Staffords remain popular as an ultimate companion and
foremost all-purpose dog. However
breeding in the U.S. is decreasing. I
would say many in the UK are breeding less or getting out of it except in your
case the breeders who are on the outside of the clubs and codes of ethics are
breeding more.
In the U.S. there are more people than ever who want a
pup. Specifically right now because
they are home and have the time to devote to a new companion. Most pet buyers do not understand that we do
not have litters and puppies standing buy.
If they want a pup now, they want it now. Once they find a breeder any breeder who is
remotely willing to talk or take their money they immediately put on their
puppy goggles. Health testing,
mentoring, quality breeding stock concerns all go out the window. All of these breeders are experienced in
saying all the right feel good things to make this transaction. We so called responsible health testing
breeders do not have the pups.
Nothing is going to force us to breed more, or breed for pet
homes, or place our good pups in homes that might move forward and become
breeders too. It would however be good
for us to acknowledge that the breed is getting more and more popular all over
the world while we are not bringing in more breeders and many of the existing
breeders only breed when they want a pup.
I have a litter right now. A
large one, 8 pups. I posted a litter
announcement on my Facebook page. In
24 hours I had 30 applications and the phone was ringing off the hook. I took the announcement down. I really like the fact the Stafford is low
numbers in this country. However based
on current demand I would expect the commercial breeders to sit up and take
notice so this won’t last. Hopefully being on dangerous dog lists will
keep them from entering puppy mill farming.
I don’t think the Stafford will die out here due to lack of breeders but I do think we need more good people breeding. We need to rethink what makes a good breeder and stop bashing people who breed good health tested dogs to place with others. You don’t have to keep a pup from every litter you breed to make you a good breeder. I mark a good breeder on how they keep the health and welfare of their breeding stock, rear their pups, and qualify their new owners and a breeder gets bonus points if they bring new people in to the fancy.
