Puppy Rottweiler

Kim-DogsBlog

foreign_correspondent wrote: »

would you consider a rescue staffy pup? They do come up, though other colours are more common.

So true, I actually think the amount of Staffys on DogsBlog.com have overtaken the Greyhounds looking for new homes, both are great breeds so its such a shame, but then the same could be said for all dogs in rescues.

UKTigerlily

It infuriates me that anyone who cares about Staffs would go to a damn breeder when there's thousands in rescue !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! No decent breeder would be producing them right now i'd hope. Why can't whoever wants a blue staffy use a rescue & get one of whatever colour is suitable?! Blue isn't rare at all, b&t ones are 'rarer', I understand people having colour preferences but to buy a dog based on colour saddens me

suki1964

Tell me - why are so many staffies in rescue?

Serious question

I understand greyhounds

But staffies?

Frugalista

suki1964 wrote: »

Rachiee, I really wish you would stop promoting champ dogs as a great place to get a pup - PUPPY FARMERS ADVERTISE THERE


If anyone is looking a pedigree pup the place to start is with the breed club of GB, not the small ads which champdogs is

I'm so glad you posted this as I have been thinking the same :rolleyes:. I looked up the listings for my own breed and was horrified to see a person on there who has been banned from the breed clubs both here and in Ireland (where she lives). She breeds from untested stock and uses false pedigrees :mad:. She "registers" her dogs with some alternative/pseudo club known as Canine Dog Registration Ireland.

One of the dogs she is using at stud would be around 20 years old if he really was the breeding his pedigree name would suggest!! She says he is 4 years old. She is also advertising him at stud to females of other breeds "to improve the hips". Amazing, seeing as he has never had his hips tested himself.

The breeder of this dog (or should I say the real/original dog with this name) contacted her to say that, not only was that not one of his breeding, but was a totally different colour to the original dog (the pedigree name made reference to the colour). When she insisted that he was wrong (even though he had whelped the original dog of that name himself) he offered to have DNA tests done, as he still owned some close relations of the original dog. He was told to F*** Off and the phone slammed down.

Her website looks very professional and brags about her dogs' Champion pedigrees :eek:. The photo of the male in question is a stock photo taken from an American site. The puppies churned out by her are starting to appear in the breed rescues both here and in Ireland - and she refuses to take them back or help them in any way.

Apparently, quite a few reputable breeders have already complained to champdogs - but, as yet she is still listed. I have also added my complaint about her to them.

As others have said, if you are looking for a pedigree pup then the appropriate Breed Clubs are a good place to start.

foreign_correspondent

personally, in response to the question, why are so many staffies in rescue - and this is based on my experiences of working with a lot of families in poorer communities - I think a lot of it is socio-economic... they are certainly the most popular dogs in poorer areas in the east midlands. I think if labradors, for example, were popular in these communites, we would see a lot more of them in rescue. Recently, springers have become quite popular too, and I expect this will be reflected in local rescues in a year or to, if the trend continues!

Due to this popularity, Staffies are often bought by families that:
a) face financial problems - and the dog goes first.. (I mean, if it comes to a choice between feeding your kids or the dog, the dog goes)
b) have little choice of where to live and if the housing association or landlord will only let you have one dog, or none, the dog goes
c) are perhaps bought without a lot of forethought - I have known a lot of single mums get a dog for company, then find it is just too much work
d) are bought by dad as a 'surprise'- much to the dismay of mum who has enough to do already!
e) are bought by young people, who think a nice looking staffie will give them some status and impress the opposite sex - but then struggle when it pees on the carpet, their mum does not want it, they get their first job, move in with a partner etc etc...
f) are bought by people who want to look hard, then when they realise their staffy is a daft, soft dog which will not snarl at anyone on command, they become less interested!!
g) and finally, they are often brought by people who have quite chaotic lifestyles, which would not support ownership of any dog - if you have alcohol or drugs problems, or are without a permanent address, you may well struggle to look after your own needs, never mind those of a dog.

I know a lot of families who want pups for their kids too, but once the pup grows and needs a lot of training and exercise, they are not so interested... and the dog goes.

suki1964

Frugalista wrote: »

I'm so glad you posted this as I have been thinking the same :rolleyes:. I looked up the listings for my own breed and was horrified to see a person on there who has been banned from the breed clubs both here and in Ireland (where she lives). She breeds from untested stock and uses false pedigrees :mad:. She "registers" her dogs with some alternative/pseudo club known as Canine Dog Registration Ireland.

One of the dogs she is using at stud would be around 20 years old if he really was the breeding his pedigree name would suggest!! She says he is 4 years old. She is also advertising him at stud to females of other breeds "to improve the hips". Amazing, seeing as he has never had his hips tested himself.

The breeder of this dog (or should I say the real/original dog with this name) contacted her to say that, not only was that not one of his breeding, but was a totally different colour to the original dog (the pedigree name made reference to the colour). When she insisted that he was wrong (even though he had whelped the original dog of that name himself) he offered to have DNA tests done, as he still owned some close relations of the original dog. He was told to F*** Off and the phone slammed down.

Her website looks very professional and brags about her dogs' Champion pedigrees :eek:. The photo of the male in question is a stock photo taken from an American site. The puppies churned out by her are starting to appear in the breed rescues both here and in Ireland - and she refuses to take them back or help them in any way.

Apparently, quite a few reputable breeders have already complained to champdogs - but, as yet she is still listed. I have also added my complaint about her to them.

As others have said, if you are looking for a pedigree pup then the appropriate Breed Clubs are a good place to start.

This is one of the few sites I use that doesnt seem to have a problem with linking to it. Most of the dog sites I use will delete all reference to any of the dog advertising pages in postings and nobody who supports reputable breeding will refer to them within the forums.

My own breed, theres more then a few very suspect "breeders" listed with some very colourful pedigrees being bandied about

When I post about going via the breed club Im advising potential new owners to educate themselves on the breed. Its not just " yes I know they need walking and arent good with other dogs", its learning about breed lines and which lines are healthy, which lines have which characteristics and which breeders are producing fit healthy litters

My own breeder produces excellent puppies health and standard wise. But in all honesty the sire she used for my lad, (although a fantastic dog winning prizes hand over fist) produced rather gobby pups - not ideal for the first time cocker owner.This is something you can only ever find out by getting out there and really working on finding the breeder for you - not by small adds.

And this is also why I support anyone in buying from a breeder rather then getting a pup from rescue - you have no way of knowing what you have in that bundle of fluff and you have no idea of what its going to turn out like. And whilst I know there are no certainties in life, id rather know Ive mets enough of the dogs relatives to know Ive a good chance of getting what Ive paid for (in my case a right gobbytryyourpatiencehardworklovableadorablebolshie wee sod that could ever steal your heart)

suki1964

foreign_correspondent wrote: »

personally, in response to the question, why are so many staffies in rescue - and this is based on my experiences of working with a lot of families in poorer communities - I think a lot of it is socio-economic... they are certainly the most popular dogs in poorer areas in the east midlands. I think if labradors, for example, were popular in these communites, we would see a lot more of them in rescue. Recently, springers have become quite popular too, and I expect this will be reflected in local rescues in a year or to, if the trend continues!

Due to this popularity, Staffies are often bought by families that:
a) face financial problems - and the dog goes first.. (I mean, if it comes to a choice between feeding your kids or the dog, the dog goes)
b) have little choice of where to live and if the housing association or landlord will only let you have one dog, or none, the dog goes
c) are perhaps bought without a lot of forethought - I have known a lot of single mums get a dog for company, then find it is just too much work
d) are bought by dad as a 'surprise'- much to the dismay of mum who has enough to do already!
e) are bought by young people, who think a nice looking staffie will give them some status and impress the opposite sex - but then struggle when it pees on the carpet, their mum does not want it, they get their first job, move in with a partner etc etc...
f) are bought by people who want to look hard, then when they realise their staffy is a daft, soft dog which will not snarl at anyone on command, they become less interested!!
g) and finally, they are often brought by people who have quite chaotic lifestyles, which would not support ownership of any dog - if you have alcohol or drugs problems, or are without a permanent address, you may well struggle to look after your own needs, never mind those of a dog.

I know a lot of families who want pups for their kids too, but once the pup grows and needs a lot of training and exercise, they are not so interested... and the dog goes.

So I sort of understand that but are you saying that staffies are a breed bred for the poorer classes?

What Im asking is why are so many being bred so unscrupulously? Sure you will get reputable breeders still breeding, but they dont churn them out, its the odd litter here and there when they are wanting pups to bring on up the ranks themselves

Greyhounds have always been over bred because owners are always trying to get that one dog whos going to out race all others and all those greyhounds that dont make it racing end up needing homes


But Im still not understanding staffs

Frugalista

Totally agree suki . It always amazes me that the little quirks and characteristics can be carried down through the generations - and it is something puppy buyers love to hear about "Oh yes! His grandmother used to do that" or "OMG! His father alway did it that way".

Reputable breeders know their own bloodlines (and others) for generations and, as you say, will be able to say if a dog produces for example, calm or exciteable pups, etc, etc.

Hughesy84

Foreign - Id be more than happy taking a homeless blue...not a problem. :T

Im North West based if anyone sees any of them! I know there are many poor breeders of blues, so id be looking for one either tested & from a good breeder (i.e. show quality) or a good quality one from a home.

Let me know peeps.

elfen

My mum has been wanting to rehome a greyhound for ages....her alsatian died a few weeks ago and she wants to give another dog a second chance, as she has with her others (sheltie collie x, lived til she was 19..alsatian, near pedigree from the rspca, had been used for breeding, lived til she was 13, luckily no hip dysplasia) She doesn't go for one dog, but the dog that she likes and likes her (in both cases, the dog has been severely attached to my mum - and whined when she wasn't there....both did the same to me )

If you're rehoming a dog, go in with an open mind. don't have any expectations, and you may be pleasantly surprised at what you end up with