a new pup....
My daughter is asking me to help find her a Stafforshire Bull Terrier. In other words, a pit bull. Wanting to be a good mother, wanting to help her get a quality dog from a quality breeder... Here are my problems::: I cannot in good conscious ask her to go to rescue, for obvious reasons. I would think that getting a puppy will insure that there was no abuse or neglect to have to deal with .... I have tried to access the SBT Club of America..but cannot get in to find reputable breeders. I have been able to find some breeders online and the cost is $1000.00-$2000.00. My daughter cannot afford to pay this for a dog. Since I don't know if these are in fact reputable breeders, how can I give her any suggestions? I think this is the same problem some of the forum people have when they come for advice on how to get a quality dog but don't know where to turn or how to afford it...So I am hoping for discussion's sake we can have nice talk about this...NOT about OES's...but about breeds in general. I know she will be a great owner. I know she will train this dog and probably become involved in performance as well as therapy. I know she will listen to me about the care and education of this pup. Bottom line....since she cannot afford $1,000.00 for any breed, much less the breed she has always wanted..do I just tell her to go to the Humane Society ???? I am afraid she will opt for one of the many BYB or mills that are so prevalant in our area.....which many people do~~~~... 
How would YOU handle this if it was your son or daughter????  |
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| I would have her contact the MABBR (Mid-America Bully Breed Rescue). They are a rescue, but have puppies availble for adoption too. They have such a great website...almost makes me want to rescue a pittie. |
| If she cannot afford 1,000.00 to purchase puppy I would show her your vet bills and all other bills associated with taking good care of a pet. My daughter was shocked at the cost of having a dog spayed, teeth cleaning, shots, etc... She had always had the priviledge of growing up with wonderful pets and was quite unaware of the money and time her Dad and I spent on them. Today it is very expensive to take care of a pet. Time was my concern as she was used to working all day and at times being gone in the evenings for various reasons. Now she is married with a baby and worries about time and money they can spare for a pet...meanwhile Mom and Dad have the doggies and they enjoy and love them alot. |
Definitely contact a nearby Pit Bull or Bully Breed Rescue. 
Many great dogs are given up for reasons unrelated to their being a "Bully Breed". Rescues will be doubly-careful regarding the temperament of the animals they place. The responsibility and liability on their part is huge. A reputable rescue will be honest about a dog's past and extremely careful of the home they place a dog in. Most dogs are fostered by a family outside of a kennel setting so they have a good idea of how they'll react in a home environment. Ask your daughter to be patient and wait for the right dog to come along. A few of these dogs have given the entire breed a bad reputation. You may be surprised at the great dogs in rescue. If she considers adopting from a shelter, it may be a bit trickier as most do not foster the dogs outside of the shelter facility. There are lots of great Pitties with fabulous temperaments there as well so please keep your options open.  |
| A staffy is NOT a "Pit Bull, often mistaken for one though, in fact there wonderfull dogs & great family dogs, low maintenance, but should be from a reputable registered breeder as temperament is important for a good family dog.
If she cant afford the price of a good one then tell her to wait till she can. JMO rather then rescue or from a mill. This way if she waits till she can afford a good quality one then also she can afford for future expenses ie. de-sexing and all the usual expenses that comes along with owning a dog. I would handle it by telling her to wait till the time is right for her to afford a quality staffy puppy which hopefully in the longer term of things will end up costing less over its lifetime. |
| A Staffy is not a pit bull. Either way, they are both bully types, with the same sterotypes attached.
I would definitely recommend the rescue route. Just make sure it is a reputable group and the dog is bullet-proof and you will be fine. As previously mentioned there are many, many wonderful staffies in rescue foster homes waiting for someone like your daughter to take them home. |
| Staffordshire terriers are great little dogs with sweet dispositions. Pitbull is really more of a catch all term for any bully breed mix. Like Nita said, they get such a horrible reputation because people don't take the time to train them and/or they're bred for the wrong reasons and then they're publicized as killing beasts. They're powerful dogs that can do damage but so are a lot of breeds that make great pets in the right hands.
There are so many great dogs, even puppies, that wind up in rescue and there's such a need for responsible bully owners to give them the homes they need. Definitely check out rescue groups. They'd love to have someone like your daughter to do the right things and serve as a breed ambassador. |
| A guy I worked with just rescued a pittie boy...
and he is awesome! I take part time care of him since is staying at work right now to finish out his heartworm treatment. He is such a lover, I have no problem kissing his little black nose... in comparison to big rubber balls! 
In turn we also have a friend at our dog training club that has 8 Am Staffs All very well trained and loving... Let me know if you would llike to talk to her, I am sure she would love to help! |
| OH my....Thank you for all your support and your great suggestions...I am going to give her this link and let her really realize all her options and possibilities!!!
I just am amazed at all the great response!!!!!  |
| I have 4 FANTASTIC pitbulls that need homes right now! Take a trip to Chicago! |
| two of the dogs at our dog park are Pitt mixes that were rescues, and are the sweetest, mildest tempered dogs you could ever want to own! Mylah and Ace are dream dogs; and their owners went down to the pound and just picked out a puppy. The ONE drawback is, being Pitt mixes, they are not allowed at the majority of doggie daycares, and some kennels. |
| If she has her heart set on a STAFFY and wants to go the rescue route, she needs to go the BREED rescue route. I would certainly NOT go to a humane society/shelter or some allbreed rescue, or even a rescue that specializes in "pitbulls" since that is as someone mentioned just a catch-all term for no specific breed, just a loose grouping of often mixed breed dogs with often a "bully breed" type head. As we've seen with our own breed, most of the two former organizations don't do a very good job of identifying most breeds. She'll end up with some kind of mix. Hopefully a lovely mix, but Staffy's ARE a breed apart - I adore them - and they don't just happen by accident, so if that's what she really wants and not just some cute little mix (which she can certainly find at almost any shelter), she needs to do her homework.
I would check with the national breed club, see who they recommend for rescue contacts, and preferably find a rescue where Staffy breeders are involved so they actually know what they're looking at and how to adequately evaluate a dog for health and temperament. Plus I find that breeders as a general rule tend to have more stringent standards for what they consider adoptable in terms of temperament. I know that's what I'd do if it was me. Or find a breeder who needs to rehome a nice young dog. Go either of those routes and, in addition to getting the education she needs given that she's new to the breed, if she gets hooked and hooks up with the right breeder(s), as an exceptional home, which, being your daughter I assume she is  some smart breeder is going to want to see one of their puppies in that home no matter what some day if you catch my drift.
I have friends who run these guys in agility and obedience and the term "pitbull" never comes to mind. They're just lovely, lovely, funny little big dogs. And tough enough to play (nicely!) with my bulldozers with hair. Incredibly athletic and smart too. I don't blame her for wanting one. Kristine |
| Is this the site http://www.amstaff.org/ I would go to a show or two and talk to the group . I love the grey and ahite staffs.
cindy |
| Thanks Cindy!!! I will contact them!!!! |
| Kristine is definitely right... we have no clue if our pitbulls are American Staffordshire Terriers, American Pit Bull Terriers, American Bulldogs etc. They usually have something else thrown in there too (the boy Astro I sent you is definitely a mix) We just guess! The upside is that most of these breeds have very similar "people pleasing fun loving cuddle me now please attitudes" that draws people to the breeds in general. They also have those big heads and broad chests that make them so gorgeous... so you can get a lovely dog from a rescue but it probably wont be 100% staffy.
If you're daughter is considering rescue at all she is more than welcome to send me an email or give me a call (just pm me). I've fostered pit bulls and pit bull mixes, and my rescue has at least 2-3 at all times. |
Anonymous wrote: Is this the site http://www.amstaff.org/ I would go to a show or two and talk to the group . I love the grey and ahite staffs.
cindy This's perfect if you're looking for an Am Staff. Val's daughter is apparently looking (at least tentatively unless mom talks her out of it ) for a Staffy - a Staffordshire Bull Terrier. They tend to be much smaller than what is usually (and often arbitrarily) thrown into the "pit bull" grouping.
From the SBTCA http://www.sbtca.com/site01/ Is a Staffordshire Bull Terrier the right dog for you? Are you seeking a small to medium-sized dog with a short, sleek, easy-care coat? Looking for a companion par excellence whose greatest desire is to live life at your side? Perhaps you have read Jock of the Bushveldt, or have seen one of these canine dynamos performing in the agility ring at a local dog show. Maybe you've encountered a Stafford while out walking and wondered about how he could be playing so tirelessly with his owner and then stop and stand calmly, tail wagging, to accept the enthusiastic caresses of a toddler. The breed’s patience and gentle ways with children are legendary. At first the Staffordshire Bull Terrier seems like a contradiction: he looks so tough, yet his approach to the human race is so loving and all-encompassing; "As early as three to four weeks of age," says Stafford enthusiast and author Steve Eltinge, "a Stafford puppy will often prefer human companionship to that of his mother." The Staffordshire Bull Terrier standard speaks of the indomitable courage, high intelligence and tenacity that are the legacy of the breed's history. These virtues, combined with a love of people and a reliable and stable nature, make the Stafford an extremely versatile companion. Author Dieter Fleig describes the breed as "a sort of everybody's Man Friday." A good Stafford is never shy or reclusive and, conversely, should not be snarling and mouthy around people. The latter is not "game," but unstable, and probably improperly socialized. Be aware, however, that the Stafford was originally bred to fight other dogs and that many still retain an antipathy toward strange dogs. Many Staffords also possess a strong "prey drive," i.e., a desire to chase, catch and kill rodents and small mammals. That said, it must be added that a great many Staffords live in harmony with other household pets, having grown up with them in a properly supervised household. Look for a friendly puppy or adult bursting with health and vitality. His keen, piercing and intelligent eyes should suggest complete awareness and even the possibility that he is reading your mind! In older dogs, the stance should be indicative of readiness: poised and up on the toes. Breed scribe John Gordon describes the aura of a temperamentally correct Stafford as, "vibratory in energetic outline." Staffords of any age display a level of energy and a bounty of enthusiasm unequaled in the canine world <snip> An American Staffordshire Terrier (Am Staff) is a different dog all together. A very nice dog, when properly bred. But very different. Kristine |
| My trainer works with Out of the Pitts and evaluates and helps rehabilitate and place dogs. Her first agility dog Sweet Annie (AM Staff) is a dog anyone would be happy to have, and lives with from 7 to 10 dogs at any one time. I would find a good rescue with a track record - sorry if this offends anyone - but not a new bleeding heart group ("all dogs are good at heart" etc)
In the east, I was telling Kristine this the other day, Pitts are the new greyhound - except with baggage. If it was my kid I would let her go rescue if she wanted, at least you know what you are getting, go breed rescue like Kristine said, and work with people you are comfortable with who have experience with the breed and not just riding the wave of Michael Vick notoriety. I love Pitts actually |
| YOU POOR THING. Your probably asking yourself where did we go wrong? How could your daughter want anything except an OES>?
LOL just had to get that in... all the posts before mine of course- look like good suggestions. good luck! |
| I would explain to your daughter the cost of owning a pet - grooming, food, training, vet - and especially the unexpected vet bill for a serious or long term illness (God forbid). I was at the feed store last night to give Patch a bath and before I left the bill was up over $30 for treats including a $9 bath. We live at the feed store, I should be given a cot. Anyway, I think the expense is a major consideration when buying or adopting a pet.
FYI. my parents are in their 90's now, but I remember it cost them $6 a year for a rabies vaccination for our sweet dog and that was it with the exception of one time when she cut her tongue on some glass, she had to have treatment. Just my 2 cents. |
jimzz2001 wrote: YOU POOR THING. Your probably asking yourself where did we go wrong? How could your daughter want anything except an OES>?
LOL just had to get that in... all the posts before mine of course- look like good suggestions. good luck!
As I was talking to her....trying to get her to understand how much homework is involved in getting the right dog...from the right breeder...she DID mention.... """Well...I could always get an OES...that would make YOU happy~~~~ She is such a smart A@@ like her brother and her sister...WHERE did I go wrong with these three????? |
Sheepie2 wrote: I would explain to your daughter the cost of owning a pet - grooming, food, training, vet - and especially the unexpected vet bill for a serious or long term illness (God forbid). I was at the feed store last night to give Patch a bath and before I left the bill was up over $30 for treats including a $9 bath. We live at the feed store, I should be given a cot. Anyway, I think the expense is a major consideration when buying or adopting a pet.
FYI. my parents are in their 90's now, but I remember it cost them $6 a year for a rabies vaccination for our sweet dog and that was it with the exception of one time when she cut her tongue on some glass, she had to have treatment. Just my 2 cents. OH...I have...really.....Having Cosmo is a prime example of a poorly bred dog. I paid $400.00 for him, 5 years ago~~I can tell you between his anxiety meds and now he is having a terrible skin infection and ear infection..I know I have spent over 2-3 K on him... She has had first hand knowlege of what it's like to have a poorly bred dog, and we have gone over all of the regular costs..from quality food, vet care, shots, classes etc... I am very proud to say that her plan for this pup is to be involved in performance and therapy!!! As Pearl and Heart follow in Millies pawsteps....My youngest Maureen will be following in her mother's footsteps...  |
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