American Staffordshire Terrier, their bloodlines, and how they are changing. - Page 1

What is the difference between today's AST bloodlines, and the bloodlines of the past? Although AST's today may carry the same bloodlines of the past, the dogs themselves are evolving into different types or styles. Just as the APBT is today. Different styles. I also ask myself this question: How did breeders create their bloodline for example, Gallant, and Harwyn AST's. You can tell the difference between a Gallant and Harwyn AST, yet they were right on standard! No changes. If you look at Harwyn, Gallant, Sertoma, Tacoma, the old style Ruffians, they all had a specific look. But they were all on standard. Harwyn dogs had that nice headcarriage, Gallant had the stocky barrel chest, Sertoma had that nice head as well, Tacoma's are amazing for working, and thrive on having a job to do, as well as Sertoma. On and on, you can keep going. AST"s of today may carry the same bloodline of their ancestors, but they are changing so dramatically....They are looking different, as well as being WAY off standard......Alot of AST's I see today are starting to resemble Boxers, or have "snub nosed" looks, some AST's may carry the Ruffian line but may be way too tall. over 23 inches. Some are even starting to have a droopy bloodhound look to them, muzzles are becoming too shallow, backs are becoming sloped, weak pasterns, bad head carriages, weak angulations, bad tail carriages, the feet are getting too loose, even energy levals are changing. The ASt is a working dog, they thrive on work they were bred to be doing something, not just a lazy dog, a show dog. I respect any AST in the showring, it is for the good and love of the breed to show, but thats not all they are, they need to funtion as they once did. So it all goes back to what I was saying about bloodlines. The line is still there but the changes are apparent. I love the AST. That is my breed, as it is too everyone here. I want to see the good of the the breed live on for a long time. The true AST. I think it goes back to selective breeding. You breed in the good traits, and breed out the bad. If you have a perfect AST, but one flaw, that one flaw will haunt your litters forever. What I mean is, if you have an on standard AST, with a crooked leg, but you breed him anyway, those pups will inherit the crooked foot. Maybe not in the first litter, but those pups will carry the gene for the crooked foot. So I am thinking today, people are breeding other things into the AST, thinking it will better the breed, when infact, its making it worse. What are your thoughts on what I have said? Good or bad? Agree or disagree? I want to hear everyones opinion. :)CH. Ruffian Dons Rebel of Harwyn. 1969 Specialty Champion, owned by Thomas Mount. 

Here's one I found in my back yard. She is guarding my sun tea.

Abhay, 

If you see Ronnie around, tell him I said Hi!  Sun tea is my favorite. No sugar, just some lemon or a sprig of mint added to the tea is best...

Beetree, I totally agree with you, on the Sun Tea. Ronnie, on the other hand, Loves Sweet Tea. He saturates it with sugar. I will give that "Sugar Boy" your regards.