I'll break the ice here in as friendly a way as possible..

I take it you are private owners with no history of breeding dogs and are not regestered in any way?

Please just ring round a few local shelters and ask how many staffordshire bull terriers are in for adoption and how difficult re-homing is..

If you get honest answers and you listen to whats said I think you will forget about putting your dog out to stud..

If you are a registered and experienced breeder and know what you are doing and all the implications involved then I apologise..

You don't, simples.

9/10 dogs in rescue centres are staffies, they even have to turn them away because they are so overrun.

Doesn't matter if you "Have homes lined up"

The fact is, the number of pups you produce equals to the number of dogs that die in a shelter (probably staffies) because there are no homes for them

I'll keep it short as I've got a ton of stuff to do before I have to dash, but standing a dog at stud is a much more complex situation than owning a bitch and deciding to have a litter from her.

As a stud dog owner you need to have a lot more hands on knowledge, dogs don't always do things naturally, and left to their own to mate they can and do inflict serious damage. You would need to be able to tell if a bitch was ready, some bitches seem to say yes, but then say no with the front end, even when they are bang on ready to mate, would you be able to judge the character of a bitch? Is it just because she's in strange surroundings with strange goings on? Would you be willing to hold her, even muzzle her to get a mating? Would you know if she's unwilling because of a possible problem with the vulva? Could you perform an inspection on a bitch, and check for strictures across the opening of the vulva or other, possibly more serious problems? And these are just *some* of the physical aspects of standing a dog at stud.

More importantly, what breeding is your boy from? What are you going to do to prove he's worth using as a stud? What do you know about pedigrees and how would you be able to tell if a bitch owner approached you, your dog is good enough? What health tests have the parents had done, and what do you plan to do, etc, etc??

As a stud dog owner, *you* would be responsible for many more pups being brought into the world, than if you had a bitch, and possibly took a litter or two. This is why it's such a responsibility, and not to be taken lightly, it's not something that earns many stud dog owners, at least the responsible ones, huge amounts of cash. As it is, and as has been said, there are so many staffy pups being brought into the world, and so many staffies being put to sleep, you really do need to think whether it's something you think you should be looking at doing.

I don't know enough about breeding to offer any advice one way or another but I do know that every day many many Staffords are handed over to rescue centres all over the country often being PTS because they've landed up in the wrong hands or been bred without the right research.
I'm not being mean in any way and I certainly wouldn't shove my own opinions on you, nor would I try and tell any breeder what to do when it's something I have so little knowledge about ....but please please before you consider studding your dog out read some of the sticky threads on breeding on the breeding part of the forum,I think the information and stories on there, although at times heart breaking, is enough to make even an experienced breeder think carefully about breeding their bitch or studding out.
I admire the fact you've asked advice though, many people don't know enough and go into it anyway

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Staffy x Lab almost 10...Fizz
Ginger Tom 2 1/2...Tilly
Bichon x King charles spanel 1 yr 10 months
Latest addition Tex the black shep 11 1/2 years foster pooch
How can I forget my fish..i have 13 tropical fish too...err...2 cats 2 neon and one lemon tetra...2 err...will have to go look and get back on that one i can't remember the names lol
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RIP Dolly Sadly Passed away 7pm 6/3.2011

When he has been fully health tested free of all relevant conditions.

The Staffordshire Bull Terrier Club - The Parent Club

When he has demonstrated he has a superb temperament

When he has demonstrated that he fulfils the Breed Standard by winning/being placed at Championship Shows in Limit or above.

If he is KC registered

If he has well known, successful dogs/lines in his pedigree.

If you can take responsiblity for these pups for their lifetime, in case any bounce.

And finally

When the current number of SBTs reaches levels where breeding might be considered necessary.

You so don't want to go down the route of bringing more staffies and/or staffy x's into the World right now.

Current stats state that from a litter of 10 staffy puppies born only 4 will still be alive after their fourth birthday.

People talk about a dog being put to sleep every hour in this country. In reality the figure is way, way higher than that as it does not take into account every council pound in the UK, the RSPCA and private PTS figures. The majority breed of those PTS are staffies and their crosses.

This situation is completely out of hand at the moment. If I had my way, and if I thought it would work, I would ban the breeding of staffies for at least a year, and this is from someone who owns two staffies and think they are the best breed out there.

There are simply not enough homes for staffies in this country. Supply far outstrips demand. The fate of many of this breed is horrific.

As far as I'm concerned, if you breed staffies at the moment and in the future, until this situation is under control, you are responsible indirectly or directly for the death of other staffies. Sorry, but I cannot in this present climate see it any other way.

Do not breed from your dog. Enjoy him, love him and care for him for the rest of your days and be very glad he is not one of the thousands currently being used as a bait dog, thrown from a balcony, abused in all manner of horrific ways or currently at the vets getting a lethal injection.

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www.happystaffy.co.uk - tough dog toys and products & not just for staffies :-)

I would pop to the newsagents if I were you and buy Dogs Today magazine, big article on current situation with Staffies and something like 90 dogs featured in rescues looking for homes, the majority of which are Staffies sadly

YOU DON'T!! enjoy the little fellow for what he is a puppy . there are far too many staffs in rescue don't bother to add to it.

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love me love the dogs

Please think long and hard before breeding your boy. As others have said, just take a look at the rescue situation with SBT's. There just not enough homes for them all. By breeding you boy you are just adding to the crisis these dogs are in.

What are your reasons for wanting to breed your dog?