So the staffords finally getting a break...

The last 3-4 years have seen our beloved breed be horrifically overbred, often for a quick buck by people who don't care about what happens to the puppies or the breed. This has lead to a huge amount of staffs in rescue centres and being put to sleep as there aren't enough homes for them all.

The last year or so though has seen registrations of staffords level out and even decrease (hopefully soon they will drop more significantly!) and the increase in other breeds. People are now breeding toy breeds to make money, when you look at the statistics though it is quite shocking to see how the trend is rising.

http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/item/3535/23/5/3

I know top breeders on this site may not like it and may disagree but i think a respected KC who respectable breeders listen to should ban breeding of all breeds not give registration of a pedigree etc if only just for a year or so to give the shelters a break and the dogs in there a chance, unfortunatly you wont stop the back yard breeders which is where the problem comes from in the firstplace.

Banning breeding for 1 year will make no difference whatsoever. If you go along those lines, it would have to be for a generation - ie at least 2 years - to make any difference at all. I don't see that as an answer though. As you said yourself, Claire, the backyard breeders will still breed cause they don't care if the dogs are registered or not. And actually, you would increase their market value, because people wouldn't be able to get hold of a registered pup!

Very well put caryll

I seem to remember we had this sort of conversation before!

Caryll wrote:I seem to remember we had this sort of conversation before!

I think we did

i know it would never work but i can still hope there is a solution to this, the staff population in shelter may of steadied but those are not the only dogs in trouble and an organisation as large as the KC could help.

MissRogue wrote:i know it would never work but i can still hope there is a solution to this, the staff population in shelter may of steadied but those are not the only dogs in trouble and an organisation as large as the KC could help.

They couldn't, though, not really. Who would they tell not to breed? How would they choose who must wait a couple of years & who can breed now?

The sbt became very fashionable and thats why there are a lot in rescue cause of a throw away society and unresponsible owners.

gem wrote:The sbt became very fashionable and thats why there are a lot in rescue cause of a throw away society and unresponsible owners.

Exactly! But now the trend for everyone to have a staffordshire seems to finally be dying down. I think now the BYB's can't sell the puppy's that they have at the moment they might move on to another breed (evidence suggests in the last year it has started to happen). Hopefully this means less unwanted staffs will be bred, but it doesn't help the number of young dogs of 1 - 4 years old who are in rescue or being pts.

gem wrote:The sbt became very fashionable and thats why there are a lot in rescue cause of a throw away society and unresponsible owners.

That, unfortunately is all too true. Fashion. They were better off 30 years ago when few people outside the staffy fanciers had even heard of them.

thay have alredy stoped the apbt breed here its illegal to own one and if you had one when law came in all regesterd breeders were forced to desex all dogs or they would be put down on spot.know its banned they have moved to staffys. hopefully they do a test like a licence where they come and make shore you know how to look after a powerful dog and if your mentaly vit

Bring the dog licences In the uk I say, Do a 3 day course, That every dog owener has to do regardless of size of the dog or breed, But relate It to the dog you applying for a licence, And having to pay a licence fee, And that you have to have the dog have 1 check up a year, And that the dog has to be Insured, You watch the staffy dog numbers come falling down, Which be good less suffering for our beloved staffys! But for that to happen the dog laws NEED to be changed , And for that to happen here In uk you need least 100,000 signatures on a petition to be even discussed in parliament , NOT Impossible If we all pulled In the right direction, And raised enough supose and awarness , Espeacally from the countrys media!

*suport

I would also like to add , You will NEVER completely elimate these back door breeders, But with stricter laws and punishments , You will bring them to reasonable levels, Thats for sure!

And like I thought the stafford's plight has moved to toy-breeds, bloody back yard breeders! http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2036339/Hundreds-miniature-pooches-abandoned-owners-bought-fashion-accessories.html

How sad that fashion trends set the rise of dogs in shelters. I think having a school educating program would be a start but almost like too little too late.

TONS of toys here in the US, they have been in style for a while now! Most of them come out of Puppy Mills with absolutely deplorable conditions. The thugs still want Pit Bulls or American Bullies, so the BYBs are still working over time to fill shelters with unhealthy Pits and AmBullies. More end up being euthed than end up in homes. It's really sad when people would rather buy a dog from a Pet Store or BYB than buy from a reputable breeder or adopt from a shelter.

Maybe all these biggots can do us a favour long term. I 'm a new owner and already a lifelong breed lover. If people realise staffies are not so popular then less people breed and more staffies survive , long term thats got to be good , but I still struggle with the 50 or so I want to take home every day whan I go searching the internet and the rescues. Sites like this also do the breed the best favour ever, got a friend with an Irish blue and wanted to have pups. As her husband found these websites and realise the plight , thats it she's off to be neutered next week , and the lady half agrees.

its the idiots that have the dogs as status symbols or as fighters that go to back yard breeders so banning KC breeding is not the answer. it is the none registered dogs that are in the shelters and being found mauled after being used as bait. i dont see the difference though between registered and unregistered dogs i dont mean value i mean the actual dog. so i cant trace my dogs liniage back and he doesnt have abig fancy name or a certificate (well he does from being a good boy at trianing) but he is still a lovely staffie and loving dog and its a shame that because he wasnt expensive he could have so easily ended up in the hands of idiots and not on my comfy lap being spoilt rotten

madeira264527 wrote:Bring the dog licences In the uk I say, Do a 3 day course, That every dog owener has to do regardless of size of the dog or breed, But relate It to the dog you applying for a licence, And having to pay a licence fee, And that you have to have the dog have 1 check up a year, And that the dog has to be Insured, You watch the staffy dog numbers come falling down, Which be good less suffering for our beloved staffys! But for that to happen the dog laws NEED to be changed , And for that to happen here In uk you need least 100,000 signatures on a petition to be even discussed in parliament , NOT Impossible If we all pulled In the right direction, And raised enough supose and awarness , Espeacally from the countrys media!

I have a letter at home from our local MP as a responce from an email I sent to him asking about his veiws on Staffordshire Bull Terriers and his veiws on BSL.

I carnt seem to find the original email I sent him, but I told him my opinion about how all owners and breeders should have a licence, all dogs must be chipped and linked in with the license so owners of every dog is tracable unless not registered and things be regulated more, his responce was quite clear about licensing its not going to happen. He says it would have to many logistical and funding issues, though I dont see how, surely it would pay for itself, if they charged for licenses and then the money made from fine for people who own dogs without or breed without. Owners found not looking after their dog correctly, ect, ect.

Seems like a total cop out and basic letter of bull**** that you get from MP's when you ask about issues.

I will get a copy scanned though so you can see his responce on the matters I brought up, so you can see what I mean for yourself.

_julie_ wrote:its the idiots that have the dogs as status symbols or as fighters that go to back yard breeders so banning KC breeding is not the answer. it is the none registered dogs that are in the shelters and being found mauled after being used as bait. i dont see the difference though between registered and unregistered dogs i dont mean value i mean the actual dog. so i cant trace my dogs liniage back and he doesnt have abig fancy name or a certificate (well he does from being a good boy at trianing) but he is still a lovely staffie and loving dog and its a shame that because he wasnt expensive he could have so easily ended up in the hands of idiots and not on my comfy lap being spoilt rotten

You know there are plenty of KC registered dogs in rescue too. The BYB are doing it to make money and if a registered staff is worth more than an unregistered one then thats what they are going to buy and start breeding!

The difference really between a registered dog and an unregistered dog is that with a registered dog you know how they will look when they are fully grown, you know about any common illnesses or problems with your dog's anscestors and so know what to look out for. You also have the option to trace back their liniage and to find their relatives, however I see where your coming from if you just want a dog and you dont want to show then it makes no real odds! The sad thing is that staffords are/were being overproduced for the market, the market was saturated and there simply are not enough new homes for all these puppies.