Is there any tried and tested way to check to see if your dog is a pedigree?

I have just bought a Staffordshire Bull Terrier Puppy (14 weeks) from an unwanted home however I didn't see the parents, I was assured he is 100% pedigree but is there any way I can check? (blood tests or anything)

If there is a way can you then go 1 step further and check where it comes from (past generations)

Did you get your puppy from the home he was bred from?

Normally you would always expect to be shown the parents from the breeder and be given a pedigree that the breeder will do themselves and KC registration papers.

You would need to DNA test both parents to determine that he is definately their offspring and that would only be of any use or interest if they were registered by a reputable breeder.
If you like him and think he is going to make a great pet for you does it really matter?

I didn't see the parents as the previous owner to me only had him 6 weeks and had to sell him due to a breakdown in his relationship with his partner. So essentially I am only going on the dogs looks, trust and hearsay

Hi Chris, unfortunately it sounds to me as though you may have to be content with never finding out your puppy's background. There is no way you will be able to find out the information you're after, with out rather alot more to go on. I'm assuming there is no paperwork with this pup. So no guarantees of anything I'm afraid.

Dawn R.

No it makes no odds whatsoever to me as a dog owner however It is curiosity firstly and 2ndly for his health as certain breeds have ailments more common than others and x breeds tend to have less.

No paperwork whatsoever, I know Pit Bulls blood can be tested to verify their breed I wasn't sure if this was the case for other dogs too.

On another forum one person got her rescue dog DNA tested to find out if she was pure cocker or not, I don't know if that is available over here though.

Unless things have changed recently, there is no DNA test that can tell what breed a dog is, only who the parents are.  Provided the parents are purebred (registered), then one could conclude from DNA testing that they are (or are not) the offspring.

A DNA test can only confirm who the parents are, providing they have DNA from both parents for comparison.

Did the person you got your pup from give you the breeders name, or would they? If the pup is registered, and the breeder a responsible one, then I expect they woudl be glad to know where the pup they bred now is.

Staffs can have a condition called L2-HGA, which is very serious. If you do not know if the pup's parents were tested for this, you can get your vet to do a blood test, I think, so you know if your pup is likely to be affected. Symptoms can lead to fits etc, I believe.

Unless things have changed recently, there is no DNA test that can tell what breed a dog is, only who the parents are.

There is, in the US at least. Not sure if it has got here yet or not. You can even do this for crossbreeds to find out what breeds are in them now. (As long as the breeds are on their DNA database, which covers over 100 breeds.) A lady on a list I am on had a crossbreed she thought was mainly a certain breed so she did the DNA test and found out the breeds involved were totally different -but it did make sense also.
http://www.wisdompanel.com/mixed_breed_analysis/analysis/default.aspx

Interesting stuff Marianne.  The test was developed both here and in the US.

I also found this link.
http://www.insidesocal.com/valleyofthedogs/2008/07/pet-orphans-begins-dog-dna-tes.html

If scientists can start to prove (by DNA testing) that some dogs seized in the past under the DDA are not of pitbull type, so much the better
:-)

The pitbull is not listed on the Wisdom website.  The American Stafford and the UK Staffordshire bull terrier are.
Wonder what the differences are DNA wise? hmmmm..
More research/googling needed I think.
Fascinating stuff.

Correct Jackson.
Very serious condition.  Though some Staffords can be carriers only and not always have the symptoms.
Would definitely recommend op has his/her pup tested.

American Pit Bull Terriers aren't an AKC recognized breed so that's probably why they aren't on the list. You'll find that many americans use the name pit bull to refer to any of the bull type breeds bred for fighting - like saying retriever. Since American Staffordshires are sort of a branch off from the original pit bulls in the early 1900's I'd think their DNA would be very similar. (my understanding of their history anyway) I found this on a bullbreed site
"The Amstaff differs from the Pit Bull in the following points:
1. color. There is no preference scale or order of priority for the colors, but brindle is the most diffused; Not desirable are black & tan (hereditary of the ancient black & tan terrier), liver color (transmitted by the ancient pit bulls) and white (if more than 80%).
2. bone structure: the robustness and structure of the bones of the front legs is more important in the Amstaff, while the drive (pushing power) and agility in the hind legs is more emphasized in the Pit Bull."

Which sort of implies their genetics would be pretty similar.

Wow - really interesting, and quite a leap forwards.... thanks for posting that.

American Stafforshire bull terriers are on the list though....
American Staffordshire bull terrier, I thought, originated from the UK Staffordshire bull terrier?
The difference being between the two standards is the weight and size.
Guess my confusion arises from the fact that in the early days dogs known as the bull - and - terrier or pit dog, then eventually developed into the UK Staffordshire bull terrier (after some other breeds being thrown into the mix).
That's why I want to read up more about the DNA tests, because my thinking is the test can only 'go back' as it were so many generations before it becomes somewhat blurry.
I guess at the moment with regard to this particular bull breed they could say for sure that a dog has Staffordshire bull terrier genes (either UK or US kennel club registered) but could they say for sure it has pitbull genes?  Grey area?
More thinking for me :-)

> American Staffordshire bull terrier, I thought, originated from the UK Staffordshire bull terrier?

I think you're right there. The yanks took the UK staffy and introduced other breeds into the lines to get bigger dogs (you know Americans! LOL)

So when it comes to genetics I think the staffy, am staff and pit bull would all be really similar.

>> I think you're right there. The yanks took the UK staffy and introduced other breeds into the lines to get bigger dogs (you know Americans! LOL)

supersize my staffy!  Would you like fries with that?

pmsl and a large milkshake :)

LOL Well I am an american so I'm allowed to poke a little fun ;-)

It made me laugh Lori and had me drooling for a mcdonalds :)

lol :-D
talking of supersized Staffords - did anyone see the article in the tabloids re: the rescued Stafford in the North East?
It did make me curious - the article said that the dog was at least half the weight it should have been,  approx. 14.4kg and should be at least 25kg?!
Can't say I've ever seen that written in the standard anywhere! lol

I rescued a 'staffy' when he was 10weeks old. He came from his first owner (not breeder) as a purebred staffy, no papers but the woman said she could ask the breeder to forward them on. I didnt expect her to as I suspected then that he wasnt 100%. Too leggy and not as square and chunky as you would expect a kc reg staff pup to be.

As it was over time he did indeed turn into a leggy bugger, very springy and powerful with it! Hes my lovely boy though and I dont care that hes not KC registered, he was a rescue case after all.

He weighs 23kg and is very solid. Most definately not in the usual weight region for an adult male!

OP, at the end of the day though you have a lovely pet and thats what matters most :D