East Anglian Staffordshire Bull Terrier Club

The Stafford is such a popular breed we have continual trouble with Rescue because of people over breeding, and producing puppies that they either can't get homes for or sell to the wrong homes. Please only breed from your Stafford if it is a good example of its breed, of sound temperament, has current DNA health testing certificates for HC and L-2-HGA in place and you have homes lined up for your precious babies

Please email Lesley McFadyen or phone 01205 871762 for more advice on this important issue (I am generally around, although if you don't get an answer please phone back another time - I'm afraid I can't return calls if folk leave their number)

Some things to think about

Breeding a litter can be a rewarding and delightful experience. Hopefully the puppies will be born without complications at a reasonable hour, Mum and babies will be fine and fantastic homes will be lined up waiting for the puppies when they leave you at 8 – 9 weeks of age …………… but it is not always like that. This is intended to make you think about what you are letting yourself – and your bitch – in for so that you can weigh up the pros and cons before making a decision.

The old saying that 'it is good for the bitch to have one litter' is actually proved to be nonsense. It was thought that by having a litter the bitch was less likely to contract pyometra (an infection of the womb which can prove fatal is left unattended or going unnoticed until too late). It is now known that bitches who have had litters are equally at risk of pyometra. The only way to make sure your bitch doesn't get pyometra is by removing her womb (spaying) !

· Is your bitch Kennel Club registered? If not it is not really advisable to breed on from her. Having KC registration at least ensures that you have a recorded history of her parentage. Without this you have no accurate knowledge of where she is from and whether or not her ancestors were purebred SBTs. Any KC registered dog should not be mated to an unregistered dog

· Is your bitch healthy enough to breed from? How old is she? Is she clear from hereditary defects? Have you obtained veterinary advice regarding the probability of her being able to give birth naturally or the possibility or needing a Caesarian?

The EASBTC lays down guidelines regarding the ages between which a bitch may be bred from; you should also note that the Kennel Club now has age criteria for registering litters from a bitch. You are advised to have your bitch DNA tested for L-2-HGA (a neurological condition causing seizures) and HC(Hereditary Cataract resulting in total blindness) and the regular BVA clinical eye test to ensure that she is free from PPSC and PHPV - other types of cataract.

· Do you understand the risks involved? You could lose some or even all of the puppies. Although thankfully it doesn’t happen too often, you could lose your bitch. If you lose your bitch but the puppies survive, you will need to hand-rear the litter; this involves feeding every two hours DAY AND NIGHT!

· Can you afford to breed a litter? Lots of people think that breeding a litter is a means of making some money. This is rarely true and if things go wrong you may find that you need to spend a lot of money. The stud fee for the dog, extra food for the bitch during her pregnancy and while feeding the pups, weaning the puppies, food for them until they go to their new homes – these are normal expenses. What if the bitch needs a vet at 2am (call-out charges) or a Caesarian at 4am (depending where you live this could cost £300 - £500 or even more!)

· Are you aware of the work involved? Lots of lovely puppies scampering around the floor look cute on someone else’s carpet but they create lots of additional work: clearing up mini-wees and mini-poos, washing and drying bedding, cleaning out the litter-box at least once a day, preparing 4 or 5 meals a day, watching them eat so no-one gets pushed aside or poos in the food bowl, mending the things they’ve broken or torn, making endless pots of tea for the visitors who come to meet them, finding creative things for them to do so they don’t eat the carpet or each other ……… if you enjoy it, it’s wonderful. But don’t be fooled into thinking that it isn’t hard work!

· Can you find good homes for all the puppies? Many of the friends and family who always wanted a puppy “just like yours” find it is not convenient just when the litter is due. You will get lots of phone calls, many from people you wouldn’t trust with a stuffed teddy bear, let alone a puppy. Everyone needs to be vetted, they need to visit so you can see how they react with the puppy (and with your bitch). Do the children seem frightened of the dogs? Is it obviously just Dad who wants a Stafford and Mum doesn’t fancy the idea at all? If you have any doubts, it could be that the puppy will be back with you (or even worse, on Rescue or being put down) within a year

· Are you prepared to take responsibility for all the puppies you breed and re-home them if necessary? Can you take them back until a new home is found? or can you afford to pay kenneling fees?

Perhaps you think this is all nonsense and you will go ahead anyway. Well, she’s your bitch and no-one can stop you. But if you have had second thoughts and would like to discuss all the issues involved, please contact us easbtc@thedoghouse89.freeserve.co.uk

It is important that only Staffords registered with The Kennel Club are used at stud, and that stud dog owners ensure that bitches to be served by their dog are also Kennel Club registered. Kennel Club registration is the only guarantee you have of the dog’s authenticated history – beware of other organisations offering ‘alternative’ registrations.

Unless a dog is used regularly at stud (by this I mean on a number of occasions during the year) there is a strong possibility that he will make a 'nuisance' of himself with anything from your mother in law's leg to the stuffed rabbit in the kid's toy-box! It must be said that what a dog doesn't have in the first place he won't miss. It is also highly likely that his temperament towards other dogs, especially other males, will change for the worse after he has had a mating. He will see other males as rivals for 'his' bitches

For a dog to be used regularly it is usual that he would be shown at KC licensed shows and seen there by folk looking for a stud dog for their bitch, as this is usually the way it happens - bitch owners looking for dogs rather than vice-versa.

Also if you are looking to keep a puppy from a one-off mating with your boy you need to consider carefully: it is an absolute NO-NO to keep two male Staffords together (you may well find yourself with an untenable situation between them) so you would have to think about only keeping a bitch puppy, then you would have to either have her spayed or him castrated to stop any further liaisons.

You may or may not be aware of the hereditary problems in the breed - hereditary cataract (HC) or L-2 hydroxyglutaric aciduria (L-2-HGA), also the eye conditions PHPV and PPSC. These are major issues and your dog would need to be tested and passed clear to be used. Please also insist that only similarly tested bitches would be accepted for your dog. If you allow your untested dog to be used and he produces affected pups you may find yourself in court in the future!

It is usually policy of any of the Stafford rescues not to issue the dog with KC papers and also to have the dog neutered before it is re-homed. This is to stop the problem from being perpetuated. It will be appreciated there are a lot of unscrupulous people around and certainly not enough loving homes for dogs. I would strongly advise NOT to even consider breeding from a dog obtained through a ‘rescue’ situation. If you would like to have some canine companionship for him I am sure in time you could offer another home to a less fortunate Stafford, or perhaps consider buying a puppy.

We have included the EASBTC Code of Ethics so that you can see the duties you should have as a RESPONSIBLE dog owner

1) Will properly house, feed, water and exercise all dogs under their care and arrange for appropriate veterinary attention if and when required.

2) Will agree without reservation that any veterinary surgeon performing an operation on any of their dogs which alters the natural conformation of the animal, may report such operation to the Kennel Club.

3) Will agree that no healthy puppy will be culled. Puppies which may not conform to the Breed Standard should be placed in suitable homes.

4) Will abide by all aspects of the Animal Welfare Act.

5) Will not create demand for, nor supply, puppies that have been docked illegally.

6) Will agree not to breed from a dog or bitch which could be in any way harmful to the dog or to the breed.

7) Will not allow any of their dogs to roam at large or to cause a nuisance to neighbours or those carrying out official duties.

8) Will ensure that their dogs wear properly tagged collars and will be kept leashed or under effective control when away from home.

9) Will clean up after their dogs in public places or anywhere their dogs are being exhibited.

10)Will only sell dogs where there is a reasonable expectation of a happy and healthy life and will help with the re-homing of a dog if the initial circumstances change.

11) Will supply written details of all dietary requirements and give guidance concerning responsible ownership when placing dogs in a new home.

12) Will ensure that all relevant Kennel Club documents are provided to the new owner when selling or transferring a dog, and will agree, in writing, to forward any relevant documents at the earliest opportunity, if not immediately available.

13) Will not sell any dog to commercial dog wholesalers, retail pet dealers or directly or indirectly allow dogs to be given as a prize or donation in a competition of any kind. Will not sell by sale or auction Kennel Club registration certificates as stand alone items (not accompanying a dog).

14) Will not knowingly misrepresent the characteristics of the breed nor falsely advertise dogs nor mislead any person regarding the health or quality of a dog.

15) Will test all breeding stock for the available genetic DNA tests (currently HC and L-2-HGA) and for PHPV/PPSC under a Kennel Club approved eye testing scheme whose results are published. Bitch owners agree to ascertain that the stud dog is registered at the Kennel Club, has been tested for the available genetic DNA tests (currently HC and L-2-HGA) and for PHPV/PPSC under a Kennel Club approved eye testing scheme whose results are published.

16) Will also agree not to breed from a bitch before her second season or after her seventh birthday without obtaining veterinary advice; it is recommended that a bitch shall not have more than three litters except in special circumstances and after obtaining veterinary advice.

17) Stud dog owners shall satisfy themselves that as far as they can ascertain a bitch is fit to be bred from, registered at the Kennel Club and tested for the available genetic DNA tests (currently HC and L-2-HGA) and for PHPV/PPSC under a Kennel Club approved eye testing scheme whose results are published before allowing their dog to be used at stud.

18) Will agree when breeding to strive to produce sound and typical stock of good temperament and conforming to the breed standard.

19) Will agree to behave at all times in an appropriate manner in order to ensure that the Staffordshire Bull Terrier breed and the people associated with the breed are shown to be responsible in the eyes of other dog owners and people who do not own dogs. The EASBTC encourages all its members to act responsibly towards the breed

20) Will, when attending shows, whether as exhibitors, handlers or spectators, members show respect and consideration for other exhibitors, for judges and for the general public and shall conduct themselves in the sportsmanlike tradition of the breed.

21) The above Code of Ethics will apply to all dogs under the care of a member of the EASBTC whether they are the owner, keeper or in temporary charge of such dog(s)

Breach of these provisions may result in expulsion from club membership, and/or disciplinary action by the Kennel Club and/or reporting to the relevant authorities for legal action, as appropriate.

If you would like further advice or someone to talk to please do get in touch Lesley McFadyen 01205 871762 or email: easbtc@thedoghouse89.freeserve.co.uk (I am generally around, although if you don't get an answer please phone back another time - I'm afraid I can't return calls if folk leave their number)

Some things to think about

All members of the The East Anglian Staffordshire Bull Terrier Club undertake to abide by its general Code of Ethics.