*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. (Chicken Soup For The Dog Lover's Soul) 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, rally, weight-pull, tracking,
obedience, flyball, and so many more venues, we place puppies only
in homes where they'll be pets first and foremost. To assure sound
temperament of our American Staffordshire Terriers, we have started
doing the ATTS temperament test on all of our dogs - so far 4 of
them now have their TT temperament titles.
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).
Ataxia:
Ataxia is a neurological disease (recessive inheritance) that affects the cerebellum (which controls coordination of movement). Affected dogs generally have late onset of symptoms (sometimes no symptoms are obvious until 8+ years old), and can never be cured. Optigen offers a DNA test for Cerebellar Ataxia in both AmStaffs and APBT's. More in depth information on Ataxia can be viewed here. Dogs who are found to be "Heterozygous Carriers" of Ataxia will NEVER develop the disease, and can be successfully bred to "Homozygous Clear" dogs to produce offspring who will also NEVER be affected by the disease.
DNA Test Result |
The Dog Is |
Genetic Status |
Will the dog develop the disease? |
Will the dog transmit the genetic anomaly? |
Normal Homozygous |
Clear |
2 normal copies of the implicated gene |
NO |
NO |
Heterozygous |
Carrier |
1 normal copy and 1 defective copy of the implicated gene |
NO |
YES, Statistically to 50% of its progeny |
Mutated Homozygous |
Affected |
2 defective copies of the implicated gene |
YES |
YES, to 100% of its progeny |
**AmStaffs & Kids!**
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