Hello from Melbourne

Hi guys,

Prospective Staffy owner here from Melbourne Australia. I've been doing some research and found this fantastic forum. I have a few questions if that's OK?

We are looking at buying a pup in the next few weeks, I've had dogs all my life (Kelpies, Australian Sheepdogs) but I've fallen in love with Staffys and we want one as our next pet. I'm looking for a black pup and found someone who has a litter born from a Black bitch and a Blue male. I found the seller from a site called Dogzonline here in Australia.

We went to see his litter over the weekend and he has a genuine love for his dogs and the area were the dogs are kept was nice and clean with healthy looking pups. I've picked the pup I'd like to take home but have hesitated as I've read that Blue's can have skin problems and the parents of this litter haven't been tested for L2-HGA and HC (I only know about L2-HGA and HC from online research)

I've tried to contact the SBTCV here in Melbourne to ask their advice but cannot find any contact details. I would buy the pup right now but the not testing of the parents for L2-HGA and HC is holding me back and the fact that the Sire is Blue and reading about the skin problems they seem to have. Am I being over cautious?

Sorry for the long winded post

Would appreciate any advice as we really are looking forward to the new addition to the family.

Hi ya.
Welcome from rural Western Australia. I can't help you with the blue staffys.. but could you contact a staffy club in another state? I know there is one here, I wrote to them, and they wrote back pretty quickly. ( well emailed that is !! )

Be warned staffy pups are FULL ON.. but worth it!!

Hi from me and my girls Kita & Izzy
I don't know much about "blues" and what skin problems you refer to, but my older girl (brindle) has very sensitive skin and gets quite irritated from certain grasses. We have lived in 3 different states (Qld, SA & now WA) and it still happens at times. She's now 14 and only once (when she was 10), had to have antibiotics for it as the vet (different one to my usual one) said it was infected, although I didn't think so. He also wanted her to continue on antihistamines and steroids for the remainder of her life, which being a nurse and knowing my dog I wasn't happy to do. Some staffs have sensitive skin no matter what colour.
The other thing that concerns me is about the not testing of the parents for L2-HGA and HC. Both parents have to be carriers, has he bred from his own dogs? We bought our other dog (replacement dog) from a guy who's original 12months old staff had L2-HGA as both parents had it and neither breeder had had them tested. It was discovered when his dog had two fits at about 6 months of age. Both parents were then desexed and he was promised a replacement dog, but the family wanted to keep the older dog and not the replacement pup, which is where we entered the picture.
I regularly check "dogzonline" and the breeders listed, however I would be a little cautious especially with all the "blue" breeders that are appearing. I checked the SBTCV and could not find any contact details either, have you tried contacting "DogsVictoria" http://www.dogsvictoria.org.au/, not sure if they could give you any advice. I can't remember what age they can test for L2-HGA, but if I was breeding dogs to sell pups I would make sure both sire and dam were clear before I even started.
Sorry about my long winded reply, hope you get the info you need and as Vanessa suggested contact the interstate clubs if necessary. Good luck

Hiya & welcome to the forum

Hi there from me and Roxy

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Hi & welcome!

The fact that one parent was blue wouldn't worry me, especially if the pup you have chosen isn't blue.

What would worry me is the lack of health testing. The L2-HGA and HC are real peoblems in the breed, certainly in the UK, and testing for them is a must if you intend to breed.

Personally, as heartbreaking as it might seem at the moment, I'd keep looking for a pup from health tested parents. However, the decision is totally yours, and if you've fallen for this pup it will be very difficult to turn your back on it.

Great advice, can't add anymore!! Welcome to the forum

Thanks for all the advice and welcomes guys : )

I'm going to let my head rule on this one, I really took to the pup and he's more than likely healthy and fine but I don't want to get attached to him and then find out 6 months down the line that he's not well, that would be even more heart breaking.

Anyway, I'll keep reading the forums, there's some great advice here and will keep you updated on our search!!!

Hello and welcome to the forum

is the breeder not prepared to get the pup tested under the terms if clear you will buy???

bigwazza wrote:is the breeder not prepared to get the pup tested under the terms if clear you will buy???

I was wondering that too, but I couldn't remember how the test is done. Is it only a blood test?

Hi and welcome to the forum

Hi and welcome to the site

Dogalogs88 wrote:

bigwazza wrote:is the breeder not prepared to get the pup tested under the terms if clear you will buy???

I was wondering that too, but I couldn't remember how the test is done. Is it only a blood test?

Its a blood test and I think I paid around £45 that was around 6 years ago.
I have bought both my dogs without knowing they were clear and have only tested the dog due to him being bred from. Maybe the sire and dam parents are tested and if they are clear then the puppy will be clear by birth
Eg----If I mate my dog to a girl who is clear those puppies are clear.
If I mate to a carrier I would expect half the pups be either carriers or affective
So as long as the breeders only use clear dogs all the ofspring will be clear and will not need to be tested
Good luck finding your perfect pup

Many of the the breeders say DNA clear of L2-HGA and HC or by parentage. Did you ask the breeder whether he would consider having it done? I would.

Hiya and welcome to the forum

Dogalogs88 wrote:Many of the the breeders say DNA clear of L2-HGA and HC or by parentage. Did you ask the breeder whether he would consider having it done? I would.

That means that the sire and dam are both clear so the puppies cannot have or carry any of the diseases. The puppies dont need the tests they are clear by birth from there parents.

Here in the uk we have a data base of all the dogs tested and there outcomes so its possible to check out the status of the puppies before you buy dont know if you have that over in oz

Thanks for the tips. I've decided to look for a breeder who already has the tests done and has had the eye tests aswell. Hopefully we'll find one soon.

gem wrote:

Dogalogs88 wrote:Many of the the breeders say DNA clear of L2-HGA and HC or by parentage. Did you ask the breeder whether he would consider having it done? I would.

That means that the sire and dam are both clear so the puppies cannot have or carry any of the diseases. The puppies dont need the tests they are clear by birth from there parents.

Gem I meant getting the parents tested not the pup, should have explained it better.

HEY there im from sydney, welcome to the site. I have a blue staffy,shes a real cutie, never had a skin problem, but i do feed her a raw egg every night with her food,that does prevent skin irriation and keeps fur shiny. The breeder had done all the tests before hand. But blues are very beautiful

Hi & welcoem to the forum

moni wrote:HEY there im from sydney, welcome to the site. I have a blue staffy,shes a real cutie, never had a skin problem, but i do feed her a raw egg every night with her food,that does prevent skin irriation and keeps fur shiny. The breeder had done all the tests before hand. But blues are very beautiful

Hello,

Blues are great looking dogs, had the guy got the tests done I would have bought the pup there and then. I'm on a waiting list with another breeder for some black/brindle pups due in a month so hopefully we might get one then.

Summerisle wrote:

moni wrote:HEY there im from sydney, welcome to the site. I have a blue staffy,shes a real cutie, never had a skin problem, but i do feed her a raw egg every night with her food,that does prevent skin irriation and keeps fur shiny. The breeder had done all the tests before hand. But blues are very beautiful

Hello,

Blues are great looking dogs, had the guy got the tests done I would have bought the pup there and then. I'm on a waiting list with another breeder for some black/brindle pups due in a month so hopefully we might get one then.

well thats good,it took me months to do my research, i did talk to the breeder you mentioned before he sounded good,only problem was i couldnt view the dogs only through photos and if i liked one he would sent the pup to sydney, didnt like that,i wanted to interact with the pups first. But good luck,sure what ever pup you end up geting will be a beauty anyhow