EXTRA UPDATES;     (no longer Art & Culture .)

... from the I.K.C.'s viewpoint, high-lighting the Staffordshire Bull Terrier in particular, compared with other breeds in general, considering the negative media attitude in recent years, our mission remains to represent STAFFORDS in their most positive role in modernday society; aiming to overcome the misleading/damaging negative media aspects !

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' SINGING THE BLUES ' ABOUT THE BLUE STAFFORDSHIRE BULL TERRIERS; such as the renowned LAMONT'S I.K.C. CHAMPION 'NELL'; pictured above for example,  with her noteworthy ascent elaborated upon, goes far towards widening the field of knowledge on the 'Blue' SBT's generally ... she is one of many to enhance such a strain of their potential as true-blue performers - not only to make pretty pictures !

THEY'VE BRAWN & BRAINS COMBINED, in recent years rating highly in performance trials in fieldsports .. hard-driving weight-pulling, a-frame, and other such demanding events where strength, perseverance, and agility make the differences.

They're quick for learning most things, and are typical/everyday Staffords as all Staffords tend to be; great with people .. their basic difference is coat-colour being blue, and blue with white ..  which just about sums them all up, for now .. FAST becoming I.K.C. ROLE MODELS IN THIS NEW YEAR; 2012 !

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WITH STAFFORDS being an indigenous breed to the British Isles, playing various roles throughout their history from a rough n' tumble kick-start in bygone days up into their colourful present day lifestyles in popular performance-related activities; enjoyed by all concerned .. the dogs .. their owners .. and growing numbers of breed students observing the exciting atmosphere of it all ... including the culture and artistic  aspects; being developed thru' careful/selective breeding programs producing high quality performance-bred canine companions ... being reminiscent as 'works of art', indeed, in form and function, combined .. and, in the flesh !

... with that in mind, let's explore the possibilities and share the fun & games with other dog devotees ...

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PICTURED BELOW; a Staffordshire Bull Terrier of the 1870's era in the U.S.A. known as THE GAS-HOUSE DOG; McDonald's 'Grip' .  Having been a highly rated dog in those rough n' tumble times engaged in their primary purpose, and of  typical  type preferred for their work, bearing a close example of the finest bloodlines, such a specimen is set up as an I.K.C. icon to be replicated in this modern day and age, in contrast to show-fashioned varieties.

AND BELOW, ANOTHER ICON OF A BYGONE AGE, AS SEEN ABOVE; born in a pub in Walsall, England, in the late 1870's known as LLOYD'S PILOT, he became recognised as the 'Champion Of America' in sporting dog circles of those times .. his best weight was 28 lbs .. His sire was Small's Billy of Sedgely, and his dam Darby's Kit .

It's noteworthy that just such an allround type - in make and shape - is the aim of serious SBT breeders today to replicate, as best they may, a near thing to just such models, in the place of show-dog fashioned  contemporaries. The IKC endorses the preservation of  such icons, for now and the breeds future; as breed students can discover when viewing the following pages herein, and our INTERCONTINENTAL KENNEL CLUB FORUM .

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TO REGISTER YOUR DOG WITH THE I.K.C., please send a copy of the dog's papers to us with a recent photo of the dog .. all being in order, we'll then send a reg form to start with .. return completed form with the reg fee of £12.00; as stated on the form, to Intercontinental K.C. HQ, 72 Manor Rd., Mitcham, Surrey, CR 4 1JB   ... altho' our main breed is Staffordshire Bull Terriers, we also consider other varieties as well; with interests in performance-related activities to encourage lively, healthy, intelligent dogs in general ... 

 ... WHILE THE ABOVE INFO is for the general purposes of  selective breeding, when a dog is being reg'd MAINLY FOR COMPETING in our 'performance' events , NOT FOR BREEDING, no papers are called for; being an exception in our circles, considered a companion/pet dog, generally, with athletic potential ... more details about The I.K.C. will appear herein .

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BELOW; another outline of American Bulldog Steve H's 'Lilly', considered to display, generally, all the basic components of what a 'working'  Bulldog would contain in the past purpose of such dogs in bygone days .. having seen Lilly in numerous tests of agility, perseverance, and muscle-power, she isn't missing out on points of brawn or brains in this present day and age .. a true Bulldog, in form and spirit !

ABOVE; ring-siders observing IKC events at the popular Aces Field