NBISS MBISS Felix

Thank you Jackie Smart for these wonderful photos of Felix from the 2025 National Specialty weekend where he won Best of Breed under Craig Scanlon at the SBTCA National Specialty show and went on to win a Terrier group 4th place and the following day Select Dog under Karen Waltham at the SBTCA Supported show. What a weekend!



April and May 2025 were exciting!

MBISS GCHG Wavemaker Nonesuch TT DN CGCA CGCU TKN VHMA VSWB FITG CHIC – Felix –was recognized BEST OF BREED under judge Marie McNally at the SBTCO and then SD under judge Terri Cournoyer at Chintinimi KC Supported show.

Felix was then awarded BEST OF BREED under judge Craig Scanlon at the 2025 SBTCA National Specialty in Timonium, MD. He was awarded Select Dog the following day under judge Karen Waltham.  

Felix was also recognized Top Stafford USA, Top 20 People’s Choice winner as well as AKC #1 Stafford for April only seeing a show ring 4 weekends.

Not to be outdone, his son CH Variant’s Cannonball RunColton – began his show career with a bang by completing his title in rapid succession under the following Stafford breed specialists:

•                Clinton KC Show (Sat) – WD (2 PTS) – Lorelei Craig

•                Clinton KC Show (Sun) – WD/BOW/BOS (3 PTS) – Jodie Berry

•                PSBTC Specialty (Fri AM) – WD/BOW (5 PTS) – Glyniss Yuill

•                HSBTC Stafford Hoopla Supported – WD/BOW (5 PTS New CH AKC pending) – Wynny Southworth  

•                HSBTC Stafford Hoopla Specialty – WD (5 PTS) – Laureen Williams

Look for Colton and Tom to continue having fun at shows this year and beyond! Colton is owned by Tom Jacob and Lynn Caswell.

Felix began his conformation career at the Ohio 2021 SBTCA National Specialty by being awarded WD/BOW under judge Kimberly Washington and again WD under judge Chris Jacksic at the SBTCA Regional Specialty and it escalated from there to an incredible show career so far. We are incredibly humbled and thankful by the opinions of others of this Stafford. He is a great dog to live with having both a wonderful kind even temperament and being full Stafford fire as well.

At five years old Felix has won Best of Breed at 11 Specialty shows so far and dozens of incredible BOS, SD and Group Placements. The following list is only a small highlight of the last four years achievements, not to diminish at all the rest of the Breeder Specialist and Terrier Specialist Judges who have awarded Felix top honors at Specialty and Supported shows.

1.              BOB Montgomery County KC SBTCA Specialty 2021 – Jason Nicolai

2.              BOB SBTCF Specialty 2023 – Duff Harris

3.              BOB Stafford Showdown Specialty 2023 – Eric Galvin

4.              BOB Puget Sound Specialty #1 2023 – Judy Heller

5.              BOB Puget Sound Specialty #2 2023 – Lorelei Craig

6.              BOB Stafford Roulette Specialty 2023 – Graham Turley

7.              BOB Area 2 Perry Specialty 2024 – Michelle Bryant

*BOS SBTCA National Specialty Golden Jubilee 2024 – Melanie Corcoran

8.              BOB Montgomery County KC SBTCA Specialty 2024 – Fiona McBride

*G2 BBE Montgomery County KC 2024

9.              BOB Puget Sound Specialty #1 2024 – Kate Holmen

10.           BOB SBTCO Albany, OR Specialty 2025 – Marie McNally

11.           BOB SBTCA National Specialty 2025 – Craig Scanlon

2024 Top SBTCA Wavemaker Staffords

2024 was another exciting year for the “foremost all purpose” Wavemaker Staffords in The Staffordshire Bull Terrier Club of America!

#1 SBTCA Top Conformation Stafford

MBISS GCHG CH Wavemaker Nonesuch TT DN CGCA CGCU TKN VHMA VSWB FITG CHIC

(Felix)

#1 SBTCA Top Agility Regular Stafford

CH MACH5 Wavemaker Atlantica CD RE MXG2 MJB3 XF T2B DS (Schooner)

#1  SBTCA Top Scent Work Stafford.  (Excellent Level)

Wavemaker Mystery Ship RE OA OAJ FCAT SWE TKE NW2

(Sailor)

#1 SBTCA Top Flyball Stafford (NAFA)

Wavemaker Surfer Rosa RA FDC NA NAJ CAA FCAT6 MBDCH-G CGC ATT FGDCH  

(Sage)

#5 SBTCA Top Rally Stafford

CH MACH5 Wavemaker Atlantica CD RE MXG2 MJB3 XF T2B DS (Schooner)

Montgomery Kennel Club 2024

We traveled up to the Hatboro, Devon and MCKC weekend of shows once again. Felix did not disappoint! The first Hatboro show Felix was AOM under Martin Phillips. I did not enter the 2nd Hatboro shows as I was ringside mentoring for SBTCA JEC that day instead and I hold that job to a higher importance than showing. At the Devon show (where it was NOT raining I might add) Felix was Best of Breed under David Alexander. Back to Macungie and the MCKC SBTCA Specialty Felix was again Best of Breed under Fiona McBride (Brohez – AU). He went on to make the cut in the Terrier group under Lydia Hutchinson. He also was awarded a Group 2 in the Bred By Exhibitor group under Allison Sunderman. What a thrill it was to be in the company of some of the very best Terriers, breeders and handlers in the world and to be recognized as well! This was the second breed win at MCKC for Felix, as well as making the cut in both groups. He also did this in 2021 under Jason Nicolai (Homebrewed – USA).

A big big love . . . . . . .

That moment on a quiet Sunday afternoon your phone rings and for a split second you know whats about to happen and you wish you could roll back time. As a breeder my owners become family. When they experience proud moments and joy, so do I. When their hearts break, mine does as well. Today an amazing Stafford crossed that bridge and for now we cannot follow. Her beautiful spirit was needed elsewhere. Until we meet again sweet Sage. You are so very loved. x

Wanna see some healthy canine sperm?

They say that you can tell the difference in semen quality of correctly balanced raw fed dogs and that of kibble fed dogs. The video here shows one of our collections for Felix. This particular collection contained 604,000,000 sperm with 100% normal, 95% progressive motility.

Normal dog semen ranges in volume from 1 to 30 mL per ejaculate and contains 300 million to 2 billion sperm, of which more than 70% are progressively motile and morphologically normal. Dog semen should contain fewer than 10,000 bacteria per mL.

I post this so you can see it – and if I had a video of a collection from a kibble fed dog I would post to compare.

Staffords and other Animals

The following page was written by a good friend and very smart woman, Beret Walsh, whom I respect a great deal. She put into words the very important topic of Staffords and how they interact with other animals so eloquently. Many of us find ourselves answering these questions daily. If you don’t know this breed but you think they would be the perfect addition for you PLEASE read this and know she is correct on every point she makes. (Shared with permission – please DO NOT copy and use without reaching out to Beret yourself. Play nice. )

Theatric Staffords

Staffordshire Bull Terriers & Other Dogs

First, one must understand that dog-dog sociability is a spectrum. Dogs can range from highly pro-social (love and enjoy interacting with every dog they meet) to truly dog-aggressive (wants to hurt every other dog they encounter) with a lot of space and nuance in between those two poles. Most well-socialized dogs will fall somewhere in the middle of the sociability spectrum around dog-tolerant to dog-selective, and their position on this spectrum will often shift away from the more social end as they continue to mature regardless of “how they were raised”. 

IMG_8676.JPG

The above graphic is the property of K9 Activity Club and used with permission.

Dog sociability is epigenetic, meaning it has a genetic component that may be influenced by environmental factors. Early negative experiences with other dogs can impact a dog’s tolerance for others in the future. Likewise, a dog with a genetic predisposition toward intolerance for other dogs need not be influenced by experience for intolerance to arise.

The Staffordshire Bull Terrier breed has origins in dog-on-dog combat. While the modern Stafford is no longer bred for such exploits, one cannot deny the foundation of the breed and how that history still may influence behavior today. For that reason, any responsible Stafford owner knows that the potential for conflict between dogs is always there and is well versed in body language, de-escalation, and management techniques should the need arise. Avoiding same-sex pairings can also help mitigate any issues that may arise.

Many people have the idea that breeders should specifically focus their efforts on eliminating the fire in the breed. As unsavory as their origins may be however, it also led to many wonderful qualities that make us love the breed today. Their tenacity, their versatility and above all, their bombproof nature with their humans in even the most volatile of situations. When the focus shifts from preservation to change, we risk losing the incredible virtues of the breed we hold most dear.

Most Staffordshire Bull Terriers will get on fine with trusted canine housemates and a close circle of friends, but may be far less accepting of a strange dog coming into their space. Typically however once there is hatred between dogs of any breed, there is no reconciliation to be had. Many take a “don’t start none, won’t be none” attitude and wouldn’t necessarily start a tiff, but also would not hesitate to step up to the plate and finish it if a challenge was presented.

A Staffordshire Bull Terrier not enjoying the company of other dogs is not incorrect or wrong, nor does their potential intolerance for certain other dogs have any bearing on their sociability with humans.   A responsible Stafford owner knows and accepts the propensity for spice inherent in their dog, and keeps them out of situations wherein conflict may arise to set them up for success. This is not a breed well-suited for dog parks or doggy day care. While there certainly are Staffords who can do just fine in that type of environment, the dedicated owner recognizes that there are far better opportunities for bonding and play than a thunderdome-style canine free-for-all. The Staffordshire Bull Terrier needs human companionship more than it needs to be friends with other dogs.

Staffordshire Bull Terriers & Cats

Many Staffordshire Bull Terriers live successfully with cats inside the house provided they are given clear ground rules (no chasing, no rough play, etc.), kept under supervision, and the cats have ample space to get away from the dog when needed. A cat running away can spark predatory drift in a dog, whose natural instinct is to chase and grab the small furry thing moving away from it. Outside of the house, cats are often no longer seen as off-limits family members and the situation can easily sour. 


For a dedicated and mindful owner, it is definitely possible to keep both Staffords and cats together in the house. However one must never forget the origins of the breed they own and always ensure the household is under their careful management.

Staffordshire Bull Terriers & Critters

As the name suggests, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier is a terrier, which is a type of dog originally used for catching and dispatching small critters and prey animals.

It is unreasonable to expect a Staffordshire Bull Terrier to live in harmony with rabbits, chickens, ferrets, etc. If a Stafford owner does keep small critters, they must be securely separated from the dogs. Never underestimate a Stafford’s ability to snatch up a mouse, a rabbit, or a chicken before you’ve even realized what’s going on. 

It is both normal and expected for a Stafford to grab and kill a small animal. And in fact, they can make for great critter infestations control around the yard, garage, and shed. There are also wonderful ways to harness this natural instinct in a controlled setting, such as the sport of Barn Hunt.

See original article here https://www.theatricstaffords.com/staffords-and-other-animals

Why you wait

Warning – this will trigger some!

I receive emails, calls and even some texts weekly from people who are wanting to buy a Stafford puppy who have no idea that good responsible breeders are not Amazon. We are not vending machines waiting for a stranger who probably doesn’t even really know this breed to order up a puppy. We are not in ‘business’. We aren’t running a breeding company. This is not how we pay our bills. This is a passion. We are dedicated to this breed. This has little to do with money or making sure every person gets to buy a puppy.

Stop texting “How much for a puppy” or “Any puppies available?”. Please just stop.

And for those who call and possibly might make amazing homes but you want that puppy yesterday . . . please do the simple math.

A bitch should reach two years old to have all her health testing completed and listed on the OFA website. Hopefully she passes all of these tests and is also a good representative of the breed mostly meeting the breed standard with few faults and no major faults. Thats a lot to ask for. Not all bitch’s will be suitable for breeding.

Next a responsible breeder will have been doing the needed research to locate the right stud for her and also have a back up stud chosen, just in case. This also involves travel to meet the dog in person if possible, studying his pedigree and offspring. Researching his health testing and hopefully performance or conformation records, agreeing to and signing a stud contract, paying the fees.

Then we wait. The bitch has to come into season which only happens about every 7-8 months or so. Next we test progesterone, draw blood daily for LH surge testing (if using frozen) where timing is essential. So now we are about 2 years plus maybe 6-8 months down the road and we wait about 2 more weeks for ovulation to occur. Now we try for a breeding – either naturally, AI or surgically. Each has its challenges and costs involved, plus time and travel.

Now more waiting. In about a month the breeder can opt to ultrasound to see if she conceived. Hopefully all goes well and in another month or so puppies will arrive. More challenges. If there is only 1-2 puppies, a cesarean may be required. Hopefully she can free whelp, its usually around 3am on a holiday when the world is closed. Hopefully no stuck puppies, hopefully no DOA puppies, hopefully no cleft palate or hairlip puppies, hopefully no deformation, and hopefully mama makes it alright too. Next you are awake for two weeks during the ‘please dear lord dont die’ phase. Also hopefully mama doesn’t produce too little milk or too much milk and develops mastitis. Meanwhile if you are counting its been over 3 years. . . . or so it seems.

Most reputable breeders do not let their pups leave until 8-12 weeks. Puppies need this time to learn all sorts of things which are discussed ad nauseum on other pages of this website. So if you call me for a puppy and it just so happens I just bred my girl – you are still going to be waiting around 4-5 months. AND what if you only want a girl and I only have one girl. Welp sorry – I breed to keep a girl. You cant have her. She is mine because of my decades of hard work and wanting that to continue. Sounds harsh but how would I provide more puppies if I sell you my only girl? What if you wanted a puppy for a future performance prospect and none have the temperament for sports? Do you see why you wait?

Find the breeder you want a relationship with and plan to wait. Or dont. Take your chances. Believe the marketing hype. You can certainly find breeders who exist only to populate the world with Stafford puppies. Thats not me. And don’t get me started on those asking me for a puppy and then whinging about how much money I ask for them. Re-read this blog post, and others, and add up the money we spend to create your health and temperament tested well bred puppy. I can assure you, when doing it right we are not making money. Again, this is not a business for us. Leave that to those flashy well marketed and advertised puppy makers with huge egos. I wont call them breeders. What they do is a business. It’s a puppy making business. What we do is not a business.

Also note, its none of our concern who you choose to buy your puppy from. I offer the information all over this website on how to find someone passionate and honest and who truly cares about the breed and the dogs in their care. But it is your responsibility to do your homework and decide for yourself. Do you want lifetime support? Do you want to see proof of health testing? Do you want to meet dogs in person? Do you want a relationship with your breeder and others who also trusted and bought from this breeder? Do you want mentoring about this breed you are about to welcome into your life for (hopefully) the next 16 years? Do you want a friend to support you to be a part of the Stafford community? Do you want someone with experience you can call at any time for any reason to ask questions, brag, share photos, talk with about anything Stafford?

If not, you can Paypal your money and get a puppy shipped to you. Puppy makers will do that for you. Good luck and I hope you don’t need me later to help you re-home your puppy.

End of lecture. If you got triggered look inside yourself to see why.

Wavemaker Makes Waves Again

Wavemaker Staffords is extremely proud to share that 2023 was a history making year for the breed with three Staffords carrying the Wavemaker affix sitting at number one at the same time! This achievement was not a planned goal for us but something we realized late in the year and found out had never been achieved before. We are super excited for Felix, Schooner and Sage and all involved in helping to make this happen. (as of Nov 20, 2023)

MBISS MBOSS GCHG CH Wavemaker Nonesuch TT DN CGCA CGCU TKN VHMA VSWB FITG CHIC

  •  #1 Stafford (AKC Breed points) for seven months  – 2023.
  • #4 Stafford (AKC All Breed points) – 2023.
  • #1 SBTCA conformation Stafford – 2023.
  • SBTCA Top 20 winner – 2023.
  • SBTCA Peoples Choice winner – 2023.
  • Five Specialty show BOB wins – 2023.
  • Four performance titles earned –  2023.

CH MACH4 Wavemaker Atlantica CD RN MXB2 MJG2 XF DS CHIC

  • Earned both MACH 3 and 4 –  2023
  • #1 AKC Agility Stafford for the Invitational qualifying period – 2023.
  • Currently #1 AKC Agility Stafford – 2023.
  • #1 SBTCA agility Stafford – 2023.

 Wavemaker Surfer Rosa RA FDC NA NAJ CAA FCAT5 MBDCH-G CGC ATT FGDCH

  •  Two titles earned – 2023
  • #1 SBTCA Flyball Stafford – 2023.