Category: Breeding

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Prematurely gray

There are times I question why I decided to breed dogs.

This week is one of those times. If you follow this blog then you already know about our last litter – it was bittersweet, exhausting, expensive, educational and fulfilling all at once. Multiply those emotions and facts for this past few days and you will understand my feelings a little better. I have included some interesting (to me) photos above from this litter experience. If you think all breeders are alike then you must not follow this blog or you live under a rock. What I show/do/describe/experience doesn’t make me better/worse than other breeders. I write about what I experience mostly for my own sanity, but also in the hopes that readers can learn a little bit – about breeding, about Staffords and about me. I also hope it educates them on the ‘ART OF PUPPY BUYING’ and everything that can, and should be a part of it.

Above you will see how we take photos of each bitch and he progression in her pregnancy and we can compare her to generations before her. We keep detailed notes from the moment she is born, on each season, each mating and throughout her pregnancy, whelping experience and raising the puppies. It doesn’t stop there but this blog today is mostly about this particular breeding experience.

We knew the semen we used was of good quality and we knew the bitch was healthy and young. The veterinary clinic we use is one of the best reproductive clinics in the country with two board certified Theriogenologists on staff.  We did all health testing, timing, driving, sparing no expense – we did a surgical AI using frozen semen shipped to us from Italy. It was of very good quality upon thaw. The bitch conceived and progressed as expected without incident. We fed an appropriate diet, supplemented as directed and kept her in shape, not over feeding. Check ups went well, ultrasound showed 6-7 fetuses, all normal. We knew she had resorbed some at the x-ray and saw 4 good sized normal looking lined up puppies waiting to be born days later. Stage one began as expected and progressed normally. I move into the whelping room with each bitch approximately two weeks prior to due dates. I like to get them accustomed to the room. We use a guest room so she can be away from the other dogs in the home, in a dark quiet space but not too far from my husband in our room. The night before her due date (based upon progesterone, LH, ovulation) I slept on the floor beside the whelping box carefully monitoring her as she progressed. I take notes and photos along her journey as well as using Young Living oils to diffuse and massage.

I wont post the actual whelping photos here because for me thats personal for my experience and comparisons for each whelping. I will tell you that with each litter I gain experience and education that I never knew I lacked. In past blogs about the last litter you read we learned to tube feed, give oxygen and FFP and sub q newborns. With this litter I learned about stuck puppies (how to get them delivered and also how sometimes you just can’t), new (to me)  resuscitation methods (including but not limited to accordion method, DeeLee catheters and CPR).

I also learned that sometimes the vet you choose to join you on this journey can be so invaluable! I always loved and trusted Dr Ana and she has made puppies from nothing for us – she is fantastic and words cannot describe how much respect I have for her. This time we worked with her colleague Dr. Bob and wow did we connect! He is another veterinarian whom I hold in admiration and have a tremendous amount of respect for as well. I consider myself quite lucky to have developed a good working relationship with both of these talented and kind doctors. I also learned that my local emergency clinic can be amazing! We have used them in the past with mixed results but there is one Dr there we have worked with a few times now who was a HUGE part of this delivery, Dr Houghton.  Our fourth and final puppy was stuck and our bitch was suffering dystocia. I knew something wasn’t right with the puppy and that I would not be able to free her. Dr. Houghton was kind, understanding and helped me through the tears of losing the one bitch in this litter as she removed her from the birth canal.  The puppy was stillborn. She understood how we did not get a bitch last litter, lost one of the two puppies last time and had three boys this time, the first one being stuck himself. She spoke with Dr. Bob (who was on a day off I need to add and who answered his phone at 5am anyway) and together we made sure our bitch was safe and would be ok. She was our main priority.

We took everyone in the next day and Dr. Bob assessed all was well – we did sub Q for everyone and added Arnica 6c and more probiotic. With another 12 hours of constant monitoring and care today on day 3 we are doing well. The three handsome boys are gaining weight, Bay is being an amazing mama ad finally getting the sleep she desperately needs. I am still in the whelping room (as I type I can hear her snores in the box next to the bed) and I will remain here for the next two weeks.

Our wait list consisted of extremely patient people who have been waiting through three litters now and two families who already purchased puppies from us. All wanted girls.

Why did I decide to become a breeder? If you could hear the snores and  squeaks I am listening to right now you would totally understand.

 

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Always Learning

I have been known to repeat the phrase “Never stop learning” and I follow that advice myself. Recently I watched an online seminar that I was unable to attend in person. In the end I think watching it online was more valuable as I can go back and rewatch whatever sections I need to get more information from anytime I wish. I strongly recommend that anyone who breeds or raises dogs always be on the lookout for education to further your knowledge and experiences. The following is a link where you may purchase the seminar if interested. Its far beyond worth the cost IMO.

This is all veterinary & breeding related information as opposed to PC which is about raising, socializing and behavior.
Summary:
A trio of speakers – 6 topics – invaluable knowledge. Not only are these speakers veterinarians, they also specialize in reproduction. From conception to puppies, it’s the information you need in order to breed successfully.
Kirk Esmond, DVM covers two topics. First he delves into the many things that COULD go wrong with your canine after whelping. Then covers the topic of conception. His lectures are informative, thorough, and sometimes humorous. This is a seven part series. Some of the topics covered in parts 1-5 are: Retained Placenta, Metritis, Pyometra, Uterine Prolapse, Subinvolution of Placental sites, Mastitis, Agalactia, Galactostasis, Eclampsia, and Postpartum Behavior. Parts 6 & 7 are about conception: Proper ovulation timing, semen type and quality, and breeding methodology.
Legal Beagles discusses all the ins and outs of the legalities of ownership, sperm sales, puppy sales and much much more. Handle with Care goes over a plethora of information regarding the top 10 things to improve neonatal and pediatric outcomes. The top 10 things may not sound like much information but you will be blown away with her wealth of knowledge!
Marty Greer DVM, JD is one smart gal. Not only is she a veterinarian she is also a lawyer. Hang on to your hats!! The information come at you at 100 miles per hour. Her book is a must have for anyone with puppies in their life. It is entitled Canine Reproduction and Neonatology by Marthina L. Greer
Dr. Beckie Williams has two topics: Reproduction Jewels and The Semen Chronicles. Reproduction Jewels includes many topics. She provides informative tidbits galore with wit and wisdom. Some of the topics are: questions to ask yourself before breeding, testing before breeding, breeding methods, pregnancy, delivery timing and whelping facts, formulas, and life saving equipment. The title of the second topic pretty much says it all. All things semen: from collection methods and equipment to shipment, freezing, and thawing.
Also shown are two live TCI’s (Trans Cervical Inseminations) and one collection.
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Waiting for a puppy?

So here you are waiting for a puppy from the breeder you have developed a relationship with after a lengthy search. You both have agreed that your expectations and theirs are a good match. You have passed the breeders detailed interviews, home checks, reference checks and enjoyed many lengthy conversations over the last few months or years possibly. Now what?

Now is the time for you, and your family, to continue the education you began when you first researched the breed you were seeking. Does your breeder offer mentoring and education materials? If so take advantage of these! I cannot stress enough that NOW is the time to immerse yourselves in any and all education materials offered to you.

Now is also the time to be proactive – reach out to your breeder and talk about questions, concerns you may have. Now is the time for all adults to speak to the breeder. Now is the time to discuss your childrens puppy experience. If they have none or only a little – educate your children now! Do NOT wait to bring a puppy home to teach your kids the correct and safe way to interact with puppies and adult dogs. Now is also not the time for bravado and machismo to take over. Your kids do not know everything you think they know. Explain to them the importance of being safe, gentle and kind to dogs. No screaming, sudden wild movements, no loud noises, no jerking, poking, pulling. Sit down to hold puppies. Be gentle with puppies. Teach your kids to be patient. A little good parenting now will pay off later. Your breeder is more concerned about the puppies experiences than your kids, trust me on that.

For our new owners, we have this incredibly detailed website chock full of articles, blog posts, book lists, puppy raising protocols, nutritional and natural rearing  information, essential oils,  health, exercise  and training advice and more! Read about Breed Specific Legislation and Breed Bans. They exist and are very real. We give everyone a copy of the suggested exercise schedule written by Puppy Culture. We also upload 100’s of files pertaining to the breed, the litter, health testing documents, history and advice for our buyers to print, download and read on a FB group they have the link to. We have The Stafford Knot , rescue fund raiser pages and SBT Mentor websites and FB pages. These are excellent places to learn more about the Staffordshire Bull Terrier. We post a book list we suggest new owners to read from. We make suggestions on safe breed appropriate toys and warnings about those that can be ingested causing obstructions or broken teeth. We are here to answer any and all questions for the life of your dog so please – take advantage of this!

We suggest they join other groups on FB as well. Examples of these groups include a debates page where you can follow along with many topics pertaining to the breed from fellow owners in America. There is a page for Stafford Rescue and Re-homing which all SBT owners need to participate in. We need help with transport, breed ID and foster care. There are fun pages such as Stafford Ink where you can show off your SBT related tattoos.

Do it! Now. Now, before you take home a puppy.

We ask that all buyers purchase and watch Puppy Culture – you can live stream so its super convenient to watch anytime you have free time. You will want to follow along each week with your puppies PC experiences and by watching the videos it will make more sense to you and make it easy to continue when you bring home your new puppy. We ask buyers to go online and read past issues of The Stafford Knot online magazine to see photos and read about the history of this breed. The more you know now, the easier it will be later. I cannot repeat this advice strongly or often enough.

Never. Stop. Learning.

http://www.thestaffordknot.com

http://www.sbtmentor.com

https://issuu.com/thestaffordknot

 

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Singleton and Puppy Culture

If you follow this blog then you already know about a ‘litter’ we had eight months ago where two puppies were born and we lost one at 36 hours old. We were faced with the new challenges of raising a single male puppy using all the protocols – Avidog, ENS, Puppy Culture, etc.

Aside from all the struggles of the first two weeks keeping this precious baby boy alive we had to really stay on track with all the daily interactions required in order to raise a well socialized, confident and happy puppy who had no siblings to interact with. In past blogs we wrote about the details, such as enjoying interactions with friends litters of the same age, the struggles with scheduling simple actions such as when to sleep, nurse, train, etc. A singleton has no reason to eat when you want to feed – no competition for the teat or the food – loading a clicker was a real challenge – in fact this puppy has no sense of urgency whatsoever when it comes to food or meal time.

We survived all the challenges of the first 6-8 months at home and now ‘Smithy’ was ready for his new home on the opposite coast. We traveled with him in the RV up to Illinois where he had many firsts. The travel was new. The dog show was new.  (he even picked up a reserve winners dog to a 5 point major!) The entire experience was new. Since we were also traveling with our other dogs, one of whom is pregnant, it was all new for him. He no longer could simply run out the door to potty, but instead was leash walked. Thankfully we had attached a potty command and this was no problem. Riding in the RV was no problem. Walking into a show building, no problem. Seeing the dock pool, no problem. In fact, walking into a show ring was no problem for him either! He was a wiggly puppy at first and I allowed him to have fun in the ring. He stood like a champ by the last day.

We met his new owner towards the end of the ten day adventure. It was love at first sight for everyone. There may, or may not have been goosebumps and tears. This was the perfect match! I try to explain to people who contact us for a puppy to please find your BREEDER and then wait for your PUPPY. This was why. Kristin was like family from the moment we met. She and Smithy were meant for one another. There was no ‘transition’ time. There was no ‘take it slowly’ time. They met. He was her puppy. She was his owner. PERFECT! All the hard work, long hours, love and patience paid off.  According to Kristin Smithy was totally chill the entire adventure westward. Nothing phased him. He rode in hotel elevators, he saw new places, heard new sounds, smelled new smells, met new people – nothing at all was a problem for this young dog.

Below are photos of their very long drive home from Illinois to Oregon. We cannot wait to see them again in the Spring. Smithy truly IS This Charming Man!

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Reposted from a puppy buyer/friend

The following two posts were written by my good friend and puppy owner – I am sharing because I feel its worthy of being on this blog. So often I get calls and emails from people wanting to buy a Stafford puppy but they haven’t done any research – all they can think about is – I WANT A PUPPY. I WANT A PUPPY NOW. HERE IS MY LENGTHY LIST OF CRITERIA AND THIS IS WHAT I WILL PAY YOU.  Uhm…..no.

In todays throwaway world all too often people buy puppies for all the wrong reasons. Its not fair to the dog, not fair to you and not fair to those of us doing rescue who end up cleaning up the mess. Not every breed is right for every person. Not every breeder produces the same quality puppies.

Pay attention to breeders listed on a parent club breeder referral list because basically any member of the club with the money to pay for the listing can advertise. There is no screening but when speaking with potential puppy buyers I found out that it is implied they have been screened, approved and wholeheartedly a better choice. This is not always true. The same holds true for the AKC Marketplace for the same reasons. Reach out with phone calls/emails and make that effort when searching for a breeder and get to know one another. Decide together if you make a good team. For me, I like the personal interaction.

This is her post:
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“Reposting for those of you looking for a puppy”

I bought a dog from a breeder, just as many of you have, or will do. I thought I’d share the process that I went through with you.

My decision on the breed was made many years ago, way before I was ready to get one. I researched. I read everything that I could find- some of it accurate, some of it fluff (there is always someone writing fluff, trying to sell their puppies. Pretty much, if a breeder tells you that their breed has NO negative traits, they’re not telling you everything.). I went out to the parent club’s website (every AKC breed has a parent club) and found that they have a breeder referral list. I decided to start there. (Be careful- some breed clubs don’t have any criteria for who’s on their list. If they breed, they’re there – you will still have to weed through the list for a responsible breeder). I visited and bookmarked a TON of websites. Unfortunately for the average person, all breeder’s websites look a like. They all have pictures of the dogs, and they all spew some dog show jargon that sounds impressive to the untrained ear. I’m not 100% sure how to teach you how to spot the real deal, as recently I have seen some breeder websites that I really had to dig to determine if they were responsible breeders, or some shyster just breeding dogs. A couple of big tells are if the breeder is talking as if they show their dogs, there should be REAL dog show pictures – with ribbons, and judges, and a little plaque that says the date and what they’ve won (or performance pictures will be captioned with the title earned). Don’t believe it just because it’s on the Internet – go to the AKC site and search the dogs and see if they really have earned those wins. For anyone reading this who says that they don’t care if the breeder shows dogs or not, please see my previous facebook rant, I mean, informational post:  (see her other post below)  (this Is also where I discuss the price of dogs, and what you get for that price). If a breeder says their dogs have health clearances, check them out! OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) has a website where all you need is the dog’s name to search. Take the time and do the search! I have done TONS of searches for people, only to learn that the dog I searched doesn’t really have any clearances! If a breeder talks about their dog’s temperaments, how do they know? If the dogs live in a kennel situation, they don’t know unless their doing something with the dogs (dog shows, obedience, agility, etc). How do they know what the dogs are like in real life situations – going for walks in a neighborhood, reaction to the vacuum cleaner, do they spook because the ceiling fan is on, what are they like when company comes over, etc. Manners are taught, behavior is GENETIC. And look for the ‘over done’ website – the website that is geared just towards selling puppies.

I saw some wonderfuI websites, with some beautiful dogs, who had some big wins. There were a few who met my criteria – I was looking for a performance dog, with good structure, a solid temperament, and who’s parents were health tested. I am picking a member of my family – I am not going to cut corners. In the end, I had my eye on one breeder in particular. To me, it was a pretty easy choice based on the one thing that made her different from the rest – she is a raw feeding, all natural breeder. To me, this was important. For you, it may not be – everyone has different goals and priorities. I sent her an email. I sent a detailed introduction of who I am, what I could offer one of her puppies, and what kind of life he would have with me. I must have made an impression, because I received a reply and a phone call. I was interviewed. I was asked a lot of questions, and had to fill out a very detailed application. I was happy to do it. It meant that she is being responsible about where her dogs go, and what kind of life they would have. In the end, after some more questions from both sides, we agreed that we were a good match.

That was 10 months before I got my puppy. If you want a puppy the day you start looking, or for Christmas, or for someone’s birthday, you’re doing it wrong. First, you chose the breeder, then you look at the dogs she is going to breed, and if you’re happy with that, you wait. I have had people wait as long as 2 years to get one of my puppies. Breeders can’t make their girls go into season.

Over the months, I kept in touch with the breeder. I didn’t constantly send her emails asking if her girl has been bred – I knew she would let me know when she was ready. With the internet, keeping in touch was easy. Over the months, she would get to know me better, and I would get to know more about her dogs and her dog ethics (she does rescue, is anti commercial breeders, is involved in her breed club, etc). The entire time I waited, I was prepared to walk away from the whole thing. As much as I thought that I liked her and her dogs, if something were to come up that I couldn’t compromise on, or made me uncomfortable, I would have started my search for a breeder all over again. I have met many, MANY people who settle on a breeder and even if there are screaming red flags, they will still get a puppy from them. You have to be prepared to walk away all the way up to the moment that you sign the contract (the most common story I hear is that people get to the breeder’s home and find that it is somewhere they feel they need to rescue the puppy from, or they get there and can obviously see that the puppy is timid and will not be the happy, well adjusted dog they had been promised).

And then the call came, the bitch had been bred! And now more waiting. Is she really pregnant? How many puppies will she have? Will there be a male in there for me? I wonder how many other people she has waiting? Are they ahead of me? Even if there is a male, will he have the temperament that I want? And the LEAST important thing was, I wonder what color they will be? You should not chose a dog by the color of his hair! Do I have a personal preference? Of course! Did I get it? Nope. I never have! I have a house full of wonderful dogs and cats, who have amazingly wonderful temperaments, none of which are the colors that I would have chosen if that were my only criteria.

4 puppies were born, 3 were males – things were looking good for me. Now to wait for them to get up on their feet so that structure and temperament could be evaluated.

I consider myself very lucky to have found an exceptional breeder. She met all my basic criteria, and then some. She had people visit the puppies, so strangers wouldn’t stress them. She did Early Neurological Stimulation with the puppies:

http://scholar.google.com/scholar_url…. She followed a mind stimulating, socialization program called Puppy Culture http://www.puppyculture.com/phone/index.html (Avidog has a similar program http://www.avidog.com/). She started their clicker training at 4 weeks old. Do you have any idea how nice it is to have your puppy offer a sit to everyone he meets, from the day you get him, without having had put any work into it??? She took them for trips to parks and other people’s homes. She introduced them to water and tiny little agility equipment (not all the puppies will use those skills, but all of them will benefit from the confidence such things build). She crate trained them, and started the housebreaking process. She laid all the groundwork for a well adjusted, confident dog. You have no idea how important this stuff is until your dog is about 2 years old and you realize that he’s the easiest dog you’ve ever had.

I didn’t get to pick my puppy. Why should I? Even if I spent 2 or 3 hours with the pups, it’s a drop in the bucket compared to the amount of time the breeder spent with them. First, the breeder needed to evaluate them on structure – which are the show dogs, and which are the pets (and pet status can be obtained by something as silly as a crooked tooth, or a mismarking – nothing that a pet home would care about, but is a big deal in the show world), which are the performance dogs, and which are the couch potatoes. A good breeder doesn’t just want to sell their puppies, they want everyone involved to be happy. I hear people talk about their puppy picking them, and while it’s a nice, romantic idea, it is not all that it’s cracked up to be.

I picked him up at 9 weeks. This was a compromise on the breeders part. She normally doesn’t let them go until 10-12 weeks (my puppies don’t leave until they are 10 weeks). The old ‘the younger, the better’ theory has been blown out of the water by research that says ‘no younger than 8 weeks’ (and 8 weeks is pushing it). Puppies who stay with their litter longer are more well adjusted, less bitey, and much more confident. http://www.avidog.com/wp-content/…/2015/01/49-Day-Myth-1.pdf. At 4 weeks old, puppies are just getting stable on their feet, and are starting to interact. At 5 and 6 weeks, they are interacting more, but they do a lot of falling over, so it’s all still very awkward. At 7 and 8 weeks, they are starting to have personalities and they are learning appropriate behavior from each other. At 9 and 10 weeks, they are learning social structure and more appropriate behaviors (like, ‘Ouch! You bit me too hard. I won’t play with you when you do that’). I actually would have preferred to have left him for another week, but I was going to have to travel to get him, and work was making 10 weeks near impossible. We both agreed that since I am a seasoned dog owner, and have multiple other dogs, I would be able to make up for that lost week or 2.

And it doesn’t end there. When you get a dog from a responsible breeder, you get an expert in the breed for the rest of the dog’s life. I have texted and called and asked questions, and I will continue to do so for years to come. Many of my local puppy buyers even have me come with them on major vet visits – I am happy to do it. Although you bought the puppy, and he is all yours, a good breeder will care what happens to him the rest of his life. A good breeder is there for you and her puppy for the dog’s ENTIRE life (including taking that dog back, for any reason, at any time).

Remember, your dog is the only family member you get to choose. Choose wisely.

Feel Free to share!”

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This is her original post topic
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“So, I slept on it… and I still feel the same way… so here it goes…

I have been helping a friend find a puppy. She wants a specific breed, for a specific purpose, with a specific temperament. I have found her several responsible breeders who I think would have puppies that would fit all of her criteria. Then she says to me, “I just want you to know that I am not spending $1,000 on a dog. Not when so many need homes.” And you know, if that was the end of what she said, and she wanted help finding a rescue dog, I would have been all about helping her. But she is still not opposed to buying a puppy… just not one for $1000. So, at first, it didn’t really register what she said, but as I thought about it, I became more and more offended. Because basically what she said to me was that as a responsible breeder, my dogs are not worth any more than Joe-shmoe’s down the block… that all the time, effort, and money that I have put into health testing, temperament testing, training, proving, and selecting my dogs for breeding has no value. I have to say, this really got under my skin. Maybe it’s because I have driven my girls as far as CA to breed to the most perfect stud dog that I could find… or that I just spent over $2000 on progesterone tests, and I still don’t have a litter to show for it… or maybe it’s because I have proven my dog’s over and over again, and it just plain pissed me off that someone doesn’t see the value in that.

So, what do you get for a $1000 puppy? Proven temperament and trainability… mom, dad, grandma, grandpa, and great grand parents for many generations are trained and temperament tested- and they have been to a million dog shows, earning titles to prove it all. Proven health… mom, dad, grandma, grandpa, and great grand parents for many generations have had their hips, elbows, knees, eyes, heart, & thyroid tested, they are clear of all genetic disease that I can possibly know of. They are to breed standard… which may not mean a lot to you, but it should. It’s what keeps a Rottweiler from looking like a Black and Tan Coonhound, or a Bernese Mountain dog. It’s what maintains structure and soundness, and what makes a breed a breed. You also get me. You get a knowledgeable breeder and expert in your breed. You can call me day or night, and even on holidays. I am there for you through all your joys and frustrations, sickness and health. I will do anything I need to do to make sure that owning one of my puppies is the most wonderful experience of your life. You have the peace of mind knowing that no matter what ever happens to you, your dog, your best friend, has a safe place to live out the rest of his life.

So what about that $400 puppy out of the paper? You get a puppy with unknown temperament, health, and type. You get nothing else. You can potentially get a dog genetically predisposed to fears and aggression, a dog with debilitating health issues, a dog who will never be able to fulfill the goals that you have set out for him. And if you ever needed to return that dog (life can sometimes throw you a curve ball), that person will not take your 5 or 8 or 10 year old dog back… you will be stuck putting your dog up for adoption, or euthanizing him.

So, who’s making money? I have never actually figured it out, but I would guess that I lose about $1,000/puppy. I don’t breed dogs to make money. I breed dogs because I love my breed and I believe that there are wonderful people out there who should have the opportunity to own wonderful dogs. The person selling the $400 puppy is making a profit of about $350/puppy. That person breeds purely for profit. Oh, I am sure they love their dogs, and their breed, but not enough to be any benefit to anyone other than themselves.

I guess people don’t really understand value. It is not about the price you pay, but what you are getting for that price. And in the end, if what you are getting for $1000 is not worth anything to you, then by all means, the $400 puppy is a much better value.

I have not told anyone who I am talking about. She is my friend, and I would like to keep it that way, so please do not guess or spread rumors. And please feel free to share if you agree.”

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The Wavemaker Family Grows

I don’t have a beautiful shiny floored announcement graphic made up, although being a graphic artist I certainly could make one. I don’t feel I really need to make them and really haven’t announced upcoming matings, planned breedings, confirmed pregnancies or puppy arrivals on FB or on this page. Our approved new owner wait list is so much longer than we could ever fulfill that we really never feel the need to advertise. The few times we posted an advert on the AKC Marketplace we ended up getting dozens of requests from tire kickers, brokers and other unsuitable people for our puppies.

We prefer to get to know people over a long period of time. We become friends, almost like family, with our buyers. We remain in regular touch – probably more than most actual family members do. We support one another, cheer each other on, cry on each others shoulders and vent to one another when needed. We share photos and videos almost daily with some of our puppy owners.

People come to us for a puppy for very specific reasons. Most of those people have been following our blog, have read our website in full multiple times, naturally rear already or plan to, and are seeking an honest breeder who can prove all health testing is done. They also appreciate our dedication to preserving the breed, appreciation for sharing the history of the breed (not sugar coating it) and our work with rescue. They are already involved with doing things with dogs or are prepared to with a new one. They already know about and follow The Stafford Knot, they chuckle and appreciate the #staffordnotstaffy movement and are excellent pet owners on top of all that. They know we do Puppy Culture because not only do they follow along themselves but also they have known us long enough that they have seen the results from past litters. You cant make this up. You cant really fake PC, although so many other breeders do.

We do not sell to ‘collectors’, title chasers, breeders or people who consider themselves to be ‘in the industry’. Our buyers are special people whom we respect and would enjoy spending time with. They visit when they can and we visit with them. I would have to say the same goes for stud dog owners we work with. This small Wavemaker family has grown slowly over the last 15 years and today is exactly the family we want to be a part of.

Our family will be growing shortly. Shea and Bay are expecting puppies around 2 July, 2018 and Smithy (Shea x Marina) leaves us soon for his new home. We could sell a dozen puppies easily to pre-approved homes so that always means heart break for some folks who have been waiting a long time. Mother Nature always has the last word on these matters. We do all we can to support our choices, but in the end it is out of our control. In some ways this is a comfort. Dogs are not puppy vending machines. We do not get to select how many puppies will be born, what sexes they will be or any issues with pregnancy, whelp, raising of healthy babies. We do all we can and accept the rest.

If you are one of the lucky ones waiting for a puppy – we are excited for you and with you. If you insist, I can make you a shiny floored advert…..

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Bittersweet

If you breed dogs in the manner which we breed dogs you have a great big piece of your heart invested in each litter. We take each litter seriously – we don’t produce many puppies and we spend a lot of our time with each one. Puppies generally remain with us at least three months before going to their new owners. We remain in close contact with them whenever possible and consider the owners family. To date, in almost 15 years, there is only one owner we do not hear from and that’s not because we don’t try. (there is a blog about it about Madoc).

Every puppy who leaves us takes a part of our hearts with them. Now, normally when we have a full litter and they leave us at 12 weeks old we may cry or be sad a little bit but mainly we are excited for the future and wish them well – then we get a tad bit more quiet and sleep with each one leaving so its kind of a trade off. HOWEVER – sometimes a puppy may remain with us longer. There could be many reasons for this. Sometimes the new owner is not ready for the puppy just yet, sometimes we run one on a while, sometimes we have other reasons…but inevitably when those puppies leave us its very difficult.

Our last litter, as you know if you follow my blog, we had a single survivor. We worked so hard with this guy in so many ways. Firstly just to keep him alive and secondly to make sure his singleton life was well rounded. Its difficult not to get very attached sometimes. He was promised out prior to his birth, as all of ours are, to a very special home and a wonderful person who will spoil him forever. She has been on our wait list for some time and we know he will live the very best life possible with her….all the way across this huge country.

Smithy (Wavemaker This Charming Man) is indeed so very charming as his name suggests. He has worked his way into our hearts. He is a special boy who works so hard to please and is always so very joyous and full of enthusiasm. In a few weeks we will travel with him (and the girls) to meet with his new owner who is  also traveling far to meet him for the first time. In my heart I know this is the best possible scenario for this guy but it never gets easier.

Tears will be shed. Hugs will be had. More tears will follow.

We cant keep them all and the best we can do is work hard to produce and raise the best Staffordshire Bull Terriers we possibly can. Smithy will go on to represent all of our hard work. He will make us so proud and we will look forward to seeing him again next Spring hopefully. Until then we will follow his adventures from afar. Tears will turn to smiles.

A seven month old Smithy looks into the window watching me as I write this post
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Fighting ticks and fleas naturally

Baltic Raw Amber

This season we are attempting to fight the terrible tick issues here in the south by using every natural method we know of. We always add DE to their food, spray with various essential oil blends (see other posts) and use peppermint Wondercide – but this season we are also going to try using baltic raw amber collars!

Amber is a natural tree resin, which formed over a 30-50 million years period of time. One unique feature of this natural resin is that it has electrostatic properties. These properties were even known and documented by ancient Greeks who even referred to Amber as an Electron.

This electrostatic feature of Amber is extremely useful when fighting ticks and fleas. When your pets wear a collar made of Baltic Amber beads it will be naturally rubbed against its fur. This action will help the amber to generate electricity, which makes it almost impossible for fleas or ticks to stick on your dog’s or cat’s fur.

The other beneficial feature of this natural resin is that it has a specific smell which seems to be not very appealing to ticks and fleas. When Amber beads warmed by your pets fur and body they will start to release its natural odor. So the longer dog or cat wears this type of collar the more effective it can be for fighting various parasites. It usually takes around 3 weeks of wear to have maximum repelling properties.

I will report back how they do!

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Using Young Living Essential Oils when breeding

 Essential Oils Meant to Boost Fertility (for humans and dogs alike)

There are several essential oils that may have fertility boosting qualities:

  • Geranium: This oil is fantastic for balancing hormones and regulating a bitch’s cycle. It also has the soothing effect of calming emotions and eliminate stress.
  • Calendula: Great for topical application blended with a carrier oil such as almond oil, Calendula is an anti-inflammatory oil that may help to regulate a bitch’s cycle. This is also a fantastic sensitive-skin oil.
  • German Chamomile: With anti-inflammatory properties, this oil may help reduce pain, while also improving chances of conception.
  • Yarrow: A detoxifying oil, Yarrow helps to relieve pelvic congestion and prevent inflammation. It is also beneficial for the digestive and urinary tracts.
  • Clary Sage: Influencing estrogen levels, Clary Sage helps the body to regulate its hormones naturally. This oil may also help with your stud’s fertility, treating hormone imbalances.
  • Ginger: This oil has antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits. It also aids in the digestive system and supports healthy circulation.
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How To Identify a Responsible Breeder

So you have decided a purebred dog is for you – now you have begun searching for that perfect puppy. No matter the breed here are some tips to assist you in your journey.

It’s critical that you find a breeder who sincerely cares about the puppies’ best interests, even long after they have gone to their new homes. It should go without saying but I will say it anyway – Never buy a puppy from a pet store. Never buy a puppy from an online store. Never buy a puppy from one of those online breeder puppy sales sites. Never buy a puppy from a website with a Paypal button. Never buy a puppy from a sign you see on the road or in a yard.

How To Identify a Responsible Breeder
A good breeder who breeds for health, type and temperament before cash considerations will always:

  • Show you the parents (or at least the mother) of the puppy you are looking at, and the parents should be healthy, clean, and friendly. They should not be living primarily outdoors.
  • Show you proof of health screening on all their dogs and puppies.
  • Require proof that you will spay/neuter your puppy at the appropriate age and should not encourage you to breed your puppy.
  • Be concerned about the animals’ welfare throughout its life.
  • Insist the dog they sell you comes back to them if for any reason at any age you are no longer to keep/care for that dog.
  • Involve you in the litter raising protocols as they are being raised.
  • You should be required to sign a contract and the breeder should be willing to take the dog back or help you find a new home if you need to re-home the dog for any reason.
  • Open honest and detailed dialog prior to and after any agreement/sale takes place.

A good breeder would never:

  • Have a really large number of dogs and puppies on their property.
  • Always have a litter available.
  • Take deposits on puppies not yet born.
  • Take non-refundable deposits.
  • Sell puppies prior to eight weeks old. (10-12 weeks is best)

Keep in mind that there are breed-specific rescue groups across the country willing to help you with a rescue or re-home. Many good breeders run puppies on to see which fits best in their own home to further they programs and have older puppies or retired dogs ready for new homes.