The acquisition of a dog must be a thoughtful act because it engages you over more than ten years and the first question to ask is whether the choice of the breed is the right one. Do not host a Stafford without knowing the specifics and without having met a few. The Stafford is a dog with strong character, energetic and demonstrative and his exuberant temperament is not necessarily suitable for all.
A simple way to meet owners is to go to the Dog Show, where will also be present breeders, or to go through the various social networks and forums.
If your decision is made to have a Stafford, do not hesitate to move even far to see different litters and different producers. A serious and passionate breeder will receive and inform you about the breed, learn about you and advise you – or not – one of his puppies.
Be wary of those who will put you a puppy in your arms, as the only one available with a magnificent litter, and ask instead to see siblings, and of course parents. The stallion is not necessarily in the breeder, but the mother, it must be visible. This will allow you to evaluate the behavior of each and to check the good health of the mother as that of the puppies who must be active and curious.
Also, be vigilant vis-à-vis the price of the puppy: it must be justified by the quality of breeding conditions and that of breeding. A special dress is never a reason to sell a puppy more expensive than others, nor the promise to see him become a champion one day.
Finally, never give in to the temptation to buy a puppy in a pet store or on a puppy fair, this is the only way to stop this sinister trade which is exercised to the detriment of the well-being and respect of puppies and their parents.
Here are some simple rules you need to follow before acquiring your Stafford:
Check those parents are registered in the LOF and confirmed (more than 12 months). They may also have received their Rating 2, 3, Recommended, or Elite 5 and 6, or be National, International or Work Champion.
Check that the range that is proposed to you is also registered in the LOF (Book of French origins). The breeder can already have birth certificates (temporary LOF) when puppies are more than 10 weeks old, but when this is not the case ask for a copy of the file filed with the SCC, including the declaration of breeding, declaration birth, and identification of puppies (flea or tattoo). The temporary LOF will be sent to you by the breeder as soon as he receives it and this can be done after the departure of the puppy.
Producing non-LOF puppies from non-LOF or unconfirmed parents is not allowed as this poses a serious risk to the dog. Indeed, these puppies can be considered as entering Category 1, and in fact suffer all the constraints associated with the law – sterilization, evaluation, detention permits …
Parents must be identified as DNA and tested for two known genetic diseases in Stafford: L2-HGA-neurological disease- and hereditary cataract -HC-. The deafness test -PEA- is also essential for dogs with a white dress or white dominance. Producing puppies from untested parents today is unacceptable and demonstrates the producer’s incompetence.
As for the DNA identification, it is possible to validate the pedigree of the puppy in a certain way thanks to the Certificate of Descent which will be given to you by the breeder, or that you will realize at your own expense provided you have received the copies of the Certificates d DNA identification of the parents.
Other tests are recommended such as hip/elbow dysplasia, ocular defects, but their frequency is not alarming for the breed so far.
Note that the Stafford blue dress is often affected by the skin disease called Alopecia Diluted Dress (ARD). This is not a fatality but increased risk, and to reproduce for example two parents with diluted dress increases the probability of the appearance of the disease.
Similarly, white puppies or invasive white variegation can be deaf. Require the PEA test of your puppy before purchase.
The puppy must be primo-vaccinated and identified by a microchip or tattoo. It must also have been dewormed regularly since birth (every 15 days), and be at least 8 weeks old before leaving the farm.