Blue puppies.

First topic message reminder :


So today I start the search for my pup. I quite like the blue coated dogs, but I'm curious with the blue eyes is this just a puppy thing do they change colour? Also quite a few of the puppies, don't laugh, are quite pink?! is just because the fur is still forming?

I still think ppl generalise way too much - and for the record, the breed standard does not state dark brown eyes or a black nose. [not that i can see anyway]

It states Dark Eye Rims. [which my Diesel does have as well as hazel color eyes, and i do consider her to have a black nose... may not come across so well in the pics i guess..]

" Eyes: Dark preferred but may bear some relation to coat colour. Round, of medium size, and set to look straight ahead. Eye rims dark. "

Anyway I apologise if ive sounded rather defensive but it grinds my gears when pedigree blues are put in the same category as BYB blues.

xxx

Jackieb wrote:I still think ppl generalise way too much - and for the record, the breed standard does not state dark brown eyes or a black nose. [not that i can see anyway]

You're actually quite wrong there - the UK breed standard states that the nose should be black....

"Head and Skull: Short, deep through with broad skull. Very pronounced cheek muscles, distinct stop, short fore face, nose black."

Jackieb wrote:i do consider her to have a black nose.. may not come across so well in the pics i guess..]

I must admit that, although the avatar pic may be deceptive, her nose looks dark grey, not black. Nothing at all wrong with that, she's still a beautiful dog, but not breed standard.

So can a blue dog ever have a black nose?

memphis nose is black

Show us a pic then

See I would say Rommel has a black nose but if you look at it really closely you can see it's a very dark grey

just after i sprayed it lol

That's the same colour as Rommels but I think it would be classed as grey not black. Here's Rommel's:

What I'm trying to say (I think) is that if it is not possible for a blue to have a black nose then why is blue a recognised colour? It's funny the breed standard takes into account a possible difference in eye colour dependent on the coat colour but not a difference in nose colour.

I have seen a blue with a black nose. Mind you, it was a very dark blue.

The difference between accepting a slightly lighter eye & not a lighter nose is simply pigment. The eye isn't affected in the same way as the skin pigment, and so may be a little lighter than normal if the main coat colour is, say, red. A dark eye is still, however, preferred.

Just out of interest, and I genuinly wouldn't be offended, but how close do you think Mia is to breed standard, there's some good pics in the Feb female puppy comp to judge on!!

She's only young so the colour may change

Grey, I'm afraid. But what a beauty!

*Karen* wrote:Just out of interest, and I genuinly wouldn't be offended, but how close do you think Mia is to breed standard, there's some good pics in the Feb female puppy comp to judge on!!

Physically she looks great. I'd say that her eyes are probably a tad too light & her ears aren't the neatest, but unless you're going to show her, what does it matter? She's beautiful!

Caryll wrote:Grey, I'm afraid. But what a beauty!

Thanks, just like to have some opinions as obviosuly I'm biased when I'm looking at her!!!

*Karen* wrote:

Caryll wrote:Grey, I'm afraid. But what a beauty!

Thanks, just like to have some opinions as obviosuly I'm biased when I'm looking at her!!!

The 'grey' bit was aimed at the blue pup!

she is beautiful

Oops! I thought u meant mia's nose was grey!!

I think all the blues here are gorgeous, standard or not. I think that standards apply if you are interested in a show dog. But then again if you were into shows, your investigations would give you the criteria for the pup you choose.

At the end of the day our dogs are all fabulous!

Nope the blue eyes go stan n hooch both had blue eyes as a pup stans are now some kinda green colour and hoochs are brown.

Stans parents were not kc reg his mum was black and dad red.

Hoochs parents were both kc reg and both parents blue.

Stan has skin problems not major but he still has them.

Major difference in price paid for them thou £750 difference.

The best blues come from black parents not blue parents because blue is a dilute of black.

Having said that i would not change my boys for anything not even the best blues by breed standard in the world because too me my two are the best.

Bright blue as a pup

his crazy eyes now

Rob Jarvis wrote:OUCH!

I hope I don't run into problems

I tried to do everything right, got the pupy through the Kennel Club, made sure all papers correct, wormed, met the puppy's parents made sure they had the DNA test etc etc.

Hi I am new to this forum, but me too, I have just recently got a blue pup just purely because of the ones I have seen, I also have a red brindle staff who is taking to the puppy just fine, a bit boisterous but nothing I don't think to worry about.....

I got the puppy from a KC registered breeder, all tested, DNA etc, my vet thinks he is stunner, but again I did not know there was such controversial debate about blue staffs!!!!

Definitely read up on them but obviously not enough, this will be my third staffy so I would like to think I know a little about them and how to treat them etc......

Hope he stays well and blue !!

Hi guys,
I have always had staffs since I can remember and love the breed. I am currently looking for a pup and thinking of getting a blue, but I was wondering does the colour of a blue affect temperament?

Unless there is some really bad breeding from a back yard breeder then I wouldn't think there would be any noticeable difference. Make sure you do the usual checks regarding health and their breeders care before parting with any cash. You might also want to check the COI which can be done from the KC web site.

the colour doesn't affect temperament, but does affect health.

if the pup is a result of a blue to blue mating there's a higher chance of colour dilution alopecia & general allergies.

blue to blue matings aren't good practice, but do ensure blue pups which means more money for the breeders.

Much appreciated

Although the colour doesn't affect temperament I have noticed large amounts of blue Staffies coming into kennels with intense behavioural problems. This could be in part due to the popularity of the colour and that some buy them for fashion without spending enough time on training/socialisation. Or it could be that so little thought is going into breeding for temperament rather than colour.

Honestly, the lengths that breeders will go to simply to get the blue colour disgusts me (it is ridiculously popular these days and no longer the rare colour that it was made out to be, I don't remember the statistics but an extremely large amount of litters bred in the past few years were blue). Many will happily inbreed their dogs for this. Whilst I have seen some lovely blues on this forum (Vinnie/Koda), in rescue it's a different story.

My girl is a dilute (fawn) and has countless problems with her skin. She is a rescue, I know nothing of her background but with her health/behavioural issues I can say little thought went into her breeding either. Personally, I can't wait for the other colours to start coming back in

I met a blue staff rescue recently that had been used as a breeding machine. She was about 3 and I initally thought her owner'd said 13 because she was so haggard-looking. They were having problems with un-neutered males cominng over because she still smelled fertile.

yeah I totally get what you mean. When you type in staffordshire bull terrier pups anywhere all that seems to come up is blue.
As far as I can tell there are plenty of well bread blues out there with a hefty price tag with all the health checks etc. That said, I have seen way too many BYB selling around £400 cheaper with no papers etc.
My lad is black and tan which I love but I also do like the blue on a staff but like you say, it has all gone a little out of control.