What to look for.....?

So now i have decided to take the 'Staffy plunge' and introduce one to my home, what should i look for in a seller? Sorry for sounding naive but the last time i had a pup i was 11 and it was a mutt from next door!! What questions should i be asking to make sure my Staff pup is gonna be healthy with no hereditary diseases etc, and what paperwork should i be asking for/looking at? I wanna make sure i know what to look for so i can get a healthy pup, and how much should i expect to pay. I've noticed some blue pups going for 900 quid plus!

Thanks !!!

You need to ask if the parents have been health tested, and are they kc registered, and ask for proof if they have. You should be able to see the pups and the parents or the pups and the mum at least in their own environment. As for prices, it depends on the breeder. If you want a blue, you will def pay more. Average is between £300 and £600-£700 but more for blues.

Thanks Shontelle. I'll get asking!! trying to tell hubby now that 2 pups is a bad idea right now and concentrate on 1!!

I think that if u are planning on having two it would be good to get them together my friends got two of kaisers brothers and now they are the best of friends plus there company for one another when ur out just my opinion

Thanks for you input youngkaiser. thats what i thought, for company they can play with each other! i'm confused now!! i'd love 2 but if it doesnt work out it would break my heart! think i'll stick with one and get that right first!

Yeah it is totally up to u i just seen how well them two get on but i couldnt of imagined having two of kaiser when he was a pup house training them would of been hard well done on choosing a staffy u will not be disapointed kaiser is my best friend

If you're going to have two, get them both straight away, or wait till the first one is 18 months - 2 years old. That way they either grow up together, or the older one will be mature enough to put up with a pup, but young enough to enjoy playing with it!

Have a look on the staffy website (the link's at the bottom of the post above this one!) and see what hereditary illnesses staffords suufer from so that you know what to ask the breeder.

As already said, you should be able to at least see the pups with the mother and if you can't see the sire, ask for the full registered name so that you can look him up online & see what he's like, or if he's not on line, maybe they could give you a phone number so you can contact the owners & ask what he's like. If possible, see a picture.

As Shane mentioned on another thread, the fact that a breeder shows you a piece of paper with the pup's ancestors on it (a pedigree) doesn't mean it's Kennel Club registered, so they shouldn't mind if you ask politely to see the registration details. Most breeders are more than happy to answer any question you have & will understand if some of the questions seem as though you doubt them. Just explain that you want to get everything right!

I don't know how quickly you intend to get the pup, but one idea would be to get to know a specific breeder over a few months so that they can tell that you would be a good owner for their pup. Contact your local breed club & ask for a list of breeders in your area, they'll be more than happy tp oblige. The club will also have a yearbook that might be worth you buying just to see what type of staffs each person is breeding. They do tend to come in a lot of shapes & sizes!!

Good luck!

Thanks Caryll. If we were going to get 2 we would get them at the same time. I'm confused now!!! arrrggghhh!!!That was the original plan, to get them at the same time so they could grow up together. But after reading a few other comments i dont know if its asking for trouble!

Personally I think it is. They really are a handful! And with two the same age, they'll run rings round you, and could actually gang up against you. I don't mean in an agressive way, but totally ignoring you & leading you a dance.

Training/house training is time-consuming enough without doing it twice over!!

Yeah i can imagine,i'm gonna do the sensilbe thing and do it in stages! get a pup soon (ish) then wait until he is a little older and trained to the standard i would like. Then think about another addition! I really appreciate you replying and taking the time to help a Staff Newbie!

We were all newbies once!

I wish there'd been a forum like this when I started out with staffies, it would've saved me a lot of mistakes.

Two pups at once is a handful. Try K.C web site http://www.the-kennel-club.org.uk/services/public/psar/display.aspx?breed=3080&area=0
Or try local breed club, who could advise you of health tested pups and your prefered type if any. Wouldn't pay any more than 600 no matter wat colour.

Well thanks for advice people! I have put a deposit down on a beautiful tiger brindle boy who i went to see this morning. He is 14 weeks old, is KC reg and hereditary clear.Going to pick him up next Sat as i need to get a few more puppy things first. And if i get him on a Sat morning i will have the whole weekend to help him settle in to his new surroundings etc. Already booked him on puppy classes too!! Cant wait to have the new addition!! Im gonna call him Logan. (after Wolverine!) better than Torres which is the name my husband picked!

oh....and i will post pics as soon as he's settled!

oooh, can't wait to see the pics - lovely, cuddly stafford pup!

Aw congrats. Can't wait to see pics of Logan, hope he settles in well and gives you many years of fun and companionship

Thanks Caryll and Shontelle. I'm very excited (almost childlike!) I feel like i've just joined a very elite group of people!!! lol

you have you are now classed as insane lol

thanks bigwazza!! fills me with equal amounts of dread & excitement!! lol

Oh, the dread won't bother you too much - after all, you're as insane us we are now!!!

welcome to the mad staffy family