Interview with Hana Březinová
It gives me great pleasure that Hana was willing to cooperate in an interview for the club magazine. I have known her for more than thirty years and have a great deal of respect for her. As a breeder and judge, she has an excellent reputation. In pedigrees of dogs in many countries, you can find dogs bred by her.
It became a detailed, educational and very interesting interview in which she gives her outspoken and honest opinion on some questions. For example, on the question: Is the Am Staff standard a good one?
The interview was translated from Czech into English by Eliska Kysela, for which many thanks!
Please introduce yourself to our readers Hana.
My name is Hana Březinová. I am 63 years old and have been actively working with dogs for 48 years. I have been breeding American Staffordshire Terriers since 1990 and dogs from my kennel TIPIT Z HANKY can be found almost all over the world. I have bred over 150 champions of different countries, including European and World Champions, BIG titles, BIS. It is impossible to count. I have been a judge for this breed since 1999 and I have judged a lot of important shows in many countries, including World and European. Shows in Australia, Spain, Serbia, Slovakia, Germany, Belgium, France, Austria, Denmark, Sweden, Poland, Italy, Croatia, Russia, Romania, Finland and the Czech Republic.
Currently, I am still actively breeding and showing my own dogs.
What is your kennel name and how did you come up with this name?
My kennel name is "Tipit z Hanky" and it actually comes from names of two kennels "Z Hanky" (my original kennel name) and Tippitt's (the kennel of Mr. Jos Walstock, with whom I worked closely).
How did you become involved with the Am Staff?
I actually don't even know. A friend brought them to Czechoslovakia first and I was very interested in this breed. After my Bullterrier, I saw his more suitable successor for work in the American Staffordshire Terriers.
I know the you visit the kennel Tippitt’s, owned by Jos Walstock, in Venlo many times and we have met each other there several times. When was the first time you visited the kennel?
I think it was in 1989 and I like the memory of it. Of course, I remember our meeting and I still have some of your perfect photos of American Staffordshire Terriers on display :-)
Was the Am Staff your first breed?
No. I started with German Shepherds and was mainly involved in working with dogs. When I started a family, I only had 1 Bullterrier dog, with whom I also worked (he had 12 working exams and a very successful working career). Then we bought a female and had a few litters. But because I wanted to work with dogs again, I imported a female Belgian Malinois from Holland and returned to training. Unfortunately, our conditions for keeping this breed were not the best (we lived in a row house).
Do you also have other breeds at the moment?
For 26 years now, I own only American Staffordshire Terriers.
When did you started breeding Am Staffs?
In 1990.
Where did your original stock come from?
The foundation of my breeding is based on the bitch TIPSY (Sindelar’s Fred x Tippitt’s Beau Jangle) which I brought from Holland from Jos Walstock's "Tippitt's" kennel. Tipsy's father was a dog from the USA.
What was your goal when you started breeding Am Staffs?
I can admit that I had no goal in the beginning. I actually had no breeding or dog show ambitions at all. I bought TIPSY because I fell in love with Am Staffs and I liked the appearance of Mr. Walstock's dogs. Decisions about TIPSY's first litters were completely in his competence, as it was in the purchase agreement. Everything started with female Yaga Tipit z Hanky (daughter of TIPSY), who was exceptional and actually introduced me to the world of dog shows.
Do the dogs you own at the moment go back to the original stock?
I'm trying, but it's hard, because today's Am Staffs have a slightly different body structure and type. If you want to remain in competition you need to adapt. But to adapt does not mean to create a "new" breed as we can often see in show rings today.
Describe your kennel facilities.
We have a fenced area of two hectares, where also is a Shelter for abandoned dogs, a hotel for dogs, our house and facilities for our Am Staffs. The house is divided into a residential and a technical part. In the technical part of the house there is a nursery for puppies, a food preparation room and a warehouse. Outside, we have five fenced paddocks with facilities, each measuring 4 x 20 meters and two paddocks with facilities of 2 x 150m². There is also a fenced meadow of 10,000m² available for Am Staffs. The dogs live with us in the house and the fenced areas are used according to the weather, the dogs' preferences and our working schedule.
Have you any idea how many Am Staff kennels there are in your country?
That is impossible to be estimated. Here, everyone who wants to breed dogs must have a registered kennel name. Under this name, he breeds all the breeds he owns.
Do You know how many Am Staffs have been registered in your country?
The first Am Staff litter was born in the Czech Republic on May 12, 1990, and today, in 2022, we have registration numbers around 13,500. In 2021, there were 331 puppies registered in our KAST club. I guess the number was similar in the other club.
How many members has the club in your country?
Our special club for only the American Staffordshire Terrier - KAST has 174 members. I don't know how many members the second KCHMP club "Club of Few Breeds" has, but I think the number will be similar.
How to become a member?
It is very simple. The application form is filled out, the membership fee is paid and sent to the club's address. Information is on the club's official website.
Does the club publish a magazine?
No, we don’t have any magazine.
Is there a National Specialty in your country?
Yes, our American Staffordshire terrier club (KAST) – organizes a Club Show every year with the title of Club Winner. Otherwise, in the Czech Republic, the American Staffordshire Terrier is actually in two clubs and each of them organizes a club or specialty show once a year at least.
What do you feed the puppies?
I feed the puppies raw beef and chicken with kibble (I switch brands).
How do you socialize your puppies?
I raise the puppies at home, so they are in the center of everything from an early age. Around the puppies age of five weeks, I let people to come to us for "petting visits". My puppies always have a lot of exercise outside, regardless of the season (I consider this important). If a puppy stays longer with us (waiting for export for example) it is leash, crate and car ride trained, we also socialize them in the city. But honestly, I don't like it and I prefer the puppy to leave at eight weeks.
At what age do you evaluate your puppies for pet and show quality and what do you look for?
I don't like the terms "pet quality and show quality". It would be more accurate to say in standard and out of standard, because today many "pet quality" Am Staffs (in other words non-standard Am Staffs) have the highest show titles thanks to professional handlers and the surrounding team. Anyway, I make the first choice (for myself) immediately at birth, but then I'm still waiting for the teeth, eye color and body posture when moving. But in general, I can say that thanks to years of experience, I can very soon distinguish an ordinary puppy from one with some potential. The tutorial for it does not exist though.
Has anyone influenced your breeding program?
Not really. As I already mentioned, my first litters were in cooperation with Tippitt's kennel and then I managed everything myself. But in the past, it was not that easy to get information. The breeding program was mainly influenced by dogs that were imported to Europe from the USA. They were primarily used to mate with bitches, didn’t really matter if they matched or not. Still, the results were good. Today there is a lot of talk about the "breeding program" and we have the ability to get information from all over the world, to make excellent connections, but the results are nowhere. There is a lack of feeling and talent for breeding, because from the excess of information we have a lot of "theoretic" breeders who only connect pedigrees without looking at the quality of the individual.
Did you sell puppies to other countries in Europe or the USA? Do you still have contact with the owners?
Yes, you can probably find my dogs in all European countries and then also in the USA, Brazil, Japan, the Philippines... etc. I am still in contact with some of them.
What kind of guarantees do you give with your puppies?
Guarantee that comes with a puppy is a frequently discussed topic today. Few people realize that from the moment the puppy is handed over to the new owner, the breeder has no influence of the further puppy development. It is difficult to give a guarantee for something that I can no longer influence in any way. Of course, some hidden problem may appear, which I of course solve, but my experience is that most of the time the owner "mutilates" his dog himself. Most problems arise from bad feeding (mostly an excess of all possible supplements), overexercising the puppy, too frequent bathing... etc. A lot more can be said about that. Unfortunately, inexperienced vets often make things even worse. I would say that the breeder is almost a "hostage" today. Nowadays everyone wants guarantees for absolutely everything (preferably for the entire life of the dog).
I will turn the question around: What guarantees can I get as a breeder from the new owner? How will I be guaranteed that the puppy will be treated in such a way that it develops as it should?
Have you ever visited the USA Specialty?
Yes, I was there four times, in the time when it was really the most prestigious exhibition for our breed. First time I was there was in 2000, with my cousin, who was a translator for me, because I didn't know a word English.
I know you are a judge. Which breeds do you judge?
I am a judge only for the American Staffordshire Terrier. I was not interested in extending my judging to other breeds. I have slightly different life priorities than pursuing a career as a dog show judge. Currently, I accept only one judging appointment per year. Also, I think that if I am still an active breeder and exhibitor, then from my point of view it can also be a conflict of interests.
Have you ever judged in The Netherlands?
No, I’ve never judged in The Netherlands.
Tell us something about temperament.
Well, the temperament is very important, so that the dog could be used for all activities and most importantly have problem-free coexistence in the family. A big role here is played by the proper socialization of the puppy with the breeder and then correct upbringing and training in the new family. The American Staffordshire Terrier is a terrier with all pros and cons and it needs to be treated as such. Training must be more emphatic and consistent. In the past we used to have Am Staffs a bit shall we say more “predatory" and it was seen and heard in the show rings. Today the situation is calmer, but again we see dogs without energy and staring blankly. And that's wrong. The Am Staff is supposed to have energy and drive, but it also has to be under control.
How would you rate type, temperament, and soundness in order of importance?
Of course, I could say "health, temperament, type" but I don't see it that way. These three things belong together, it is the BASIS of breeding and cannot be separated.
Do you think there are any health problems in the breed?
I don't think our breed has any major health problems. It is true that things appear that we did not know in the past, but I think that many diseases are civilizational. Dogs do not live their natural lives, they are excessively kept clean, they eat kibble of unknown quality with poisonous additives and preservatives, poisonous antiparasitic are used etc. It is a problem across all breeds.
What are your thoughts about breeding? Do you prefer inbreeding, linebreeding or outcrossing?
I like linebreeding, but it's getting harder and harder to find a suitable dog to use. I like dogs with the right anatomy, and finding one these days is a big problem. Sometimes the breeder is forced to make an outcross to improve some deficiency. However, outcross must be done properly and the right individuals must be selected for it.
Who is your all-time favourite?
During the existence of Am Staffs, we have many legends and it is impossible to choose just one, because each era had its own. So, I don't really have favorites. I'll say it in general. For me, my favorite is any Am Staff that looks good in any situation and does not need a handler, photoshop or vet to cover up the faults.
Who is your biggest winner?
Well, my "show career" started with the bitch Int. Ch. Yaga Tipit z Hanky. So, I would probably mention her. She had everything a good Am Staff should have. Even though she is an "American Staffordshire Terrier of the past" (she was born in 1992), I think that even today she would easily dominate the show rings. My young dog BISS, Ch. US Raptor Tipit z Hanky is her greatgrandson and reminds me a bit of her.
How many champions have you bred?
I really have no idea I stopped counting when it was around 150 and that was like 10 years ago :-)
How many champions do you own, bred by someone else?
At the moment, I only have Am Staffs from my own breeding and I've actually been working mainly with them for years. It's because I can be sure of what I really own and work with. I imported six dogs from the USA and then something here from breeders in Europe (Italy, Belgium, Romania, Norway). Most of them had the champion title.
Is the Am Staff standard a good one?
The standard is not really good, it is too general and I feel sorry for my fellow judges who do not follow Am Staffs and have to judge according to it. A really high-quality and objective commentary and explanation on each individual points of the standard are missing. What has been written so far is more or less advertising and promotion of the author's dogs or an unofficial version that FCI judges cannot really follow. Of course, I thought about making a commentary of our standard, but I think that this is the task and duty of the American Staffordshire Terrier Club in the USA. They should be primarily interested in preserving the type and quality of the breed. Unfortunately, today everything is under the control of professional handlers (often also breeders), who do not need any changes. The FCI actually made a request to individual member entities (clubs) to come up with additions to the national breed standards. I hope that we too will soon receive an official AKC commentary on the AST standard, which will benefit the breed.
How important is grooming?
It is important and a well-groomed dog looks much better in the ring. It must have a beautiful coat; the white should shine and be really white (note. This cannot be achieved with one bath just before the show, it must be maintained regularly) the claws should be clipped, the protruding hairs should be trimmed. It is like a woman with makeup and without.
Unfortunately, "forbidden grooming" is common these days, and it's unbelievable what people are able to fix in order to win with a dog (I'll just randomly mention the correction of the tail so that it is carried down, the tattooing of the eyelids etc., I could mention much more :-( )
What are your interests outside of dogs?
With us, everything is around dogs (Shelter, hotel and Am Staffs) It is very hard and there is not much time left for other activities. But every time I can, I'll go somewhere warm to relax by the sea. I enjoy snorkeling. I am also interested in everything related to veterinary medicine. New studies, new treatments, etc.
What advice would you give to new persons getting into your breed?
It is difficult to advise, because I know from my experience that most people only ask when they have already decided to buy AST. All they want to hear from me is that they did well and chose well. However, I would summarize it in three points.
1) First find out something about the temperament so you know what you are getting into. It is a terrier and not a typical "pack" dog. Next, clarify for what purpose you want the dog and what activities you will do with it.
2) Visit some breeders who have been living with Am Staffs for a long time and have several at home.
3) NEVER trust a breeder who says he is the best and has the best dogs in the world!!!!
Have you written a book about the breed?
No. I think that everything has already been written and it is more than enough for newbie breeders and owners. Today, there is such a large amount of information on the Internet that anyone who is not lazy can find what they need.
Is there anything we did not discuss what you would like to tell our readers?
No, everything is said.
Thank you so much for taking the time to do this interview Hana. I have enjoyed it.
I also thank you very much Wil, it was a pleasure!