Although we have breed and owned Staffordshire Bull Terrier dogs for quite a number of years, the reason our recent dog are now breed by us we is for a very good reason. Buster Kennex Pied Boy was bought from a local breeder and for what ever reason he developed the condition of Epilepsy at the early age of 18 months old, this was the only dog we have had with this problem but we knew of several people who had bought dogs in the same way with this kind of problem.
We then made a very conscious decision that we would buy a bitch that we could breed from, that was coming from a very healthy breed lines so that we could start producing our own very healthy Staffordshire Bull Terrier pups again. When we had started back 1987 breeding from Winstocks Devils Debutante she had given us 11 very healthy and long living puppies with no problems.
There is no guarantee in life that we could not have any more problems with the breeding of Staffordshire Bull Terrier puppies but we would then only have our selves to look at. So we decided that we would get in touch with the local breed secretary’s of our breed to find out what local responsible breeders had puppies and from what lines, at the end of the day only seeing what Sire and Dam of the puppies would give us a clue to what sort of puppy we were looking for so our search started.
We had always had our own idea’s what a good looking Stafford should look like but it was interesting to hear different ideas coming from the breeders about the breed and the way they see the development of their breed lines. We meet several breeders but finally meet the breeder were we decided that we would get our bitch from (Mrs Debbie Saunt) the only thing was that our son (Chris) decided to have a bitch also, this we felt was good so both bitches would grow up together and develop together and give us a good template to see how 2 bitches from the same litter would turn out.
The one advantage we also got from the introduction to Debbie was that we meet her male dog Moss (Alport Tour de Force) his sire was Champion Judael Both Barrels at Nozac and the dam was Classic find at Alport which was Dam to our own puppies, we decided that we would like a puppy out of this sire which at a later date we could use on our own puppy bitch (Alport Praire Fire).About 9 months later we decided in was time to look for a puppy dog we spoke again to our local breed secretary she told us that the was a local breeder expecting a litter out of Champion Judael both barrels at Nozac Paul and Lorraine Renshaw. We meet Paul at the local Nott’s & Derby Championship show where we were showing Holly (Alport Praire Fire) at the time.
After having discussions with Paul and Lorraine to tell them all about us and what we hoped to for, it was agreed that we could buy our Blue (Westbank Blue Blazer) which then we was introduced to the Westbank Staffordshire Bull Terrier family. This finally gave us the two dogs and the two good breed lines that we wanted to start the breeding of the hopefully the healthy breed lines we had been looking to create. Good top lines, nice defined head with good expression length of muzzle with depth of under jaw, a nice straight front, neat feet, good depth of shoulder, good depth of brisket, nice round dark eyes, a good scissor bite, good angulation on the rear hind quarters with good tail carriage and we do like a 16 inch dog with a 15 inch bitch well toned with muscle to give us a good powerful dog. As you notice we do not mention colour has we have no preferred preference to any colour.
The Family Pedigree
Health Issues
Staffordshire Bull Terrier Breed Standard
General Appearance: Smooth-coated, well balanced, of great strength for his size. Muscular, active and agile. Characteristics: Traditionally of indomitable courage and tenacity. Highly intelligent and affectionate, especially with children. Temperament: Bold, fearless and totally reliable Head and Skull: Short, deep through with broad skull. Very pronounced cheek muscles, distinct stop, short fore face, nose black. Eyes: Dark preferred but may bear some relation to coat colour. Round, of medium size, and set to look straight ahead. Eye rims dark. Ears: Rose or half pricked, not large or heavy. Full, drop or pricked ears highly undesirable. Mouth: Lips tight and clean. Jaws strong, teeth large, with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and Set Square to the jaws. Neck: Muscular, rather short, clean in outline gradually widening towards shoulders. Forequarters: Legs straight and well boned set rather wide apart, showing no weakness at the pasterns, from which point feet turn out a little. Shoulders well laid back with no looseness at elbow. Body: Close - coupled, with level topline, wide front, deep brisket, well sprung ribs, muscular and well defined. Hindquarters: Well muscled, hocks well let down with stifles well bent. Legs parallel when viewed from behind. Feet: Well padded, strong and of medium size. Nails black in solid coloured dogs. Tail: Medium length, low set, tapering to a point and carried rather low. Should not curl much and may be likened to an old fashioned pump handle. Gait / Movement: Free, powerful and agile with economy of effort. Legs moving parallel when viewed from front or rear. Discernible drive from hind legs. Coat: Smooth, short and close. Colour: Red, fawn, white, black or blue, or any of these colours with white. Any shade of brindle with white. Black and tan or liver colour highly undesirable. Size: Desirable height at withers 35.5 - 40.5 cms (14 - 16 ins.), these heights being related to the weights. Weight: dogs: 12.7 - 17 kgs (28 - 38 lbs); bitches 11- 15.4 kgs (24 - 34 lbs) Faults: Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog. Note : Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles full descended into the scrotum (This only concerns people who are considering Showing) Kennel Club Accepted Colours The following are the colours acceptable to the Kennel Club on registered animals:- Red, Fawn, White, Black, Blue, Brindle Red and white Fawn and white Black and white Blue and white Brindle and white Black and tan Liver Black and tan or liver colour highly undesirable.
Accredited Breeders Scheme - Health
The Affix Longdrive is here to promote the breeding of healthy Staffordshire Bull Terriers we do this by belonging to the Kennel Clubs Accredited Breeders Scheme, We will do all in our power to achieve this through carefully selecting healthy Tested Dogs in our breeding program. All the dogs that are owned or breed by Steve & Sandra Swift have been L2 HGA, HC and PHPV tested or screened, they are clear from all of the said conditions. All the Staffordshire Bull Terrier dogs we own have now been DNA profiled.
L-2-HGA Hydroxyglutaric
In the past few years a small number of Staffords have been diagnosed with a metabolic disorder, its clinical name is L2 hydroxyglutaric aciduria or L-2-HGA. This condition manifests itself in varied ways with affected dogs displaying behavioural changes and dementia, anxiety attacks, having full blown seizures, as well as exercise intolerance and ataxia (unsteady gait), tremors and muscular stiffness. Dogs from totally different bloodlines have been found to be sufferers and the number of affected dogs diagnosed has risen. The disorder (and a similar linked disorder D-2 HGA) is found in humans, again very rare, but nevertheless devastating for those families affected by it. The disorder has an autosomal recessive method of inheritance, which means that both parents must be carriers of the affected gene to produce affected offspring. Through excessive hard work not only on behalf of the Animal Health Trust at Newmarket and by people submitting blood and urine samples from the families of affected animals a genetic test has been determined to identify the carriers of the gene which causes L-2-HGA.
HC - Hereditary Cataracts
It is known that HC is inherited by and automal recessive path (i.e. both parents must be carriers of the defective gene to produce and affected offspring). HC is a progressive condition and this means that although a puppy is not born with cataracts they will start to develop at a juvenile age. (maybe from 8 months onwards), and will progress until the dog is totally blind. This condition is bilateral which means is affects both eyes equally. Thanks to the tireless research by the Animal Health Trust in Newmarket there is a now a DNA Test for Hereditary Cataracts.
PHPV - Persitent Hyperplastic Primary Vitreous
The mode of inheritance of PHPV is not so clear, but it is known that it is a congenital condition (present at birth) and that it is not progressive. This means that if a puppy is born with PHPV it can be detected by ophthalmic screening from 6 weeks of age and if it is affected, whatever the condition of the problem at that stage it will not change throughout the dogs life.
Either of the above conditions can be operated on, but it is a serious operation and can be traumatic and very expensive. It is not always covered by insurance due to the hereditary nature.
Even though the genetic test is now available for Hereditary Cataracts it is still important to screen for PHPV.
DNA Profiling - Identication
The DNA profile is the ultimate in individual identification and offers a `tamper-proof` means of identity. The profile need only be produced once and the DNA sample used to produce it can be stored as a permanent DNA record throughout the dog`s life. Identification could be essential in a number of instances. For example, the availability of a profile could be used to identify an animal that may have been lost or stolen, and subsequently recovered. The profile could also be used to check the authenticity of a DNA sample being used to screen for the presence of disease-causing genes. Many such tests are being developed and it would be invaluable to be able to verify that the correct dog`s DNA is being tested for the presence of the deleterious gene. Repeating the DNA profile on the same sample of DNA being used to carry out the gene test would be straightforward and prove conclusively that the correct animal is being tested. Please note: DNA profiles are not instantaneous; it might be worthwhile micro chipping your dog in addition. They also do not give information on the disease status.
Parentage/Pedigree Analysis
Provided that the DNA profiles of both parents are available, pups in a litter can be profiled and their profiles checked with their parents` profile to verify that the correct parents have been registered.
DNA Profiling Kit Request - Kennel Club DNA Profiling Service
DNA profiling costs £15 per dog, and this amount is payable on ordering a profiling kit. Once ordered, a kit will be sent to you together with instructions on how to get a sample from your dog (by rubbing loose cheek cells onto a swab). Once you have taken the sample, you will need to return the kit, in the envelope provided, to the laboratory. Once a DNA profile has successfully been completed, you will receive a DNA Profiling Certificate and your dog`s Kennel Club records will be updated accordingly.
