Health tests in Parents

Me again, I have been looking at the potential health risks Staffs can get on this site and have emailed a breeder I have been in touch with to ask if both the parents have been screened for L-2HGA, HC, PHPV, PPSC and hip dysplacia. I have been informed they are both clear for L-2HGA and HC but nothing else as its not something the kennel club require. Would it still be safe to see the puppies or shoud I steer clear?

If your buying a kc reg pup then i would personally say that the more they are screened for and clear of the better, was it u thats paying 700 quid? If so for that price i would expect them to be clear and tested of all the above! x

Is this a breeder recommended by the Breed Club? If so, phone the Breed Club secretary and ask their advice.

Some breeders only test for what they have to, others test for all possibilities.

this is a breeder that was recommended to me from an accredited breeder of the kennel club. I was told by this breeder that they own mum and dad and they have had 2 previous litters with no problems at all. So do you think it would be ok?

ppsc and hip displacia are rarely tested for in staffs so you will prob find it hard to find a breeder that will test for everything if there using there own dogs/dam and there has been no problems in the past they will be clear

As warren says they are not relevent tests for staffords. Testing starts when a faulty gene is idetified in the breed and to my knowlege I dont think a stafford has suffered from hip displacia. Are the puppies blue what you were looking for?

gem wrote:As warren says they are not relevent tests for staffords. Testing starts when a faulty gene is idetified in the breed and to my knowlege I dont think a stafford has suffered from hip displacia. Are the puppies blue what you were looking for?

Unfortunately HD is rearing its ugly head. It isn't a really bad problem at the moment - not like GSD's for example, but it could head that way if breeders are not careful.

I would question why the breeder has already had 2 matings exactly the same. Very few breeders will do one repeat mating, let alone 2.

Would they be willing to give you contact details for pups from the previous litters?

Unfortunately HD is rearing its ugly head. It isn't a really bad problem at the moment - not like GSD's for example, but it could head that way if breeders are not careful.

I would question why the breeder has already had 2 matings exactly the same. Very few breeders will do one repeat mating, let alone 2.

Would they be willing to give you contact details for pups from the previous litters?[/quote]
The reason would be they turned out really nice, My freind bred a litter and got 6 stunning pups 5 qualified for crufts in puppy classes and 3 got ccs so she tried a repeat 18 months later and sadly mum had to be spayed due to health reasons but what a litter !!!!!

Yes, I understand that, and many breeders will repeat a mating once if the first litter is really good, but it shows a certain lack of imagination/knowledge to do it a third time. It just strikes me as breeding for the sake of it. "I've got a male & a female, so I'm going to breed them" sort of thing.

I could be totally wrong, but that's how it appears to me.

Yes maybe !!!!!
But my freind would have only used that particular stud as a litter like this was a once in a lifetime so I dont know if she would have repeated a third if the second had gone well.

The problem with repeat matings is that the second one is rarely as good as the first - I've no idea why, but it seems to go that way.

I'm not saying it's necessarily a bad thing, but that a good breeder would look for a different sire to complement the * good points & counteract her nad ones (and they all have them!), and would constantly be looking to add a different set of genes to their breeding programme.

Someone I know told me that to breed a top quality dog was a once in a lifetime acheivement every breeder strives to make every litter that much closer to perfection then the last . So I dont know how you would better out of a litter of 6 puppies and 3 were winning ccs.
Maybe a repeat mating would have not produced the same but youve got to try

Caryll wrote:

gem wrote:
Maybe a repeat mating would have not produced the same but youve got to try

Once.

yes but if you got the same you would want to try 1 last time wouldnt you

No, I wouldn't.

I'd be looking for another sire with similar attributes as the first, but still a different one. To be honest, 3 matings between the same dog & bitch is sheer laziness, or a lack of knowledge in what to look for in a mate.

[quote="Caryll"]No, I wouldn't.
We will have to disagree with that one caryll cause I think it some cicumstances it works well

We'll agree to disagree!

As I said, one repeat mating I can understand, but breeding the same two dogs three times is lazy and doesn't help the gene pool.

Lets get back on track and help Claire find a nice healthy dog from a good breeder freinds ><

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I think you may have to accept, Claire, that some breeders will only test for what they have to test for! If both dogs are healthy, however, and producing pups without health problems then you're probably ok.

You should always see the mother (preferably with the litter, but that isn't always possible) and if the father isn't owned by the breeder then ask to see pics & the dog's pedigree. Also, you could ask for the dog's owner's contact details & phone them to ask about him. Most stud dog owners are more than happy to talk about their boy! If the bitch's owner wants to know why you want the details for the stud, just tell them you want to be thorough & you're interested to see what the dog is like.

HD is quite rare in staffords so very few test. Ideally both parents should be eye screened before breeding this is ontop of the L2gha and HC.
I think Carls right a Third repeat mating just looks like using the handest dog.
Gem was that bitch dark angel?

sorry not sure what you mean dark angel?

By the way, gem, I love your avatar!!

gem wrote: sorry not sure what you mean dark angel?

Sorry no it was wicked witch absolutly stunning she only had the 1 litter and the pups were wonderful ( im biased though)

Caryll wrote:By the way, gem, I love your avatar!!

Thats me and my daughter this christmas thank you!!!!

You look very alike!

Sorry, hi-jacking the topic again!

gem wrote:

gem wrote: sorry not sure what you mean dark angel?

Sorry no it was wicked witch absolutly stunning she only had the 1 litter and the pups were wonderful ( im biased though)

Tikkurilan?

micky wrote:

gem wrote:

gem wrote: sorry not sure what you mean dark angel?

Sorry no it was wicked witch absolutly stunning she only had the 1 litter and the pups were wonderful ( im biased though)

Tikkurilan?

Yes lovely girl rip. Have you seen her?

I've seen her pic - absolutely beautiful.

Hi guys
I've been away for a few days and just seen all the responses to my query. Thanks so much everyone. I certainly take on board all what you say particulary with regard to the third litter! Its funny, but everything happens for a reason. I was actually warned off this breeder by someone from the SBT Breeders Club. Not because he knew of this breeder but purely because this breeder bred other breeds aswell and he just felt that I would be better off going to a breeder that only breeds staffs. On top of that, I know what you all say about health and temperament are more important than colour, but I still don't see why you can't have it all. Having said that, I know its going to take time to find the right puppy. Anyway, my husband didn't particularly love the colouring/markings of this litter and when I very kindly explained this to the breeder via email, I never even had the courtesy of a response! Not that I expected much, but considering this person wouldn't leave me alone one minute and then went completely cold on me the next, made me realise that perhaps I am better off looking elsewhere after all. So my search continues.

Sometimes, as you say, things happen for a reason! This breeder sounds like she just wants your money.

I know what you mean when you say why can't you have it all, and most people here would agree with you. BUT, if you see a staffy pup that really takes your eye & heart, which is healthy & from a good, caring breeder who will give you future advice & backup, don't pass it by just cause it isn't the colour you wanted!

No, I certainly won't.

Thats good claire you will find the right one if you take your time and dont rush into anything as I said before if you see a bitch/stud dog that you like it wouldnt do any harm to contact that kennel and make enquiries if you pass the test (ha ha) they will pass on to other kennels that your looking for a particular pup and you have a 5 home waiting and im sure you will find the puppy you have in your dreams

thanks gem. Fingers crossed.