Relating to the cost / price of purchasing a purebred APBT puppy. Manjaro APBT Kennel – Gawie MK Web page www.pitbullsa.co.za E mail [email protected] Contact – 082 783 8280 or 046 645 1659

American Pit Bull terrier puppies come with many different price tags. Some South African bred pups may be given free or placed. Price can range from R500.00 to R10000.00 and some may even exceed this range – and Importing a top game bred APBT dog into South Africa can cost you +- R55000.00. Where do these prices come from? In the “Pit-bull” world you will come to realize that price is what you pay and quality is what you get. APBT puppy sellers and breeders also come in several categories –then from a registered breeder or kennel and then some serious breeders passionate to breed purebred APBT game dogs or show ability dogs tasking breeding these APBT game dogs for the right reasons and breeding with historical breeding goals to enable the future of pure bred game APBT working dogs as within breeding standards, conformation, temperament and typical sought after traits. Working and competing titles earned and Import status are reflected on these registration pedigrees to see and used relating to champion dogs and bloodlines. This information will reflect with registration pedigrees. If relating to the APBT game dog - after all said, its gameness or ability titles that will make the difference. This said, as family dog you can love and enjoy any dog - APBT game bred, ability tested or other. It was rightfully quoted by my friend Oas Sept (Brussels Europe) - a concerned APBT game dog enthusiast with a real love and passion for these dogs “the crux of the matter will relate that a cur heart could be wearing a perfect conformation, but what it can’t, is wearing a true game bulldog state of mind.” Breeding these game dogs should be for the right or a specific reason. It should include breeding for the propensity to preserve gameness, temperament and conformation within a set breeding standard and working dog abilities or type (bloodline). Some breeders concentrate for breed conformation (show breeder) and then specifically for breed conformation shows. Some breeders concentrate specifically for working dog (abilities) in various sought after disciplines as the sporting dog, hunting, show weight pull, long hang or various agility sports. Some breeders concentrate only on gameness. Then some breeders concentrate only for selling puppies (called puppy mill or some called commercial breeders) and then offer puppies to anyone that can pay - the main purpose then become sales even to pet shop retailers or at ridiculous low prises just to get rid of the

pups at hand. Then we find any “Pit bull” owner (called backyard or home breeders) breeding their dog because the opportunity presents itself without taking anything in consideration. Show dog breeders- proud themselves to breed for correct type and conformation in accordance to the breed standard - for size and proportion, front and rear angulation, straightness and reach of gait, head type and pigment, important then to maintain the breed according to the breed standard – not for gameness as such. Their breeding dogs could also stems from famous Gr. Ch. or gr. ch. dogs in their pedigrees - have or could earned titles on organized APBT shows. Lots of worthy health care, body conditioning, refined feeding, TLC and socializing goes into their efforts. Some of the APBT game dog traits are of key importance or the purpose of having or purchasing such a dog in the first place, and also important in the long-term health of these dogs. Such breeders, breed with pride for whatever “look” or discipline and take responsibility for breeding health certified dogs without known problems (carriers) of inherent health or conformation defects. Their efforts help minimize inheritance of potential health and conformation problems by their offspring to ensure the future of the APBT breed as sought after sporting dog to have. We are still talking about purebred APBT dogs. Working and sporting dog breeders - concentrate on working drives (to know is that prey drive or working drive does not equal gameness) and to retaining strong instincts to perform in agility, weight pulling, long hang, long jump, board jump and more dog sporting activities and sometimes especially for high prey drive (if hunting will be the objective). We are still talking about purebred APBT dogs. Some breeder’s priority is to breed for gameness, and workable temperament (these are the historical goals of this breed’s forefathers) – this afore any other standard or traits - to preserve what make this dog a “real” APBT in the first place. It was said these game bred dogs are not always beauty contestants but the priority should be gameness, correct temperament, correct conformation and workable traits. We are still talking about purebred APBT dogs. Health is and should be an interregnal part of any breeding program and of utmost importance, so the breeding dogs and offspring are also screened for health problems according to breed. Health certification of parents should be intact in an attempt to eliminate hereditary health problems such as hip dysplasia and other hereditary problems. See the article on breeding your female and hereditary health problems on my website or asked to be mailed. Any puppy offered for sale from any breeder should have been screened for good health and obvious conformation flaws at the date of sale – accompanied with a proper dated medical record of worming and vaccinations and certified healthy by a professional Veterinarian (stamped and registration numbered) and free of life common threatening

disease or disabilities at point of sale – this after a minimum of 14 day window period after any vaccination The price of puppies from game tested or titled, show tested or titled, working or sporting dog breeders are higher than most puppies in newspaper or other media ads. These puppies generally come from parents that have achieved titles under the well-trained eye of a show judge or with proven gameness in parents or first 3 generations in whatever discipline or if bred from an imported sought after bloodline. Also sought after are puppies from performing prey drive or specific ability performing breeding dogs. Some breeders breeding from dogs specifically imported from other countries, reflecting outstanding earned titles or achievements (performing dogs) –Gr. Ch., P.O.R, R.O.M. BIS and or gr. ch. or other earned titles in breeding parents or grandparents etc. Understandable this quality of breeding have huge financial implications for the breeder. A sought after pure bred APBT game proven import can be as high as R 65000.00 + and then of course puppies directly from this breeding will be a sought after bloodlines that will cost you more if you really want this quality or bloodline for whatever the reason. Normal (reasonable) starting prices for “real” pure bred or well-bred APBT game or ability dogs begin at +- R 3000.00 and may be more depending on titles, or potential as a show dog, gameness, working dog or pet. Although some of these puppies sell for higher sums than others, their temperaments should remain stable (most important a workable temperament is a sought after trait) relative to the purpose of the titles achieved by their parents and grandparents. Breeders of show, game, working, and sporting dogs generally offer health guarantees, an indication of a confident well-considered breeding. The soul passion some of these breeders - show and gameness, have for this breed helps them continue their journey to produce genetically sound sought after APBT game dogs worthy to the gene pool we have in South Africa. Puppy mills and commercial kennels are the main contributors to anyone out there willing to buy. Some – then not to say the quality of their dogs is in dispute – but their goal is to produce lots of puppies for profit. Yep - puppies have become a commodity. Some puppy mills may be raided by animal control for horrid, deplorable conditions where quality is not a top concern in this part of their industry and then again most commercial kennels are managed properly and healthy registered pups can be on offer. Breeding for the love of these APBT dogs should be the ideal and should never be for profit but to be to ensure “real “APBT game dog’s future generations. Not to say such breeder are puppy peddlers. This more so because of Animal cruelty and ill managed conditions we became aware of from time to time through the media and some anti-cruelty organisations and some rescue groups and some SPCA efforts.

It was said and held especially true that you get what you pay for when it comes to American Pit Bull Terrier. Puppies are often sold to pet stores at wholesale prices (reduced prices or just a way for the unscrupulous breeder to get rid of them) and resold to the some in the public at “show prices”. The cost of overheads, especially mall rental property requires the store owner to charge exorbitant prices for their “products”. Compulsive buyers and the high degree of foot traffic support these establishments – mostly with no registration and vaguely stating information from registered parents or referring potential buyer’s to the breeder. Those that know have also many times heard the following statements in awe “I have Pit Bull pups for sale but the parents are not registered or -I sell them with no papers” The latest one I hear was I sell the pups “as is” no registration, you have to do the worming or vaccination and I take no responsibility after the sale. Some backyard breeders - home breeders - are the main contributors of puppies. This said you do find some “so called backyard breeders or home breeders” that genuinely breed good dogs and have a heart for the game dog. This term “backyard breeder” especially applies to all those who breed with little knowledge of genetics, bloodlines, breed standards, gameness or proper temperament and structure. These associated with terms like monster fighting dogs, man killers, big heads, rare colours, champion bloodline, excellent bloodline, overseas bloodlines. Oversized and large and aggressive dogs are often selling points in their ads. These backyard breeding animals or offspring mostly are not wormed, vaccinated or screened for potential inherent problems prevalent in the breed. These “opportunist” breeders often do not taken the time, money or effort or have no deep seated love for this breed to insure anyone they are breeding better dogs than the next advertisement in the paper. Mix breeding and look alike mutts are often offered as “APBT”. “Rare colours”- advertised as unique, may be major faults according to the breed standard and may be linked genetically to health problems and mix breeding. “Excellent bloodlines”, is nothing more than a fictitious non proven family tree and most of these puppy sellers has little or no knowledge about bloodlines or the breed in itself. Many confess that they are not breeding show dogs as such and don’t subject themselves to breeding standards, temperament or gameness or do not strife to eradicate health problems or to maintain proper type – proclaims aggressiveness in the same sentence as gameness. Terms such as “merle”, "golden", "silver", tri colour, "blue", "pure white" or "grey" as variants or “blue blood “should be a warning. Claims that some "rare" variants exist or have been verified by DNA testing, or the like, are widely considered to be a scam. The best I heard - it was said on face book “the blueblood in them cause the “blue” colour in their “pit bulls“and if you don’t have R10000.00 you should not phone” – believing this you might believe that by feeding your dog’s raw meat, blood and bone (species appropriate) will make the offspring chocolate red noses.

Puppies are like children- they are all cute. But they do eventually grow up to be adult dogs and become part of your family. If you prefer a specific breed over a mutt and then if your choice is the APBT, first educate yourself about the history, temperament, gameness and traits of the “real” APBT game dog and realize this is a fighting dog – the ultimate game dog and then come to know the registered breeder if you plan to purchase a pup from his dogs and know his breeding goals. Make sure of the pedigree registration – no registration pedigree no purchase. Choose a puppy with the potential to grow up healthy, properly sized and proportioned, and with the correct temperament (at point of sale) – see the breeding dogs and evaluate temperament and know the pedigree and the potential for gameness and trait abilities distinctive to the breed you have chosen, for whatever purpose for having an APBT. Realize the ease to be registered as breeder and know that some registering bodies for APBT will register any dog – this with the blanks in the pedigree – for some it became just a business. Conclude. Rudyard Kipling quoted: “Buy a pup and your money will buy - love unflinching that cannot lie.” Last word. Nothing is more pathetic than the unwanted dog - nobody wants it, but nobody can quite get rid of it. When deciding to obtain a dog, especially a “real” game bred American Pit-Bull terrier, do not do it on the spur of the moment, or because of a passing whim. However exciting the idea might be, it is not wise but can be unthinkable unkind to do it without some serious thought and deliberation. First do your homework and make an informed decision.