My other half is the manager of tesco and he has just come in from work.
He told me that a chap came into the store looking for the best puppy food as he has just bought a staff pup, Colin ( my other half ) told the chap that they do puppy food but it would be better to use the food that the breeder should have given him to wean the pup over as they have delicate tummys.
The chap looked puzzled and said that the breeder had fed the puppys on nothing but scrambled egg since they have been on solids as staffs need nothing but protien to build them up.
You can imagine what Colins response would have been if he had not ben at work so he explained that all dogs need a balanced diet and how puppys need extra care.
Ten mins later Colin saw the chap again with kity cat in his basket , he approached the chap and asked if this was for the puppy , yes said the chap it has the most protian for my pup to grow big, Colin managed to persude the chap that puppy food would be better , so the chap did end up buying pedigree puppy food instead.
All i can say is CRAP BREEDER , CRAP OWNER !!!

Peanuts

One wonders why if he wanted a big dog why he bought a Staffie. Cheaper than a mastiff I supose.

Perhaps he thinks he can grow it into a mastiff.

I'd like to describe him using lots of swear words, but I'll refrain :)

Some people are so THICK!
God, I wonder what the rest of its litter is getting fed...hopefully the other owners were gifted with a brain!

Some people may be a bit naive about caring for a dog and not fully realising what it entails. Not everyone has the forethought to find out the information prior to getting a pup that they might require.
It's not always the best advice when someone is asking questions about raising their puppy to be told to contact their breeder and yet for some reason it still seems to be the most popular advice dished out. The bloke in the supermarket trustingly has believed that the breeder obviously knows what they are talking about and is following their advice. There are an awful lot of other people out there doing exactly the same. If the breeder says it then it must be right mentality.
Fortunately in this little pups case then Colin could have averted some future health problems caused by impoper feeding. From the irresponsible attitude of the breeder though I dread to think how the pup will turn out anyway but the bloke who bought the puppy probably has his heart in the right place if he asked for the 'best' puppy food. He just needs a bit of education from someone who really knows what they are talking about.
Lara x

It may also be that the puppy buyer wasn't paying attention when the breeder told them that Scrambled eggs were good for the pup, as many breeders will give this as part of a mixed diet, or to start them off. could be that is what they were having when first started weaning.

Thats a good point... but he's still thick for not listening about something so important, nor indeed reading up on how to rear a puppy :)

Couldn't agree more, which is why I tell all my puppy owners to carefully read all the information that they get with the pup, and try to make things short and to the point.

DOH!! Didnt see your reply Chloe...but, yes, that is what I mean.....he should have done some reading. He is very irresponsible.

I see your point lara, and I agree, the breeder should have known better...but the fact of the matter is, this bloke SHOULD have done research before getting the dog. You cant just get a dog without doing prior reading, asking questions, internet reading etc. I mean, he should have done some proper research, then he would have known that a dog needs a balanced diet. So...yes, breeder was crap..but owner was naive and ignorant,..and that was his own fault.
steph
x

He should have done his research before he even got the pup . :(

Peanuts,

With an owner that thick it's pretty likely he only remember the teeney tiniest bit of what the breeder told him. Let's hope the breeder at least mixed eggs in with puppy food - not that the pups were fed only on eggs. Don't think much of the breeder's ability to qualify potential puppy owners, however, if in fact he or she cared.
Stacey

Don't mean to be contravertial(sp?) but has anyone else got the same picture in their head of this bloke as I have-young 'hard' man who wants a staffy on a status symbol??never mind the health bit as long as its big and muscly!
Archer

didnt like to say it but.....
:D

Was looking at the Battersea statistics for dogs in, in 2002. By far the biggest category was the SBT - 954 and 366 SBT crosses.

Such a shame when a particular breed attracts the wrong sort of attention :(

Daisy

Yes, I found that when I have been there. I have seen so many poor Staffies waiting for a home. When will people realise that dogs are not fashion accessories!!

When I first lived alone and started looking for a dog, it was specifically for a staff as I think they are fantastic.

Now I wasn't a novice dog owner, nor am I a "muscled would-be hard man" (:D). I am aware of their potential to be a "bit odd" with other dogs and the dog was to be with my father, who had had staffs before, during the day so not alone.

I tried several homes and saw some beautiful animal cooped up, but not one would rehome a staff to me. They just waffled alot about "Dangerous Dogs".

Shame, I still think they are fantastic.

Julia & Hooligans

Just as there will always be people who stereotype breeds of dogs giving them bad press - there will also be people who stereotype owners of dogs purely by the breed they choose.
Vicious circle isn't it!
Lara x