Category: Mentoring

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Puppy Culture – Leashwork 1

This is a video showing the first steps to teaching leash walking in heel position. The puppies are 9.5 weeks old. I am about a week behind where I normally wish to be at this age but we have been very busy with work thankfully so catching up as I can. This is a Puppy Culture technique from the workbook Chapters 8-9-10. Thank you to Jodie B. for the idea of using the long cream cheese spoon trick instead of treats. It works much more easily for me too. All the puppies did so well.

Sure, there’s a lot to criticize here – handler error –  but instead focus on what’s being done correctly and effectively and see how each puppy is focusing a little more with each distraction. We didn’t video the first session without a collar and using an adult dog in heel position and having the puppy follow along. This 2nd session used a collar first, then the leash but notice I haven’t yet picked it up. That comes tomorrow. Keeping each training session very short – watching each puppy to see how his attention span is to determine the length. Always using positive only in my voice inflection and tone, plus loads of praise and the clicker . . . . .  and of course yummy cream cheese which is something they only get for the more difficult of training sessions.

 

My Movie 1 from L Caswell on Vimeo.

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Proofing puppies

Enrichment begins the day we are born. We are shaped by our surroundings, experiences, nutrition and anything which we encounter – with puppies those first few months are critical.

Amazingly enough tiny baby puppies are able to absorb and learn like sponges. We can shape behaviors (both positive and negative) in as short as a couple of minutes. Aside from the ENS, ESI, Avidog, clicker and PC protocols we also learn from experience to do common actions around baby puppies which may seem unusual to some.

These activities may include fly swatting, loud conversations and even yelling, folding/popping of laundry and playing thunder and fireworks simulators. Some of these have been known fear issues in adult dogs. By doing them when puppies are 4-8 weeks old its possible to desensitize them.

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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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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.

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Consider the source

When we began to get involved in pure bred dogs we realized that everyone had an opinion and they weren’t shy about speaking out about it. Suddenly you couldn’t go anyplace with your pure bred dog without some ‘expert’ chatting you up about their thoughts on your dog.

Some people had to tell you the ‘correct way to train’, some simply told you about your breed as if they invented it, some had warnings about your breed, and some had unkind words about your breeder. The most interesting spoken opinions to me were other owners of my breed simply blurting out their conformation opinions of my dog.

There are several types falling into this category. The most blatant walk up to you and begin their critique, criticisms right off the bat…usually without even a proper introduction or a smile. Maybe you are in a class and they assume since they have your breed and do not know who you are that you must need their opinion. They are usually highly critical of every detail. Usually these types have on the end of their own lead what to them is the perfect example of the breed. Other type silently evaluate your dog from a distance and once you turn your back their diarrhea mouths are off and running fast and furiously trashing the dog, you and your dogs breeder. Some are combinations of these and some are even so obnoxious and forward they grab your dog and pry open its mouth to inspect the bite without so much as a request to check. Yes, this did happen to me.

One thing they all have in common is ego. These people are oblivious that their actions are neither requested nor warranted. They are rude. You haven’t paid for their opinions. You aren’t entered into a conformation show under them to judge your dog and offer their opinions. These people don’t even care if the dog in question was sold as a show dog or if it was sold as a sports dog – to them they feel strongly that you must hear their opinion and value it.

These people are somehow finding self worth in everything they can offer the purebreed dog world in their ‘usually incorrect’ opinions and rarely are they experts at much. Rarely are they involved in much beyond breeding or bragging. They seem to have much to say about nothing.

Any of this sounding familiar to you? If you own a purebred dog I’m guessing it has happened to you too.

When it has happened to me, and when I hear about it happening to my puppy buyers I usually respond with consider the source. Let it go. Reply with a polite ‘thank you for offering your unrequested opinion on my dog’ and move on.

 

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Custodians of the breed

There is a disturbing trend happening in the dog world. It’s not the first time this happened but it seems to be the first time it has so directly involved this breed. Trends are never a healthy thing in purebred dogs. This has taken its toll on me personally.

Some unethical and selfish people are breeding Staffords for specific purposes other than the intended purposes of this wonderful versatile breed – such as below standard smaller size, super extreme high drive & excessive tenacity, specific color and pattern or other non standard traits which will bring in more puppy sales for them. This is my blog so I am perfectly comfortable calling things as I see them. I especially feel okay since I also see the other side of this in my work with Stafford rescue.

We now have people breeding something called the ‘Miniature Staffordshire Bull Terrier’ to which my response is get yourself another breed. Dwarfism isn’t a healthy trait and joint, structure, health issues will occur when you begin selecting your breeding partners for smaller and smaller sizes. You don’t believe me? Ever go to a ‘Bully Fest”? Google American Bully and have yourself a look. Like what you see? Do you want to see Staffords heading down this road too? What do you think the life span is of these animals? Think there is any pain involved? Think they can reproduce naturally? What about spinal injury occurrences? I am perfectly fine naming and shaming if you call me and ask me for names of ‘breeders’ doing this. I personally know people who own some extra tiny below standard Staffords. They will tell you all about the heartbreak of injuries and health concerns. You cant make this stuff up.

So called ‘sport breeders’ are producing Staffords with such extreme drive and energy that nobody can live with these dogs on a daily basis. There is no off switch. They want dogs to compete and win at sports. Thats it. Nothing to do with a breed standard or health testing – just fast, small, drivey. Have you ever wondered what happens to all the puppies from these ‘sport bred’ litters who dont make the cut? The ones who either don’t excel at the intended sport or those sold to families instead of being put to work daily? Let me tell you. They end up being re-homed either to rescue (Hi thats me) or sold from home to home to home on Craigslist, etc. or being dumped at the pound to die. Now lets discuss the ones they do keep to do their chosen sport – they are worked from week one. They teach them to tug, run, grab, go go go go go – always on. They are worked before growth plates have closed – they are worked hard and often beyond injury and fatigue. These are not pets. These are means to a goal for owners. These ‘breeders’ and owners are only after one thing. Personal attention – “look at me – my dog is number one – look what my dog can do – doesn’t that make me terrific?!” Then after they begin to not win guess what happens then. They are either ‘retired’ meaning sold or given away, dumped with rescue (hi again) left alone in crates and kennel runs or used for breeding purposes only. This issue isn’t isolated to sport folks either – lots of conformation people are exactly the same but thats another blog post for another day…..

Then we have those who are not involved in the mainstream breed ‘family’ at all and they buy Staffords specifically to breed because they supplement their income with these dogs. Some are honest about it advertising on Next Day Pets and the like. Others lie to themselves and say they are breeders of champions therefore its all legit. These ‘breeders’, if not also breeding for the above traits, only breed for the popular colors or patterns in order to make their puppies more desired by the masses of the ignorant public. You may see blue to blue (no health testing at all just chosen for dilute), you may see black and tan or tri color bred purposely (a disqualification in the breed), you may see a combination of those as blue and tan and in fact you also may see merle which doesn’t even exist in this breed therefore you know for a fact they are not purebred.

Some don’t breed for these traits at all but they call themselves ‘show breeders’ but when you look at their dogs you may wonder what breed it is. I do not consider these people breeders – to me that just making puppies. Like in a factory or on a farm. Their dogs represent cash not family. Their dogs may be studded out at very young ages with no testing done, they may always have a litter available, they may take non refundable deposits, they may have paypal buttons on their websites, they may also say ‘health tested’ but somehow cant come up with proof. They may brag about the show or sport wins before they ask you about what kind of home will this puppy grow up in or before they get to know you because in reality – they don’t care. They wont remain in touch with you beyond the sale unless your contract states you have to breed your Stafford and give them puppies back. See a theme here?

And another thing – bear with me please – I came into this breed with a pet quality Stafford I purchased as a pet but allowed the breeder to make me show her. Thankfully I had the sense not to breed from her and she was soon spayed. My second Stafford was slightly better quality. I had learned a little more about the breed standard at this point. I had great success with this dog even though I knew he had many faults. I often wondered what the judges were thinking when they praised his more extreme qualities rather than his overall balance and fitness. I wrote about this in a very early blog here. Then I continued with a 3rd Stafford who in herself wasn’t a fantastic bitch in some ways but in other ways was quality. I began to understand the importance of fully health testing my dogs and publishing results, good or bad. I began to test my Staffords in performance and conformation. I bred my bitch understanding I would be lucky to get 1 show quality pup in a full litter – unlike so many others around me who sent full litters out with handlers to champion them all and in turn breed mediocre or faulty Staffords. I continued along on a slow path choosing what I wanted and where I wanted to go and understood more and more as I went along where my mistakes were made and where my good decisions fell closer to the path I sought. I made good connections within the dog community and I contributed back as I took from it. We returned from our first time at the PSBTC shows glowing with excitement from all we had learned. Lightbulbs had turned on. Wow was there so much to learn about this breed! We had been fooled into thinking what we saw and what we read were unrelated! Once we saw good examples of the breed we immediately understood so many things. We were met with a fellow exhibitor saying (as he rolled his eyes) “ut oh Lynnie and Jim have gone to the dark side”. This man is an AKC judge now.

All along, my frustrations grew – not only with the topics in this very long blog (time for you to take some B-12 if you want to keep up). I grew frustrated with watching handlers showing mediocre Staffords and winning anyway, therefore justifying the wins with – this is how I make a paycheck, or don’t have sour grapes…now sometimes a handler was showing fantastic examples in my mind and even they couldn’t be found in the ring – now that was even more frustrating to me. I was secretly pulling for those dogs to excel to justify what I was learning.  How could a judge not see these dogs as being so close to our standard? Why is it that only other Stafford breeder judges found them?

Now of course I understand that I am not the police of the breed and I have zero control over what these folks do….it’s really none of my business – society will sort itself out eventually – but my concern mainly is to educate my readers so they understand that people who breed for these traits do not have these wonderful dogs in mind – only either selfish goals, ego or money. How does that affect me you may wonder? Why this lengthy blog post? Still reading? Two reasons – first – the cast offs come to rescue and now they become my problem. I clean up the mess these people are creating. (loads of conformation breeders are a part of this problem also, its not isolated to the above described people) It now becomes my expense and burden to find great homes for these dogs. These dogs are not perfect. They come with all kinds of structural, health or behavioral problems that now others must deal with. I’m burned out with exhaustion over this to be quite honest.

Let me vent a minute longer if you are still reading. I receive rescue requests daily. Most people will first tell me they just want to adopt a Stafford in need. However, a little more conversation and I get this – in reality they just do not wish to pay for a well bred health tested puppy b/c either they aren’t ideal themselves and have been turned down repeatedly by good breeders, they are too cheap to pay for a quality purebred Stafford or they are never going to be satisfied with any rescue or re-home I find for them. Seriously. Some people are so picky about wanting the absolute perfect pet. Hey people – why the hell do you think this dog is in need of a new home anyway?! It has issues and we need homes to help them work through them, or a health issue and we need a home willing to care for a special needs dog, or its old or it is dog aggressive or its never been trained to do anything at all! This isn’t Macy’s ffs.

Now I know not everyone wanting a rescue or re-home is like this. I know. Stop rolling your eyes at me. But you really wouldn’t believe the daily messages I get. I have to remain polite and helpful and do my best to match dogs with homes or politely turn them away. I have rehomed many many Staffords into fantastic loving well meaning homes over the years. Honestly I have. I also remain in touch with most of them the same way I do with my puppy buyers.

We are the custodians of the breed. It is our responsibility to make sure the breed, as it is described in our breed standards, are preserved as such for generations beyond our lives to enjoy as they were meant to be. The Stafford was one of the healthiest of the terriers living well beyond the years of most dogs of its size and structure. There was a study on this conducted in the late 90’s by University of Texas. The Stafford temperament was one of a stable and reliable dog. You get a Stafford and you know what to expect. Some tenacity, some prey drive, loads of enthusiasm and willingness to please – but – also an off duty quietness. Important.

Secondly it is extremely disturbing to see some of these ‘sport breeders’ doing anything they can to steal the joy from those before them who come to the start line with in standard, health tested, well planned, trained and healthy Staffords and bring a steroid injected, dehydrated, sport bred, crazy, unstable animal and say – now we beat you and we win and you lose. Nope. Sorry. We all lose. You lose. I lose. The breed loses. You can talk all you want about how your dogs are beating my dogs at a sport – it washes off my back and makes you look like a very sad, lonely person who cares more about the brags than the dogs on your leashes (and shock collars). Just look at your dogs faces. Do they have that sparkle in their eye that my dogs have? No. They look defeated because after they run, after they jump, after they walk in a left hand circle over and over and over again – they are shoved back into a crate in the van while you go off to do your thing. They don’t get that love my dogs get. I can see it in their eyes. And when they do not win – oh boy – that makes me so sad. I see you jerk them by the collar, I hear you curse at them.

And with this – I say – you cannot steal my joy. You are really trying to. You have a times been soooo close to doing so. You cannot affect the joy my dogs feel from me. My dogs are not my life because they have excelled at sports and in the conformation ring – they are my joy because I live with these fantastic wonderful animals every single day – spending my time with them no matter what. They are my companions. They are my family. I am proud of the achievements we have accomplished together. I look at them and get goosebumps. They don’t have to be doing a damned thing. But even without any of these top awards – and trust me if you follow me at all you know there have been numerous firsts and top spots in the breed made by my dogs – (see, there I bragged a bit) these dogs are my love, my life, my reason to smile.

I do not wish to stick around long enough to watch what is happening to this breed by those who are not passionate about them like I am. You may see us sometimes at events if we feel like attending or seeing old friends or having a day of fun, attending the occasional specialty show, breeding a litter now and then . . . . but we are pretty much finished with the non stop weekend dog events. We spent almost 15 years living 24/7 for the Staffordshire Bull Terrier. We have probably done more for this breed than most of the people in the breed in so many ways. (its not a brag if its the truth is it?) We have raised and donated 1000’s and 1000’s of dollars and worked many 1000’s of hours for clubs, rescue, BLS, committees, shows, graphics/photography, online stores, auctions, sponsorship, advertisements –  we have created many outlets for education about this breed through the non profit work of The Stafford  Knot, sales from Thankdog – All Breeds Equal and this website. I feel pretty good about all we have contributed.

A year from now most people may not even know who we are and thats ok too. We will be here at home with our Staffords and know that we did a great job. We helped do our part to preserve this unbelievable breed. We didn’t cheat. We didn’t boast (much). We didn’t allow our dogs to represent our self worth. We enjoyed our dogs and will continue to do so. Its now time to relax, enjoy life. And with that…….we retire. We go out on top in our eyes.