Help me add a SBT to our family...

[hopefuldogowner]

Hi all,

My DP and I have been in talks for years re adding a dog into our lives. We've decided (finally) on a Staffordshire Bull Terrier. Would love to rescue but we have young children so probably not the best route. We will rescue later on in life.

On all of the puppy sites we'd like to use (kennel club, champ dogs etc) they are EXTORTIONATE, talking £1,800-£3,00! We are so set on one but also really hesitant to pay this price. Obviously on the more dodgy sites they seem more reasonable between £500-£1,200.

Understand fully the reason for choosing a reputable breeder and we definitely want to but are the ones on kennel club/ champ dogs etc marked at that price due to being bred as show dogs? We are not interested in this or rebreeding.

The cheaper sites obviously have their dodgy breeders but I've found a fair few which seem to be genuine and the puppies come with full papers, Health tested and KC registered.

My question would be if we were to buy a KC registered puppy from a site for around £1,000 with health tests inc eye tests, seen in family home with Mum and or Dad - would this seem genuine and ok to do?

I'm asking for advice regarding this. Please no advice regarding having a SBT with young children, we've thoroughly researched for years and are sure this is the breed we'd like.

Thanks in advance for your help and advice

Have you checked out the pedigree and googled the sellers?

My question would be if we were to buy a KC registered puppy from a site for around £1,000 with health tests inc eye tests, seen in family home with Mum and or Dad - would this seem genuine and ok to do?

Yes it would.

Do your own research and use your own common sense. There is no reason why you have to be paying an extortionate amount for a puppy, those prices will be for show dogs and you're looking for a family pet.

Please no advice regarding having a SBT with young children, we've thoroughly researched for years and are sure this is the breed we'd like.

SBTs have traditionally been excellent with young children. Their reputation got ruined when they became "status dogs" and were encouraged to be aggressive. But your SBT will be as you raise it and train it, so can be a lovely family pet..

@hopefuldogowner No, I don't think it would be terrible IF you're really careful. You want a pet, not a show dog, you should be able to get a pet standard dog without paying show dog prices.

you appear to be clued up with what to look for, so make sure you don't lose your head with your heart taking the lead (dodgy pun!!)

best of luck finding your addition to the family!!

PS STAFFIES are brilliant family dogs.

The thing is, with I don’t want a show dog I want a pet... is that good show breeders are breeding pets, they’re breeding pets that look and act how the breed should.

Where breeders that are breeding for the sake of it are breeding whatever dogs happen to be handy.

They still might make great pets, but the dodgier the breeding then the bigger the gamble you’re taking.

Mine cost £1100 and came health tested, registered and bred to breed standard.
Pm me if you are interested in the breeders info. I am in constant contact with him and I know he is going to have another litter in the not too distant future. He only breeds when he wants one to keep and has a line going back 30 years so very consistent type.
Mine has won a RCC and is Crufts qualified for life. We compete successfully in Agility and he is lovely to live with.
Well worth 2 trips from Oxford to Norfolk to choose and then collect him.

Thank you all for being kind! Really appreciate all of the info and advice.

We're still looking and definitely not going to rush into one.

@Anonanonanon1 Thank you so much. That sounds brilliant but Norfolk is 4h away from us here in the SW so was hoping for one a little more locally. That being said, I'd love the info just in case we're unsuccessful with the local searches! Thank you

My question would be if we were to buy a KC registered puppy from a site for around £1,000 with health tests inc eye tests, seen in family home with Mum and or Dad - would this seem genuine and ok to do?

I think £1000 for a KC registered staffy sounds pretty reasonable to me - I certainly wouldn't be paying £3000 for a puppy of any breed, to be quite honest - that's silly pricing imo.

As long as the puppy and parents are fully health checked and tested and you meet the mum (dad isn't so important as many breeders will hire a stud dog) and see them all in the home environment etc. you should be fine :)

Staffies are lovely dogs - have fun!

@cinnamonfrenchtoast Thank you! In regards to Mum and Dad being health tested. I'd assume the owners would have proof of this and you wouldn't just take their word for it?

If the parents are KC registered the information should be available on the KC website I believe, but yes - you definitely need to see the paperwork for yourself.

Lots of people will say "health tested" when they really mean "checked over by a vet for five minutes" so it's important to make sure. Staffies are pretty healthy on the whole though which helps!

@cinnamonfrenchtoast Thank you again 😊 so helpful. Would you personally consider pedigree puppies without being KC Registered? My partner asked this question, I wasn't sure I would.

Or are they the same thing? 😬 my eyes hurt from all the research lol.

Hi there, experienced SBT owner (with young kids) here.

sadly we lost ours last year and having established we couldn’t rescue with young children we went down the puppy route so here’s my advice.

Stop looking on internet sites like pets4homes - the dogs on there are crazy money and priced often on colour which demonstrates the breeders are put to make money with trendy appearances rather than breeding for health. Everyone on these sites will say they are kc registered and they might be but they are often asking crazy money.

Instead, you need to contact the breed club secretary for your county area and ask to be put in touch with a reputable breeder to help find a pup. A pup won’t be as expensive as you think. Probably £1500-£1700 ish.

After lots of dodgy experiences in other areas this has been the absolute best thing we did. We have a stunning, healthy SBT with lovely temperament and we are confident in his breeding.

@hopefuldogowner the benefit of KC registration is it limits the number of litters the bitch can produce, and it's a way of recording any health issues present in the parents/grandparents.

A lack of KC registration isn't an issue in itself but you do need to be careful that the breeder isn't just churning out puppies and that's why they can't register them - if that makes sense?

This is my lad that I mentioned.

I definitely agree with contacting breed clubs. If you join Staffordshire bull terrier debates and topics on FB there are a lot of experienced people and breed club members on there who may know of upcoming litters.
Did you have a preference on colour? Currently blue is by far the most common colour, and often come with allergies and skin issues especially if they have both blue parents. They are not often good examples of the breed either (with some exceptions).

@cinnamonfrenchtoast Makes perfect sense. Thanks a million!

@Anonanonanon1 Ah what a lush boy! I'll look into joining the Facebook group. Not really a preference on colour if I'm honest. Noticed tons of blue ones. Love that they look like land seals but also heard they carry more complications. Would love a white one but they seem a ton more expensive. Black and white brindle look lovely. Love the red ones too but again, no complete preference on colour!

We've decided on a bitch, though. Heard they can be less reactive to other dogs? Not sure how true it is exactly but myself or DP haven't owned a bitch in the past so we'd like a change!

@hopefuldogowner no problem at all - good luck!

@Anonanonanon1 what a gorgeous dog 😍

My STB has been devoted to my child since they were born. Best family dog ever.

We bought ours from a family breeder. It was the bitches first litter. We saw both dogs in the home and saw multiple videos of the puppies being raised in the house. She was definitely towards the cheaper end of the prices you mentioned.

I have two pedigree dog both from one of the top breeders for the breed one is a failed show dog; just not quite good enough to win at the highest level.
The breeders are exceedingly well regarded, they knows the breed inside out. Most breeders know that out of a litter of puppies only one (if they’re lucky) will be an outstanding show dog the others will be also runs and go as family pets but they put a lot of time and effort into choosing the right sire for their bitch, breeding healthy puppies, socialising their puppies well, giving them a great start, carefully screening potential owners and very importantly offering a life time back up because they are dedicated to their breed. They love their chosen breed and believe that their puppies are ambassadors for the breed.
I have books about both breeds I always say that the dogs must have written the books because how they are described is exactly how they are. You know exactly what you’re getting if you buy from an experienced highly regarded breeder.

@OneAndDon3 Thank you. How is she health wise? Was she KC registered and did you see parents paperwork? Just curious!

I found my dog through the national breed club (rare breed not popular with puppy farms thankfully) and it actually stated on their website that the maximum price you should pay is £1500.

@Corgiowner Oh really? That's interesting. Thanks!

Is anyone able to take a look at this? Does this seem ok even though not KC registered? As states viewing with Mum and Dad to be seen on request does this mean genuine breeder? No red flags are there?

Just an example btw. These puppies are way too far away from us just using as an example

With regard to health tests both breeders showed me the required health tests results for the breed of both sire and bitch explaining exactly what it means. They proudly showed me their pedigrees pointing out highly regarded supreme champions in their pedigrees. Neither has the sire one is now in the states but both showed me photos/videos gave me contact details for their owners and for the one still based in the UK suggested I visit him. They explained why they chose the particular dog in what way it complimented their bitches lines and what improvements they were hoping for. Neither of mine will win at Crufts (both their litter mates have) but they are wonderful examples of their breeds, one is now getting old he’s never had a days illness of course you could be unlucky but providing your not buying some physically distorted monstrosity this is what you expect when you buy from a proper breeder.
Finally don’t under estimate the life time back up offered by a proper breeder.

We’ve owned 6 pedigree dogs over the years none owned the dad I believe this is how it should be it shows dedication to producing correct healthy puppies. They research very carefully a dad that will compliment well with breeding lines of the bitch and also looking at preventing in breeding.