*About
Our Kennel*
I.
Breeding Practices:
Our purpose for breeding the American Staffordshire Terrier &
American Pit Bull Terrier is to bring the natural qualities of the
breed to perfection in accordance with the AKC (AmStaff) & UKC
(APBT) approved breed standards. Only physically, mentally and temperamentally
sound specimens are chosen to be part of our breeding program. The
main focus of our breeding program is to produce dogs suitable for
the breed ring (for show), working venues (agility, obedience, weight-pull
etc.), service and therapy animal work, and family companions (pets).
Both our stud dogs and bitches are selected for health, disposition,
trainability, conformational excellence, pedigree, and production
history if proven. We often bring in offspring from our own breeding
program that we feel will improve upon what our goals are and make
a positive contribution to the breed as a whole. We look at this as
a great asset to our breeding program as we have seen what the parents
(and possibly even the grandparents and great grandparents - if we
owned them) produce along with having worked and trained with them
-- we know the history of our dogs and those behind them.
II.
Care of Puppies and Adults:
We provide all puppies and adults we sell with proper veterinary and
home care, which includes: 1. A properly balanced, high quality, nutritional
diet. (Canidae) 2. Proper and safe worming procedures for internal
and external parasites so that all puppies and adult dogs remain free
of parasites. 3. Proper inoculation protocols to insure the health
of the puppy or adult dog (see our vaccination protocol here). 4.
Extensive socialization to humans (adults & children), other dogs,
as well as cats. 5. Aptitude testing at 7-8 weeks of age 6. Hands
on structural evaluation
III.
Temperament:
The happiest dogs are those that have been made a part of the family
as a pet first and foremost. In making breeding decisions, we first
look for the qualities that will make our puppies excellent companions
as well as show and/or working dogs. This means choosing AmStaffs
and APBT's who are rock solid in temperament, character, have solid
nerves, and have strong balanced drives. We believe all well-bred
AmStaff's and APBT's should have courage, stamina, and great enthusiasm
in everything that they do. They are friendly, outgoing, attentive
and good natured with people and most especially with children. Our
puppies are handled and observed on a daily basis, we get to know
each individual puppy -- by 8 weeks of age we have a clear understanding
of where each individual pup's temperament and drives are well before
placement. They are well socialized from day one with adults as well
as children, other adults dogs, other puppies, and even cats. While
we hope some of our new owners will show our puppies, or work with
them in agility, weight-pull, tracking, obedience, flyball, and so
many more venues, we place puppies only in homes where they'll be
pets first and foremost.
IV.
Type, size and soundness:
After stable temperaments and sound genetic health, we look for good
structure (proper front/rear angulation, balance, good muscle structure,
correct tailset & carriage, topline etc.), proper movement, size,
and breed "type". We do show our dogs, because we wouldn't
want to breed dogs that hadn't been seen and approved by others (judges
and breeders alike) with extensive experience in the breed. We are
among those who feel that just having a good dog or even a champion
isn't a reason to breed. We do not breed for oversized dogs (the standard
sized male stands between 18-19" at the shoulders, with the standard
sized female standing 17-18" at the shoulders -- weight should
be in proportion to body size) for several reasons. #1: It would not
be to the breed standard or benefit, the AmStaff and APBT were never
supposed to be a large breed -- and there are many, many oversized
AmStaff's and APBT's out there today.). #2: Oversized dogs age and
break down much quicker than a standard sized dog. We breed only when
we believe that a particular dog has qualities which should be part
of the future of the breed -- we had AmStaffs and APBT's for many
years before we decided to breed, and it was several more years till
we found dogs we truly felt should be bred.
V.
Hereditary Problems:
We strive to protect the genetic health of our AmStaff's and APBT's
by breeding only the soundest examples. The vast majority of dogs
of all breeds (as well as mixed) can live long, healthy lives if given
proper care and routine veterinary attention. However, each breed
has its own particular hereditary problems; some minor, some impairing,
and some possibly even fatal. The AmStaff and APBT are no exception
and unfortunately the problems multiply as these dogs continue to
increase in popularity and there is an increase in indiscriminate
breeding practices. Failure to screen for hereditary problems before
breeding often results in the doubling up of unfavorable genes, and
the results are distressing for the new owner and dog alike - and
certainly unfair for both! The following, while not all-inclusive,
are some of the more common hereditary problems that may be encountered
in American Staffordshire Terriers and/or American Pit Bull Terriers.
Hip
Dysplasia:
Hip dysplasia means poor formation of the hip joint, and describes
a developmental disease in young dogs of many different breeds. Unsound
hip joints are a common problem in the large breeds though many breeds
are affected, and hip dysplasia can be a very serious problem in any
dog that is to be trained for a demanding activity. Even a family
companion can sometimes not function as just a pet due to slight irregularities
of gait to even extremes such as crippling lameness (depending on
the severity of dysplasia). The dysplastic dog will usually develop
some degree of arthritis later in life in mild and severe cases. Hip
dysplasia is an inherited defect which is believed to have a polygenic
mode of inheritance. The expression of this genetic defect can be
modified by environmental factors, such as changes in nutrition, exercise
and trauma. The degree of heritability is moderate in nature, meaning
that the formation of the hip joints can also be modified by environmental
factors such as over nutrition, excessively rapid growth, and certain
traumas during the growth period of the skeleton. As with any quantitative
trait, hip joint conformation can range from good to bad with all
degrees in between. AmStaffs and APBT's often have very high pain
thresholds, and do not show signs of pain when other breeds might.
An x-ray does not always show you how your dog feels, as many dysplastic
dogs are completely unaware that they even have a problem! X-rays
of the dog's hips should be sent to either the Orthopedic Foundation
for Animals (OFA) or to PennHIP Analysis Center (PennHIP) for diagnostic
evaluation.Our dogs that are a part of our breeding program are screened
for hip dysplasia with the OFA and have received a passing rating
of either: 1. Excellent 2. Good or 3. Fair.
Elbow
Dysplasia:
Elbow dysplasia (ED) is a developmental disease of young dogs, although
symptoms can appear at any age. Many affected dogs have no symptoms
at all, yet can pass more serious disease on to their offspring. For
other affected dogs, symptoms range from mild stiffness and discomfort,
to crippling disease. Elbow dysplasia is an inherited disease believed
to have a polygenic (multiple genes) mode of inheritance that may
be modified by the environment. The most studied detrimental environmental
influence is rapid growth during early puppyhood, usually a result
of over-nutrition and over-feeding. Elbow dysplasia can be difficult
to diagnose in its early stages, or in very mildly affected dogs.
.Most veterinarians can take the necessary x-rays, but few have the
equipment or expertise to evaluate the films themselves Prior to breeding,
AmStaffs and APBT's should have elbow x-rays submitted to the Orthopedic
Foundation for Animals (OFA) for diagnostic evaluation, and only dogs
certified clear (normal) of elbow dysplasia should be bred. Although
dogs with ED should not be bred, many lead normal, happy lives with
minimal discomfort. Dogs with mild symptomatic disease are sometimes
managed by supportive care such as moderate exercise, weight control,
and anti-inflammatory drugs. There are surgical procedures which may
help dogs with severe disease. Our dogs that are a part of our breeding
program are screened for elbow dysplasia with the OFA and are certified
normal.
Heart
Disease:
Hereditary heart disease, most commonly Subvalvular Aortic Stenosis
(SAS), is known to occur in both the AmStaff and APBT. In fact, heart
disease is a major health problem within the breed. All prospective
breeding animals should be examined by a board certified cardiologist.
A regular veterinarian (general practitioner) is not properly trained
to detect heart disease - only a board certified cardiologist, or
a specialist, should be used when checking for heart disease. If a
murmur is detected through auscultation (listening with a stethoscope),
additional diagnostic tests (echocardiogram) are available and may
be recommended. However, even if the results are negative, this does
not rule out heart disease, as some mild but hereditary forms may
be undetectable except on necropsy. Animals with hereditary heart
disease should not be used for breeding. Our dogs that are a part
of our breeding program are screened for heart disease with the OFA
and are certified normal (clear of heart disease).
*ATTS
Temperament Test News* 
