Stop looking for a puppy; look for a BREEDER. Make a personal connection with a breeder you feel shares your top criteria, and then wait for a puppy from them. Ask to see health certificate. Check the OFA database for accuracy. Check SBT Pedigree Database.
Responsible breeders are NOT a business. Please do not contact them if your goal is to ‘make a deal’ – puppies aren’t real estate – they are carefully conceived living beings who will hopefully share their lives with their new owners for 14-17+ years. They are preservationist breeders. We do not breed often but when we do we do we strive to breed correct Staffords in type, health, structure and temperament in order to preserve the pure breed and protect it from exaggeration and from being ruined by people calling themselves breeders but are simply making puppies to pay their bills. A serious breeder will offer lifetime support and guidance. You become family when you own a Stafford from a reputable breeder. Do not allow a breeder to pressure you into signing a contract you are not fully comfortable abiding by.
Many breeders prefer ACTIVE companion homes so that the focus is on quality of life with your well loved and spoiled pet and we support and encourage participation in AKC performance events as long as its for fun and not the main reason for purchasing one of their dogs. Many aren’t interested in one of our dogs becoming part of a large pack, instead they look for low dog population homes where the focus is on the dog, not the ribbons and rankings. If you train with negative or corrective practices, you may not be considered. We encourage R+ training, no use of prongs/chains/shock devices will be tolerated. If you support the training methods of a certain TV personality ‘trainer’ don’t bother asking to be considered.
A good breeder does not breed for color, extremes or fads. Seriously – please do not ask a breeder for a blue puppy. And stop asking for a ‘blocky big headed puppy. If that is what you want you may be looking for an American Bully, not a well bred Stafford.
Ask plenty of questions and expect to be asked plenty of questions. Be open to home checks and know that they are in place to protect you and the puppy. PLEASE do not send anonymous emails. If you do not include an introduction your email will not be seriously considered by most reputable breeders. Text puppy requests will not be answered. We are not selling real estate – we are producing and selling canine members of your family!
If you are looking for a breeder who always has pups and always takes deposits on 1st, 2nd etc pick pups before they are even born – we are not your breeder. If you want a breeder who insists on a contract which includes breeding, puppies back, must show at your expense, etc…. we are not your breeder. Breeders who post and brag non stop on social media or who DM you any time you comment or click on a photo are likely making their living selling puppies but they also are not abiding by the AKC or SBTCA Code of Ethics. If that is what you want – buyer beware. Our contract is geared towards the safety and well being of the puppy and your commitment to the life of that puppy.
We employ the use of Dr Carmen Battaglia’s exercises for neurological stimulation with our puppies. We also utilize Early Scent Identification for 14 days beginning on day 3. We employ scent games starting at 5-6 weeks old. Our pups are weaned naturally from their dam and begun on a raw food diet immediately from her milk. We begin potty training, clicker, sit, stand, recall, fetch, leash walking, scent games, socialization and name recognition all before pups leave our home.
We temperament and C.A.R.A.T. test most litters at 7 weeks and also use Pat Hastings Puppy Puzzle at 8 weeks. Our litters are also raised using the Puppy Culture, Suzanne Clothiers Enriched Puppy Protocol and Avidog protocols and we urge new owners and potential buyers to utilize and be familiar with these programs while waiting for your pup and continue with the program after taking your new Stafford home with you.
Rarely will a pup will leave our home prior to 9 weeks and usually they are closer to 11 – 12 weeks. We reserve the right to determine which pup is most suited for which waiting home. This is one more reason we do extensive interviewing and get to know future pup owners far in advance of the litter being whelped. This helps to determine the best chance for a perfect match! We keep our first pick or sell to a home willing to co-own with us.
Staffords can sometimes be a bit too rambunctious at times for some families. This breed still makes a great family pet for the experienced dog owner, as long as you have plenty time, kindness and patience at hand. Staffords tend to jump in your face when they get really exited, for example. They can be mouthy, jumpy and of course they are very strong. They do not have much respect for their bodies and can run a person (or child) right over with excitement and zeal for life. It’s for these reasons we cringe at the term ‘nanny dog’ and try to clearly explain life with a Stafford and the importance of supervising and teaching your children. Staffords are normally NOT great watch dogs nor are many super protective dogs. If thats what you are looking for you may be wanting another breed.
The Rule of 7’s
By the time a puppy is seven weeks old he/she should have:
Been on 7 different types of surfaces: carpet, concrete, wood, vinyl, grass, dirt, gravel, wood chips
Played with 7 different types of objects: big balls, small balls, soft fabric toys, fuzzy toys, squeaky toys, paper of cardboard items, metal items, sticks or hose pieces
Been in 7 different locations: front yard, back yard, basement, kitchen, car, garage, laundry room, bathroom
Met and played with 7 new people: include children and older adults, someone walking with a cane or stick, someone in a wheelchair or walker
Been exposed to 7 challenges: climb on a box, climb off a box, go through a tunnel, wobble board, climb steps, go down steps, climb over obstacles, play hide and seek, in and out of a doorway with a step up or down, run around a fence
Eaten from 7 different containers; metal, plastic, cardboard, paper, china, pie plate, frying pan
Eaten in 7 different locations: crate, yard, kitchen, basement, laundry room, living room, bathroom
Please read the pages on PUPPY BUYER ETIQUETTE and also QUESTIONS TO ASK BREEDERS to assist you in determining the right breeder for you.
Also – please don’t say ‘staffy’ these are Staffordshire Bull Terriers. If you cannot say the entire name at least please respectfully call them Staffords. Please read our blog post on why we strongly feel this way.