The Ruffians – Part 1
Introduction by Wil de Veer
In honour of Richard Gray, owner of the Rounders kennel (USA), who passed away on August 4 of that year, the breed club is publishing a highly interesting and detailed series of four articles written by him about “The Ruffians” (previously published in IAST Magazine). Richard was a member of the Staffordshire Terrier Club of America for more than fifty years, served fifteen years on the board and also ten years as President of the club. He was a very amiable man with great knowledge of the breed. I met him several times and will never forget the evening when he and his wife Francis visited us. He was genuinely interested in the Dutch dogs and later also judged at the club day in our country. We talked until the late hours of the night about the dogs and especially about “The Ruffians”. As you can read in this four-part series, Richard had tremendous knowledge of our breed. He was highly respected in the Am Staff world and was treated with great respect by everyone, and especially his friendships with other breeders were treasured by both them and him. This certainly also comes across in the cooperation various breeders had. If anyone deserved the term “Southern Gentleman”, it was Richard Gray!
The Ruffians
The origin of the Ruffian line
If I try to tell the story of the Ruffian line without giving the founders some credit, I would feel like an ingrate. Even before Clayton Harriman, the Ruffian line was being formed. The people chiefly responsible were Ed C. Martin, Floyd C. Klump, Fred C. Schroeder, and maybe even others should receive some credit. In my opinion none of these fellows had a complete concept that they were forming a line, but begin a line they did.
The first influences and geographic connection
From my research I could not find a single entry in the AKC's stud book by Fred C. Schroeder. Floyd C. Klump had a few dogs entered in the stud book. Ed C. Martin had many dogs entered into the stud book. Martin's AKC involvement was from 1939-1949. How long he was in the other registry I do not know, but all these men had an impact. In going through the AKC stud book I noticed a strange geographic coincidence. The first was a strong correlation between the states of Michigan, Texas and Colorado. Martin, Klump, and later Harriman all resided in Michigan. Harriman moved from Texas to Michigan. He had a brief stay in Kansas City between Texas and Michigan. While in Texas, Harriman met W.D. (Peggy) Harper. Peggy Harper later developed her HarWyn strain. William M. Whitaker lived in Colorado. Whitaker, Harper and Harriman seemed to work closely together.
The modern group of Ruffian enthusiasts
Today Monski and Nowicki along with others live in Michigan. Gi Gi and Jerry Rooney lived in Michigan until they moved to Colorado. Of course, I live in Texas. This group with other Ruffian fans, cooperates very well together.
Clayton Harriman and his vision
Mr. Harriman, from what I can determine by studying the AKC's stud book, did have a solid view of what he was doing. I never met the man, but when you see the number of litters the man bred and how those litters were bred, I felt this was a gentleman intent on developing a line. He was successful and his line has lasted over fifty years. Of course, there have been infusions of dogs from time to time, but each infusion of this purest of strains was based on Ruffian dominated dogs. Harriman's good dogs were too numerous to list, but The Ruffian (Klump's Deuce x Klump's Dina) himself was a landmark dog as was Ruffian Our Teenie (The Ruffian x Calamity Anne), Ruffian Walkaway (Martin's Tony x Ruffian Our Teenie), but I fell in love with the picture in Ormsby's book. I find it strange that today none of the blood from Bubbling Over (The Ruffian x Hart's Black Queen II) is still in Am Staffs. Even though I never saw Mr. Harriman's early dogs, from the pictures I did see Mr. Harriman's stock was very stylish (type), and not oversized. Even today when the purest of Ruffians are crossed with other lines the original style often holds true. Unfortunately, I do not know how sound they were. The first entry in the AKC's stud book by Clayton Harriman was in 1939. His wife Letti seems to have taken over the kennel after Clayton passed on and the last entry I could find was in 1949 as well.
Whitaker, Hadley and the West Coast influence
Enter William Whitaker and Howard Hadley into the picture of developing the Ruffian Line. Howard I do not think was in the least bit interested in developing a Ruffian line. Howard was developing the Mounthaven line from William's dogs. However, Howard had used a dog named Ruffian Scalawag (The Ruffian x Calamity Anne). Scalawag was as strong a Ruffian bred dog as one could find. Howard also had a dog named Mounthaven Tex of Har-Wyn (Ruffian Chango of H-W x Ruffian Bonnie of H-W), a litter mate to Ruffian Gray Boy of Har-Wyn. So this was a powerfully bred Ruffian dog. Ruffian dogs such as Ruffian Contact of Har-Wyn (Ruffian Gray Boy of H-W x Ruffian Archer's Dotty), Ruffian Rudy of Har-Wyn (Ruffian High Ace of H-W x Ruffian Bonita of H-W) were interwined into the west coast version of our breed so that I could not help but think of them as Ruffians. Indian Doc (Ruffian Rudy of H-W x Archer's Dixie) was a result of this west coast style of dog. If you have never heard of Indian Doc, he was special.
Ruffian Janet and Red Rock
Howard produced a pair of females know as Ruffian Janet of Mounthaven (Mounthaven Tex of H-W x Mounthaven Jet of Lylane) and Ruffian Janet of Har-Wyn (Jollyscamp Blueguard x Ruffian Sika of H-W). This pair was outstanding. I do not think either was ever shown, and I could not understand why they were not shown. These two play a role in the development of Ruffian Red Rock of Har-Wyn (Ruffian Sky Bolt of H-W x Ruffian Golden Lady of H-W). Howard was active in AKC dogs from 1943 to 1968 at least.
Jollyscamp and Whitaker’s influence
William Whitaker was developing his Jollyscamp Line. However, his dogs were as pure Ruffian blood as a dog could be. His most powerful influence was the fine dog Jollyscamp Blueguard (Gallant Ruff x Jolly Scamperpuss). Blueguard is as important to the Ruffian strain as any single dog I can think of, same his sire Gallant Ruff (Ruffian Walkaway x Puddinpie Pepper Duster). In fact, the two may be the corner stones of the breed. I am not sure if that last statement as I have not studied all the pedigrees for Am Staffs. Mr. Whitaker may have been one of the three best Ruffian breeders to this date. While the basic style of dog Whitaker had was similar to Harriman, more size and variety was added. Other important dogs Whitaker was responsible for were Puddinpie Pepper Duster and Puddinpie Blue Smoke (Ruffian Dreadnaught x Ruffian Headlight Hal) and Jollyscamperpuss (Ruffian Walkaway x Puddinpie Blue Smoke). While Whitaker greatest activity in breeding AKC dogs was between 1945 and 1958. He had a profound influence on the breed.
Gallant and Ed Ringold
Ed Ringold kept the Gallant line in tack until his death. Gallant Ruff (Ruffian Walkaway x Puddin Pie Pepperduster) was the corner stone for the Ruffian and Gallant line. Gallant Kimbo (Knight Crusader x Gallant Stormy) I think was responsible for any phenotypical difference between Peggy Harper's dogs and the Gallant line (Ed's dogs were very stocky for the most part), but in fact, I see the two lines being parallel lines. Ed produced so many fine dogs and such a fine type that he needs more credit. Some of Ed's finer stock should be noted were Gallant Pistol Pete (Gallant Kimbo x Rebel's Jess), Gallant Golden Girl (Gallant Kimbo x Gallant Tara) and Gallant Johnny Reb (Deaver’s Gallant Rebel x Deaver’s Gallant Patches). Ed Ringold was active with the breed from World War One until his death in the mid 80's.
Charlie Loyd and the preservation of Gallant
Charlie Loyd was active helping Ed Ringold keep the Gallant strain alive. Charlie was a mainstay in the breed from 1954 until very recently. Charlie had some big winning dogs in his time. He should receive the credit he deserves.
Crusader as an important factor
Ike and Jean Stinson brought the Crusader dogs into the mix because they were such good show dogs. Ed, Peggy and others could not resist using them and in fact the Crusader dogs had liberal doses of Ruffian blood from Gallant Ruff (Ruffian Walkaway x Puddin Pie Pepperduster) and Howard Hadley's stock. Knight Crusader and Knight Bomber (Rossmore's Naughty Knight x Gallant Ruff's Susie Q) were just outstanding and Knight Crusader for many years was the biggest winning Am Staff in the breed's history. From the few Crusader dogs I did see, these dogs appeared to be based on soundness. Some people to this day will say that Crusader was not a line just a kennel name. These people do have a point, but the same fault can be made about many of the other famous lines in the breed.
Peggy Harper and stirring up the genes
Peggy Harper visited the line next and she scrambled the genes. Peggy used Howard's dogs, some of Ed Ringold dogs, some of William Whitaker dogs, she even used Tacoma-All-A-Blaze (Kanes Tacoma Blaze x Tacoma Surefire), she also put some of her father's Pit Bulls into the mix, and some Crusader blood. Peggy breeds The Ruffian of Har-Wyn (Jollyscamp Blueguard x Ruffian Black Beauty of H-W), she used Ruffian Headlight Hal (The Ruffian x Calamity Anne) in large amounts. Other major impact dogs were Ruffian Sika (Jollyscamp Blueguard x Ruffian Black Beauty of H-W), Ruffian Dreadnaught (Martins Tony x Ruffian Our Teenie), Ruffian High Ace (Ruffian Chango of H-W x Ruffian Kora of H-W), Ruffian Gray Boy (Ruffian Chango of H-W x Ruffian Bonnie of H-W), Ruffian Chita (Ruffian High Ace of H-W x Ruffian Sika of H-W) and others I am sure I have left out. Peggy even produces Ruffian Hercules of Har-Wyn (Ruffian Gray Boy of H-W x Ruffian Blue Miss of H-W), for years the top producer in the history of the breed. Ruffian Red Rock of Har-Wyn (Ruffian Sky Bolt of H-W x Ruffian Golden Lady of H-W) her most famous show dog, and for a while, the top winning Am Staff in history. He was one of the last Peggy bred. The old Tacoma dogs trace their roots back to the same base as the Ruffian line does so All-A-Blaze was not an out cross.
Blitz, Sky King and the shift toward Har-Wyn
However, Peggy may be most remembered for introducing the brothers Blitz and especially Sky King (X-Pert Rowdy Rascal x Ruffian Gerty of H-W) into the Ruffian mix. Some would argue that Blitz and Sky Kings impact changed from the Ruffian line to Har-Wyn line at this point and time. I would agree that the Sky King influence altered the line, it would not be too big of a stretch to suggest that the line could be called the Har-Wyn Line instead of Ruffian. Blitz and Sky King were litter mates. They were 5/8 Ruffian, 1/8 X-Pert, 1/8 Tacoma and 1/8 unrelated to any major line. She did this because Sky King was such a sound dog and a big winner of his time. He gave her dogs an edge in the show ring. A great female behind Sky King was Jones Gaye One Roxie (The Tiger of Cleveland x Miss Mugwump). I have seen only the one picture, but what a picture. I asked Peggy who was the best Am Staff she had ever seen not of her kennel. Peggy replied: Jones Gaye One Roxie. I do not know that Peggy really knew what she was doing in so far as genetics were concerned, but she was doing it anyway. Her method of breeding was based on numbers. She had many different looks in her kennel. Many were sound, some were not real sound physically, but what drew me to her line was the outgoing temperaments she had. This was important to me and no easy trick with a kennel of 60+ Am Staffs in her runs. You know they had little or no socialization, and still they wanted to be your friend.
The character of Peggy Harper
Peggy was one of a kind. She would have made a fine Am Staff, except she was not nearly as stable as our dogs. She acquired Ruffian Headlight Hal (The Ruffian x Calamity Anne) from Whitaker for just being willing to take the dog off his hands. Hal was very dog aggressive and hard to control. Peggy was maybe 5'1 ", Whitaker was a big man, but Peggy grabbed the leash from Whitaker, took Hal into the ring, won, and then she took him home. I heard other stories about other dogs and how Peggy aquired them, including Tacoma-All-A-Blaze (Kanes Tacoma Blaze x Tacoma Surefire). Knowing Peggy, it might have been true. I still pray for her. Peggie Harper or Winnie Doris Harper was in AKC dogs from 1947 to 1977. Remember, stud books entries will always be a year or two behind. After Peggy's death Melvin Cowdery took over for at least three months. Richard Bell became Melvin's partner and soon had all the dogs to himself. Richard used his dog Ruffian Hercules of Har-Wyn (Ruffian Gray Boy of H-W x Ruffian Blue Miss of H-W) and produced many dogs. For a good length of time Hercules was a top producer of champions. Richard was soon forced out of Am Staffs.
(to be continued) - The Ruffians - Part 2
* Where the parents of dogs were not listed, I added them. This followed questions I received from several readers after part 1 of “The Ruffians” had been published in the club magazine.