Resource guarding is a natural behavior in dogs, but when it becomes excessive, it can create challenges in the home and affect relationships between dogs and their owners. As breeders, I believe we have an opportunity to help puppies develop healthy relationships with food, toys, and other valued resources long Read more
Running. Is it important? It is an interesting question when discussing the Staffordshire Bull Terrier. Should a Stafford be capable of running for an extended period of time? I believe he should. But perhaps the better question is not simply how far can a Stafford run? It is: What kind Read more
Most people know to avoid puppy mills and obvious commercial breeders. The harder cases are breeders who appear knowledgeable, caring, and involved in the breed, but whose actions tell a different story. Unethical breeding is not defined by kennel size, social-media popularity, show wins, or the number of litters someone Read more
The Staffordshire Bull Terrier should never be timid, uncertain, or unstable in temperament. Correct Stafford confidence is quiet, natural, and deeply rooted — a dog that moves through the world with assurance, curiosity, and complete trust in itself. Temperament is not secondary in this breed; it is a fundamental part Read more
Correct Staffordshire Bull Terrier movement should reflect the breed’s purpose: efficient, athletic, balanced, and powerful without exaggeration. The standard specifically references “discernible drive from the rear,” an important phrase that speaks to both structure and function. A Stafford should not move with short, choppy steps or excessive speed masking inefficiency. Read more
Original article published by Wavemaker Staffords: https://wavemakerstaffords.com/the-currency-of-humility/ In the world of dedicated breeding, it’s easy to be dazzled by the glitter of the show ring—the purple rosettes, the gold trophies, the spotlight of a win. Yet, behind every great dog, there stands a legacy. Decades of meticulous selection, careful planning, Read more
To my fellow breeders in this wonderful, challenging, and rewarding world, I’ve been reflecting on our community lately. It’s easy to sometimes feel like we’re on separate islands, focused solely on our own kennels, our own goals, our own ways of doing things. There can be a quiet sense of Read more
Puppy Picking Without a Crystal Ball Evaluating a litter is one of my favorite parts of breeding—and also one of the most humbling. We can study pedigrees, plan breedings carefully, raise puppies thoughtfully and evaluate them from every angle, but in the end we are still looking at babies. Nobody Read more
If you don’t already have copies of our Illustrated Breed Standard softcover book now is the right time to order one. Get one while they are on sale – Profit from the sales of all of our books (after publishers cut) goes to Stafford rescue worldwide – click link below Read more
Re-posting this in honor of Alan’s 100th birthday on Friday March 31st, 2023 The Three Differing Breed Standards by Alan Mitchell (Hoplite) The Staffordshire Bull Terrier came into existence in 1935. Before you jump out of your chair and protest read on. Many people owned Bull and Terriers or Pit Read more
LET’S TALK ABOUT STRUCTURE with Stephanie Seabrook Hedgepath The old adage, “No Hoof, No Horse,” common in North America in the 18th century, speaks to how important the feet are to an animal. A lame horse is useless to its owner. The same principle can be applied to the dog “No Read more
