and able to become whatever pleases the owner - with work.