Another interesting program from the BBC. What did you think? :)

I enjoyed this as well. The one thing that riled me a little was the fact the kennel staff (not entirely surprising, of course) kept going on about breeders and how it was was wrong to breed -but there was never any distinction made between a breeder like the one in the programme, churning out Staffy crosses to anyone on the street who'd buy them, and GOOD breeders. I also feel it would have made MORE of an impact if they had been sent to Battersea or anywhere else in the *UK* to see that the majority of dogs in rescue here are Staffy crosses. I'd have thought it would be too easy to think "That was Australia, doesn't mean it's the same here". Seemed to me we have far more Staffy crosses than they do -at least it was the impression from just seeing what was filmed. Once again though it was nice to see the change in both the participants.

the lad impressed me. a bright young man just poorly educated. he had a real ability with dogs and i think could go far as a trainer given a bit more guidance.  I think the puppy breeding will drop off with him as he gets older and puts a bit more thought into it.  he seemed utterly shocked that people wouldn't want their lost dogs back- I felt naive rather then bad- he thought everyone adored their dogs as much as he did

I really enjoyed this one - Mishak clearly has some ability with dogs and a huge amount of empathy and love for them too, I do hope he stops breeding - he really did seem shocked that people didn't want their dogs back, and at the number hit by cars too.

I think Mishak and Sue learned from one another, he learned the horrible 'hidden' side to dog ownership that he really hadn't thought of before and learned he was actually GOOD at something, and I reckon Sue learned that not all 'casual' breeders are evil heartless gits, but are naive and ignorant to whats going on in some cases. That  was REALLY great to see (particularly Mishak relating a bossy woman telling him what to do, to the Mum he no longer has and recognising that he needs that).

I can see peoples points about sending them to Battersea but I suspect part of the 'deal' is being sent abroad, the other thing is its MUCH easier to stop people just giving up and walking out of the show if you send them thousands of miles from home, a problem I bet they would have if it was done in the UK, and one which would really balls up the production process.

I am sure there was some reason for sending them to australia but I  too wish it had been to a rescue in this country.
I agree there was never a discussion about the right way and reasons to breed and perhaps discussing that with Mishak would have been better than a plain dont do it.
Hopefully he will continue to rethink his continual breeding and find other ways to enjoy his dogs. It would be great if he could get into dog training or some sort of work with dogs given his love for them and his abilities.
Incidentally who or where did the bitches he used come from.

> Incidentally who or where did the bitches he used come from.

Facebook?

I too enjoyed the programme last night. I thought it showed a fairly balanced view and although it was obvious the lady who had run the centre for 25 years was totally against breeding (I'm not surprised tbh), she can only base her opinion on her day to day experiences dealing with cast off dogs, also having to pts those unwanted poor souls in their thousands, bound to give one a certain view.

I have to agree I was really impressed with that young lad and I have to say I shed a tear or two when he had to say his goodbyes to the people and that pup he'd been training... it was obvious he really loved his dogs and had a definite affinity, I hope he puts the experience to something positive. My opinion of him changed drastically as the programme went on.

Just hope he doesn't breed anymore!!

I was going to make a post about this show! I really liked it. They did focus on different things with the two. I do think it was edited to make the girl look to be a bit of a drama queen and focus on her more. I preferred the fact that it focused on Mishaq(sp?) AND the dogs, were the bits about Amy seemed to be all about her.

She had clearly made loads of progress with the training as by the time came for 'her' dog to be adopted, she really was doing a LOT of good work with him.

Mishaq really impressed me and I'm glad that he got some good books at the end of it to continue his hard work.

Hey Marianne - more Malinois and some Dutch Shepherds/Herders next week! wooooo!

From experience, I can assure anyone who thinks there are more Stafford crosses in the UK than Australia, that just isn't true.
There are just as many here if not more.  (Certainly where I am based and other friends/colleagues have said much the same about the area they live in, in Aus).
The breed is the number 1 most popular breed here and they are crossed with everything and anything.  Much truer is the generic term 'staffy' here.

I agree though, a UK based programme (and participants) would more likely relate if the participants had been sent to a UK rescue facility. 

On the Gold Coast specifically one of the ways the 'breeding' situation is dealt with is the recent introduction of a breeders permit.  This is now law, regardless of how many litters one is producing.
One rescue in particular offers one off free desexing if someone surrenders a litter to them.  The 'last litter fund'.
I don't know that this particularly disuades people from breeding unfortunately.

> From experience, I can assure anyone who thinks there are more Stafford crosses in the UK than Australia, that just isn't true.

I didn't get that impression from the TV show, though maybe the editing was to blame, as it could have  - maybe should have - illustrated that point. I saw many Bull/Staff crosses in the fleeting glimpses we were shown - in fact I would say King, the dog that Mishak liked - was a 'bull lucher'... a bull breed crossed with a sighthound.

And when he was taken into the legally impounded dog enclosure he immediately recognised one as a red-nose pit bull. He's not daft, he knows his dogs and I am sure his own dogs have Pit backgrounds even if they don't match the "type" legislation.

As I know Pits are not illegal in many Aus states, it did surprise me they were not shown more, but I am certain Mishak saw many dogs of "his" type while he was there. Perhaps the programme makers didn't want to dwell on the types of dogs Mishak breeds, but instead tried to give him the bigger picture... i.e. ALL kinds of dogs are just queuing up for PTS these days in dog shelters all over the world.

Hey Marianne - more Malinois and some Dutch Shepherds/Herders next week! wooooo!

Heaven!!! :)

Thought this was a much better programme- more coherent.

Guys like Mishak are two a penny round here. If this is what it took to change his mind (and I felt he might go back to doing some breeding in future because it seemed to fill an emotional hole) then heaven help us with the rest of the back yard breeders of his ilk.

yep round here too.Unfortunately its the status symbol issues and making the guys think they look tough and from my experience its starts really young Ive had 12 yearolds talking to me about their "pits" thatthey are going to breed formand then the family does and how they want them tough and vicious to others for protection
Mishak at least really loved his dogs and breeding apart seemed to treat them well.Also his dogs did appear to be friendly. 

I really enjoy this programme. I just wish they would stop referring to the owners needing help with their dogs as the "Brits", I don't know why but it grates on me, every time the narrator says it!

I hope Mishak takes everything on board.  He genuinely seems to love dogs and I hope he manages to put that love to good use. I actually felt really sorry for him, totally misguided and trying to fill the gaping hole left by the death of his Mum :-( .

I thought of you goldmali when watchin the episode that heavily feature Malis. I didn't agree with the trainer's methods and Ido feel that the narration did display this to a point that he had old fashioned methods.

Anyway, I've never particularly seen many nice Malis, but that episode has made me want one!