The Ruffians – Part 2
Introduction by Wil de Veer
In case you missed it: The Ruffians - Part 1
In honour of Richard Gray, owner of the Rounders kennel (USA), who passed away in 2020, 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. He 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 him and them. This certainly also comes across in the cooperation various breeders had with him. If anyone deserved the term “Southern Gentleman”, it was Richard Gray!
The Ruffians
Willynwood, Tryarr and the first expansions of the line
William F. Peterson brought with him a strain of Crusader dogs that was as pure as driven snow. Bill called his line Willynwood. Bill also used Ruffian Hercules of H-W (Ruffian Gray Boy of Har-Wyn x Ruffian Blue Miss of Har-Wyn) as a stud. Wow! The offspring were just great, Brau Bull Adam of Topstaff, Willynwood Liberty Belle (Ruffian Hercules of H-W x Willynwood Temptress), Willynwood Blue Lotus (Ruffian Hercules of H-W x Willynwood Tiger Lily) and too many more to name. Bill next bred into Ruffian Red Rock of Har-Wyn (Ruffian Sky Bolt of Har-Wyn x Ruffian Golden Lady of Har-Wyn) and had good dogs, but not as good as Bill wanted. Bill started breeding into Ruffian Rolls mixes and I think he is happy with what he is getting, but his pure Ruffians are no longer there, at least I cannot find them.
I think Susan Rodgers had one of the better concepts concerning what the Ruffian line was, or at least as to how a dog should look (for the show anyway). Susan's main dog was Ruffian Sky Bolt of Har-Wyn (Sky King of H-W x Ruffian Cheeta of H-W). She picked him up as the Har-Wyn kennel was being destroyed. She also put Ruffian Hercules of Har-Wyn into her line. She did not realize how closely related these two dogs were. However, she may be responsible for as many good-looking dogs as anyone. Some of her more impressive dogs were Herks Harper (Ruffian Red Rock of H-W x Tryarr Deadly Nightshade), Tryarr Strawberry Fields (Ruffian Red Rock of H-W x Topstaff Willynwood Goldy), and others. Her Tryarr line was maintained pure for the relatively short time she was in Am Staffs.
The Hartnets were not in dogs very long. They did produce Mountshire's Barn Boss (Topstaff Tony the Tiger x Ruffian Lady of H-W IV), a fine dog.
Patton, Alexander and the further development of the Ruffian line
Walter Patton Jr. did know who to listen to. His major claims to fame were breeding Atchley's Fanny (King Bear of Lou-Lin x Pascoe’s White Rock Christi) to Ruffian Red Rock of Har-Wyn (Ruffian Sky Bolt of Har-Wyn x Ruffian Golden Lady of Har-Wyn). This produced Pattons Red Rock Skillet, Pattons Red Rock Josephine, and Pattons Texas Belle Lucy. I think his pride prevented him from repeating the breeding. He had some other successes but nothing that matched his first litter. He really did not care about the Ruffian line, just success. Walter did a lot of breeding and spread his dogs around quite well. At present he is not in Am Staffs.
Ruth Alexander developed her Atta Boy and Atta Girl (Ruffian Jiggs Duke of Har-Wyn x Ruffian Lady Maggie of Har-Wyn) line from mingling the Har-Wyn strain with the Gallant strain. She produced many a good-looking stylish dog. She has more Gallant blood than any of us within the strain.
Rudy and Nancy Estevez owned Ruffian Red Rock of Har-Wyn. They owned Ruffian Little Herc of Har-Wyn (Ruffian Hercules of H-W x Ruffian Marechal of H-W), a dog Hendrix Harper and I took to help our Ruffian blood.
Genetics, selection and Richard Gray’s vision
Hendrix Harper understands genetics as well as or better than anyone. In fact he is one of those who sold me on keeping the line pure. He introduced me to Dr. Roy Fangue, a genetics professor at Texas A&M. Roy sold me on quantitative genetics. Hendrix was already using it. He could predict things that did come true, and I was impressed by the predictions, if not always the offspring. Hendrix was in part responsible for Ruffian Harper of Har-Wyn (Ruffian Sky King of Har-Wyn x Ruffian Texas Queen of Har-Wyn). He was also the breeder of Ruffian Texas Queen of Har-Wyn (Ruffian Sky King of H-W x Tonkawa Little Missy). Later he produced Tonkawa Big Tex (Tonkawa Chief Red Cloud x McIntyres White Rock Miss Blue). Big Tex has been used over and over. The results are still out on the dog, but I am betting on him. His line is the Tonkawa line and he maintains some interest in the purest of Ruffians. He has other dogs with backgrounds other than pure Ruffian. No matter which dogs you ask Hendrix about, he is pleased with where his dogs are.
Gi Gi and Jerry Rooney had the Rowdytown line. This line was based on Herrings Red Skillet (Pattons Red Rock Skillet x Patton’s Red Bridget). They had branched off into a strain that was not as pure (they were being successful with those dogs) as what could be, but realized what the Ruffian line was and came back to it. This was a major show of faith. These two made the Ruffian line popular again. If the line is to be maintained they should have major amounts of the credit. These two were responsible for Rowdytown Hard Rock Cafe (Herrings Red Skillet x Rowdytown Brilliant), Canam's Iron Skillet (Rowdytown Hard Rock Cafe x Canam Panda Bear), and too many others to mention. Jerry is out of Am Staffs right now but Gi Gi continues.
Now as to myself, I really had no clear-cut vision of what I was doing in the mid to late 60's as I showed, and from time to time bred my bitch. However, after I listened to Dr. Roy Fangue at seminars, I began to formulate a plan of action. Dr. Fangue, when asked about outcrossing, responded: “Why would you want to”. After listening to responses, he countered with two basic answers. One: “If you like the other guy’s dogs better than yours, leave yours behind and get the other guy’s”. Two: “If your line is lacking a trait, find the best dog within your line (in so far as that trait is concerned) and use that dog to improve your line slowly.” Now Dr. Fangue made a lot of other points about the form of genetics he works with (quantitative genetics), but it would take too much space to put all his points down. People have written books about the subject. To be blunt about his breeding program, it does have some downsides, but it has been fun trying to overcome the genetic bottlenecks and polygenetic difficulties. While I do feel we are making progress, I must admit that progress will be cyclical and not always steady.
Ruffian Gentleman’s Gem and lessons from practice
Now as to some ups and downs already experienced by me, Ruffian Gentleman's Gem (Ruffian Tiger Joe of H-W x Ruffian Ginger Gem of H-W) was Best of Breed at the STCA Specialty. After Ruffian Gentleman's Gem (Man) I had a few dogs that I was pleased with, some of the displeasure was due to some outcrossing I did and some was due to poor selection on my part. In fact, Hendrix Harper and I were breeding dogs strictly on paper and we were very unsuccessful, all because we put little emphasis on selection. After that I realized it takes good dogs as well as a good program to have what you want.
Rounder's Top Sergeant (White Rock Grover x Ruffian Sunset of Ramar) was a big boost. I admit Ruffian Gentleman's Gem (Ruffian Tiger Joe of Har-Wyn x Ruffian Ginger Gem of Har-Wyn) was as much luck as skill, and at least as much Peggy Harper's planning as mine. Sergeant was the result of breeding my best pal, Ruffian Sunset of Ramar, to White Rock Grover. Sunset, or “Hope” as I called her, can be traced back directly to Mr. Harriman and Mr. Whitaker dogs. I used Hope and her daddy, Ruffian Little Herc of Har-Wyn (Ruffian Hercules of Har-Wyn x Ruffian Marechal of Har-Wyn) as much as I could. At that time, I believed I could still salvage the old strain before Sky King and the other infusions. Unfortunately, I could create no interest and the dream disappeared.
However, the line still was strong if you considered the West Coast strains: Sky King, Crusader and Gallant as part of the Ruffian strain. I did. A new dream was born.
Rounder’s Dotty, Casey and the survival of the kennel
As the Skillet, Lucy and Josephine litter was important for Walter Patton, the breeding of Rounder's Dotty (Lazy's Courageous Ruffian x Rounder's Chrystal Pistol) to Rounder's Casey (Rounder’s Stanley’s JBD Wineglass x Patton’s Texas Bell Lucy) was a lifesaver for my Rounder’s kennel. In the early to mid-80's I had lost almost all of my stock to a virus. I had only two pups left. However, my brother had Rounder's Dotty and a friend had Rounder's Casey. By a quirk of fate, I was given both back. The two produced the best litter I had up to that point (except perhaps Grover to Hope). Not only were we alive, we were competitive. Until that time, we were holding on by the skin of our teeth.
We have had many good litters since Dotty and Casey, but most of these go back to Rounder's Dotty (Lazy's Courageous Ruffian x Rounder's Chrystal Pistol) and Rounder's Casey (Rounder’s Stanley’s JBD Wineglass x Patton’s Texas Bell Lucy).
Dotty can be traced back to Ruffian Gentleman’s Gem (Man) who had a big dose of Concho blood which was very similar to Man. Rounder’s Casey is the result of Patton's Texas Belle Lucy x Rounder's S-J B Wineglass (Ruffian Little Herc of H-W x Ruffian Sunset of Ramar). Rounder's S-J B Wineglass (Stanley) was the last of the old time Ruffians.
I did manage to pick up Dinah Girl (Ch. Ruffian Gentleman’s Gem x Ruffian Ginger Gem of Har-Wyn) from Mr. Bally's stock in Laredo, Texas. I found out later that they were being used for the original function. Dinah Girl went back to my old stock (Man). Dinah produced some pups for us and led to a female, Rounder's Pookie One (Ruffian Kansas City Zak x Ilene Elizabeth), who was what this breed should be, in the mind at least.
Rounder's Azure White Rock (White Rock Jet Bomber x Patton’s White Rock Penny) came from Dick Pascoe's kennel. This was one of his last pure breedings. But Azure, while not being prolific, did produce Rounder's Blackheart (Tonkawa's Bingo O Barr x Rounder's Azure White Rock), and this girl has a lot of what I want in an Am Staff.
Tonkawa, the last pure Ruffians and renewed research
Hendrix Harper produced a male Tonkawa Big Tex (Tonkawa Chief Red Cloud x McIntyres White Rock Ms Blue) and he may have been too hot even for me, but, oh my, was he good looking. He had a look that was very intense and you knew he accepted no trash from any dog. I bred him to as many of my bitches as I could.
During the decade of the 80's I had a few dogs and a smaller market. The Ruffian Line was down to about 25 dogs of the purest blood. While Hendrix Harper and Dick Pascoe still had a few (purest of Ruffians), it was obvious that their plans lay elsewhere. I knew there were others, but where? The answer came at a STCA Specialty held in Louisville Kentucky (mid-80's). I had searched for any who had these few purest of Ruffians; none of the owners were interested, except for Gi Gi and Jerry Rooney. These folks did a lot of work researching where the Ruffians were. Sometimes we were successful, sometimes we were not. One example of what happened was Jerry getting a female from Bill Harbour who had a number of these Ruffians from O.L. Hill, but was only mildly interested in what we were doing. Jerry also had great luck recruiting young, eager people to join the program, something I could not do.
Ledge Rock and the future of the line
The Rooney's sold to Ruth Prehn. Ruth started a line known as Ledge Rock. Her dog Ledge Rock's Kopper Korn (Titan's Rojo Grande x Rowdytown Jazz of Ledge Rock) was a superior dog. Unfortunately, I have not found him in any of our purest of Ruffian pedigrees. Ruth's fabulous moving female Rowdytown Jazz of Ledge Rock (Pattons Red Rock Skillet x Mountshire's Ms. Maxine) is behind much of the Rowdytown stock. Ruth's stay in the breed was short, about ten years in the 80's. However, she went on to become an AKC judge.
I have built my line based on having physical and mental soundness. I have been criticized for not having more type or not even developing a type. To me physical and mental soundness are the correct type and all else is secondary. I am at this time slowly developing a type but making sure that we do not lose soundness.
I should mention that Eric Jackson has brought some solid dogs that go back into the Tryarr and Gallant strains. This should make the line stronger. Eric also has some of the remnants of the pure side of the White Rock dogs. Eric's Tryarr dogs were brought in from Jane Rebello. Eric acquired them after Jane died. He also has a fraction of my stock.
Gi Gi and Jerry Rooney brought in Keith Monske, Lisa Jenkins, Jodi Petiach, Randi Holtzman, Eric Jackson and others. These folks have recruited other bright faces too numerous to mention. I have had some success in Europe with Manuel Torres, Shawki Sharif, Tonny van Zantvliet, Bob Ockhuizen, and maybe others.
The new generation of Ruffian breeders
Keith Monske has his stock about 45% Rowdytown and 45% Rounder's, with about 10% being traced back to the Tryarr/Gallant breeding. Keith has become quite good at finding bright-eyed new owners for his Ruffian-based dogs. One outstanding such new person is Sean Nowicki.
Jodi Petiach has dogs that trace right back to Rowdytown stock. She bred Can Am's Iron Skillet (Rowdytown Hardrock Cafe x Can Am's Panda Bear). She has been successful in the show ring and her pups just keep getting better and better.
Lisa Jenkins has about 50% Rowdytown and 50% Rounder's. She, like Jodi, is a super critical person. The kind that will make a fine breeder.
Kate Lamont was found to have a pure Ruffian male we did not know about, and one was found in Europe. I think we will not find many more of these Ruffians.
Closing
We have as many or more people with these Ruffian dogs than we had Ruffian dogs in the middle of the 80's. Things look good now with many young outstanding dogs on the way, but who knows what will happen next. I can tell you this: “I am excited about going down this chosen path with this group of people, they are quality!”. At present, I believe we are starting a period of improvement. How much will be hard to predict. We just do not know the limits of the line. I am seeing a great number of good animals and they should lead us to even better ones. Whatever happens, I am satisfied that we have done the best job we could, and the effort was well worth making.
The end
Pedigree Ch. Ruffian Gentleman’s Gem
Ch. Ruffian Gentleman’s Gem
├─ Sire 1. Ch. Ruffian Tiger Joe of Har-Wyn
│ ├─ Ch. Ruffian Grey Boy of Har-Wyn (1960)
│ │ ├─ Ruffian Chango of Har-Wyn
│ │ │ ├─ Ch. Jollyscamp Blueguard (1950)
│ │ │ └─ Ch. Ruffian Tigress of Har-Wyn
│ │ └─ Ruffian Bonnie of Har-Wyn
│ │ ├─ Ch. Gallnt Ruff (1949)
│ │ └─ Ruffian Corvette of Har-Wyn
│ └─ Jay Bee’s Miss Rowdy
│ ├─ X-Pert Rowdy Rascal (1960)
│ │ ├─ X-Pert Red rascal (1957)
│ │ └─ Ch. X-Pert Gallant Lady (1958)
│ └─ Ruffian Pepper Pot of Har-Wyn
│ ├─ Ch. Ruffian High Ace of Har-Wyn (1959)
│ └─ Ruffian Bonita of Har-Wyn
└─ Dam 2. Ruffian Ginger Gem of Har-Wyn
├─ Ch. Sky King of Har-Wyn (1963)
│ ├─ X-Pert Rowdy Rascal (1960)
│ │ ├─ X-Pert Red rascal (1957)
│ │ └─ Ch. X-Pert Gallant Lady (1958)
│ └─ Ruffian Gerty of Har-Wyn (1960)
│ ├─ Ch. The Ruffian of Har-Wyn (1956)
│ └─ Ruffian Sika of Har-Wyn (1956)
└─ Ruffian Monette of Har-Wyn
├─ Ch. Sky King of Har-Wyn (1963)
│ ├─ X-Pert Rowdy Rascal (1960)
│ └─ Ruffian Gerty of Har-Wyn (1960)
└─ Ruffian Terice Ta of Har-Wyn
├─ Ch. The Ruffian of Har-Wyn (1956)
└─ Ruffian Sika of Har-Wyn (1956)
Pedigree Rounder’s Dotty (1981)
Rounder’s Dotty (1981)
├─ Sire 1. Ch. Lazy’s Courageous Ruffian
│ ├─ Ch. Rounder’s Top Sergeant
│ │ ├─ White Rock Grover (1973)
│ │ │ ├─ Ch. Ruffian Hercules of Har-Wyn (1969)
│ │ │ └─ Ch. Archer’s Muneca Dulsie De G’s
│ │ └─ Ruffian Sunset of Hamar
│ │ ├─ Ch. Ruffian Little Herc of Har-Wyn
│ │ └─ Ruffian Catherine of Har-Wyn
│ └─ Lazy’s Y’s Bitchy Rose
│ ├─ Ch. Ruffian Harper of Har-Wyn (1970)
│ │ ├─ Ch. Sky King of Har-Wyn (1963)
│ │ └─ Ch. Ruffian Texas Queen of Har-Wyn
│ └─ Harper’s Concho Chita
│ ├─ Ch. Ruffian Harper of Har-Wyn (1970)
│ └─ Ch. Ruffian Cheeta of Har-Wyn
└─ Dam 2. Rounder’s Crystal Pistol
├─ Ch. Ruffian Little Herc of Har-Wyn
│ ├─ Ch. Ruffian Hercules of Har-Wyn (1969)
│ │ ├─ Ch. Ruffian Grey Boy of Har-Wyn (1960)
│ │ └─ Ruffian Blue Miss of Har-Wyn (1967)
│ └─ Ch. Ruffian Marechal of Har-Wyn (1965)
│ ├─ Ruffian Casanova of Har-Wyn
│ └─ Ruffian Missy of Har-Wyn
└─ Rounder’s Sassy Lady Fae
├─ Bronson’s Chance
│ ├─ White Rock Grover (1973)
│ └─ Ruffian Sunset of Ramar
└─ Samantha Ann
├─ Ch. Ruffian Gentleman’s Gem
└─ Tonkawa Ebony Ann
Pedigree Ch. Ledge Kopper Korn (1983)
Ch. Ledge Kopper Korn (1983)
├─ Sire 1. Ch. Titan’s Rojo Grande (1977)
│ ├─ Ch. Patton’s Red Rock’s Skillet (1975)
│ │ ├─ Ch. Ruffian Red Rock of Har-Wyn (1972)
│ │ │ ├─ Ch. Ruffian Sky Bolt of Har-Wyn (1969)
│ │ │ └─ Ruffian Golden Lady of Har-Wyn
│ │ └─ Ch. Atchley’s Fanny (1973)
│ │ ├─ King Bear of Lou Lin (1968)
│ │ └─ Ch. Pascoe’s White Rock Cristi
│ └─ Our Precious Begginnig
│ ├─ Ch. Ruffian Harper of Har-Wyn (1970)
│ │ ├─ Ch. Ruffian Sky King of Har-Wyn (1963)
│ │ └─ Ch. Ruffian Texas Queen of Har-Wyn
│ └─ Harper’s Concho Chita
│ ├─ Ch. Ruffian Harper of Har-Wyn (1970)
│ └─ Ch. Ruffian Cheetah of Har-Wyn
└─ Dam 2. Ch. Rowdytown’s Jazz of Ledgerock
├─ Ch. Patton’s Red Rock’s Skillet (1975)
│ ├─ Ch. Ruffian Red Rock of Har-Wyn (1972)
│ │ ├─ Ch. Ruffian Sky Bolt of Har-Wyn (1969)
│ │ └─ Ruffian Golden Lady of Har-Wyn
│ └─ Ch. Atchley’s Fanny (1973)
│ ├─ King Bear of Lou Lin (1968)
│ └─ Ch. Pascoe’s White Rock Cristi
└─ Ch. Mount Shire Ms Maxine
├─ Ch. Mount Shire Barn Boss
│ ├─ Ch. Topstaff’s Tony the Tiger
│ └─ Ch. Ruffian Lady of Har-WYN
└─ Tryarr Mountshire Muggins
├─ Ch. Topstaff’s Tony the Tiger
└─ Tryarr Ruffian Feist
* 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.
** To every breeder I would say: read carefully what Richard experienced in his breeding program. Rarely have I read such a sincere and honest piece by a breeder. Someone who does not hesitate to share his lack of knowledge and mistakes with others. Admirable!