***SCAM ALERT** 

Many people are being ripped off hundreds of pounds by paying deposits for false litters. Please DO NOT pay any deposits unless you have met the breeder and mum with puppies and feel that you can have a good relationship with them moving forward.

Business v Passion

At a time when rescues were becoming overrun with 'Stafford types' many responsible breeders eased off having litters this sadly left a gap in the market which was happily filled by those who saw a chance to make a 'quick buck'. This coincided with the same people breeding purely for the colour blue and marketing it as rare. (Almost 80% of litters now registered are blue or blue/white.)

When breeding is about business, important factors can be overlooked in order to avoid additional costs and there can be less time spent learning about the intricacies of the breed, more time is spent marketing and publishing pumped up claims to entice buyers.

When involvement in a breed becomes about a passion for maintaining health, type and temperament then this is another level. No gimmicks and 100% honesty is what is required.

Reputable Breeders

It is always a hard decision to choose where to buy your puppy.

Consider what type of breeder you wish to by a puppy from, what level of care you expect them to take with regard to health and what their main objectives are. (The breed as a whole or money?)

The Royal Kennel Club have 'Best Practice' guidelines which responsible breeders will adhere to in order to preserve and support the breed.

Best Practice Health Testing:

DNA Testing for L2GA & HC-HSF4 - 2

Eye screening parents (to be current / in the year leading up to the mating).

Eye screening puppies prior to homing

Elbow scoring the parents

(Also a Breed Health Scheme available for Patella Scoring.)

Please refer to the 'HEALTH' page for further information on all recommended health tests which should be carried out.

PLEASE NOTE A NEW 'BEST PRACTICE KENNELS' PAGE WILL BE CREATED VERY SOON LISTING THOSE KENNELS THAT CARRY OUT ALL RECOMMENDED HEALTH TESTING FOR THE BREED...